Recovery Day

Today was a recovery day for me after the epicness that was yesterday. I woke up with a healthy appetite but nothing insane. I think my body was a little wrecked from the ride yesterday. In this entry I am also including my first entry of what will affectionately be called, "Mantra by MB."

1) When deciding to go for something epic, do it, but always imagine how you will feel near the end of your epicness and what you would desire most.

In my case, at the top of the Col de Galibier, I wanted warm clothes and food. So next time, I should have traded the wind-vest for a thermovest and gloves along with some extra food in the jersey pocket.

See how this works?

Okay back to my day's happenings. I took a leisurely morning filled with cafe and bread/jam, muesli, and some eggs. It definitely hit the spot and gave me some pleasure to fill the emptiness that was my energy. Rolled back to my room after scouring the hotel for english magazines. When you are in a hotel owned by a Dutch couple and who cater to 95% Dutch clients, you are succumbed to old issues of Wieler Sport and american magazines in dutch. I was thinking I was leaving the dutch lingo by coming to the French Alps, but I rode right into a Dutch stronghold in the Oisons. It was nice chillin out after breakfast and reading some old cycling mags, think ProCycling circa 2003. Just before noon, I rolled out for an easy spin to flush the legs out and check out the village of Bourg d'Oisons. I packed my baguette and cheese sandwich which I lifted from the breakfast room and my New Balances in my little sack. I definitely felt like I did something yesterday but I pressed on knowing that it would be good for me to get the legs going for a little bit.

The village of Bourg d'Oisons is a touristy ski village in the winter and caters to cyclists in the summer. Pretty nice village with several cafes and restaurants and some outdoor gear stores along with a few velo shops. Not too bad for the small size of the place. One thing to remember if ever visiting Bourg d'Oisons is that all the shops minus cafes and restaurants take break from 12-2pm, even the bakery is closed! So that cut my store walkthroughs rather quickly. So I found a nice spot on the steps and ate my baguette. It was a relaxing little time. Then I cracked and got an ice cream cone, a scoop of cafe and tiramisu flavors. They were small scoops! It was pretty tasty. Cafe flavored ice cream is by far my favorite flavor. The tiramisu didn't have the espresso flavor I was looking for. It was nice though. Getting bored with nothing to do, I rolled on over to the Casino supermarket to pick up some muesli bars and some dried apricots for the Vaujany race on Sunday and my training tomorrow.

Going into European supermarkets is kind of fun. Me, being the food buff that I like to think I am, get super curious to see all the different types of foods that are available. Ready made crepes are especially popular here along with different types of cookies and cakes that go well with tea/cafe time. Europeans definitely have no shortage of sweet teeth. Finally, I made my way to the checkout counter after drooling over all the foods that would taste so delicious but weren't that good for me =) In the checkout counter, the guy in front of me. I think he was probably Dutch b/c he looked like he was on holiday had the european staples. 1 1.5L of Coke Light, 4 chocolate croissants, various chocolate edibles, and a large baguette. I can't remember anything else, but it was nothing that said, "eat me, i am full of good nutrition." In the US, you can buy one size of Nutella(the hazelnut choco spread) which essentially goes on anything here in Europe and its typically a small 6-8oz container. Here, you have Nutella, then you have about 3 knock-off brands which are priced cheaper but come in the pocket size 4oz for those walkabouts when you only have a small baguette with you and up to the 20oz size for the family pantry which basically has a house shelf-life of 4 days. Everyone in the world thinks that Americans have unhealthy diets and a terrible obesity problem. I admit, our choices of food preparation, deep frying and processed/packeged foods, don't provide a good bit of nutrition. However, Europeans have a terrible diet. Croissants are essentially butter and some flaky pastry bread. Then you slather on some choco spread and you say, "Breakfast is served!" Sure it tastes good but your body doesn't respond very well too it. The thing that keeps most Euros from upgrading into the American pants are the portions. Euros in general don't very healthy but they don't eat a lot. Americans don't eat very well in general and they eat a lot. So if you want to enjoy life's little pleasures of choco covered croissants, go for it, but limit yourself.

Now, i am back off the box and in reality. I rolled back to the hotel and pushed it pretty hard up the hill. Legs did alright but were still feeling the after-effects from the epicness. When i returned I saw this dutch club that have been staying at the hotel for awhile I guess. From this point, they will be referred to as CLADS, which stands for "Cycle Little And Drinkers and Smokers." So these guys returned before I did and were totally sprawled out in the cycling kits and taking in the sun while taking in their biers. Shortly later, they would light up cigars. Although I have recon'd their rides, my assumption and this is just a mere assumption, is they ride leisurely for 2 hours(maybe cover 40km). Ride actually lasts for 4 hours because they stop to take a leak several times then hit the cafe or bar along the way and take in some food and some biers before rolling back to the hotel. The contrast to what I ride and how I ride is so far different from their impression of cycling is. Ohh well, to each his own and as long as you are enjoying yourself, go for it. My ride yesterday, 190km probably approaches their entire trip's distance. Its funny because those guys probably get such a kick being away from their wives and work and just drinking and riding bikes with their buddies. They could care less about number of KJs they did whereas I enjoy pushing myself beyond recognition and seeing how my body would respond to pain. I finally left, but they must have stayed out in the sun basking in their glory drinking more beers, having more smokes, and emasculating their stories to the highest level amongst their buddies. True comedy, I think.

Now back to the cycling...tomorrow I am doing a route up to the ski resort of Les Deux Alpes(which has hosted several stages in Le Tour) then I am taking a road up along the mountain which is cut out along the mountain side and puts you at turn 17 of Le Alpe d'Huez. From there I will ride up to just before turn 6 and cut over to Villard-Reculas then descend into Allemont before making the turn back to the hotel. It should be a nice loop of about 100km. Saturday will be another easy day before the Vaujany on Sunday.

Au Revoir,
Matthew