Tom and Philip Colvin – Pyrenees, July/August 2009
Thought I would write to the club to let you know how Tom has got on in his first year of cycling, culminating in a recent trip to the Pyrenees.
To quickly recap, Tom watched and followed the 2008 Tour after my insistence that he watch my favourite rider, Carlos Sastre, with the caveat that ‘he won’t win anything but will put in a good performance and come in the top 10”. Tom was so enthralled and captivated by it all (including the fact that I obviously didn’t know what I was talking about in respect of Sastre, which he found hilarious) that we had to buy him a road bike and nothing else but cycling would do from now on.
Tom started, as some will know, with regular Sunday morning jaunts on the novice rides and has thoroughly enjoyed every one of them, whether sun, ice or rain every one an utter joy for him. Tom had to miss the Sunday ride in the early summer due to participating in regular racing and training at Hog Hill every Saturday, more for fun at 12 years of age but with the intent of stepping it all up a notch next year.
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To cap off a first year of being a ‘roadie’, Tom was so excited that we had booked a cottage down in the foothills of the Pyrenees and especially as we had promised him that we would take the bikes and he could attempt the famous Cols that he had read, watched and heard all about. Tom wanted to try them out and experience what the professionals rode but he did keep stating that he thought they might be a bit much for him at 12 years of age, we simply encouraged him to enjoy what ever he could do and that, for only having ridden a road bike for 11 months, it would be a great achievement. |
On our first few days I took Tom out on some of the local hills for a bit of training but at lengths of 1 to 2 miles, some with 16% average gradients, Tom became a bit disheartened that perhaps the Cols themselves would be too much and maybe he shouldn’t try them (secretly, I started to have major doubts myself as the hills actually hurt, a lot!).
We had decided to start with the Col D’Aspin, west side from Ste. Marie De Campan, build up confidence and then return to attempt the Col du Tourmalet, also from Ste.Marie, on another day. As it turned out, Tom’s nagging doubts started to grow and in a sudden mood one evening in the first week, he asked if we could wake up early the next morning and just go for the Tourmalet only.
Col du Tourmalet
Not so bright but very early the next morning the car was packed and off we set for the Tourmalet, arriving in Ste.Marie De Campan at 8.30am. A quick set-up and brief ‘see you on the way up’ to mum and sister, we set off before overwhelming doubts could stop us, on a beautiful sunny morning (luck with us at any rate, as the previous day the Tourmalet was totally fog bound).
After the first few ‘warm up’ kilometres, the gradient increased all of a sudden to 7.5% and then between 8% and 10% all the way to the top. Shortly before the first switchback Tom admitted that he felt ‘terrible’ and didn’t know whether he could make it. He wanted to keep going though, so gritted his teeth, dug deep and continued to ride at a very steady pace. It was obvious though that the ride was hard on him and despite my offerings to pull out, Tom persevered and although he felt bad, he said it was the most exciting thing he had done.
The 10% stretch before La Mongie was probably his worst section but constant encouragement from nearly all riders who passed us, with shouts of “Tres Bon” to Tom, kept him going, all the way through La Mongie without stopping.
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After La Mongie, the wind rose considerably and was more often than not a head wind, increasing the effort required and in Tom’s words at the time (which describes it aptly) “Dad, this hurts!” |
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We took the decision to stop for a good few minutes at each kilometre point thereafter, so that regular breathing could be regained and energy drink downed in quantities, and on one occasion with tears almost breaking through looked back down the valley and simply said “this is amazing, I can’t believe I’m here”. |
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We arrived at the Col exactly 2 hours 35 minutes from setting off and Tom was promptly congratulated by many French riders, some of whom had passed us earlier, and made to feel like a Tour champion. The camaraderie of cyclists never fails to amaze me. |
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It also transpired later that evening, Tom had been riding with tonsillitis and spent the next few days not feeling very well at all…he then admitted that he felt the same way before the ride but didn’t want us to pull out, hence the sudden request to go for it! |
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Col D’Aspin
Later in the holiday, once Tom felt a bit better, we returned to complete our second climb but in reverse order. The Aspin is very different to the Tourmalet and perhaps due to having done the harder climb first, felt actually very easy. Still, Tom didn’t want to rush and asked to take the ride from Ste. Marie De Campan nice and steady.
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The first half is very strange with lots of ups and downs, making it hard to get in to a nice rhythm but the final few kilometres, with the switchbacks, was very exciting for Tom and again he thoroughly enjoyed the ride, completing the climb in 1 hour 8 minutes. |
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So pleased with everything by the time we reached the top and wanting to experience as much of mountain riding as possible he promptly asked to cycle back down. This was actually the part I was least looking forward to, especially as I’m not the best descender and a bit of a chicken on the downhills but also because I wasn’t sure that letting a 12 year old boy descend a mountain at speed was good parenting (ummm…verdict out on that one). |
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Although it is only two Cols down, we feel especially proud of Tom that he wanted to do this, achieved his aims for the holiday and for the pure fact that he loves cycling so much, all at 12 years of age.
On returning to dear old blighty Tom had one comment only to make.
“Back to the Club rides Dad”
Philip
