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| View of the Haute Pyrénées (High Pyrénées) along my ride today. |
A heat wave is coming for the next few days. They predict temperatures in Lourdes to climb into the low 90s (32+ C). Before it arrives, though, I have one thing I would like to do in Lourdes, cycle through the Pyrénées. I don't have any cycle gear, so this could be interesting. Most importantly, I am missing my riding shorts, which are padded slightly but wick moisture very well. I also do not have any cycling shoes or water bottles that fit a bike. Damn it! Anyhow, I need to do this!
For 30 euros, I rent a carbon fiber road bike, helmet, and clipped pedals from noon to 630 pm. This is well worth it and is much longer than any bike ride I have ever taken at home with the proper gear, so I am pleased. However, many subtle nuances can affect the right fit of a road bike, which can affect the ride's comfort. For example, the relationship between pedals, saddle, and handlebars is critical. Also, misalignment by a few millimeters can cause numbness in the hands or knee pain on long rides. For a rental bike, only general alignment is done, so I keep that in mind as I set out. Below is my gear for the day, a Colnago carbon fiber road bike with wheel brakes, not disc brakes, and a rental helmet. Next to the helmet is my "clown" Cotopaxi day pack, which I threw on my back for the ride.
My first impression, this feels really good. I am glad to be back on a bike, and it doesn't take long before I am reminded of how much I miss cycling. As some of you know, I injured my right arm this spring, and cycling was not recommended during my rehab, so it has been nearly 5 mos since I've been on a bike. But, man, this feels good today! This is something I've been looking forward to since I left on this journey.
I leave Lourdes and head south towards the Haute-Pyrénées. After 10 mi (16 km), I reach the little town of Angelès-Gazost, a population of 2,900 people. I find a Boulangerie (Bakery), grab a sandwich, and Coca-Cola. A regular Coke, as opposed to Coke-Zero (Diet). A great way to raise my blood sugar levels since I didn't have much to eat before heading out this morning. The European Union (EU), governing body, hates sugar! lol! When I read food labels in Europe, their products, especially beverages, are polluted with artificial sweeteners. Although the EU believes them to be a superior alternative to sugar for health reasons. My stomach disagrees. Therefore, I avoid manmade sugars in all forms whenever possible. Below is a picture of the foothills surrounding Angelès-Gazost.
After lunch, I feel great and refreshed! The temperature today is in the high-80s (30+ C); however, the air always feels a few degrees cooler due to the wind and evaporation. A perfect day for a ride! A few kilometers from Angelès-Gazost, I notice my butt hurts. This is to be expected. I am out of practice and have not spent enough time in the saddle over the past several months; therefore, I have lost my ability to tolerate the hard saddle of a road bike. However, it doesn't stop me from wondering what it would be like to live in this part of France and ride nearly every day.
I am not setting any speed records today. Instead, my head constantly swivels in all directions as I enjoy the surrounding landscape. Occasionally, I stop to take a picture, like this one of the River Ousse from the bike path on my way back to Lourdes.
When I arrive back in Lourdes, my bum is sore from the hard saddle, and my hands are numb. I laugh, the joys of cycling! At least I didn't have any knee pain from the rental bike. I've ridden a little over 20 miles and still have a few hours, so I decide to explore the outskirts of Lourdes.
I pass by this intriguing building that looks abandoned. The walls have graffiti, and weeds are growing on the flat roof and in the cracks in the pavement. Concrete barriers block all entry and exit points. I love it! I am reminded of one of my favorite shows on the Science Channel, Mysteries of the Abandoned. The link is a trailer for season 8 of the show, a teaser for the show. Mysteries of the Abandoned is a fabulous show that provides insights into decaying engineering marvels, abandoned buildings, and military relics. With insight from experts who represent warfare, geology, engineering, and other disciplines, the show travels the world, telling the story of when these sites were created, for what purpose, and most importantly, why they were abandoned.
After some research, I discovered this is Le Marché aux Beastiaux (Livestock Show) building site. Despite its worn-down appearance, the building is not abandoned; however, it is only used a few times per year, which explains why it appears abandoned. Nevertheless, I still find the building intriguing and enjoy learning its story. The location hosts a traditional French livestock market for horses, donkeys, cattle, and llamas and a general Farmer's market hosted by the town of Lourdes twice a year, spring and fall.
I stop at Le Passage, a tapas (small plates) restaurant I've walked past on other nights. Unfortunately, tonight is one of those nights where many restaurants are closed. So I order another of my favorite dishes. Tuna Tataki is a Japanese dish; however, this one has a French spin. It consists of lightly seared pieces of Albacore tuna, grilled zucchini squash with cheese, and a refreshing salad. I also order a glass of vin blanc doux (sweet white wine). I prefer the sweet white wines, as opposed to the dry ones, which are more refreshing during the summer with their subtle fruity undertones.
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