Day 1 - 6hrs 30 mins - 103 miles

Our first day was lovely and sunny and promised to be a hot day. We rode for an hour before tackling the Aspin. After some photos at the top it was down the other side to the to start the Aubisque. A quick return via the Aubisque and a hunt for water and it was back to Bagneres via the D26. The D26 is the worst country lane in the world and goes up and down and up and down for nearly 2 hours. Relieved as we were, we finally descended into Bagneres and to Lourdes with a few long sprints up some climbs.

Day 2 - 5hrs 30 mins - 80 miles

With legs still sore from yesterdays ride, the weather was supposed to be overcast and wet but to our surprise it was sunny and humid. After meandering our way through some country lanes we found our way out of Lourdes and heading towards the valley of Marie Blanc and Aubisque. As the road got more lumpy and rolled up and down, the weather started to take a turn for the worst as we got to the bottom of the Marie Blanc. We pressed on past the bottom of the col and toward Aubisque where the weather was getting worse and rained had started falling. After seeing the a club run being ripped up by the local first cat! we pressed on to the foot of the Aubisque were we stopped to check the signs which told us the descent off the top was closed. Back on the bikes it was a hard climb with both of us having good and bad kilometers over the 18K climb. Once past the ski resort and at once at the top, it was cold and cloudy and we stopped at the cafe for some hot liquid. Climbing underneath the FERME barrier, we were on the descent taking it steady as the cloud was thick and the road was covered in water, snow and loose rocks. After several k's we hit a wall of snow and we stopped to take some pics. Once at the bottom it was a short climb to the top of the Soulor and then straight down the other side back into the valley and past Hautacam back to Lourdes with some sprints thrown in for good measure.

Day 3 - 6 hours - 90 miles

The weather was better today if not quite as warm. We set off back down the Valley toward the village of Luz where we stopped for a call of nature and straight onto the steep slopes of Luz Ardiden after a 2 hour ride. Andy battered Gareth on the steep slopes and 16 Kms later at the top Andy had a 5 minute wait before we started the descent. A coffee in the sunshine of Luz and we were off again back down the valley to find the Hautacam. We got to the bottom of Hautacam after 65 miles and it was a particularly steep climb which hurt. A quick pic and turnaround at the top and it was straight back down to the warmth of the valley and a spin back to Lourdes.

Day 4 - 4 hours 10 mins - 70 miles

It started as light rain in the valley and as we set off the rain got harder and harder. We were still warm but wet as we passed through Bagneres to the foot of the Aspin. Over the Aspin it was getting more and more cold and near the bottom of the descent off the other side we decided to call it a day as it was now freezing and thick mist and cloud. We went back up the Aspin and headed toward Bagneres but by now it was freezing to the point where every joint and muscle in our bodies was hurting beyond belief. A quick stop and hiding from the rain in the back of a building, we troughed as much food as we could get into us and then quickly got back on the road but it was absolutely perishing. Once back to Bagneres, it was still cold but not as harsh as it had been but it was straight back to the B&B in Lourdes to get changed and hunt down some hot food.

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