Well, I set out this morning (long time ago now!) with the intention of cycling up the Tourmalet, but snow meant that the road was closed. So, not wanting to waste the day, I cycled up Luz Ardiden from Luz St Sauveur. Click here for climb profile.

I had a terrific day and took some photos en route, though the temperature (27 C) made it more difficult than I would have liked!

Hope you guys like the pics - they're mainly for your benefit!

Hi,

Nice!

I keep dreaming of riding some of the big climbs in Europe. I hope to do so before I gain too much more weight.

im jealous

looks beautiful. i like the hairpin turn.

Yes, it was a very special day for me. Not a long ride at all, less than 30 miles altogether, but the climb was really challenging. Plus it's that indescribable profound feeling of cycling the hills of the greats - I think Armstrong was the last to win a stage on Luz Ardiden in 2003.

Thanks for the comments.

Thank you! There are two distinct switchback sections on the climb. There must be 15 or more hairpins altogether. On the way down they're awesome and the road surface gives you plenty of confidence to crank the bike right over. The GP3000s were flawless as usual.

Great photos, Sounds like it was a great ride.

Nice pics, thanks for sharing!

Gee, and I was thinking how great it is going to be next week when I take a day off and go to north Georgia to ride up Hogpen. That's like you playing golf at St. Andrews and I had a round of Putt-Putt.

Very cool. One of these days I'm going to do something like this.

Good stuff!!!

Beautiful!

Thanks for sharing.

Az

Oh, to be in your cleats...

Looks beautiful, Gawd I need a vacation...

Did anyone yell "Dope'!" at you with that kit on...?

i'm off to france in october for a one year sabbatical. lots of riding, i hope to do a bunch of the classic climbs. thanks for the psych!!!

<<<<-- Jealous.

Thanks for sharing and turning me green with envy.

Oh, just rub it in...tnx...

Awesome photos! Thanks for sharing.

Wow, that just rocks. Those pictures are awesome. I might just make one of them my background.

Great pics... the one with your bike and the mountains in the background is fantastic. You should blow that up and frame it. Thanks for sharing!

Thanks mate. Looks like a really nice way to spend a day

Thanks guys - I'm way ahead of you on the desktop background though! The bike w/ mountains in the background went on as soon as I got in. That's why I took it in such a way as I knew it would make a good desktop.

The pics are terrible quality due to the limit on filesize. They were taken as fine L jpegs (EOS 40D) and then I used the facebook previews to avoid reducing the size myself! If any of you want any of the full size images, PM me your e-mail address and I'd be glad to send you the full size file (roughly 5mb each).

My pleasure in posting the pics - glad I inspired at least one to do the same.

In response to the "dope" allegations, I should like to point out that 1) I wasn't going fast enough to provoke such animation from the "crowd" and 2) the only other people on bikes I saw were four guys, each of whom had team strip on themselves!! Wish someone had yelled it though, that would've been awesome!

what awesome pics, everytime someone posts pics of europe i get incredibly jealous, someday I will get to tour all the great areas of that continent, it will happen! thanks for posting them!

Sweet! Gives me motivation to get over there next summer.

that is amazing, amazing stuff, matt. just makes me wanna pack my crap up and move to Europe that much more. tres beau, for sure.

It's amazing - nothing like sweeping down the switchbacks as close to the road with your elbow as you dare! Do it, you will not regret it. I will be going back possibly this weekend as it's a long one in France. If I do I'll be sure to take pics and post them. Depends on time and weather factors so it's not a certainty.

Next time try the Aubisque, but mind the descent.