Before I describe the ride I thought it might interest you to describe what "suiting" up actually means. Now if I was a local I would not need a lot of the gear that I carry, but as an Aussie abroad here is what I take and wear before I turn a pedal.
I wear a good pair of cycling shoes (Italian quality) and some thicker socks for the cold weather. I wear a cycle short that's known as a bib'n'brace style that I apply a cream to the chamois area. This ensures my little derriere is not subjected to any rash or infection. The cream it like Sorbalene or Vitamin E cream. For those who have endured a rash in this area, then it is mandatory to use this on +2 hour rides. As it is cold I wear thick cycle tights, an under shirt and then another Lycra cycle top. In the last few days I have also been wearing arm warmers and for the cold and wet weather I carry a shell jacket that is wind and water resistant. To finish of I have gloves, helmet (not everyone wears them here) and my sun glasses. Glasses of any type are essential on descents. You want to see the bug I cleaned of my lens the other day when I was doing about 60 KM down a hill. I also wear a heart rate monitor that talks wirelessly to my bike speedo.
I carry a small tool kit and pump which allows me to repair flats and also any minor adjustments. I also carry my iPhone to capture these pics for you and to listen to music, along with my decent camera and some ID, cash and credit card. In my one remaining pocket I carry 3-4 Energy Gels that are pretty much pure carbohydrate for easy consumption while still moving.
On the bike it's 2 water bidons and 2 speedos, 1 which is a GPS unit that allows me to capture and map the ride details later from my PC.
I decided to split the day into a morning and afternoon ride today. First up I did a slow casual ride South of Lourdes for about 35 KM along some real pretty rural county roads. Every 5 KM you ride through a little town and then it's crops or freshly cut and rolled hah bales dotting the landscape. Back for lunch and then a quick nap to prepare for the arvo ride which was to the ski station known as Hautacam.
This ride is a Hors Categorie that has featured on the TDF on 4 precious occasions, most recently in 2008. That year a couple of Italians skated up the summit and made some of the climbers around them look slow. 2 days later the organizers threw them both out of the Tour after they both were busted for EPO.
I could have done with sone EPO today as it is a tough 13 KM ride straight up a grade that in some places spikes up to 14%. By the time I got to the top it was covered in cloud and the Temp was 8 degrees. In the valley 1100 metres below it was 22. So down I went at a rate of knots hitting over 70 kph in 2 sections of open road. Yee Haa!!!
Tonight I stayed in and cooked pasta that was helped down with a glass of Bordeaux Red (a big glass as I earnt it with 90 KMs today). Till tomorrow from the Cycling Foodie.