Riding the Pyrenees with Adventure Travel Group - 3 of 3

At the start of stage 17 in Pau, we watched as a spectator booed the first Rabobank rider as he rode to the start line- this was the first day the team rode without Rasmussen. The rider stopped, angrily glared for 30 seconds, then circled back to the spectator and squirted him in the face with his water bottle. Across the way, a group of people dressed as giant hypodermic needles protested in front of television cameras. Tensions were definitely high at the start of this stage, but it didn't ruin the Tour experience. Several of us were close enough to the Discovery riders to get autographs from George, Levi and Popo. We were able to see all of the teams up close as they assembled at the start.

You Call That a Climb?

Looking back on our EuroBike Tour, the miles didn't seem so significant - around 40 to 60 miles a day - but it felt like so much more. They were definitely some of the hardest - but sweetest miles I've ridden. Everyone in the group improved as a rider, and all of us had different opinions about which climbs were the toughest (it was Tourmalet for me). And because most days included hours of climbing, nothing seems daunting anymore - an hour of climbing? A grade of over 10%? No problem, we did that for days.

Cycling together on a group cycling tour also gives you an opportunity to get to know people a little better - whether it's because careers and lives outside of cycling are secondary, or whether people are more likely to let down their guard on a bike. It's hard to beat the friendships you develop through cycling. We all came away from the trip with memories of great cycling, shared pain (the good kind), scenery, food and new friends to call for a weekend ride or to plan future cycling adventures with.