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Alps Divided by Two

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Alps Divide 2024 - The pie was more than enough for two I'd been looking for a 'statement ride' in the year I turned 60. Before she went travelling, Kate had introduced me to this thing called the Silk Road Mountain race. I'd foolishly said I'd be up for it, without thinking for a minute of the logistics of a month away. Why? Well let's charitably agree that I like a challenge, but this one was just not practical.  Once I'd reneged on that pledge, Kate found a new Ultra, The Alps Divide. For those not familiar with the lexicon, the word 'Divide' signifies a race/ not race of eye-watering proportions, starting in one far flung place and ending up in another, via some significant obstacles, over a prolonged distance. This one looked mouth-watering, apparently gravel-bike friendly and through the heart of the stunning mountains of the Alps, from Menton on the Mediterranean coast to Thonon-les-Bains on the shores of Lac Leman.  The description of the rid
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Penge Cycle Club does Paris-Roubaix 2017

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Many cruel jibes about the road sign There’s something about a road trip that I just love. Particularly when there is a challenge or an adventure to be enjoyed or endured and even more particularly when you do it with a special group of people. Many years ago, on a regular annual Easter trip, someone much older and wiser said to me; ‘remember this moment – this is as good as it gets’. We were playing Petanque as the sun went down over the stone ramparts of one of SW France’s most picturesque ‘bastide’ towns, and the pre-dinner pastis filled us with a sense of well being. I experienced another such moment on safari in South Africa with my wife and two boys, just before waving my wife off on her insane 8 months of sailing around the world. We had just completed a fabulous game drive having finally seen the one remaining elusive big cat – the Leopard. Our guide had driven us to the highest point in the reserve and we had watched a herd of Elephant pass through the valley below u
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