Anyone interested in getting an SMS with my finishing time for the Grand Raid Cristalps can click on this link. Enter my race number 1431 and you should hear how I get on… The wonders of modern day technology.

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The rain continues to fall in the UK. The airport is packed with tourists wondering if my huge satchel has gold clubs or some MWD! Few people cart their bikes across Europe for some alpine riding. Well got to keep focused, albeit I forgot my passport on the journey from Guernsey, so I am now sitting with a latte hatching a plan to get my passport to the UK before my flight to Switzerland tomorrow. You can never to be too organised. Also needed to change tyre setup lastnight as packing. Lets hope there is no technical problems at the bike check tomorrow, if I get my passport…

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The Grand Raid Cristalp begins this weekend and while England has had its wettest summer in history there has been a temporary reprieve and the sun has come out. Unfortunately the same has not happened in Verbier, the host to this year start of the MTB Marathon.

I received an email from another cristalp’s competitor and he says its been snowing in Verbier and there is a blanket of snow at the highest point. The temperature is three centigrade at Verbier and minus one centigrade at the highest point - not really the conditions you want in the summer when facing an epic endurance challenge. It will make fun riding.

The  weather someone has calcualted for the ride. Not so sure of the tempratures though given the weather the past couple of days. Nevermind we shall see it all on the day. arghh

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Well its all over for another year but as intrepid bicycle bloggers our adventures continue. I hope the souls that have poured over this column stick to their bikes and have fun. Here’s my final adventure for the summer.

My final big outing for this summer is another mountain goat special. This time its a six valley 121km alpine special covering 5600m of ascent in one day. The highest point of the ride is 2700m, the same height as the Col de l’Iserank, but coverred in snow. The journey has earned opprobriums like “Pain has a Name,” “Ticket to Hell,” “Torture Tour” and “To Hell and Back”. Well I find out in a fortnight.

For any insane individual wanting to try this event in the future its called Grand Raid Cristalp. For those wanting to try an endurance MTB for charity, challenge or just because the hills are there please leave a post and I will assist with some guidance and knowledge. There are masses of events out their from stage races, multi-discipline adventure races and one day family outings. Take a look a gigathon for something weird and wonderful - here for a blurb in english.

As some readers will have read. Last month I rode amidst electric green pastures, crystal white rivers and sharp Austrian mountains. I am looking forward to hearing Swiss cow bells which have an hypnotising tone that chant you on up the hills. Cycling is a fast form of tourism for those wanting to feel, experience and appreciate terra firma. The Tour De France has finished but the hills still need ascending, flats conquering and downhills eaten.

I hope others continue to add their tales to this site. I have this site bookmarked and come back regularly. I will add a comment once I have completed my second summer alpine challenge. Let go and play hard…

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