Fargo and Away

After back to back hot days with over 6000 feet of climbing, Saturday brought both cooler temperatures and a shorter ride. Perhaps because of that, we had a more relaxed start.

Today was also the European debut of the new red over blue Morning Rounds Cycling Crew (MRCC) kits.

MRCC had its roots in COVID, when a group of riders decided that to keep a little bit of sanity they had to ride together occasionally. Over time, they developed a reputation for riding early and fast on Needham-Dover routes with names like “Taco Tuesday”, “POW loop”, “Farm Pond loop,” and the “Chocolate Loop.” The Taco Tuesday ride was the one that first brought the group to my attention. When I saw the distance and paces the group kept and I knew I wanted to ride with them. Through a mutual friend, I got to know a couple of the riders and asked if I might join them. They said, “Welcome!,” and the rest was history.

Other riders joined over the following years. We became closer friends, started doing movie nights, and meeting more often for coffee even if we didn’t ride that morning. I’m definitely one of the newer guys on the block, as many of my fellow riders have known each other for years. The weeklong cycling trips to France, Italy, and other parts, and long Saturday rides go back years. Still, the group took on its own specialness, and eventually we figured we ought to have a name and a cycling kit to commemorate our crew. And thus, MRCC was born. “Morning Rounds” has multiple meanings, from the literal time we do our rides, to the rounds of coffee we share after our rides, and (cheekily) to the number of doctors that are a part of the group. The kits and the name took a while to come together, and it was a thrill to see our crew rolling down the road like a red and blue train.

This morning’s ride followed the valley from Argeles Gazost for several miles.

We made a “short” 1000 foot climb up one side of the valley, hitting some 14% grades just for fun. An “amuse bouche” for the main climb, as the French might say. Then, we crossed the river to head up the slope on the other side.

Once we got to the Luz de Ardiden climb, the views started to amp up the wow factor. The valley below us was socked in with clouds much of the day, and we could look down on them as we climbed higher.

The climb was challenging but not as grueling as previous days, and the cooler temps really helped.

The many twists and turns kept offering amazing vistas the whole morning. It was difficult not to keep stopping and taking pictures of the winding road back-dropped against the mountains.

Most of us took the better part of two hours to reach the meadow-framed ski resort at the top.

We took our pictures with the Luz Ardiden sign and made our way to the vans for lunch.

The view was so spectacular we lingered at the top, which gave us plenty of time to take photos, greet each of the riders as they summitted, and enjoy the spread of French cheeses, fresh strawberries, baguettes, quiches, and sweets that our guides had set out for us.

We also poured Coke all over the snacks for the second time this week. Pro tip: don’t put a warm, uncapped 2-liter bottle of Coke in the middle of a picnic table set on unstable ground.

Eventually, we got back on our bikes and started back down the switchbacks, which was exhilarating. Last year, descending mountains terrified me, and my wrists would cramp horribly from squeezing the brakes constantly. So far, this year I am feeling a bit more comfortable riding down the roads, and have been able to carry more speed. I’m still constantly scanning for potholes, animals, cars, and bikes that might obstruct my path, so it isn’t exactly relaxing. But, it’s definitely a lot more fun. And my hands and wrists don’t cramp so much.

On the way back we avoided the detour climb on the other side of the valley and stuck to the main road back to town. Headwinds pushed us around a bit, making the descent a bit of an adventure. But, we all got back safely. We arrived back at the hotel in time for a stretch, pool soak, bathtub/sink laundry, some relaxing, and some resident puppy-petting before heading out for a stroll in town.

After showering, we went in search for some cycling shops. In the second shop, we met a group of younger British cyclists who were also touring the Pyrenees. They had just returned from their first ride, during which one of them had suffered a crash in which his tire, wheel, left hip, and left forearm all left a bit of themselves behind. He seemed in remarkably good spirits, however, and was enjoying a post-ride beer with his bandaged hip hanging out while his bike was getting first aid from the bike mechanic. He’s planning to ride again tomorrow. Youth.

We exchanged well-wishes with the Brits and were on our way. Some of us were on a hunt for Pyrenees-themed cycling gear and some were looking for a beer. We were all successful.

We had heard that by some luck, the UEFA championship football game (Paris St Germain vs Arsenal) was being played this evening so we made our way back to the hotel to watch the first half before dinner.

Spoiler alert: PSG won in penalty kicks.

Tomorrow, our last warm up ride before Mondays ride up the Tourmalet.