Yesterday I remarked that the TdF riders were not likely to have snow on the road as they climbed the Col du Tourmalet. And that was the case. But if the race had been 600 miles to the ENE from Tourmalet the story may have been different. Snow at the top of Passo dello Stelvio on July14th!
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July 14, 2008 at 1:56 pm
velogirl
we experienced a little high country unpredictability of our own on the Death Ride on Saturday. descending the 4th pass, we got hit with bubblegum ball sized hail for a good 20 minutes. we then rode into clear, hot weather for about 20 miles. then, climbing the last pass, we got torrential, flash-flooding rain along with our hail. and temps dropped a good 30 degrees. made that last descent a chilling affair (mentally and physically).
July 14, 2008 at 2:15 pm
CyclistRick
VeloGirl - I assume you finished all 5 passes. Congratulations! The unpredictable weather in high country is always tricky, and one of the reasons I keep going back and forth on the Everest Challenge; two years ago it would have been boiling hot, last year freezing cold with rain and snow.
July 14, 2008 at 2:21 pm
chatterbox
All high country events should be “if it’s nice weather” events. Kern should also be an “if it’s nice weather” event.
July 14, 2008 at 2:36 pm
velogirl
yes, I finally got that freaking pin!!!
it wasn’t pretty at all — bad altitude sickness.
but it’s done.
July 14, 2008 at 8:49 pm
chris
I don’t often run into snow and hail in TX, but it would spice things up a bit if I did.
July 15, 2008 at 4:36 am
Groover
Definitely no snow and hail here!
Still complain about winter. Go figure.
July 15, 2008 at 6:55 am
lauren
that death ride sounds like childbirth.
July 15, 2008 at 10:01 am
CyclistRick
VeloGirl - so now you can plan other activities for mid July next year . Good job at persevering.
Chris - Snow and hail generally make it more “interesting”.
Groover - Doesn’t take snow or hail to make winter miserable. Cold and too many hours of dark are among the reasons to grouse about winter IMO.
Lauren - I wouldn’t even pretend to be able to make that comparison.