FFI - Your Time - Pyrenees 1000 mile challenge

"It's time, you're next." Pyrenees 1000 Mile Challenge !

“It’s time, you’re next.” That was a well-worn barbershop sign that I passed regularly, and I’ve always loved its simplicity. It struck me as a reminder for more than just a haircut, rather a stoplight to take stock in one’s situation in life, love, fitness, career. As an avid cyclist it prompted me to finally pursue a lifelong goal – ride in the wheel tracks of World Class cyclists across the world’s most unique and revered mountains, the Pyrenees.

A friend, Claire, had spent years in the saddle, literally. She looked to cycling to stay healthy, challenge herself and over time found camaraderie she came to value as a ‘rolling community’ wherever she went. She hit a time in her life where her fitness and cycling skill allowed her to contemplate rides that early in her pursuit seemed out of reach. She decided that it was her time to ride in the tracks of giants, over legendary mountains to see what it could teach her about herself. It turned out that her Ride Across the Pyrenees was equal parts personal test, community building, and cultural immersion. A gift to herself, wrapped three ways, that she never would have experienced had she not thoughtfully responded to the call – It’s time, You’re next.

There is something about challenging bike rides that attract us all. We crave that sensation of satisfaction from a demanding day’s effort on a bike. The harder, the better. Admit it, when you hear of a challenging ride your interest piques up. Here is one that should absolutely be on your bucket list: “Ride Across the Pyrenees, coast to coast (Atlantic to the Mediterranean) and back; 1000 miles, 100’000 ft, 12 stages.” This is an opportunity for you to test, and to validate, how you feel about yourself as a rider. It’s a quest we all should experience before it’s too late in our riding career. After years in the saddle, tons of work to improve your fitness and skills, and countless epic rides, you're ready to up your game. It’s time to for you too to “ride in the slipstream of giants.”

A journey of this stature is definitely a unique experience because it’s an enormous accomplishment. This is much more than just a weekend ride. It’s the apex of a cycling career, and a launching pad into another level of confidence. Everyone on their first go around has doubts about completing the tour, but once they’ve finished those fears are gone, replaced by greater self-confidence and new horizons. Consider this trip your reward for the years you put in the saddle.

Allan Reeves, of France From Inside Tours, created this challenge back in 2006, and every year since he’s taken a group of aspiring cyclists to enjoy what is a lifetime experience. What made him do it? Here’s his answer, “For the same reasons as any other passionate cyclist. I wanted to know what it would be like to summit the famous cols of the Pyrenees! Better yet, how difficult, breathtaking (literally), and awesome would it be to ride from coast to coast and back? I created this trip because I had to find out. I had to test myself. Now that I've done it, I realize that this trip qualifies as a “bucket list” item for any serious committed cyclist. And I recognize, after watching the experiences of past clients, that for many this ride is a culmination of their cycling dreams. It is for me.""

"Therefore, after 16 years I am still excited and energized to do it again. What can I say, it’s an intense challenge that I would describe as an epic quest in a legendary land. It is ambitious, bold, magnificent, inspiring and imposing. It has beautiful landscapes, awe inspiring mountain passes, and cycling history rich and unsurpassed by any other region in the world. Simply put it ranks as some of the best and most exciting cycling you could ever dream of. Everyone comes away from this journey with great memories, a truly unique experience and grasp of what it's like to ride the famous Pyrenees cols. The deep sense of pride for tackling one tough gutsy ride is a long-lasting benefit. At the beginning of the trip, one may be apprehensive about being able to finish, but by the end you will genuinely feel the end came too soon. In one word ....Priceless! This tour will surpass your expectations and is a must for any serious cyclist who wants to experience the French Pyrenees.”

The finishing touch to this trip? “The unexpected experiences on this trip make it more than a physical and technical challenge. You’ll traverse the Pyrenees backroads to discover the beauty and variety that 90% of the cycling tourists never see. We keep the group small for an elite high-quality experience, stay away from the commercial hotels, and have the owner (me) lead the tour, who himself is French/American and an experienced passionate cyclist. Experience the Pyrenees from the inside, and ride them like the pros, and feel bonded to France in a very special way.”

Final thoughts? Nothing is more compelling than doing what you love. Life is busy with the pursuit of a career and responsibilities, the nose to the grindstone so to speak, but moments of bliss can be captured through your passions, that which makes your heart and mind come alive. For the passionate cyclist a long day on the bike is their happy place, I know it’s mine. Riding across the Pyrenees from coast to coast and back is bliss. My grandmother said it best, “it’s like love, it’s a combination of joy and suffering.”