No one mentions how much time cycling takes up.

Firstly, you have to find everything, then make sure it’s all charged, clean, etc etc, then you have to prepare the bike, (something I’ll come back to shortly), and all of that before you even set off! Inside training may not be as much fun, but at least it’s easier when you have a bike already set up and can just jump on. My interval training is progressing well thanks to 80s rock music which, with it’s long instrumentals is proving great for really pushing yourself to the limits.

Aside from the actual cycling, there’s real life to fit in.

We’ve been on a massive spring clean at the Allons-Y-Pyrenees site, sorting the three houses, gardens and pool ready for peak season to start, waiting for deliveries of new stock, sun loungers for the sun terrace, a new beer fridge for guests, a bike trailer… and these things never arrive when scheduled! We’ve built the pizza oven shelter, are in the process of upgrading the pool chill out area, planted (and already eaten some) of our own salad and vegetables to serve to our guests, painted, scrubbed and cleaned!
But by far the most exciting development this month is the return of Jaffa the dog who visited in March with a cycling party and who has come to stay with us for three months whilst her owners travel and complete Ironman competitions before coming back to AYP for another week’s cycling holiday.