General Membership Meeting
Monday, November 4, 7 p.m.
201 1st Street, First Floor
This is the 3 story office building at the corner of 1st and D Streets on the west end of the D Street Bridge. There will be a sign in the lobby.
Penney Willocks and Tim Fleming, pro cycling guides from Montaucon Tours
If there’s cycling in heaven, the roads of the Languedoc region of southern France would be one of the first amazing rides of the afterlife!
In 2007, there were a few Kiwis who found themselves in what was, to them, a previously unknown part of southern France. Lured by the promise of amazing training conditions, they packed up their kits and took off to Limoux, in the Languedoc region.
Escaping the New Zealand winter was one thing, but ending up nestled in the foothills to the Pyrenees, I knew I was on to a good thing. Having succeeded in a race in which I rode, ran and kayaked across the South Island of New Zealand, I found myself amongst the Triathlon New Zealand and Bike New Zealand Olympic athletes working my way through a 6 month training block.
Where better to train than in an area that is considered to be one of the best in the world to ride your bike? Where the locals incorporate you as one of them, not a tourist. Where each day you take off on your bike, only to ride along seemingly unending new roads, past Medieval castles, through picturesque ancient villages, along sunflower lined roads and, of course, up some of the great climbs of the Tour de France.
So good in fact, that 7 years on, I find myself returning to Limoux, however, not in the capacity of an athlete, rather working with Montfaucon and alongside Tim from Endurance Performance Training Centre in Mill Valley. I am still discovering the excitement of this area with the added bonus of introducing other cyclists to the challenges and joys of the of Languedoc.
Through the whole adventure I have met amazing people, whether it be out on the bike, at Montfaucon, or, the travels it has taken me on. Come and find out about my adventures and how Tim and I have found ourselves in Petaluma alongside Montfaucon.
Looking forward to seeing you!
