News from McNab.

Arrora Borealis as seen from the mess tent, Greenland.

Its starting to get hot out here in Chamonix and the summer season is now just around the corner.

Yesterday I did my first Cyclosportif bike race with the 'Time Megeve' which starts in 'Megeve' (obviously), goes over the 'col du Aravis', down to Thones, up the 'Col du Crois du Fry' (really hard!) down and back over the 'col du Aravis'down to Flumet and then if you're doing the short one (88km - 2000m of climbing) then back to Megeve.

There's a middle and longer distance race at the same time, one at 115km with another 900m of climbing on top and then one at around 150km with around 4000m of climbing!

There's about 3500 cyclists at the start all leaving at the same time en-masse. Its a great feeling and the start is really fast as you head down the valley from Megeve to Flumet before the first big climb of the day.

I rode the short course earlier in the week in 3hrs 20mins so wanted to beat this time and try to get in the first 100. I rode the course in 3hrs 9 mins and came in 69th which I'm happy with, it being my first attempt and I now know how it all works and where to make up time in the future.

I'll ride the courses every now and then this summer and I'm determined to try to knock a good 10 mins off my time, it'll be good to get under 3hrs!

It's meant to be one of the harder courses with some pretty major climbing. I'm more of a 'power sprinter' model and find the climbing hard but as I live in the mountains I'm just going to have to keep working at it. I'm getting there 'slowly'!

Anyway it was all great fun in a hard suffer fest kind of way!

I'm riding with the GPM10 crew at the end of the week for a tour of Mont Blanc which should be good. 4 days, lots of cols, beautiful scenery and some great descents. This will put some miles in my legs and then I'll try the Megeve course again.

After that I have my first Mtn Guiding work with my first Mont Blanc and then the summer takes off and I'll be up in the mountains here and elsewhere. I have a Via ferrata week in the Dolomites coming up which should be good and quite a few winter snowboarders coming out to try their hands at climbing.

The Winter calendar is looking very busy already, it normally looks this busy in November!

Good to see some people early planning and getting excited about snowboarding already. I'm really looking forward to next winters courses. I enjoyed this last winter so much and next years will be better still as I'll have the new 'Jones' boards to ride which look fantastic.

Pure float in deep perfect powder, Winter is on its way, well kind of!!

Imagine the powder turns we'll be getting, Pure float!

Ooooh its going to be good!!

Here are a few more Greenland shots to wet your appetite, enjoy!

Damian takes the local taxi to base camp.

On the way up to climb another virgin peak with all that descent waiting below.

Right now back out on the bike, strong legs, strong legs that's what we need.

Couple of new posts on the Ask McNab Q&A blog too so check them out!

All is good in chamonix!

Neil.