How many km did you ride during the tour?

      Aaron:   No cycle computer (rode 100%)

       Andy:   1239 km (missed 3.5 days)

       Chris:   cycle computer was lost (missed 1.5 days)

Christian:   1826 km (rode 100%)

      Elijah:   1775 km (rode 100%)

      Javier:   cycle computer broke (missed 1 day)

       John:   1799 km (rode 100%)

       Scot:   1885 km (rode 100%)

   Tammy:   1590 km (missed 1 and ¼ days)

     Tanya:   1750 km (rode 95% missed ¼ of a day)

    Connie:   NA

       Dana:   NA

Physically, how hard was the trip (1 to 5)?

      Aaron:   2.25

       Andy:   4

       Chris:   2

Christian:   2.5

      Elijah:   3.5

      Javier:   5

       John:   2

       Scot:   4 everyday of riding

   Tammy:   4

     Tanya:   3

    Connie:   2

       Dana:   2

What is your current saddle soreness (1 to 5)?

      Aaron:   3.5

       Andy:   1

       Chris:   5

Christian:   1

      Elijah:   2.5

      Javier:   3

       John:   1

       Scot:   3

   Tammy:   2.5

     Tanya:   4

    Connie:   NA

       Dana:   NA

During the trip what and when was your worst saddle soreness (1 to 5)?

      Aaron:   3.5 – coming into Barcelona

       Andy:   5 – Day 3, Day 4, and day going to Lyon

       Chris:   5 – last day

Christian:   2 – Valance to Pierrelatte

      Elijah:   4 – Verdun to Neufchateau

      Javier:   4 – Going into Luxembourg

       John:   None

       Scot:   5 – during the first four days

   Tammy:   5 – Sete to Port la Nouvelle, Luxembourg to Verdun, and Bernkastel to Luxembourg

     Tanya:   4 - Day 4 (going into Luxembourg)

    Connie:   NA

       Dana:   NA

What is your overall physical condition compared to the start  (1 to 5)?

      Aaron:   3

       Andy:   4

       Chris:   3

Christian:   4.5

      Elijah:   4

      Javier:   5

       John:   4

       Scot:   4

   Tammy:   5

     Tanya:   4

    Connie:   4

       Dana:   3

Do you currently have any aches and pains form the tour? Where?

      Aaron:   No

       Andy:   No

       Chris:   No

Christian:   fingers and elbow hurt from fall

      Elijah:   No

      Javier:   Lack of energy

       John:   yes, recovering ribs from fall and scrapes

       Scot:   A little knee soreness

   Tammy:   No

     Tanya:   No

    Connie:   yes, shoulder from driving

       Dana:   No

Would you have done training any differently?

      Aaron:   Yes. More training (I would have actually trained)

       Andy:   Two 100 km days back to back

       Chris:   No

Christian:   No

      Elijah:   Longer rides and train consecutive days

      Javier:   train more, longer distances

       John:   yes, more hills

       Scot:   Not really, might have done more

   Tammy:   Longer rides. Try to do a camping trip to make it more like the real trip. Find a big hill and practice it. Experiment with different types of seats.

     Tanya:   More km, more consecutive day riding, longer trips

    Connie:   NA

       Dana:   NA

How was the organization of the trip  (1 to 5)? What could be done better?

      Aaron:   5

       Andy:   4 – better maps

       Chris:   3.75 – better maps, more mobile phones

Christian:   4 – have good maps for everybody

      Elijah:   2 – Address and place we are staying on the maps. Readable maps.

      Javier:   4.5 – better maps

       John:   5

       Scot:   4 – choose better lodging

   Tammy:   4 – better maps

     Tanya:   4 -  maps could be done better (more legible)

    Connie:   4 – better maps

       Dana:   4 – mobile phones all the time for all riders

How would you overall rate this trip (1 to 5)?

      Aaron:   5

       Andy:   4.5

       Chris:   4.25

Christian:   5

      Elijah:   4.8

      Javier:   5

       John:   5

       Scot:   4

   Tammy:   5

     Tanya:   3.75

    Connie:   4

       Dana:   4.5

If you did the ride over, what would you do differently?

      Aaron:   Better fitting bike shorts, less greasy sunscreen, get carbon fiber seat

       Andy:   Eat better and more consistently, sleep more, use padded bike shorts from the start, know that I had a rash

       Chris:   Buy an actual set of maps. Better seat. Drink more water.

Christian:   buy a bigger CamelBak, have bike shirts, stronger sunscreen

      Elijah:   Eat and drink a lot more. Replace hub with a better one. Don’t push for speed but less breaks.

      Javier:   more training, carry passport with me at all times

       John:   Get a brake

       Scot:   Eat more, sleep more

   Tammy:   sleep more, eat a bit different

     Tanya:   Ride the last 30 km to Luxembourg City

    Connie:   bring one more book (ran out of books)

       Dana:   Nothing

Would you do another long distance ride? What geographic area interests you?

      Aaron:   yes. South Dakota, Nebraska, Yellowstone tour, Alps, East bloc countries

       Andy:   yes. Spain and Portugal

       Chris:   Yes. South America.

Christian:   yes, place with hills and some flat

      Elijah:   yes

      Javier:   yes. Puerto Rico, Australia, New Zealand

       John:   Yes. Ride across the United States

       Scot:   yes. California top to bottom

   Tammy:   Yes. Argentina or Puerto Rico

     Tanya:   Yes. The Puerto Rico ride sounds interesting

    Connie:   Yes. Australia or UK

       Dana:   Yes (doing support). South America or Australia

How do you rate the group dynamics for the entire trip  (1 to 5)?

      Aaron:   3.5

       Andy:   4

       Chris:   4

Christian:   4

      Elijah:   4

      Javier:   4

       John:   4

       Scot:   3.5

   Tammy:   4.5

     Tanya:   3.75

    Connie:   5

       Dana:   4.5

What was your favorite day of riding? Why?

      Aaron:   going into Luxembourg – got amazingly lost, best food, personal accomplishment that day, turning point day

       Andy:   Coullioure to L’Escala - riding through the Pyrenees, not saddle sore, going into new country. Also, riding on the canals.

       Chris:   First day we hit the Mediterranean – change of climate, more to look at, different from rest of days, lots to do

Christian:   Neufchateau to Langres – tons of hills, Lyon to Valance – rode 180 km (over 100 miles), Coullioure to L’Escala – Pyrenees, L’Escala to Tossa de Mar – the hills in the last 30 km

      Elijah:   Koblenz to Bernkastel – short cut was fun, riding in as sun was setting was fun, pretty scenery

      Javier:   Going into Luxembourg – because it was dark and finished at 12:30, everything came together. The other was going into Port la Nouvelle  - took it easy during the day

       John:   Neufchateau to Langres – Jet lag gone, no pain or saddle soreness, at piece with self, alone, beautiful day.

       Scot:   Coullioure to L’Escala - riding through the Pyrenees

   Tammy:   Coullioure to L’Escala - riding through the Pyrenees

     Tanya:   Coullioure to L’Escala - riding through the Pyrenees

    Connie:   Bernkastel - Lunch was cool, crossed river on ferry, roads were fun

       Dana:   Day we saw the Mediterranean -  it was a big relief

What was your favorite night or day off? Why?

      Aaron:   Dijon – everything clicked, peaceful

       Andy:   Verdun – nice city and the WWI fort was interesting

       Chris:   Day of in Luxembourg City – lots of food

Christian:   Lyon – everything worked out

      Elijah:   Sete day off – jumping off cliffs, Tossa de Mar – riding on the tube and nice hotel

      Javier:   L’Escala – chance to talk to people, got to relax, awesome lunch.

       John:   Port la Nouvelle. Reminded me of my childhood

       Scot:   L’Escala – Desiree was there and good time at the beach

   Tammy:   Sete – Jumping off cliff, Valence – cool Hotel

     Tanya:   Langres - Nice town, nice dining

    Connie:   Lyon – Olivier helped out

       Dana:   Verdun - Relaxing

Food and Drink

What was your favorite drink on the tour?

      Aaron:   Strawberry flavor Yop at llanca

       Andy:   Muller Milch (banana flavor), Deamnea UP (kind of yogurt) with cereal

       Chris:   White Sangria

Christian:   Yop

      Elijah:   Peach juice

      Javier:   Limonade, cold water, sport drinks

       John:   Fanta – best one was after the Pyrenees

       Scot:   1664 Beer

   Tammy:   Yop

     Tanya:   Cold “hot” chocolate

    Connie:   Mumm Champagne

       Dana:   White Sangria

What was your worst eating experience?

      Aaron:   Lunch at Montgut – smoky, crappy food, intestine complaints

       Andy:   Verdun – ate all the wrong foods and messed me up the next day

       Chris:   Dinner at Nimes, the steak was bad tasting

Christian:   Lyon dinner – Chinese Styrofoam crackers sucked

      Elijah:   Breakfast at Sete – the hot chocolate was awful

      Javier:   Hairy fish, fish pizza

       John:   Tossa de Mar – Lunch, the combo of food didn’t agree

       Scot:   L’Escala – Because of mystery meat

   Tammy:   Eating too much at breakfast and not feeling well during the rest of the day

     Tanya:   Nimes, because nobody wanted to eat

    Connie:   Langres - Breakfast

       Dana:   L’Escala