I'm out here setting the course amongst green verdant hills heavy with nuts and fruit.
There are loads of tracks and I now know which ones work ( a bit like Wales and I've set all but one of those since 94)
The area is stunning, stepping back in time, loads of peasent agriculture, which has been extinct in the UK for all my life.
Easy Jet are doing a deal to Toulouse for less than 50 quid return and the organiser will arrange pick up if you contact him. Rather easier than IoM...
Oh and it's still summer and in the 20s here. The trees are almost all in their summer finery, I've seen loads of wildlife but managed to avoid the Wild Boar, their tracks are everywhere,
though, loads of squashed Salamanders on the roads....well it makes a change.
Cheers
Jerry

PS I'll be looking at the website over the next few days if anyone has any questions

Just had a message from some prospective entrants.
EasyJet are quoting 12 pounds out and 16 pounds for the return flight
+ 11 wild boar wandered across the road outside the event centre on friday! They snuffled around the car and then trotted off into the woods.
Oh and it's being run as a summer event so no need for packs full of gear.
Cheers
Jerry Clog

Blimey, after Alston, all I want to do is chuck my bike in the car, get on the next ferry and blast down to the event area for a week, and do another PC!! Can anyone convince me to get down there??? Jerry, do you know roughly how many UK entrants are going?

Not very many, the entries are still coming in.
Martin spent a great deal of time and effort getting through the french bureaucracy. "We are all equal and thus everyone has to be consulted"
The UK's a cakewalk by comparison.
The PR was very much an afterthought, on the lines of "Build a Field (of dreams) and they will come", well they haven't. The french don't like carrying packs anymore than we do, rather less in fact, and I don't blame them.
Martin was involved as a UK polaris sponsor some years ago, and he hadn't realised that the winter polaris were losing prospective entrants to other events such as the 100ks.
I got involved about a month ago when he asked me to set the course, which I've just finished. I'm very happy with it. So it will be a small event in the summer format (my choice).
This is such a fertile warm area that there isn't the moorland we are used to, just loads of wooded hills, so there's no need for survival gear etc.
I've set it up as a two day trailquest though the hours are as the summer polaris, not that there is much difference anyway.
The problem has been that it really needed two years , one for the bureaucracy and one to push the event; I've got loads of ideas but it's far too late for this year.
All I can say is that it's dead easy and cheap for lots of people to get here and you stand a really good chance of winning the free holiday, as the Headings have pulled due to Steve knackering his knee on the autumn event.
I'm not on a percentage, just a freebie, but knowing what I know I'd do the event.
I'll probably be coming over again to sort out more routes for the proposed road and mountain bike and walking holidays that Martin wants for spring and autumn to extend his season. The area's brilliant

Jerry,
Exactly how many entrants are there as of now?
We are thinking of doing the event but if numbers are low as it seems, we may decide to stay home.

wondering why numbers are low??
KISS
more complicated more expensive inversely proporational to entry numbers

With more choice in the 'market' folks are spending their (time and money) elsewhere.

Solutions?
Simple format
Sex it up (youve got a real brand image problem - marketing/PR profile)
Make competitors feel important
Dont let Foot and Mouth ever happen again

Fee payable to Saatchi & Saatchi

expectant comments: 'formats great''dont change a thing'...return to question at top of message

If you are worried about the need for numbers, dont be, this is our first event and I can promise you a good one regardless of numbers.
The countryside is stunning and the course is good.
If you have never been to the Ariege I suggest you give it a go as the airfare is less than you would pay for a night in the pub and remember, the food and wine here are excellent and cheap
And we have never had foot and mouth or rabis here
Remember also that we are giving a weeks holiday to families of the winning team so you have an excellent chance of getting a freebie for the Summer
As for simplicity, nothing in France is simple.
The red tape just to get appro for running an event is unbelievable.
No wonder it was cancelled last time.
We have all worked hard here to put this event on, We would really appreciate your support

Our cheque is in the post, the flights are paid for (cheaper than petrol to Alston) and partner Matt & I are looking forward to a great event. Hope that wild boar will be on the menu instead of menacing us in the woods - much tastier than the usual dehydrated stuff or 'Cup-a-soup'. Also, the offer of unlimited free wine that you haven't yet mentioned (grin!) has really swung it for us!

look forward to seeing you
Red Rosie or white?
see if you can cadjol a few other brits.
This place is the last undiscovered part of France where if you get lost, the locals do not speak English.
The place is inhabited with hippies that ended up here from the 80,s, so the air from time to time has the smell of perculiar burnt herbs. You may be lucky enough to stumble over a plantation in the woods, along with the boar and wild goats and deer. The hawks and Buzzards are quite spectacular too
The people here are extremely laid back thats why they live so long.
Property prices are also still very cheap. a detatched with land from 70,000

re numbers
we are getting roughly 2 a day now so work it out
remember when the numbers are so few, the competition is harder as there are no teams to follow plus the prizes are more accessible.
Come on guys take the plunge it will be better than down the local on Saturday night and probably far cheaper, plus the duty frees to take home
Am I convincing anyone?

Actually it comes down to this. The fewer the riders, the more chance you have of winning.
The tracks wont mark up from wheel tracks, they are mostly sandy limestone tracks.
I've spent the day visiting some friends that have just moved here from sussex, I must admit I would like to live here myself.

This place sounds even better every time Jerry or Martin post a message! By the sounds of it, we will be spoiling the weekend if we bring the bikes.
According to our budget figures so far, the costs of getting my partner and I to Camarade are very similar compared to getting to Alston from our home in Ross-on-Wye and when you also bear in mind what we spent on accommodation (���!) on the Friday night, plus going hungry because the dopey local pub landlords stopped doing food at 8-30/8-45, France is too good a deal to miss.
20 degree daytime temperatures, good food, friendly locals, cutlets of wild boar, Martin's choicest wines, empty trails, deserted herbal plantations to graze - I may well be taking up permanent residence myself.
It's a bit of a shame if the numbers are a bit on the low side, but looking at it from our point of view, with a lot of training, even a couple of slackers like us could maybe scrape 50th place.

It was all way too late in the day for me to think of entering
this when I found out about it, which is a pity. having done
a bit of riding in France before I'd definitley have been
interested as I've always enjoyed the apres race activities
over there too.

Now that you've got the organisation of this sorted, please
don't be put off doing it again if you don't get the numbers
you wanted, just make sure that you do a bit more and a bit
earlier pre-publicity next time.

Good luck anyway.

I'm leaving here tomorrow morning with great memories and a broken rib. I cycled though one the local electric fence/ gates and was brought down.
I've taken great care to put the routes to the checks on tracks without the local electric gates, so that you don't suffer a similar occurence. I just have one track with these and I've marked them on the master maps along with the useable tracks and the checkpoint locations.
Unfortunately there wasn't the obligatory plastic bag hanging off this one so I didn't spot it, luckily the current was turned off. I only realised I'd bust something a couple of days later; I'm taking great care not to cough or sneeze.
John Gartside - I'm from Kington, just up the road from you. Have you checked out www.roughrides.co.uk yet?
I'll probably be at Llanwrtyd this coming weekend; there's a CTC organised offroad weekend there. (Yes I know that's an oxymoron)

jon thanks for the encouragement.
It has been an experience organising this through the French system and I guarantee that who ever turns up will have a good time.
We have learned a great deal and intend to run a summer fiesta challenge in November next year provided that we have got the nuts and bolts right this time.
So book early to avoid disappointment
regards

Hello Jerry

Kington is indeed not far from me, we often check out roughrides for route ideas, its very good. We used to go up to LW a lot when Gordon Green was the main man at the Neuadd. We haven't been for ages, as things have changed a bit there now. The Real Ale Wobble used to be the highlight of the year.

Jerry/Martin..... is the French PC open to soloists.... being a Norman No-Mates I'd only be up for a solo entry this time round.

justin
no problem
just get out here
I have a french bloke with no mates as well shall I try to match you up?

Team 101

Justin Rush /Jacques Chirac


Must bring some lightweight secateurs for those plantations...

Jacques Chirac.... he's not very fit these days. Now Jacques Cousteau on the other hand! Is he still alive though?
Seriously, if I can work out my schedule and get over there I'd do solo. Bit unsociable I know, but I usually have a better run solo.

Do�nt forget that its a summer event so bring your trunks and suntan oil
oh if anyone wants accomodation instead of a tent, that can be arranged with breakfast and evening meal for '40Euros a team

I just wanted to congratulate Martin and his wife on breaking through the red tape, It is a nightmare, not for the faint hearted. We live not too far away from the site and know how wonderful the area is for road and MTBing, we came here 14 years ago and have been through all that "what do you want to go and complicate your life for, getting involved in French bueaucrasy, We are in the Tourist/cycling business and have had a very busy season, bike riding is a real possibility here all year round so we haven't had time to even think about offering the support to Martin that we would have liked to. I'm really pleased that the event is taking place and even more pleased to read that you'll be using your experience to put on an event next year, bravo! I'll be giving you a ring to see if Nick or I can be of any help at this late date.

Martin,
You've talked us in to it we are coming over!
Be in touch soon.

I may be off line for a bit as my mum has just died so I have to come back to England next week for the funetal
Ill get my son to answer all queries whilst I am away
See you all on the 7th

I'm sending down the checkers etc today [Roger has gone on holiday without doing so and it's a bit late in the day when he comes back]
It's a great area. Imagine Radnorshire 50 years ago and a thousand miles south.
Geoff my email is [email protected]
There's one or two things to discuss, nothing difficult

justin
have you decided to show or not, as we haven,t heard from you as yet.
We are running the weekend as a festival here in France.
The neighbours have all mucked in and Saturday night will be a grand dinner complete with wine apperitifs etc. Make sure to book you place

weather check for next weekend
We have just had a cold spell when the weather was typically English, cold and wet.
As I write this, the temp is 20+ blue skies T Shirt weather.
I suggest you bring some layering as the mornings are crisp at around 8_10 and by 10 o clock it is starting to get warm. if it rains it could either drizzle in which case it will be warm and wet or it could piss down vertically when you will get wet!! and cold
there are nice hot showers when you get back
The evenings are cool
The pool is still open for the brave/stupid amongst you it is a healthy 12 degrees today about the same as the North sea.
See you all next weekend
The maps are all here and you will have plenty of time on Friday to study explore etc

This gets better by the minute! Grand dinner, good (possibly not!) weather, a pool, hot showers.

The only thing we're not so sure about is the wine being used as an 'aperitif' - anyone who knows partner Matt and I know that we like to use it more as a 'marinade'

Trust that the cutlets of wild boar are nice and mature now, a bit of armagnac........

Hello Martin

We sent you a mail today just to clear up a few last minute things and it got returned undelivered. Can you confirm your e-mail address as there are several versions of it that we have found by clicking your name on the various messages on this forum.

John

John
The usual aperitif in FRance is Pastise This is the watered down version of absenth as in absenth makes the heart grow fonder
eau de vie is the usual digestif you"ll either love it or have heart burn
e mail
[email protected]
see you soon

Thanks to Martin, his super family, neighbours and friends and all the other competitors who made our French Polaris so memorable. The food was excellent, and the wine flowed as freely as you could imagine. We even had some wild boar to eat! Tell Alain that our livers will never be the same again after the 'Eau de mort'.

Congratulations to the Heading brothers for winning in such grand style, they made everyone feel so bloody mortal with their fantastic scores, mind you, they can't drink to anywhere near the standard expected of the average mountain biker from our neck of the woods!

The course was marvellous, so thanks to Jerry for all that electric fence dodging. His little herd of wild pigs were unfortunately depleted a bit by the vast armies of hunters taking potshots at them and everyone else as it was the start of the hunting season on saturday. We are also pleased to say that the weather was kind to us, nay, magnificent!

Once again, the efforts made by Martin, his family and associates were beyond the call of duty and we wish them every success for the event next year.

I never did locate my North Face windstopper fleece, if anyone finds it could they drop me a line and we'll sort out repatriation.

I would just like to second the thanks expressed by John above. It was a wonderful event and thouroughly enjoyed by all who attended I am sure!
So, Martin, please pass on our thanks once again to all who helped to make the event so enjoyable and sucessful through their hard work, warm hospitality and of course,....drink!

See you next year!!

Well said John.... definitely an event to put in
the diary for next year. Fantastic riding in a
beautiful part of France, and great hospitality
from Martin, his family and neighbours.
Thanks also to Jerry for setting up the course
and reccying the rideable routes - although he
didn't mark ALL the electic fences as my new
afro hairstyle proves.

Shame about the low turnout, but good to
meet all those from the UK who did make the
trip.

So.... next year, mid-November - pencil it in
your diaries now. Summer-format Polaris,
approx �50 return flights, transfers arranged
to-from the airport, food and lodging available,
superb riding/hospitality/countryside. Well
worth the trip...

... and congratulations to John for winning the
inaugural French Alcoholaris in similarly
grand style! We're not worthy (or capable)! :-)

just like to add my thanks to all the Brits who took the trouble to eat and drink me out of house and home.
Alain has started brewing his rocket fuel for next year already as you did him proud by falling for his burning sugar lump trick
Thanks also for the warm welcome given to the French contingent by all that were there, they certainly know what they are up against for the next one
Sorry to all for the 2_3 controls that were not quite where Jerry intended them to be.
Next year we�ll get Jerry over if he is willing and make sure he has time to put the controls out
Once again I will be happy to invite you back to my humble abode next year
When we get the photos back I get them onto the site
First come first served for accomodation
November 9_10th 2004
See you all then

Considering all the things that went wrong it was a tribute to Martin's perseverance that it ever happened at all.

absolute quality...great event, great trails (especially 28-26 awesome) great hospatality, great people...says it all really, see u next year!

...im currently in cazzella de la sierra...the spain trip is excellant, the pyreenz were quality right up there with the snow!

if them jokers (john and co) with the dvds wanna get in touch, so we can show them how to ride! give us an [email protected]

cheers

Blake

Always thirsting to acquire knowledge, emphasis on thirst, if you know what I mean.

pip pip

PS I haven't had a drink since sunday morning!

John talking of thirst, how are your nose hairs after the flaming sugar lumps Eau de vie is supposed to put hairs on your chest not remove them and corterise the nostrils
see you next year
Incidently, if you want to come over at Christmas/New year we still have the big gite free, sleeps 10
Regards

It has just been pointed out that next year will be the 6/7th November and not the 9/10TH as recently put forward
Look forward to seeing you all then
Regards

I am one of many who loves the summer format but not winter. I was keen to do the event until I saw the details said it was winter format. If I had known it was actually summer I (along with at least 5) would have come. We wil be there next year if its summer format.

I pointed this out some weeks before the event but it was too late as the french adds had gone out.
Basically Polaris themselves might have advised Martin on the relative popularity of each format but for some reason they didn't.
Martin's area is safe for a summer format, even in pooor weather
When Polaris started up they were the only game in town. Now there are loads of other events, such as the now defunct Kona and Phil and my Marin roughride, it is proving far from easy to get new people to lay out one hell of a lot of cash for the equipment, lightweight tent etc.
Polaris are still doing well but it's a different story if one is starting cold with no database.
It's even more difficult in France where Enduro events are far bigger and more numerous than over here.
Oh and thanks for the great trails tribute. Martin put me up for two weeks so that I could discover which ones worked, and which were a result of cartographers fevered imagination, bit like wales really! I'll find some more for 2004.

Jerry, Is this likely to be an annual event in this area?
I was keen to enter for 2003, but couldn't get the necessary time off work. To be able to go back for 2004 would be great.

Martin has asked me to go out next year to set it up, and be there for the weekend as well.
We knew he wasn't going to get many takers the first time, what with the above problems, but he'd got through french red tape, which is enough to throttle their own citizens' initiative let alone a bloody foreigner's, so the only thing he and I were worried about was if people would have a good time.
I was confident with my course work, [this was my 16th or so such event to set up, so I should know what works by now] and Martin decided to turn the weekend into something less formal than is normally the case.
Polaris took the view to get the initial event set up and build on that.
Thankfully it went ok, as the above comments show.
I didn't mark up the elasticted shock cord over the back of the ridge behind Martin's house as it was obvious, what wasn't obvious was that it was literally a shockcord being electrified, if that's the one you 'found' Andy my apologies. Any others weren't there on the days that I checked. I got a bust rib and a subsequent confinement to bed for a week with a ripped back muscle so you got off lightly... especially when one costs in visite to the osteopath.

We'll be there next year. Be sure to to get the event put on the tca diary on their website, this will bring some people over.

Jerry - only joking (well, half-joking) about the
fences, I just got a couple of 'zings' on the way
under a couple of them. Excellent course
layout - highly recommended event for 2004,
especially if you like wine, great biking &
scenery, and summer format Polaris. We'll
definitely be there again next year...

ps - hope your rib and back are better

Thanks
I'm surveying the Offas Dyke national trail at present and have flu. I'm beginning to sound like Brian the Snail

I've got 6/7th Nov in my diary - couldn't make 2003 but we'll be there this year.

If this is the confirmed date, then perhaps we should let the TCA know and they can incorporate into their 2004 diary and get more people aware and interested.

We have a fete weekend organised for the 6/7 Nov 2004 for the French Polaris and we need to have numbers for food etc especially accomadation asap so that we can organise the locals
I can guarantee a good time for all and Ive put in a special word for some good weather. Camping is also available free on bite but transport too and from airports needs organising as well so cooperation would be appreciated
For rates of food accomadation etc check out
www.ariege.com/polarischallenge

Martin

Please arrange all-inclusive (inc wine)accommodation for the following members of our club :

Matt Doran
John Gartside
Eddie 'Enlarged Liver' Heyes
Dave 'Cirrhosis' Brown
Jason 'Eight Ace' Bennett
Martin 'Puker' Price

And some associates who will probably not be riding:

Oliver Reed
Richard Harris
Dean Martin
Liza Minelli
George Best

We visited Dave and Steve in Southport this weekend, and they said that you are catering for the more sophisticated cyclist at this Autumns event - well here we are!

John

Please spread the word of the happening in France 6-7 Nov. We also are expecting more French this time That means real frenchies not brits with a funny accent
Alan is practising his tricks with the Eau de mort so should be fun

Is that a serious request John?
Would you all like to have the same roof?
If you bring your computer this time, down load the porn before you go back to UK as French TV is boring

If we all survive the next few months and our regular 'Beer & Biking' trips we will probably be bringing a representative selection of the finest Hereford alco-cyclists. Maybe not six of us, but enough to take over the place and make you rue the day you offered 'free wine'. We'll also show you how to crack down on cheats like that awful Southport duo you made us lodge with last time.

The 'B' list of associates was actually a joke, seeing as 3 are dead and the other two are too pissed even to come on one of our trips!

My only worry is the entry fee cost, because the euro will be costing us about �2 by then.

John dont you get your e mails?