Hi Julie & Lee,

Our weekend (august 09) in your place was JUST GREAT !
Before going, we liked the cozy atmosphere in your hotel, when we arrived it was clear confirmation of what we were expecting - mountain biking, comfort, privacy, organic grown food, nice people - lovely.

Thanks for all the advice that Lee gave us for mountain biking. We're looking forward to return... maybe after the winter.

All the Best from Paris,

David

I had an amazing time at Velo Pyrenees - thanks Lee & Julie!

This was my first visit to the Pyrenees - and France for that matter, but Lee & Julie was a great help with collection at the station, advice on routes, GREAT food and general encouragement.  VP is close to several huge climbs (Port de Bales, Superbagnes) and my personal favorite steep climb : Col de Mente from St Beat.

Many thanks for a great time and I look forward to seeing you both again next year. GM

I only can subscribe every word of all the very positive comments below. A perfect place for cycling enthusiasts and others of course.

Thank you so much Julie and Lee.

I stayed with my friend Mani and our wives for 8 days in velopyrenees. The accommodation was great and the place very calm. We had a healthy breakfast every day and a fantastic dinner - the deserts were sensational :-))

The area is superior for biking - reminds me a lot on the Alps with two differences: Its milder and there's **much** less traffic on the well asphalted roads. We did some tours (velopyrenees offers data and maps of at least 30 tours from 30-200+ km and 500m to 3km altitude meters) where cars where really a rarity. You can do really romatic trips through wild national parks and lonesome pass roads - you can also go to your limits on famous routes like Tourmalet and others.

After our daily biking torture we also visited nearby places like little holiday towns, castles or huge impressive caves. There are quite peaceful places, romantic restaurants and you can get everywhere tasteful crepes (pancakes).

Julie and Lee where always helpful in advicing us for adequate tours or helping us with other little things. Even a guest computer for internet access was available.

Back home I am missing my velopyrenees today and I am sad a little bit. But I'll add all our memories to our blog here ... http://www.doxtop.com/magazines/racebikepyrenees.aspx ...
and hope we'll have the chance to enjoy this wonderful place ones again in the future ...

Best to Julie & Lee
Paul (in the name of Mani, Evi and Joan)

We had a fantastic family holiday walking in the hills. Julie and Lee were perfect hosts; the hospitality great, their support and advice on what to do - priceless! Could not recommend it highly enough. Next time shall return with my bike for a play in the mountains!Hi Julie & Lee,

Fantastic cycling, superb countryside and mountains, thanks for the great hospitality, the food was excellent and the house had far more than enough room, special thanks to Lee for the use of the wheel, and support with the bikes and route choice.

If you are considering this area then this is the place to stay!!
Chris and Jane

Looking back at our photos we are reminded of what a beautiful little valley that Velo Pyrenees is situated in. It was great to be able to head up the valley and after only a short warm up start the 19km climb up the Port de Bales which is challenging and has great views from its summit at 1,755 metres.

As the cycling options in the area were many and varied we appreciated the advice we got from Julie and Lee which helped us to make the most of our 7 day's stay in the area. I appreciated having route maps made available rather than having to make up our own. There are plenty of routes we could still explore if we are ever able to make the long trip from New Zealand again.

In NZ we provide accommodation ourselves and we were impressed with the high standards of presentation and cleanliness of our rooms.

We took a long journey in Pyrenees and found by accident Velo Pyrenees while searching good place to make one good exercise-session for triathlon. That was a very lucky "accident". One day turned to three days, and everything was better than what we could have expect.

We spend those three days with a great hospitality of Julie and Lee. First of all, they gave us specific guidance where to do exercising, secondly offered some equipments we were missing, and thirdly offered great  accomondation (not to forget meals). Thanks to them we really had a succesfull "exact impact" for training, and we were enjoying a whole "packet" in there very much. We can and would like to recommend Velo Pyrenees to everybody who likes to stay pleasant and peacefull place either if you do sport, rock climbing or are just travelling thereby.

Julie and Lee, we wish you all the best and look forward to visit you again.
Arto and Annika from Finland.

Team Gump cannot recommend Velo Pyrenees highly enough. As a well travelled group of highly un-organised and dis-jointed cyclists, it was sheer heaven to land in the middle of the Pyrenees and find all our needs and expectations met and surpassed.

The routes were awesome and well mapped out, including Col de Peyresourde, Portet D'Aspet, Col de Tourmalet and the Aspin. You could spend many weeks cycling in this area and never do the same route twice.

The accommodation was spotlessly clean with fantastic facilities creating a real cyclists nirvana.

Finally the food was out of this world. Julie and Lee truly understand what cyclists need in the nutrition department and every night was a three course extravaganza of home made cuisine using the finest of local ingredients and produce. Keeping seven hungry male cyclists happy is not an easy task but Velo Pyrenees managed to exceed all expectations.

If you are considering cycling in the Pyrenees look no further than here, because believe you me, you will find nowhere better.

Team Gump (Pat, Andy, Anthony, Dave, Chris, Ralph and Dan)

Velo Pyrenees is Velo Heaven. Thanks for a brilliant week with the most amazing cycling area and your excellent route suggestions, we couldn't fail but to have a super holiday. Will be back for some of your lemon pie and to feed the chickens soon.

Julie and Lee were tremendous hosts, making my time in the Pyrenees incredibly enjoyable and rewarding.

Their hospitality, knowledge, cooking and companionship made my trip to the mountains vastly enjoyable. Their home is a perfect sanctuary for athletes or anyone who speaks English looking to visit this picturesque part of the world.

Velo Pyrenees comes very highly recommended, I can not wait to go back again!

Sad to be home and in the rain!!

Thank you for another great weeks riding, running, swimming, spa'ing, chicken feeding, eating (not the chickens), walking and generally relaxing.

Couldn't have asked for a better week in prep for the years racing. Have come home feeling so much stronger and healthier after a week of mountain air, amazing food - yeah for carrot cake - and complete isolation from anything that resembles a telly, a computer or a phone. Thank you.

Can't wait to see you next year for some mountain running (apparently!)

Georgie and Marc

p.s thank you for making sure that Tourmalet was closed so I didn't have to go back to Hautacam - that was almost as good as organising sunshine for the entire week!!

A should do!

3 guys on a journey to discover the Pyrenees climbs.We couldn't imagine a better stay. The room is perfect, food is great, the hosts are superb, and the chickens (cfr; Giant) are adorable.

For a whole week we could enjoy these sensations of this guest house and we would like to thank Julie and Lee for this.

THANK YOU GUYS !

For those who haven't been here : A should do !

We strongly recommend Velo Pyrenees to anybody who would like to train and relax in peaceful surroundings. Julie and Lee have created great facilities in a beautiful and inspiring environment. They back this up with great service through their knowledge of the area and dedication to producing great meals from the fresh local produce. We are vegetarians and they thoughtfully catered for our needs with great tasting and nutritious meals.

Julie and Lee also took time to understand our training goals for the weekend and tailored suitable running routes for our 4 runs.   We really enjoyed our time and are looking at returning shortly to explore more of the running routes in the area. 

Thank you Julie and Lee.

It was my intention to take in some big climbs and long rides on my bike, bit of running and swimming during my week at Velo Pyrenees (though as it turned out the big climbs and long rides were more than enough).

The hassle was taken from this task by superb hospitality, assistance with bike maintenance, professional guidance in terms of routes and distances (including maps and map briefs)..... and of course the fantastic food and accommodation. I managed to lose only 1lb during a very arduous week... thanks for that... I'm light enough as i am.

Have every intention of returning hopefully later this year 2009.

many many thanks... Dave

I had an amazing short weekend stay at Velo Pyrenees! Having never done anything like this before this it was an excellent experience. 1 day cycling, 2 days walking, and half a day to wander, eating local cheese, shopping and site seeing, drinking tea/coffee/hot chocolate and playing petanque!

The accommodation, hospitality and food was excellent. The scenery beautiful and calming and relaxing, the air fresher and poultry amusing!

Thanks Lee and Julie, I hope to see you both again soon in 2009.

Thanks Again
Lavan

Had an amazing four night stay at velo pyrenees!

1 day cycling, 2 days walking, and half a day to walk around the lovely little towns and eating crepes.

The hospitality and food were excellent, scenery beautiful and even the air was fresher!

I am definitely coming back.
Cheers Lee and Julie.

Anyone with a penchant for cycling and a taste for home cooked food need look no further for the ultimate break!

Julie and Lee's place is a great starting point for so many varied rides, be it a 20 mile blast or a 60 mile tour of the mountains. And you needn't worry about guidance, as Julie and Lee provide route cards to make sure you get the most out of every outing.

The food was delightful - I've just received J & L's recipe for their cracking Paella which we ate on Saturday night. The portions were an ideal size (huge) to replenish the spent calories from cycling! It was genuinely some of the best food I have ever eaten.

It's nice to see so many positive comments in this guest book, and hardly a surprise either - it seems we're not the only advocates!

We'll return soon to crack some of the other Col's....

Fantastic weekend's riding for our group - great food and exceptional hosts, many thanks and we hope to return.

Many thanks to Lee and Julie for a wonderful week of cycling.

Excellent route maps, mechanical back-up and superb food to finish off the day. Wish I was back in the Pyrenees!

Best wishes
Paul

A wonderful house in a beautiful setting, perfectly placed for the hill climbing I was hankering after, and with Julie and Lee as the marvelous hosts who made sure I got the absolute most out of my brief stay, and that I have a memorable holiday to daydream about now I'm back stuck behind a desk in the UK.

Each of the routes Lee suggested for me kept me challenged and happy. But the great thing was that he had a whole other set of wonderful rolling leisurely rides that were exactly what my 65 year old uncle who also came along was looking for. I'm very grateful that we could both enjoy our stay so much, meeting up in the evening to discuss our day's riding over some wine, and all the wonderful food that kept on coming.

Thank you both very much.

What can we say that has not already been said in the guest book?

Well, we arrived a little below par after a hectic period at work and were welcomed by two very friendly hosts - Julie and Lee. Both enthusiatic and encouraging, Julie and Lee pointed us in the direction of great runs, bike rides and stunning scenery.

We will not forget the cooking either....simply the best! Mouthwatering and balanced we could not have dreamt of a better place to eat/stay/relax.

If there is one place to visit when looking to train and relax for a few days, one week or more, this is it! Friendly, knowledgeable hosts combined with great food make for a great training location.

A big thank you to Julie and Lee.

We will see you both soon.
Louise and Craig.

Bonjour Julie and Lee,

Thanks again for your hospitality. You got the perfect spot for roadies, triathletes, riders and runners! It was just amazing to ride on the most mythique cols of the Tours and to follow wonderful locals roads...thanks to Lee for sharing your secrets!

Le vélo, la nourriture les paysages étaient tout simplement magnifiques. Vous êtes les bienvenue au Québec quand vous voulez.

You would probably see other Québécois anytime soon as we spread the word about your great guest house!

À bientôt
Julie et Félix

Hi Julie and Lee

Just a short note to say thank you for your wonderful hospitality and your outstanding knowledge of the local area and Cols. I have learnt so much during my stay and have enjoyed riding through some of the most wonderful scenery France has to offer and enjoyed climbing and desending some of the local Cols, to many to mention and all so close.

The accommodation was first class and the quality and quantity of the food, could not be faulted, special mention must go to the pasta bake, the fish paella and the chocolate cheesecake.

I look forward to seeing you both really soon.
Stuart

Many thanks Julie and Lee for an amazing time.

Three stages of the Tour with all your good food and hospitality, just fantastic! A beautiful and tranquil place to start and end our days in the mountains.

Robert and I were making plans to return on the plane home so see you next year.

Thanks again,
Stephen

Lee & Julie go above and beyond other establishments that I've stayed in - highly recommended.

Cheers, Vince

Just wanted to drop you a note to say a huge thank you for one of the best holidays we have been on. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay with you both, nothing seemed to much trouble and the food and chat were first class.

I'm missing having you around to make my evening dinners! The run in the mountains was probably the highlight of the weekend for me followed by the banana cake! I have passed your details to as many people as I can think of with the highest of recommendations to visit you.

With very best wishes.
Lorna & Phill xx

Julie and Lee,

I am sorry that it has taken me so long to write on here following our trip staying with you. All of us had the best time, it was amazing to ride in such impressive scenery and to be so lucky with the weather!

It is a blessing that you guys are such great cooks to keep us going through our rides, we spent our time at the dinner table always amazed at the quality, and the quantity of food! I think Dave enjoyed that as much as making Matt and I suffer up our 13 cols.

The only let down - snow stopping us reaching the top of the Tourmalet! I will be in touch soon to arrange coming out to finish it off with Matt and maybe a few others.

Thank you so much, see you again soon.
Chris.

Really miss waking up in the mountains today, our daily conversation about planning the day's route and the mouthwatering croissant, thank you very much for looking after me during my visit.

Tomorrow will see my club mates at the pool session, I'm sure they will love your place, facilities and the very impressive information you have on the rides and Cols.

When good results come later in the year I will definitely think of my time I've spent in the Pyrenees, now I could only think of the time to be back.

Wishing you the very best and looking forward to my next visit.
Luis

Hello Lee and Julie,

I'm back in rain-soaked Cumbria, enthusing about my stay with you to everyone I meet. I had a great time - wonderful scenery, up and down many cols and ports, and with the unexpected bonus of getting to try out so many different bikes and gearing arrangements. Your place is lovely, and as you know from my ability to eat up every scrap as well as beg leftovers from others, I loved the food. For me, the chocolate cheesecake just shaded it over the carrot cake for all round delicious-ness. I am now off to fly up Flinty Fell with my new crank arms.

Bye for now and see you next year
Ruth x

Lee and Julie,

Thank you very much for an outstanding few days of cycling, swimming and running in the hills. Your advice on the local area was brilliant and more than helpful. Thanks for the great hospitality, I'm sure we'll be back sooner rather than later. (Assuming Julie is still making that wonderful Carrot Cake)

Regards
Dave and Kate

4 days of hospitality and wonderful food - matched only by the height of the mountains.

We shall return !

Thanks so much for providing me with a launchpad into les Hautes Pyrenees, even if I wasn't climbing like a rocket I still felt very much on top of the world from the clouds atop the Tourmalet.

The lush green French Pyrenees make for spectacular scenery and are certainly a contrast to the less compact Alps and even the Spanish Pyrenees. The cycling certainly trumps the Alps.

Steaming up the gentler Col des Ares, descending the Peyresourde (watch for that hairpin!), climbing the relentless Tourmalet and then descending the Tourmalet with 25ms of visibility, rolling for many kms along the traffic free D26, coming home to great food and easy company ... it was a very memorable trip made ridiculously easy by my very generous, knowledgeable and easygoing hosts.

My bike is already chomping at the bit to return ... so thanks again and 'til soon.

Dear Lee and Julie,

What a week! Waking up to a big breakfast, followed by a quick morning run through some little French towns, then some lunch and a walk to a lake, a tough hills session at altitude in the evening, finished off with a big home cooked meal shared with the other guests (even catering for me, a vegetarian) - I couldn't have asked for more than that.

Your advice on trails was much appreciated and those laminated A4 maps a great idea.

I've already smashed one of my PB's since arriving home.

I'll let you know when I get that Aus champs 1500m qualifier!

Hope to see you again one day
Cheers
Adrian.

Thank you to Julie and Lee for a really special 4 day stay. The accommodation, food and local knowledge of cycle routes was fantastic.

This was the perfect base for me to do the Bales Barousse cyclosportive and I will certainly be disappointed if I don't return for another stay. Lovely area for racing, touring or mountain biking.

Thanks!

What an awesome 5 days - great cycling, scenery and accomodation and suppoprt. Got to be the best value in France. Julie and Lee, your hospitality was friendly, excellent and you provided a good base for the Etape and other ventures.

VeloPyrenees is 4 star accommodation with 5 star service. (excellent rooms, food and drink, hospitality and transport and only a few miles from the biggest hills I've ever seen - fantastic).

I look forward to returning as soon as possible.
All the best.
Gary.

Many thanks to Lee and Julie for the fantastic time that was had down at Velo Pyrenees ! The close access to amazing cycling, running and walking routes was incredible ! Those maps certainly came in handy ! The location is superb ... with some many famous cols just up the road. I can definitely recommend the Port de Bales and Superbagneres double for anyone looking for a challenge ... not a great idea to tackle it on a 35 degree day !

The accommodation was extremely comfortable and the home cooking was a definite highlight! We will certainly be going back before we head back home to Australia !!!

I wanted to thank you and Julie for the great times I spent at your place. I managed to finish the Etape du Tour though it took me 11 hours to do it - not quite tour de france pace... It was a great experience in hindsight, frightening before hand and a mentally and physically interesting time on the day. I would not have made it without your advice, especially with respect to changing the gearing on my bike and planning the food and water along the way. I've never seen so many bikes as at the start, nor so many being pushed along as on the Port de Bales!

My ten days with you in Las Graves was all I hoped it would be. As a cyclist of advanced years, the Tour Cols were a definite challenge, but with Lee's careful advice and maps I had a superb time, increasing the challenge gradually and taking my time at record slow paces! The country around is so varied and beautiful: forests, rivers, deep valleys, high mountains, superb views and the road conditions ideal for safe, quiet and smooth cycling. There's a lot of interesting history and architecture around also.

Add the high standard in accommodation and food, with endless variation in the courses, and the visit was ideal. The alfresco meals long into the evening were perfect ends to strenuous days. The journey by plane and train was also easy & uncomplicated, and you were so very helpful with the transportation nearby.

Thanks for a really memorable time, Julie and Lee. I'll be back.

A belated thank you to Lee and Julie for providing one cyclist and two hangers on, such an excellent visit at the end of May to recce the Etape route (now successfully completed).

Food,accommodation, hospitality, route advice and location were all superb, even if riding the Portet d'Aspet and Col de Mente in 10.5 degrees temp was not quite what was expected! I have spread the word to others and hope to be back, legs permitting!

Thanks to you both.
Daniel

Thank you Julie and Lee for providing top notch, reasonably priced accommodation. The location is perfect for riding and running. I had a great run with Julie and the ride with Lee up Port de Bales and Superbagneres was incredible.

The rooms are large and the meals that Lee and Julie prepared were outstanding. Lee also generously took the time to adjust my rear derailleur and lube my cables to get my bike ready for the Etape du Tour.

Thank you again Lee and Julie for being so friendly and making my experience at you guest house a fanstatic one. I hope to be back soon.

First rate location and hospitality if you are considering L'Etape du Tour.

Welcoming and calm atmosphere; very impressive evening meals - local food prepared with great care. Port de Bales took more than 1.30 last Monday!

Best wishes, Tom

I just wanted to thank Julie and Lee for the hospitality and professionalism that I savoured at velo last week.

The quality of the venue was superb and location fantastic. Having so many Cols on your doorpstep is enviable. I'll definitely be back to have another crack at the port de bales (and definitely back for more of julie's desserts!).

Julie and Lee were as involved in your trip as you wanted. In my case alot! As a novice their advice on route selection was invaluable.

Thanks again for a great experience.
John

Thanks for a great week, it was absolutely fantastic, thanks for all your hospitality, great food, great trails and as we say in ireland great craic.
We will definitely be back.

Many thanks for taking such good care of three Irish (two MTB riders, one professional chiller) for a great week. Your guesthouse is a haven of spotless, well-organised and excellently-fed civilisation. I'll be doing my best to come back!

Highlights included trying to keep up with Lee (no chance!), descending 3000-feet-plus under the cable car into Luchon (epic!), riding the ridges from Port de Bales after 23km of climbing, with the brilliant descent into the Luchon valley, and the excellent trails into and out of the magical Cirque de Glere.

Thanks again!
Ciaran (Dublin)

Thank you for a brilliant week, I am so impressed with the set-up you have there in the Pyrenee's it really does make for a fantastic triathlon or cycling holiday... if you can call an 80 mile day ride a holiday!! Julie and Lee are so well knowledged on the region, routes and sports, meaning you can get the max out of your days. Much appreciated the local home cooked food after a hard days work.

Thank you for all your tri tips and advice, I will be back!! :)

Brilliant week - fantastic place to cycle. Wonderful vegetarian food - thanks for your hospitality and it was great cycling with Lee!

Thanks for the photos. Francis

Out of our party of 3, only 1 was a cyclist. However, I can offer hope to non-cyclists 'tagging along'.

The accommodation was fantastic (clean / stylish / peaceful) and thanks to Julie and Lee's travel tips we had a great two weeks seeing what the area had to offer, while our cyclist rode up and down the Cols. I can personally recommend the Vaporium at Luchon, the local cheeses, the markets in and around the area and last but definitely not least the top class food that was laid on!

Thank you for all your help and although I never want to see the Col de Peyresourde again (even from a car!) I would certainly pay a return visit to your establishment.

Best of luck for the future
Emma. Wirral, UK

Great week, fantastic accommodation, great food especially the puddings!! So sorry to leave because there was still so much to be explored.

Thanks to Lee and Julie for being the perfect hosts and guides. And thanks for all your sound advice.

See you next year.
Lorraine and Jeff

Fantastic location, beautiful accommodation and wonderful hosts. Nothing else to add except that we all had a fantastic time and are looking forward to our return to Velo Pyrenees.

Great location, excellent accommodation, very good bike workshop. All in all a great place to spend a few days testing oneself against the mountains. Thanks Julie and Lee, I'll hope to be back before too long.

We arrived on a sunny Wednesday afternoon not knowing what to expect and were immediately impressed by the great accommodation and location - particularly when we realised we were only 4km from the foot of the Port de Bales.

We had two great days riding, doing the d'Aspet and Mente (an absolute killer) on day one and the Bales and Peyresourde on day two.

The advice, routes and facilities were spot on and Julie and Lee gave us plenty of encouragement.

We will be back, probably with a larger group next time.

Thanks to you both.
James

Just like to say what a great time was had by all. You have a lovely location & excellant accomodation, food was first class & those sweets (after those climbs) just what I needed. To Lee, thanks on all the information to the Cols, and what great pictures you took of us all. Many thanks to you both, will come again.

Best Wishes
Richard M

Great climbs, good roads (not a single puncture all week nor any tyre splits), fantastic food and a charming farmhouse. If those running routes and 'hors category' climbs don't make your legs strong there's no hope!

Thanks for everything
Simon

Thanks for a great week. Excellent location for the cols. Did Col du Tourmalet, Col d'Aspin, Col des Ares (several times), Pla-de-Beret. Good food, nice pasta, v nice prawns! We want to know who nicked the statue from the top of Tourmalet.

Would thoroughly recommed Velopyrenees. Hopefully see you next year.

Just wanted to thank you again for a lovely stay at your house. The accommodation was top notch as was the food especially those desserts you knocked up. Hope to see you again soon when we are back in the area.

We arrived in the Pyrenees, prepared to do some cycling, but discovered a triathletes training heaven. The cycling was exceptional, roads good with easy access to all the climbs and Lee and Julies guidance and knowledge spot on. Being able to ride the famous cols of the TDF was very special.

The cycling kept us so occupied that we are going to have to return to do the multitude of trail runs and the open water swims in the lake. Thank you for a fantastic few days, we were truly sad to leave.

The hospitality at VeloPyrenees is second to none: great place, amazing scram and first class support. Many thanks for an awesome weeks cyling both on and off road.

Our legs are still hurting!
Can't wait till next year.
Cheers Brian & Karen

Amazing weekend - three days of good cycling taking in the Col du Tourmalet, Col d'Aspin, Col de Mente, Col des Ares and surrounding area. Great scenery and excellent hospitality and support from Julie and Lee. Being met at the airport by Velopyrenees with a car + trailor for the bikes made it all so easy.

I thought the whole thing was very well organised, which meant we could just concentrate on the cycling - supporting us up the Tourmalet was spot on.

Welcoming smiles at the airport, bikes packed in trailor (no hire cars!), great accomodation, food, advice, guided rides etc. Julie and Lee are perfect hosts - my only complaint is that they didn't offer to ride my bike up the Tourmalet and I had to do it myself. Thanks for a great, if tiring, couple of days.

Fantastic weekend, to get Col de Mente, Col D'Ares, Col de Super Bannieres, Col de Tourmalet and col D'aspin in one weekend, amazing. Great spot to start and finish, great workshop for sticking freewheels, outdoor eating and chilling after the rides. At least I beat Pete at Petanq!

Thanks for your great hospitality, food drink, tour leading. Next time I will have to try the Col de Peyresoude. Excellent few days.

Thank you for the pictures
cheers
Rob