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French Alps Report #1: La Marmotte featuring Alpe d'Huez and Col du Galibier
Last summer, I was lucky enough to spend seven weeks in Southern
France. For one of those weeks, I joined four guys on the Marmotte ride and several other rides in Vercors and Provence regions. Here is my first report: http://www.steephill.tv/2006/alpe-d-huez/ enjoy, Steve www.steephill.tv bike travelogue |
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French Alps Report #1: La Marmotte featuring Alpe d'Huez and Col du Galibier
Wow -- getting thru all those climbs is quite an achievement. Without a
triple chainring? I would never even consider trying that. (the Lonely Planet Cycling France guidebook suggests taking at least two days to do it -- without the l'Alpe d'Huez climb) http://www.steephill.tv/2006/alpe-d-huez/ I agree with Steve's careful explanation of how the Alpe d'Huez climb is over-hyped -- why it gets chosen for TdF even though it's not the best for an individual rider -- and how Galibier and others are better (not to mention the view at the bottom from the village of Bourg d'Oisans up in the other direction). Interesting to hear about riders having trouble in the Etape. I remember seeing a note on a touring company's website that supports getting riders into l'Etape, saying they were concerned that some riders had not been sufficiently fit, and offering training rides in advance. Hope I get to do the whole route sometime -- I've done parts, but missed some others. Ken |
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French Alps Report #1: La Marmotte featuring Alpe d'Huez and Col du Galibier
In article
, "Ken Roberts" wrote: Wow -- getting thru all those climbs is quite an achievement. Without a triple chainring? I would never even consider trying that. (the Lonely Planet Cycling France guidebook suggests taking at least two days to do it -- without the l'Alpe d'Huez climb) Without adding l'Alpe-d'Huez it's a quite doable ride if you're used to riding in the mountains. When I did it, it was my second-ever ride in mountains (the first having been the day before, up l'Alpe-d'Huez and over to the Col de Sarenne). My friend Keith had no trouble with it at all. The same was not true for me. http://www2.bitstream.net/~timmcn/alps2002-3.html I'm the fat guy in the blue jersey in these photos. Between the lack of experience in the mountains and the high temperatures that day, I suffered rather more than I expected. However, the ride from the Galibier to Bourg-d'Oisans is many kilometers downhill- very welcome! http://www.steephill.tv/2006/alpe-d-huez/ I agree with Steve's careful explanation of how the Alpe d'Huez climb is over-hyped -- why it gets chosen for TdF even though it's not the best for an individual rider -- and how Galibier and others are better (not to mention the view at the bottom from the village of Bourg d'Oisans up in the other direction). l'Alpe-d'Huez was my first-ever mountain. I was surprised at how reasonable it was. However, I was going half the speed of the fastest pros and that makes all the difference. Interesting to hear about riders having trouble in the Etape. I remember seeing a note on a touring company's website that supports getting riders into l'Etape, saying they were concerned that some riders had not been sufficiently fit, and offering training rides in advance. Hope I get to do the whole route sometime -- I've done parts, but missed some others. It's a great ride. |
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French Alps Report #1: La Marmotte featuring Alpe d'Huez and Col du Galibier
Ken Roberts wrote: Interesting to hear about riders having trouble in the Etape. I remember seeing a note on a touring company's website that supports getting riders into l'Etape, saying they were concerned that some riders had not been sufficiently fit, and offering training rides in advance. One tour company that received 75 dossards from ASO (the company that handles the Etape) only had 15 people finish the Etape and these people paid big bucks for a 3 day package -- something like $3000 not including airfare. Steve www.steephill.tv bike travelogue |
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French Alps Report #1: La Marmotte featuring Alpe d'Huez and Col du Galibier
Tim McNamara wrote: Without adding l'Alpe-d'Huez it's a quite doable ride if you're used to riding in the mountains. When I did it, it was my second-ever ride in mountains (the first having been the day before, up l'Alpe-d'Huez and over to the Col de Sarenne). My friend Keith had no trouble with it at all. The same was not true for me... Between the lack of experience in the mountains and the high temperatures that day, I suffered rather more than I expected. However, the ride from the Galibier to Bourg-d'Oisans is many kilometers downhill- very welcome! Like most rides, you can make it as difficult or easy as you want by adjusting your speed and adding rest stops. I probably want out to fast and was undergeared. As I mentioned in the my report, it's about a 100 mile loop and 13,000 ft of climbing to the base of Alpe d'Huez. That's a big day in itself. I made it more difficult by only cycling 10 or so times in the previous 3 months. Steve www.steephill.tv bike travelogue |
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French Alps Report #1: La Marmotte featuring Alpe d'Huez and Col du Galibier
In article .com,
"steephill" wrote: Tim McNamara wrote: Without adding l'Alpe-d'Huez it's a quite doable ride if you're used to riding in the mountains. When I did it, it was my second-ever ride in mountains (the first having been the day before, up l'Alpe-d'Huez and over to the Col de Sarenne). My friend Keith had no trouble with it at all. The same was not true for me... Between the lack of experience in the mountains and the high temperatures that day, I suffered rather more than I expected. However, the ride from the Galibier to Bourg-d'Oisans is many kilometers downhill- very welcome! Like most rides, you can make it as difficult or easy as you want by adjusting your speed and adding rest stops. I probably want out to fast and was undergeared. As I mentioned in the my report, it's about a 100 mile loop and 13,000 ft of climbing to the base of Alpe d'Huez. That's a big day in itself. Yes, it is. That's why we didn't go on to climb up l'Alpe-d'Huez a second time. :-) What a fantastic ride, though. The climb up from Allemond past the two dams and from river valley to forest to alpine meadow is wonderful. The descent down the Croix de Fer through St. Sorlin d'Arves to St. Jean de Maurienne is a fantastic ride. There is one point where your view opens into this huge gorge and the sense of space is so amazing that I had to come to a stop just to look at it. I didn't like climbing the Telegraph, I think I was starting to feel the effects of the heat. On that day it was hot on the passes and hotter in the valleys. The descent from the Galibier practically all the way back to Bourg-d'Oisans was, geez, almost 60 km if I remember correctly. What a treat! If you go partway up Les Deux Alpes, there is a side road that will take you to Bourg-d'Oisans off the main road. There is enough traffic and enough long tunnels that the main road can be a bit taxing. For us, traffic was low that day so we just carried on. I made it more difficult by only cycling 10 or so times in the previous 3 months. Ah, we are often the authors of our own troubles, aren't we? |
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