Places to stay while riding in the French Alps?

Hi, just a quick question for those of you who have ridden in france before.

I'd like to try my hand at riding some of the classic tour climbs in the
alps that I have seen on the TV which I assume are in the alps and not the
pyerennees such as alp d'huez, ventoux, galiber and others... (please don't
crucify my spelling as I don't speak french and I am spelling them
phoneticallly)

I've never been in the high mountains before and would probably be knackered
after the first hour but would like to just show up and ride some of the
local routes while having a go up one or two of the more famous roads.

I was thinking about heading over there in the car with the wife in the late
spring to early summer. All pre tour most likely. Is it too cold in may?

Ideally, somewhere I could ride the bike out of whereever we were staying
and do a loop of say 3-4 hours but if I had to put the bike in a car for a
short drive before riding that would be a second option.

I met someone on a bike one time who said Grenoble was well placed as any.
Any suggestions?

What would a self catering cottage/gite/flat whatever cost for two people
for a week? Websites? Any one have some first hand experience?

happy holidays and thanks for the advice,

Me wrote:
Hi, just a quick question for those of you who have ridden in france
before.

I'd like to try my hand at riding some of the classic tour climbs in
the alps that I have seen on the TV which I assume are in the alps
and not the pyerennees such as alp d'huez, ventoux, galiber and
others... (please don't crucify my spelling as I don't speak french
and I am spelling them phoneticallly)

I've never been in the high mountains before and would probably be
knackered after the first hour but would like to just show up and
ride some of the local routes while having a go up one or two of the
more famous roads.

I was thinking about heading over there in the car with the wife in
the late spring to early summer. All pre tour most likely. Is it too
cold in may?

Ideally, somewhere I could ride the bike out of whereever we were
staying and do a loop of say 3-4 hours but if I had to put the bike
in a car for a short drive before riding that would be a second
option.

I met someone on a bike one time who said Grenoble was well placed as
any. Any suggestions?

What would a self catering cottage/gite/flat whatever cost for two
people for a week? Websites? Any one have some first hand experience?

happy holidays and thanks for the advice,


From my experiences of being in the Dauphine Alps in the summer (white water
canoeing rather than cycling):

* It will be cold in May high up.
* Try staying in some of the villages / towns such as Barcelonette (Ubaye
Valley - great circuits over to Guillestre), Guillestre (up the Guil
Valley - can get over to the Ubaye Valley or cycle up the col d'Angel
towards Italy through the highest commune in Europe), Argentiere la Bessee
(out and back rides up the Biaisse, Gyr and Onde valleys, both ending with
spectacular glaciers), Briancon (Nevache, Plampinet - riding up to the
Claree valley - one of the prettiest I've ever seen, and over the col de
Montgenevre, and also up the Guisane valley to the col du Galibier.
* Briancon is a skining area (Serre Chevalier), so there will be apartments
and chalets available at good prices - check out the ski villages of
Chantmerle and Villeneuve.
* Out and back rides up valleys can be most rewarding - no people, bars /
coffee at the tops (especially the Gyr and Claree :-), andf the views are
totally different in either direction. And.... when you're totally
knackered, just turn around and enjoy the roll back down :-)
* Plenty for the wife to do also - lovely sights, good food for evening
reconstitution, shopping and loads of ambience. If she's active there are
great walks, downhill mountain biking (hire a bike and go up the ski lifts
in Briancon), parapente, white water kayaking and rafting (commercial
trips).

Cheers,
Chris

Me wrote:

There are many many small hotels in the Alps set up for winter skiing but
also open in Summer. I like Serre Chavalier which is near Briancon an the
start of the south side of the Col de Lauteret. From there you can ride over
the Col de Montgenevre then up to Sestriere and back. Or up the Lauteret and
Galibier and back. Or over the Lauteret to Bourg d'Oison and Alp d'Huez.
Bourg d'Oison is a good place for Alp d'Huez and the Cols de Glandon, Crois
de Fer. You could do the Marmotte which is 170 km circuit covering Crois de
Fer and Galibier. The road from Bourg to Briancon also has the turn off for
Les Deux Alps.

There are many other Alpline areas of course, such as around Morzine.
Grenoble is a big citywhich is about 25 miles from Bourg d'Oison. If you are
driving you might as well stay in the mountains though.

Me wrote:

Hi, just a quick question for those of you who have ridden in france before.

I'd like to try my hand at riding some of the classic tour climbs in the
alps that I have seen on the TV which I assume are in the alps and not the
pyerennees such as alp d'huez, ventoux, galiber and others.

I've never been in the high mountains before and would probably be knackered
after the first hour but would like to just show up and ride some of the
local routes while having a go up one or two of the more famous roads.

I have ridden all those climbs (yes they are all Alpine) and the trick really
is to have a low gear and just ride up within your limits.
I would aim to have a gear at least as low as around 30".

I was thinking about heading over there in the car with the wife in the late
spring to early summer.

In May I think you may find the highest climbs could still closed such as
Galibier and Ventoux. Some only open in June. L'Alpe d'Huez will be OK as it
goes to a ski resort.

All pre tour most likely. Is it too cold in may?

It will certainly be chilly on the descents. Make sure you have warm clothing
at the top and good gloves. I slipped up once when I woke to a heavy frost near
Val d'Isere and had to put all my spare socks over my hands :-(

I met someone on a bike one time who said Grenoble was well placed as any.
Any suggestions?

I've flown yo Grenoble on a number of occasions and it is a good base. You
could also look at Lyon for some lower climbs and even Geneva. Bourg d'Oisons
could also make a good base for circuits and the area is wonderful for riding.

What would a self catering cottage/gite/flat whatever cost for two people
for a week?

Sorry, can't help you there. I always camp/bivvy.

John B

* Briancon is a skiing area (Serre Chevalier), so there will be apartments
and chalets available at good prices - check out the ski villages of
Chantmerle and Villeneuve.


The Hotel Plein Sud in Chantmerle is *excellent* for cyclists. They've
had pro teams doing training camps there and the food is basically all
you can eat with loads of pasta, and protein.

It's about 3k up the Lautaret out of Briancon:
http://www.cybevasion.com/hotels/fra...lier_8192.html

"Me" wrote in message ...
Hi, just a quick question for those of you who have ridden in france
before.

I'd like to try my hand at riding some of the classic tour climbs in the
alps that I have seen on the TV .......

I've never been in the high mountains before and would probably be
knackered
after the first hour but ........

I was thinking about heading over there in the car with the wife in the
late
spring to early summer. All pre tour most likely. Is it too cold in may?


Suggest very late May or early June - eg travel out on approximately UK end
of May bank holiday. However, do check the French national holidays because
there are several around Witsun which could make accomodation more
difficult.

The flowers in the mountains will be spectacular.

The limestone massif to the SW of Grenoble is worth a trip for the flowers.
It also has good mountain biking over some trail routes (there are
restrictions on biking - only on certain routes). Or there are lots of road
biking routes.

The main (higher) alps are to the E of Grenoble.


Ideally, somewhere I could ride the bike out of whereever we were staying
and do a loop of say 3-4 hours but if I had to put the bike in a car for a
short drive before riding that would be a second option.

Weather in late May and early June seems to guarantee afternoon thunder
showers, probably building from 3pm. So, plan your rides for the mornings
:-)


I met someone on a bike one time who said Grenoble was well placed as any.
Any suggestions?


Yes, it is a good point to centre on. Though don't stay in the city because
it can get unbearably hot and humid. Go 1000m up into the hills around
instead where it will be much cooler.


What would a self catering cottage/gite/flat whatever cost for two people
for a week? Websites? Any one have some first hand experience?

Dunno about those, contact the Grenoble tourist office and ask for their
leaflets for the departments surrounding the city.

Also, contact the "Logis de France" hotel chain and get their _local_ guide
to Grenoble area. The 2003 copy has a two-page section on a multi-day tour
of famous cycling climb routes, with hotels to stay in along the route. The
tour suggested is a bit demanding - 160+km per day, with lots of famous
climbs each day ! The hotels are pretty good value, though even if you
decide to stay in self-catering, the route information you'll gain from
their little guide will be useful.



- Nigel

I'm getting itchy feet reading these posts. What gear ratio's do
you recommend for these climbs? I'm a reasonably fit age mid 40's
rider engaging in regular road racing and about 150 to 200km per
week training.



--

Spider1977 wrote:
I'm getting itchy feet reading these posts. What gear ratio's do
you recommend for these climbs? I'm a reasonably fit age mid 40's
rider engaging in regular road racing and about 150 to 200km per
week training.

It depends how loaded you are. With a couple of water bottles and a few
Euros in your jersey, a 39x27 should see you right. That's what I used.