Alpine bliss
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mcelliott

Original Poster:

10,468 posts

210 months

Wednesday 25th July 2012
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Thought I'd take a few snaps of my ride from this morning. Nothing particularly arty but hope you enjoy smile














SuperNiceBig

644 posts

262 months

Wednesday 25th July 2012
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Very nice!

We were here 2 weeks back.

Top of the Galibier




Lookimg across to Alpe D'Huez







Flickr set here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/23318875@N02/sets/721...

mcelliott

Original Poster:

10,468 posts

210 months

Wednesday 25th July 2012
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Great photos! Good ones of the Galibier (the big daddy), especially like the one of Alpe d'Huez, my base is at the bottom of the Alpe at the moment. I know the Alpe pretty well having ridden it roughly 30 times altogether. Never gets any easier. smile

will_

6,035 posts

232 months

Wednesday 25th July 2012
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mcelliott said:
Great photos! Good ones of the Galibier (the big daddy), especially like the one of Alpe d'Huez, my base is at the bottom of the Alpe at the moment. I know the Alpe pretty well having ridden it roughly 30 times altogether. Never gets any easier. smile
I drove up the Huez, and that was hard enough!

Rolls

1,502 posts

206 months

Wednesday 25th July 2012
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I wish I was back in Borg d'oisans! Was great!!!!

mcelliott

Original Poster:

10,468 posts

210 months

Wednesday 25th July 2012
quotequote all
Rolls said:
I wish I was back in Borg d'oisans! Was great!!!!
Agree, it's the centre of the cycling universe as far as I'm concerned!

SuperNiceBig

644 posts

262 months

Wednesday 25th July 2012
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mcelliott
Me and Rolls and 5 others had a great week. Will be back next year, hopefully see the Tour ride up Alpe D'Huez. You can see our heads are down on the Galibier, all agreed that was the toughest climb, we had just rode the Col De Croix De Fer and the Telegraph that day though.

mk1fan

10,902 posts

254 months

Thursday 26th July 2012
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mcelliott said:
Agree, it's the centre of the cycling universe as far as I'm concerned!
Really. Why?

ShredderXLE

734 posts

188 months

Thursday 26th July 2012
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Is that bloke in piccie 6 (looking over shoulder) in Shaftesbury CC kit? I cant make it too clearly.

mcelliott

Original Poster:

10,468 posts

210 months

Thursday 26th July 2012
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mk1fan said:
mcelliott said:
Agree, it's the centre of the cycling universe as far as I'm concerned!
Really. Why?
Alpe d'Huez
Col de la Croix de Fer
Col de la Morte
Col de Malissol
Col de Parquetout
Col de Sarenne
Col d'Ornon
Col du Galibier
Col du Glandon
Col du Lautaret
Col du Télégraphe
La Bérarde
Traverse d'Oisans
Les Deux Alpes

All of these climbs are within easy cycling distance of Bourg, allowing for many different variations of your training route and ability. Also it boasts some of the best off road cycling tracks certainly in the Alps. Also the Parc d'Ecrins is a great playground for people who don't take their mountainbiking too seriously - 100's and 100's of kms of offroad track. All in my opinion of course.

mcelliott

Original Poster:

10,468 posts

210 months

Thursday 26th July 2012
quotequote all
ShredderXLE said:
Is that bloke in piccie 6 (looking over shoulder) in Shaftesbury CC kit? I cant make it too clearly.
Not sure about the kit, but I'm pretty certain he was a 'rather large' Dutchman. smile

mk1fan

10,902 posts

254 months

Thursday 26th July 2012
quotequote all
mcelliott said:
All of these climbs are within easy cycling distance of Bourg, allowing for many different variations of your training route and ability. Also it boasts some of the best off road cycling tracks certainly in the Alps. Also the Parc d'Ecrins is a great playground for people who don't take their mountainbiking too seriously - 100's and 100's of kms of offroad track. All in my opinion of course.
I can see what you mean about road riding but mtb? PdS area offers far more varied and different trails. Although Huez et al have higher altitude the sheer number, length and access options of PdS is much better.

To be honest I would like to explore the area a lot more than I did when we did the Mega but getting back to Oz was the an issue I didn't have time to look in to.

Raoul Duke

938 posts

192 months

Friday 27th July 2012
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Great shots fellas, looks like you've ticked off some very iconic routes there - jealous!

SoliD

1,507 posts

246 months

Tuesday 27th June 2017
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mcelliott said:
Alpe d'Huez
Col de la Croix de Fer
Col de la Morte
Col de Malissol
Col de Parquetout
Col de Sarenne
Col d'Ornon
Col du Galibier
Col du Glandon
Col du Lautaret
Col du Télégraphe
La Bérarde
Traverse d'Oisans
Les Deux Alpes

All of these climbs are within easy cycling distance of Bourg, allowing for many different variations of your training route and ability. Also it boasts some of the best off road cycling tracks certainly in the Alps. Also the Parc d'Ecrins is a great playground for people who don't take their mountainbiking too seriously - 100's and 100's of kms of offroad track. All in my opinion of course.
Bit of a bump on this, but out to do Marmotte from Thursday and looking for some tried and tested routes to get in some of these awesome climbs that aren't on the Marmotte (Galibier, Glandon, Telegraphe, Alpe D'Huez.

ALawson

8,054 posts

280 months

Tuesday 27th June 2017
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SolidD we arrive Friday in the forecast rain! Also doing Marmotte on Sunday.

We are based in Deux Alp and will do a recce ride up there on Saturday if you are around, may drive up AdH Friday night to register.

For those who know Galiber any thought on weather forecast at the moment? Will we get away with Gilet and arm warmers, over on the bikeradar thread some have suggest a Gabba(long sleeve), may be more appropriate!

Going to be epic, waited since my 40th last September to do this!

numtumfutunch

5,172 posts

167 months

Tuesday 27th June 2017
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ALawson said:
For those who know Galiber any thought on weather forecast at the moment? Will we get away with Gilet and arm warmers, over on the bikeradar thread some have suggest a Gabba(long sleeve), may be more appropriate!

Going to be epic, waited since my 40th last September to do this!
Im no expert but have done the Marmotte a number of times

The best advice I can give is dont even begin to trust the mountain weather forecast until the night before

I have always been prepared for crap weather and packed 3/4 bibs, a cape, full gloves and toe covers just in case

The reality however has always been shorts, arm warmers and a lightweight gilet on the day - plus sun cream

Good luck, I feeling a bit jealous smile

ALawson

8,054 posts

280 months

Tuesday 27th June 2017
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The wife has said something similar, look out the window on the morning! I have done a few big days before either 220km flatish (2000m) rides or 165km 5000m days so it's only epic heat I am worried about.

I haven't got 3/4 length stuff, so may need to think about knee warmers to go with summer Assos S7 bibs, I have the Castelli toe things which are pretty good. Was thinking about some of those overshoe things (not the winter one), more your stretchy aero ones.

IM mate who had done all the climbs and who's place we use on Tiede training camps said we don't need to worry! Cannot wait for Friday morning.

mcelliott

Original Poster:

10,468 posts

210 months

Tuesday 27th June 2017
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Took this photo a couple of months ago on my last trip to the Alps, found a new cool climb - if you head out of Allemont towards Bourg, before you get to the main road, there's a small T-junction which takes you left and up a climb that eventually comes out 3/4 of the way up the other side of Alpe d'Huez. It's fairly steep (for me anyway) 7 - 8%, and then levels out towards the top to a much more manageable 4 - 5%, but the views are absolutely stunning.

Great riding for anyone going to the Alps.


SoliD

1,507 posts

246 months

Tuesday 27th June 2017
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ALawson said:
SolidD we arrive Friday in the forecast rain! Also doing Marmotte on Sunday.

We are based in Deux Alp and will do a recce ride up there on Saturday if you are around, may drive up AdH Friday night to register.

For those who know Galiber any thought on weather forecast at the moment? Will we get away with Gilet and arm warmers, over on the bikeradar thread some have suggest a Gabba(long sleeve), may be more appropriate!

Going to be epic, waited since my 40th last September to do this!
Cool,

We're getting there Thursday, staying in Vaujany, aiming to ride Sabot Thursday afternoon, then Friday consist of Croix De Fer, Lacets de Montvernier, Glandon. Saturday chill spin along the vallye somewhere, find a bar to watch the Tour TT no doubt. Then the big one. See how we feel Monday. Heading up to Planche Des Bells Filles on Tuesday to watch the tour on Wednesday in person!

Weather/clothing wise I'll no doubt take a jacket with me as I've made that mistake before and got caught out and definitely dont want that on Marmotte.

ALawson

8,054 posts

280 months

Tuesday 27th June 2017
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Cool, we had back Monday morning. But I expect I may try getting to Ventoux in Sept via train for another weekend this year!

You in PH livery?