Hors Cat Climbs

[Marcellus]

I've remembered why I DON'T LIKE HILLS..... today set off for a gentle sunday morning ride.... that was until we entered Samoens and saw the sign and thought "why not"?


Col de Joux Plan


The hardest 13km of riding I have ever done.... my time bottom to top; 1hr 28m.... top to bottom; 0hr 24m!!

Mate I rode it with climb; 0hr 55m and descent 0hr 24m..



Not sure if I will rush to do it again..... in some masochistic way I think I might!!

[Kermit power]

Lunatic! I got knackered just driving over some of the TDF Cols in the Pyrenees!

Well done though.

[Phoenix]

Good effort. I'd love to travel out and have a go at a few proper hills. I know I would suffer 'majorly' but what a sense of achievement. I bet some of the views are pretty good to.

[Marcellus]

the views weren't bad........... starting to feel a tad stiff now.... and my mate is saying he fancies a crack at Col de Columbia tomorrow!!

[smifffymoto]

Good effort,I'm working up to doing a few cols.On my door step I have Col de Port and Col d'Agnes. Tourmalet is within daily drive distance.All I need is inspiration

[Phoenix]

smifffymoto said:

Good effort,I'm working up to doing a few cols.On my door step I have Col de Port and Col d'Agnes. Tourmalet is within daily drive distance.All I need is inspiration

And I thought I was fortunate living on the edge of the Peak District.

[rocksteadyeddie]

Off to the daddy Alpe D'Huez a week Friday. Can't wait. I love climbing in the Alpes.

[red355]

Tourmalet is a cracking climb the side the tour went this year...I found the other side just Evil, that last 6-7 km seems to go on for ever. Then again that might have been because we did the Luz Ardiden first.

I saw two Golden eagles soaring over the valley that day.

Why do we do it?

[theboymoon]

Good show chaps.

[Marcellus]

now another dilema.... the moutnain goat I did it with wants to do it again tomorrow followed by the Col de Ramaz

[theboymoon]

Marcellus said:

now another dilema.... the moutnain goat I did it with wants to do it again tomorrow followed by the Col de Ramaz

beats sitting in an office in bristol watching the rain.....

[rocksteadyeddie]

theboymoon said:

Marcellus said:

now another dilema.... the moutnain goat I did it with wants to do it again tomorrow followed by the Col de Ramaz

beats sitting in an office in bristol watching the rain.....

+1 except in London. Stop moaning. Your legs will recover!

[neilski]

For those of you that like a bit of climbing, I recommend La Marmotte, a sportive held every July that starts in Le Bourg d'Oisans and takes in the Col du Glandon, Col du Telegraph, Col du Galibier and finishes on Alpe d'Huez after you already have 100 miles in your legs.

Not mine but a decent video of what to expect....

http://www.vimeo.com/5464145

[captain jack]

I did the Marmotte 2 weeks ago - it is what they say it is - 'the grand daddy of sportives'! Great day out though, this year was my first and I'll definately go back next year!

[Tazza]

Marmotte is a beast. Galibier is just viscious!! Good effort for Joux Plane

Edited by Tazza on Sunday 26th July 14:31

[hughjayteens]

I did the Tourmalet last year and loved it - would like to maybe plan a bit better next time and follow it up with the Hautacam maybe.

I found the last 4km pretty relentless but the support you get from passing motorists certainly helps! The clouds were about half way up so I was soaked to the skin and bloody freezing once we stopped at the top so the descent was probably as painful as the climb!

[red355]

Tazza said:

Marmotte is a beast. Galibier is just vicious!! Good effort for Joux Plane

Edited by Tazza on Sunday 26th July 14:31

I did the Marmotte three times .... missed gold the 2nd time by 20 mins and just sneaked a gold by 15 seconds the third time. I did say never ever again, but 2010 is another decade another challenge.

Everybody ought to attempt it a least once....great event

[rocksteadyeddie]

Alpe D'Huez on Friday. Rode 1:05 last year so looking to dip under the hour this.

Has anyone ridden up the "back way"? Discovered it recently and going to give it a go Saturday.

[rocksteadyeddie]

rocksteadyeddie said:

Alpe D'Huez on Friday. Rode 1:05 last year so looking to dip under the hour this.

Has anyone ridden up the "back way"? Discovered it recently and going to give it a go Saturday.

Alpe D'Huez 21 hairpins side Friday. Very very hot. Was creamed by about half way up and died to a 1:07

Col de la Croix de Fer Saturday. Again very hot and it goes on forever. What a stunningly beutiful climb though. Followed by the back end of Alpe D'Huez also known as the Col de Sarenne. Really tough, not much better than the front side. 75 miles later elated but ruined.