Riding a Col/Alp: Recommendations
Discussion
Per the title, it's on my bucket list to do this. However, I am not a natural climber in terms of physical build or endurance.
I do a few miles and have completed several Etape events but taking on a mountain is a different animal altogether.
Can anyone recommend a good starter based on their own experiences or knowledge please? Strava files or the like would be handy, too.
Having watched the Tour at the weekend, I've ruled out Alpe D'Huez
I do a few miles and have completed several Etape events but taking on a mountain is a different animal altogether.
Can anyone recommend a good starter based on their own experiences or knowledge please? Strava files or the like would be handy, too.
Having watched the Tour at the weekend, I've ruled out Alpe D'Huez
The thing about the big Alpine climbs is...there's nothing like them in the UK! Most of them are a lot longer if not as steep as some of them here and in the summer it should be a lot hotter too. Although the average Alpine gradient may only be 10%, if you've got 20km + of that, and perhaps 30 degrees of unrelenting sunshine, and the odd spike of 15% gradient and you're climbing for maybe 2 hours, it gets the better of you.
There's a site called Climbbybike that rates all the climbs so you may be able to get some pointers from that.
Training? I'd recommend hill repeats and lots of threshold work. Have you got a compact chainset, and a 28 tooth cassette if not a 30.
There's a site called Climbbybike that rates all the climbs so you may be able to get some pointers from that.
Training? I'd recommend hill repeats and lots of threshold work. Have you got a compact chainset, and a 28 tooth cassette if not a 30.
Daveyraveygravey said:
The thing about the big Alpine climbs is...there's nothing like them in the UK! Most of them are a lot longer if not as steep as some of them here and in the summer it should be a lot hotter too. Although the average Alpine gradient may only be 10%, if you've got 20km + of that, and perhaps 30 degrees of unrelenting sunshine, and the odd spike of 15% gradient and you're climbing for maybe 2 hours, it gets the better of you.
There's a site called Climbbybike that rates all the climbs so you may be able to get some pointers from that.
Training? I'd recommend hill repeats and lots of threshold work. Have you got a compact chainset, and a 28 tooth cassette if not a 30.
+1 There's a site called Climbbybike that rates all the climbs so you may be able to get some pointers from that.
Training? I'd recommend hill repeats and lots of threshold work. Have you got a compact chainset, and a 28 tooth cassette if not a 30.
I did Alpe d'Huez and Col Du Galibier in 2013 with my friend and his 65 year old Dad. Our initiation on the 21 bends was in the pissing rain too....grrr.
It sure was a baptism of fire. Most of our training was in Kent and has been mentioned above there really isn't anything like it here in the UK.
From my experience I would definitely recommend going to the gym and building up your leg muscles, it's something I'll be doing when I attempt Ventoux next year.
To get you in the mood:
Don't rule out Alpe d'Huez - it's only the first 4 or 5 hairpins that are difficult. However for a starter climb, Col d'Ornon fits the bill perfectly - it's about 7km long with an average gradient of 6 or 7 percent, and a great descent. Or if you fancy something a bit harder, Les Deux Alpes - that's up at about 8% for 9kms. The Col du Lautaret is certainly worth a go too - that's about 4 -5.5% for about 27kms and then you can swing off at the top and have a go at the Galibier...
Take a look at the Col Collective website, loads of info there about riding the Cols/Alps.
http://thecolcollective.com
http://thecolcollective.com
Lots of good info here, thanks.
Keep it coming.
Bike is pretty low geared. Compact chainset and wide cassette giving, I think, 34/30 at the bottom end. I could look at a lower compact or triple on the front. I have been defeated by gradients of 12%+ at times thus far (the Etape Pennines was piss takingly bumpy when I did it the other year).
Looking at the climbs, there's a lot to consider such as the route before and after, weather, rest days etc. I wouldn't want to do a 2,000km drive down to Grenoble and back to climb one hill. Equally, I wouldn't be clambering up one per day!
Keep it coming.
Bike is pretty low geared. Compact chainset and wide cassette giving, I think, 34/30 at the bottom end. I could look at a lower compact or triple on the front. I have been defeated by gradients of 12%+ at times thus far (the Etape Pennines was piss takingly bumpy when I did it the other year).
Looking at the climbs, there's a lot to consider such as the route before and after, weather, rest days etc. I wouldn't want to do a 2,000km drive down to Grenoble and back to climb one hill. Equally, I wouldn't be clambering up one per day!
Go somewhere that offers a choice of routes - like mcelliott said Bourg d'Oisans is good as there's a number of the famous TdeF climbs accessible from there, and you can pick the level of difficulty.
Other ideas could be Bourg St Maurice, Barcelonette, Morzine, Annecy, St Jeane de Maurienne, there are any number of possibilities.
Since it's a "bucket list" goal, maybe you should work out which climb you feel most inspired about doing, and pick somewhere that's good for that ?
Do it, you won't regret it !
Gratuitous pics. Second one is the Mrs climbing up the Grosse Scheidegg pass - a really amazing road in Switzerland with the Wetterhorn in the background.
Other ideas could be Bourg St Maurice, Barcelonette, Morzine, Annecy, St Jeane de Maurienne, there are any number of possibilities.
Since it's a "bucket list" goal, maybe you should work out which climb you feel most inspired about doing, and pick somewhere that's good for that ?
Do it, you won't regret it !
Gratuitous pics. Second one is the Mrs climbing up the Grosse Scheidegg pass - a really amazing road in Switzerland with the Wetterhorn in the background.
Edited by outnumbered on Wednesday 29th July 23:31
ferrisbueller said:
Lots of good info here, thanks.
Keep it coming.
Bike is pretty low geared. Compact chainset and wide cassette giving, I think, 34/30 at the bottom end. I could look at a lower compact or triple on the front. I have been defeated by gradients of 12%+ at times thus far (the Etape Pennines was piss takingly bumpy when I did it the other year).
Looking at the climbs, there's a lot to consider such as the route before and after, weather, rest days etc. I wouldn't want to do a 2,000km drive down to Grenoble and back to climb one hill. Equally, I wouldn't be clambering up one per day!
If you do plan to come to France, I can really recommend "1 Jour 1 Col" where they close a selection of famous cols to cars for one morning at a time. I did the Col de Joux Plane a few days ago. The tourist office will put on free food and drink at the top (sometimes also the bottom as well) so you can enjoy some cake and cheese as a reward. No need to sign up, just turn up on the day and go for it. Keep it coming.
Bike is pretty low geared. Compact chainset and wide cassette giving, I think, 34/30 at the bottom end. I could look at a lower compact or triple on the front. I have been defeated by gradients of 12%+ at times thus far (the Etape Pennines was piss takingly bumpy when I did it the other year).
Looking at the climbs, there's a lot to consider such as the route before and after, weather, rest days etc. I wouldn't want to do a 2,000km drive down to Grenoble and back to climb one hill. Equally, I wouldn't be clambering up one per day!
http://www.1jour1col.com/
I started this cycling lark with the Alpes!
Couple of years ago, best mate getting married, I was to be best man in 6 months. Oh and the stag do will be riding AdH and some Tour cols, for a few days. I was 4 stone heavier than now and a 30yr smoker. Got a bike, quit the fags, started riding.
Rode a triple that year to the Alpes, nae bother, binned it for a compact on my return, went again last year to step it up a bit and will ride the Grande Routes next year.
If you're around Bourg for AdH you MUST ride the balcony road, the old route in fact, from Allemond through Vilard Reculas into Huez, it is awesome.
Balcony road looking down a vast sheer drop to Bourg
Big one in the morning (eg AdH or Croix de la Fer), lunch, smaller one in the afternoon (eg Col d'Ornon as mentioned back is perfect)
Gradients are usually avg around 7% with the odd bit around 10%.
Couple of years ago, best mate getting married, I was to be best man in 6 months. Oh and the stag do will be riding AdH and some Tour cols, for a few days. I was 4 stone heavier than now and a 30yr smoker. Got a bike, quit the fags, started riding.
Rode a triple that year to the Alpes, nae bother, binned it for a compact on my return, went again last year to step it up a bit and will ride the Grande Routes next year.
If you're around Bourg for AdH you MUST ride the balcony road, the old route in fact, from Allemond through Vilard Reculas into Huez, it is awesome.
Balcony road looking down a vast sheer drop to Bourg
ferrisbueller said:
Equally, I wouldn't be clambering up one per day!
Yeah you will Big one in the morning (eg AdH or Croix de la Fer), lunch, smaller one in the afternoon (eg Col d'Ornon as mentioned back is perfect)Gradients are usually avg around 7% with the odd bit around 10%.
Edited by richardxjr on Wednesday 5th August 17:04
Gassing Station | Pedal Powered | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff