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Tired of Rain: Col in France A Dreamin'

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Tired of Rain: Col in France A Dreamin'

Old 02-18-11, 11:19 AM
  #1  
Lanceoldstrong
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Tired of Rain: Col in France A Dreamin'

Cue The Mamas and The Papas...

"All the leaves are down and the sky is gray.
I'd be in such pain now
If I was en Francais
Col in France A Dreamin' on such a winter's day" *

(* yes, I know it is bastard rhyme and a poor translation.)

L'Alpe d'Huez: I want to go train there. It would sure help with DMD prep.
Let's break it down.
3707 feet of elevation gain
Distance 8.7 miles
Maximum Elevation: 6069 feet.

So basically it is like climbing Mt. Diablo, in half the distance of the South Gate to Summit route.
Also this is at high altitude where the oxygen is thin.

It could be done as a 4 day weekend for $2000 each.(Hey, we all have our fantasies)
$908 round trip air fare per person.
Plus train tickets. Add in food and a place to crash for a couple nights.
We can fly into Lyon, France and take a train to L'Alpe d'Huez from there.

Plus however many of us go, we have to chip in and come up
with enough to bring Mr. gpelpel with us to translate for us.

Itinerary:

Fly out on a Thursday.
Friday go for a spin to loosen legs. (need I mention, in France!!!)
Saturday L'Alp d'Huez baby!!
Sunday, Recovery ride (need I mention, in France!!!)
Monday Fly home

Who's in? (This is just a fantasy, so who is in on the fantasy with me?)
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Old 02-18-11, 12:58 PM
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Cool! I volunteer for the translation job.

Problem though. Where can we find spiked 23mm tires or tire chains for my Pro3Races? At this time of the year Alpe d'Huez is a ski resort.

Also leaving on a Thursday means you arrive on a Friday so Saturday is l'Alpe d'Huez without a previous day spin. Who needs a previous day spin anyway, after all it's in France?

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Old 02-18-11, 01:02 PM
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Even as a fantasy this is more hassle then it is worth.
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Old 02-18-11, 01:09 PM
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Originally Posted by UmneyDurak
Even as a fantasy this is more hassle then it is worth.
we finally agree on something.

like 20 hours on a plane for a 60 minute climb.
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Old 02-18-11, 04:31 PM
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Originally Posted by Ygduf
we finally agree on something.

like 20 hours on a plane for a 60 minute climb.
here is a much cheaper alternative

everyone buy a Tacx Virtual Trainer and load up the L'Alpe d'Huez high definition real live video. I could host a server that everyone joins and we all chit chat on skype while talking smack about ygduf who is smoking everyone up the hill!

Sound like something that may be available in the future...nope. Ive been training with a tacx VR trainer for a couple of years now and have found a great core group of guys that do just this every weekend...of course i rarely join because our weather is *usually awesome
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Old 02-19-11, 12:21 AM
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I don't seen any mention of the logistics of bringing our bikes over there. I've looked into that and getting one's bike over there seems like a nightmare. Renting a bike isn't a piece of cake either, especially when you need some really low gearing.
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Old 02-19-11, 12:35 AM
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Jeez... You guys are so "anal". Can we dream a little, a mythical ride for all and... an all expenses paid vacation for me.
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Old 02-19-11, 09:52 AM
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There might be a problem... This also might explain why so few Americans ride get to ride in le tour.

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Old 02-19-11, 12:32 PM
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Originally Posted by bayareawheeler
everyone buy a Tacx Virtual Trainer and load up the L'Alpe d'Huez high definition real live video. I could host a server that everyone joins and we all chit chat on skype while talking smack about ygduf who is smoking everyone up the hill!


Sorry, but old kung fu movies is totally the way to go.

Complaining about ygduf leaving us in the dust though, that I can get behind.
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Old 02-22-11, 03:52 PM
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Haha. Too make it more tempting...

A few days ago on SlickDeals, there was a firesale on tickets... <$400 Roundtrip with taxes to places in Europe. I had a line one for France for $396... It's possible and if you want to do it, just browse slickdeals or other travel websites, and have your group of friends info ready on the double...
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Old 02-22-11, 11:40 PM
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eh... It wasn't that hard.

https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...-17-fo-the-TdF

(whole trip: https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...=447801&page=3)





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Old 02-23-11, 09:16 AM
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USPS: your "ride report" was perhaps my all time favorite. MyLilPony and i still crack up over how you just casually tossed this photo in, right in the middle.

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Old 02-23-11, 10:04 AM
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Lance, to save a few bucks have looked for any mid-week specials? Also, there may be less traffic on the Alpe.
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Old 02-23-11, 10:44 AM
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https://www.snow-forecast.com/resorts/Alpe-d-Huez
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Old 02-23-11, 11:16 AM
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How about the extended "Live Like a Pro" itinerary, to wit:

Start with LanceOldstrong's plan;
Immediately after finishing the Alpe, cram into a crowded van and drive to Avignon or Carpentras, check into a hotel.

Next morning: Mont Ventoux, baby! Be sure to bring an extra tube or water bottle to leave at the Tom Simpson Memorial Cyling Altar. Dying of heat stroke is frowned upon - besides, it's been done.
Cram back into the van, drive to St. Etienne, do the hotel thing again.

Next morning: Puy du Dome - this extinct volcano hasn't been in the Tour for some years now, but it is nasty and has been the scene of some truly epic Tour events. About 300 meters from the top, someone will pop out and punch LanceOldstrong in the gut, just like what happened to Merckx in 1975. (Barfing is considered poor form. Acting like you've been shot is okay.)
Back in the van, off to Pau and another hotel.

Next morning: the Tourmalet. Bonus points for breaking a fork, carrying your bike to a village and fixing it yourself at the local forge, a la Christophe. Unlike the real event, you are allowed to have a local kid work the bellows for you. LanceOldstrong is required to go down the backside and climb back up.
Cram into the van, head for the nearest TVM station, TVM to Paris, bus to Versailles.

Final morning: Versailles to Paris, with rolling champaign toasts. Once in Paris, multiple circuits up and down the Champs Ely- however its spelled. One small difference from the pros here - no traffic control, so we not only get to experience the "coming to Paris" feeling, we also get to experience the cultural phenomenon that is Parisian driving. Extra credit for riding around the Arc de Triomphe and living to tell the (undoubtedly harrowing) tale.

Strictly "BYOB" - (Bring Your Own Bomba )

So who's in? Hey, in for a fantasy penny, in for a fantasy pound.

Of course, the real fantasy is thinking I could make it up any one of those climbs in less than a week . . . .
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Old 02-23-11, 11:38 AM
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Originally Posted by bikingshearer
How about the extended "Live Like a Pro" itinerary, to wit:....
Awesome, funny, and totally in the spirit of things. This made my morning, except the bit about me getting punched in the liver
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Old 02-23-11, 11:51 AM
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Sounds like a script for a wonderfully awful "B" (or C or F) movie.
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Old 02-23-11, 12:57 PM
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Originally Posted by uspspro
eh... It wasn't that hard.



Thank you, I really enjoyed this picture. After several minutes of studying, I found there was a cyclist in this picture. Amazing optical illusion.
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Old 02-23-11, 02:13 PM
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Originally Posted by hooligancyclist
Thank you, I really enjoyed this picture. After several minutes of studying, I found there was a cyclist in this picture. Amazing optical illusion.
So what were you looking at?
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Old 02-23-11, 02:17 PM
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Originally Posted by bikingshearer
So what were you looking at?
Marco's face says it all: "Did I really see that?"
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Old 02-23-11, 02:24 PM
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By the way I am still volunteering for the translation job, bikingshearer's updated itinerary makes it even more interesting.

Not sure about the TVM he is referring to though. A google search directed me to something I don't think I am allowed to post here, click at your own risk. I think I would prefer riding the TGV back to Paris.
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Old 02-23-11, 06:15 PM
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TVM, TGV, what's the difference? I just want to ride that fast train thingy again.




I must have been thinking of the Dutch team from the 80s or 90s. Yeah, that's the ticket . . . .
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Old 02-23-11, 07:18 PM
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Originally Posted by bikingshearer
TVM, TGV, what's the difference? I just want to ride that fast train thingy again.
I was demonstrating the need for a 'qualified' translator and how much good an investment it will be to treat me to a full expenses paid vacation to France.

We are talking a full week now, not a weekend. Right Lance?

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Old 02-23-11, 11:44 PM
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Originally Posted by Lanceoldstrong
L'Alpe d'Huez: I want to go train there. It would sure help with DMD prep.
Let's break it down.
3707 feet of elevation gain
Distance 8.7 miles
Maximum Elevation: 6069 feet.

So basically it is like climbing Mt. Diablo, in half the distance of the South Gate to Summit route.
Also this is at high altitude where the oxygen is thin.
I'll fantasize... made this chart for comparison.

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Old 02-24-11, 11:33 AM
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Originally Posted by gpelpel
I was demonstrating the need for a 'qualified' translator and how much good an investment it will be to treat me to a full expenses paid vacation to France.

We are talking a full week now, not a weekend. Right Lance?
As far as I'm concerned, the job's all yours. The limits of my French are: saying I don't speak French; asking if you speak English; counting to five; and "merde."

Hey, it got me through ten days in Provence and Paris . . . .
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