Anyone here ridden L'alpe D'huez?
#51
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Originally Posted by Warblade
I was refering to climbing from Bedoin. Then the winds at the top are nuts, me and my dad had 50-55 gusts and I was blown off the road at one point. Strongest winds I have ever been in.
Photo was taken during the 2003 Tour de France, a year in which they had no race stage on Ventoux.
#52
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Originally Posted by divekrb
Cristo's time for a rec rider/racer is excellent but it's not relevant to hanging with the TDF riders.
I did it in '04 in mediocre form, 15lbs heavier than in 05 and went 57:00 weaving through traffic the day after the TT. I'm sure based on my % improvement in '05 at other climbs that I could see 51- 52 minutes if I was on peak.
I'm also sure that had I done the full TDF prior my time would be 0:00 because I would have burst into flames several days before. Cristo is right in saying that the guys he might have "beaten" were cruising in survival mode after a long tour, just making the cut. These guys put in incredibly hard efforts before they even see the bottom of the mountain. And some of the bigger riders are notoriously slow going uphill, if you've ever raced some top crit monstors you know how they die on the grades. It's the great watts/pounds equalizer.
I did it in '04 in mediocre form, 15lbs heavier than in 05 and went 57:00 weaving through traffic the day after the TT. I'm sure based on my % improvement in '05 at other climbs that I could see 51- 52 minutes if I was on peak.
I'm also sure that had I done the full TDF prior my time would be 0:00 because I would have burst into flames several days before. Cristo is right in saying that the guys he might have "beaten" were cruising in survival mode after a long tour, just making the cut. These guys put in incredibly hard efforts before they even see the bottom of the mountain. And some of the bigger riders are notoriously slow going uphill, if you've ever raced some top crit monstors you know how they die on the grades. It's the great watts/pounds equalizer.
I understand he hadn't ridden the previous 15 stages, but if you can work a full time job, and hang out on BF, and ride a time like that, it would indicate with full time effort dedictated to cycling you should could be a professional cyclist, at least at the division 3 level. I don't know Christo, so I won't say he didn't ride that time, but if he did, and he's only riding recreationally, he might consider actually pursuing professional racing.
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just to add my two cent. the start of the time trial included 1.7 km of flat at the very beginning so the actual climbing time on the the mountain is a couple minute faster. That would make Christo is not 10 but 12 minutes back of Lance Armstrong =). I know, big deal, but just want to pointed that out. I agrees that the tour rider are quite dead by the time they got to that time trial. I would think they would be a bit quicker if that's the only thing they have to do in the tour.
Speaking Christo, I wonder what your physycal built is like? Rasmussen (sp) or Ullrich?? just out of curiosity. lol
Speaking Christo, I wonder what your physycal built is like? Rasmussen (sp) or Ullrich?? just out of curiosity. lol
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I am going to Ramstein Air Force Base in Aug for 2 weeks. I will have the middle weekend off and am trying to talk my supervisor into letting me go for the weekend and climb it. But, I cannot find any info about it such as how far it is from Ramstein, going up it solo with no support, getting back down (aside from descending on bike), etc...
mscycler
mscycler
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Originally Posted by mscycler
I am going to Ramstein Air Force Base in Aug for 2 weeks. I will have the middle weekend off and am trying to talk my supervisor into letting me go for the weekend and climb it. But, I cannot find any info about it such as how far it is from Ramstein, going up it solo with no support, getting back down (aside from descending on bike), etc...
mscycler
mscycler
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Originally Posted by baj32161
Ummmmm...thanks but no. And I believe the OP was asking specifically about the Alpe d' Huez, not Alpe d' Huez "type" climbs. I was only suggesting that he ask someone who has ridden it....in other words, I was "sticking to the thread topic." Perhaps you may want to follow the very suggestion you have so consistently made yourself. My post was in no way even directed at you and as I have told you before, your continued attempts at baiting me into a name calling, pissing contest are not going to work. It has been tried before by people whose thoughts and opinions mattered to me, and it didn't work with them either. If you wish to continue to waste your time with this practice then, by all means, go ahead. I find it amusing, if not a bit childish.
Cheers,
Brian
Cheers,
Brian
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Originally Posted by Barcelona rider
The invite was genuine. Your answer is delirious and seriously out of context. Get a life.
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Originally Posted by Barcelona rider
The invite was genuine. Your answer is delirious and seriously out of context. Get a life.
Have a Merry Christmas.
Brian
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Last edited by baj32161; 12-22-05 at 07:17 AM.
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Originally Posted by USAZorro
Barcelona, Living in Europe, perhaps you aren't aware that here in the states, "boy" is considered a perjorative term (not a friendly word to use) by many. Knowing what I do about the history of the term's usage, Baj's reaction seems quite understandable. I'm certain any of us here in the US could make a similar, unintended, unfortunate choice of words when conversing with you.
Cheers, and thanks just the same.
Brian
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Last edited by baj32161; 12-22-05 at 07:17 AM.
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For once in here, there may be a genuine misunderstanding, rather than a repeat all of the eight year old crap that flies around.
Your name in here is baj32161. Given the predeliction of members to try suss out a familiar way to address other members (as in Sin and Sincity for the name Sincitycycler), is it just possible that baj was just such an attempt at familiarity? Just a thought.
Your name in here is baj32161. Given the predeliction of members to try suss out a familiar way to address other members (as in Sin and Sincity for the name Sincitycycler), is it just possible that baj was just such an attempt at familiarity? Just a thought.
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Originally Posted by gmason
For once in here, there may be a genuine misunderstanding, rather than a repeat all of the eight year old crap that flies around.
Your name in here is baj32161. Given the predeliction of members to try suss out a familiar way to address other members (as in Sin and Sincity for the name Sincitycycler), is it just possible that baj was just such an attempt at familiarity? Just a thought.
Your name in here is baj32161. Given the predeliction of members to try suss out a familiar way to address other members (as in Sin and Sincity for the name Sincitycycler), is it just possible that baj was just such an attempt at familiarity? Just a thought.
Cheers,
Brian
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Last edited by baj32161; 12-22-05 at 08:23 AM.
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Originally Posted by gmason
For once in here, there may be a genuine misunderstanding, rather than a repeat all of the eight year old crap that flies around.
edit - if one could imagine the speaker being an aristocratic gentleman in early 20th century Britain, "boy" would be synonymous with "pal", "chap", or any number of genuinely friendly colloquialisms - a far different tone from its common usage in the USA.
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Last edited by USAZorro; 12-22-05 at 07:47 AM.
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Originally Posted by baj32161
Unless you just don't pay attention.
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Originally Posted by gmason
Are you accusing someone in here of paying attention?!
OOPS!!! My bad!!
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Wow, sounds great! It must have been quite an experience to conquer such an iconic climb, even with the less-than-ideal gearing and tiredness from the journey. And the view from the top, especially at night, sounds absolutely breathtaking. It's moments like these that stay with us forever and remind us of the beauty and resilience of life.
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This has to be the oldest I have seen.
But since I am here.... Not ridden it in real life, attempted on Rouvy a couple of years ago... it was not successful, although I think I could do it now.
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It’s ok I was joking. Newbies and zombie threads are a common theme on BF.
#70
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#72
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The Alpe du Zwift matches the climb pretty closely. I did it a few weeks ago in my pain cave. I need to do it again before I put away the trainer for the season.