Anyone here ridden L'alpe D'huez?
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Ventoux is really quite easy to climb from Sault.
The other two directions are killers.
From Sault it averages something silly like 3% for the first 12km.
The other two directions are killers.
From Sault it averages something silly like 3% for the first 12km.
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Originally Posted by EURO
Ventoux is really quite easy to climb from Sault.
The other two directions are killers.
From Sault it averages something silly like 3% for the first 12km.
The other two directions are killers.
From Sault it averages something silly like 3% for the first 12km.
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I did all 3 climbs of ventoux. depending on how you ride none are easy.....
The Col d' Izoard is a fantastic climb...there are so many great climbs in France you cant go wrong..enjoy and good luck.
The Col d' Izoard is a fantastic climb...there are so many great climbs in France you cant go wrong..enjoy and good luck.
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I rode the Alp this year. Did it in 49min 45sec, was on the best form of my life at the time. It isn't really that steep or particularly hard, and the hairpins are all flat. Just find a rhythm and hold it.
Did Le Mont Ventoux as well, and I found it really easy, mainly due to the 70km/hr tailwind I had on the way up! Great fun though.
Did Le Mont Ventoux as well, and I found it really easy, mainly due to the 70km/hr tailwind I had on the way up! Great fun though.
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i read in the recent bicycling about the ventoux club where you get a medal for doing all the ventoux routes in a day. i think i read there's a 4th dirt road which reaches the summit too. goals like that get me fired up, way more than a race ever could. just having a goal like riding ONE of the climbs in decent time and style can keep me motivated for the next few months.
christo i think your time is one you should be proud of. heck it took lance 38 minutes.
christo i think your time is one you should be proud of. heck it took lance 38 minutes.
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If your near Ventoux I would go with that versus L Alp. I went up the Bedoin side in Septmber and I can tell you it is relentless as it never levels off. Also, it was hot (80 degrees ) at the bottom and cold (47 degrees) at the top. It was awesome and I highly recommend!
Last edited by SF Biker; 12-19-05 at 09:43 PM.
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Oh almost forgot. The Bedoin area is stunning. The first pic is where I started. If you look off to the right you can see Mt Ventoux in the clouds. Believe me this pic does not do it justice as it is 8-10% grade that never let's up. . The second pic is looking down from the Simpson Memorial. About 5km from the top it changes in to a moonscape, cool, ugly and freaky all in one!
Last edited by SF Biker; 12-19-05 at 09:44 PM.
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Originally Posted by oboeguy
If you go immediately before / after the Tour, there will be pro photographers on the hairpins taking your picture and handing you a card so you can buy the pic later so try to look good on those hairpins.
On a somewhat sadder note, the owner of the cycle shop in Malaucene killed himself a year or so ago over a failed relationship. I don't know if the shop has reopened, but assume it has. It would be a gold mine.
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You may want to ask steephill. He has done it and has posted many threads about his cycling exploits in France...and most of us hat......errr..envy him for it .
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Originally Posted by baj32161
You may want to ask steephill. He has done it and has posted many threads about his cycling exploits in France...and most of us hat......errr..envy him for it .
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Originally Posted by christo87
I rode the Alp this year. Did it in 49min 45sec, was on the best form of my life at the time. It isn't really that steep or particularly hard, and the hairpins are all flat. Just find a rhythm and hold it.
151. Peter Wrolich (A), Gerolsteiner, 10:06
152. Fabio Baldato (I), Alessio-Bianchi, 10:10
153. Alessandro Bertolini (I), Alessio-Bianchi, 10:10
154. Nazon Jean-Patrick (F), Ag2R Prevoyance, 10:19
155. Matthew Wilson (Aus), FDJeux.com, 11:32
Davide Bramati (I), Quick Step-Davitamon, H.Delais
Aart Vierhouten (Nl), Lotto-Domo, H.Delais
I question either your math, or why you're wasting time here with us. Maybe you have a future riding.
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Originally Posted by merlinextraligh
Christo, If that is accurate, that time would have put you well within the time limit for Stage 16 of the 2004 TDF and ahead of: 150. Jimmy Casper (F), Cofidis, 10:06 (10:06 above Armstrongs 39:41)
151. Peter Wrolich (A), Gerolsteiner, 10:06
152. Fabio Baldato (I), Alessio-Bianchi, 10:10
153. Alessandro Bertolini (I), Alessio-Bianchi, 10:10
154. Nazon Jean-Patrick (F), Ag2R Prevoyance, 10:19
155. Matthew Wilson (Aus), FDJeux.com, 11:32
Davide Bramati (I), Quick Step-Davitamon, H.Delais
Aart Vierhouten (Nl), Lotto-Domo, H.Delais
I question either your math, or why you're wasting time here with us. Maybe you have a future riding.
151. Peter Wrolich (A), Gerolsteiner, 10:06
152. Fabio Baldato (I), Alessio-Bianchi, 10:10
153. Alessandro Bertolini (I), Alessio-Bianchi, 10:10
154. Nazon Jean-Patrick (F), Ag2R Prevoyance, 10:19
155. Matthew Wilson (Aus), FDJeux.com, 11:32
Davide Bramati (I), Quick Step-Davitamon, H.Delais
Aart Vierhouten (Nl), Lotto-Domo, H.Delais
I question either your math, or why you're wasting time here with us. Maybe you have a future riding.
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Originally Posted by HigherGround
If you get to go up on Alpe d'Huez at night, the view is fantastic. There's not much light pollution, so the stars really stand out. .
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I question either your math, or why you're wasting time here with us. Maybe you have a future riding.
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Originally Posted by EURO
Many people only time themselves to the faux finish line at the start of the village. In actual fact, there's another couple of kms to the real finish. This is possible.
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Originally Posted by HigherGround
I rode it in 2004, the day before the Tour had the time trial up the mountain. I don't recall what my exact time was, but if less than 60 minutes is a decent time, then I'm sure my time was most indecent. Granted, I didn't have the best preparation. I had driven 12 hours the day before, due to underestimating how long it would take to cover some of the mountainous backroad highways that I had taken. I arrived around midnight, and slept in my car just as a migraine was starting to settle in. After a poor night's sleep, I walked to the Casino market in Bourg d'Oissans to buy groceries and breakfast. I actually freaked myself out a bit, by walking up the first two hairpins on the mountain: they're the steepest part, and I thought that was going to be typical of the rest of the climb. Fortunately it's not.
I usually ride with a 39 X 23 low in the the part of Pennsylvania where I live. The climbs can be steep, but are almost always less than 3/4 of a mile. For Alpe d'Huez, I used a 39 X 26 low. That's the same gearing I used for the Assault on Mt. Mitchell in 1997. Unfortunately I'm in the Clydesdale category (for now), and I would have liked to use lower gears, but I couldn't find any Campy 8 speed cassettes. By the top I was wishing I had put the 26 tooth cog on the crankset rather than the back wheel! However, due to perseverance more than athletic ability, I did make it to the top. There was no freakin' way I was going to come back to the US and tell my friends that I quit on Alpe d'Huez! I may not be the most fit cyclist around, but I may be one of the most stubborn.
I had taken a vest with me, and I was glad that I did. I got to the top as it was cooling off and dark gray storm clouds were rolling in. Fortunately the rain held off. Riding back down was a challenge too. My hands and upper body were getting tired from braking and bracing myself. It was hard to get much speed, as there were people riding up the mountain, people painting all over the road, and people just partying in general. If you get to go up on Alpe d'Huez at night, the view is fantastic. There's not much light pollution, so the stars really stand out. Prior to leaving for my trip, I was in the midst of changing careers and making some major life changes. I am so glad that I went. Being there at that time felt so right, like it was just something I needed to do. It's hard to explain, but it is one of my most cherished memories.
I usually ride with a 39 X 23 low in the the part of Pennsylvania where I live. The climbs can be steep, but are almost always less than 3/4 of a mile. For Alpe d'Huez, I used a 39 X 26 low. That's the same gearing I used for the Assault on Mt. Mitchell in 1997. Unfortunately I'm in the Clydesdale category (for now), and I would have liked to use lower gears, but I couldn't find any Campy 8 speed cassettes. By the top I was wishing I had put the 26 tooth cog on the crankset rather than the back wheel! However, due to perseverance more than athletic ability, I did make it to the top. There was no freakin' way I was going to come back to the US and tell my friends that I quit on Alpe d'Huez! I may not be the most fit cyclist around, but I may be one of the most stubborn.
I had taken a vest with me, and I was glad that I did. I got to the top as it was cooling off and dark gray storm clouds were rolling in. Fortunately the rain held off. Riding back down was a challenge too. My hands and upper body were getting tired from braking and bracing myself. It was hard to get much speed, as there were people riding up the mountain, people painting all over the road, and people just partying in general. If you get to go up on Alpe d'Huez at night, the view is fantastic. There's not much light pollution, so the stars really stand out. Prior to leaving for my trip, I was in the midst of changing careers and making some major life changes. I am so glad that I went. Being there at that time felt so right, like it was just something I needed to do. It's hard to explain, but it is one of my most cherished memories.
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You guys forget that the guys I would have beaten were just cruising up at 60% or so, and have just done over 2 weeks unbelievably hard racing. I came fresh and feeling great.
And it was to the real race finish, not to the faux finish
And it was to the real race finish, not to the faux finish
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Originally Posted by christo87
You guys forget that the guys I would have beaten were just cruising up at 60% or so, and have just done over 2 weeks unbelievably hard racing. I came fresh and feeling great.
And it was to the real race finish, not to the faux finish
And it was to the real race finish, not to the faux finish
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Originally Posted by Barcelona rider
Jealousy is a wasted emotion. Come out here and we can show you a dozen alpe d¨huez type climbs! Even you Baj boy are invited!
Cheers,
Brian
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Last edited by baj32161; 12-21-05 at 05:46 AM.
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Originally Posted by merlinextraligh
(Regarding Cristo) Nonetheless, your time indicates you could hang in the pro peleton, and could have some real potential. How old are you? What level do you race at, and are you pursuing this seriously?
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.
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I rode it last year after climbing Galibier and then riding to Alpe du'Huez... was a tough day. There was a husband and wife riding, he had 2 kids in trailer, she had 1 in her trailer. Try riding Galibier from that direction...it's a really tough climb. All the climbs will be challenging enough and spectacular...have a blast and ride as many as possible. I'm planning on being there for the TDF this year to watch Jan,Ivan,Cadel,Vino, and maybe Georgie battle it out
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Originally Posted by joetronic
Sounds like you are a fellow astronomer. Am I correct?
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Originally Posted by sirthx
Good read! Thanks for sharing.
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Originally Posted by divekrb
...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...
Paul Sherwinn once said that the climb of the Alpe d'Huez isn't that tough, but it is the climbs that preceed it during a typical stage that make it so difficult. Don't believe it - that climb is tough enough on its own! But I can't imagine riding the typical road stage and finishing like the riders I mentioned above. I admit that my fondest memories have a definite slant towards the Americans, but that is in no way meant to diminish the accomplishments of riders from other countries.
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