The Alpe d'Huez

I have.

I played violin while climbing. It took 2 solid days. This was because I have no legs and the engine had stalled on my unicycle.

Ah, the old "spin my starter handle please" ruse eh?

Oddly enough I am reading In Search of Robert Millar at the moment

I"ve read it (Millars), brilliant book. I Am now halfway through Fignons again great book!

I've read that. I really enjoyed it, especially since I knew very little about David's brother.

I've got a load of unread cycling books here. I really need to start taking rest days again so I can get some reading done.

I'd like to read the Fignon book.
Hippy, I am more than willing to read some of your books and e-mail you summaries, given how valuable your time is

I'm not falling for that.. not after the Beer Tasting Proxy shenanigans.

you"ve climed Alpe d Huez, but have you climed the highest road in Europe col de la Bonette. Or do you know anyone who has? if you do know, is the man Robert Millar... if so can you get his autograph for me... thanks

I have to confess that I have not climbed Alpe d'Huez but I have, of course, popped up Col de la Bonnette. Nice climb that. I presume Will has ridden that one in 34 minutes or so.

Looking at Alpe d'huez this summer, however none of my riding mates want to take the punishment. Anyone else considering it?

Not sure looking at it is punishing, riding it is fun.

Fair enough. I'm thinking of going solo anyway. What's Grenoble like?

Fair enough. I'm thinking of going solo anyway. What's Grenoble like?

Pretty fucking 'orrible. Stay somewhere near Alpe D'Huez.

We stayed in Le Verney. There's a little village Allemond at the bottom of the dam.
You can ride to Huez from there ~20k fairly easy.

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=alpe+d%27huez&hl=en&ll=45.136221,6.05175&spn=0.039174,0.090895&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-a&hq=alpe+d%27huez&radius=15000&t=m&z=14&vpsrc=6

Bourg d'Oisans is totally dedicated to cycling in the summer. Very convenient for Alpe d'Huez and Galibier.

Trying to do this on a budget, any reccomendations for cheap hotels/ hostels in the area?

I will try to find the details of a hostel i stayed in out there

There are loads of them up in sleepy mountain villages

Drove down there coupla years ago to do the ADH Triathlon. We stayed in ski lodge at the resort and it was cheap.

Doing the climb as part of a competition was epic cos there were spectators on most of the hairpins cheering us on. Lots of Brits going crazy. Dare I say I could almost imagine I was on the tour? Shame the tri suit made me look like a doofus!

Very comfortable on 39x27.

not sure where to post this.. brings back some memories (2007)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RawmqUVLiXI

Anyone going out there this year?

Any new tips for riding that aren't already in this thread.

Im most worried about traffic, anywhere around here that quiet?

Col de la Bonette is not the highest road in Europe. Pico de Veleta is.
Early June I climbed Alpe d'Huez six times on one day to raise money for cancer. Was tough but doable. During my tour this summer I climbed it again in late July. I aimed at climbing it under an hour but as I already had Eindoven - Bourg d'Oisans i my legs with loads of hills and mountain passes, I could only do it in 1h 9m. Its a nice ride but definitely not one of the prettiest in the Alpes nor the Pyrenees, Jura or Vosges. The village on top is one huge McDonalds floating in the sky.

sorry to dig up an old thread....

myself and 3 friends have decided to go for a trip to Alpe d'Huez towards the end of September, does anyone have any accommodation recomends?
Will be staying for at least 4 nights so a good base to do a few different rides would be good but Alpe d'Huez is at the top of the list.

This isn't a specific recommendation, sorry, but Le Bourg d'Oisans is a nice little town with enough shops/restaurants/wandering etc. for the evenings, although presumably your time will be more about the riding. As well as Alpe d'Huez you've also got the Glandon, Croix de Fer (although it semi-cheats to count them in the same ride!), the Ornon, Lautaret and Galibier within looping distance, all with a downhill return at the end of the day's ride.

Afew years ago I stayed at https://www.hotelaubonaccueil.com/aboutus#

I’d definitely recommend staying in Bourg rather than in Alpe d’Huez. It’s a bit more compact as a town, so less walking around required of an evening and you don’t have a fuck off hors categorie climb to face at the end of every ride.