Cycling in the high mountains. Alps, Dolomites, Pyrenees etc

@andyp yeah no hiding from those hills, but I'll try and squeeze in all you said. I just seen a few GPX files and there's seemingly no flat ever, just up or down, this from RWGPS has the Bormio-Stelvio-Umbrail-Stelvio-Bormio route at just under 12,000 ft climbing in 66 miles.
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/42089809

Mortirolo and Gavia 11,000ft climbing in 77 miles
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/42089889

That's what I've dreamed of tho, even if I'm questioning my eating habits all the way round. Hard work but think I can manage those, cannot wait.

Another loop that springs to mind is to continue down the valley pass the Mortirolo, then in Tirano turn right and climb the Bernina pass. About 3 kms before the top you can turn right over the Forcola di Livigno, drop down into Livigno itself then do the Eira and Foscagno, before a lovely long descent back down to Bormio.

Do you get mobile phone reception in all these high mountain places?

Yeah, pretty much. Being a foreigner helps, as because you can roam between local networks, you get the best available signal.

Which Milan airport are you flying into, Linate or Malpensa? The drive up to Bormio is not too bad, once you're past Lecco it's less busy and for a lot of the way you're on the autostrada so not many too roundabouts to worry about.

I'd go for somewhere with good cycle paths, and Grenoble springs to mind.

There's also plenty of options for transfers from Milan to Bormio (vans with trailers, etc). We used the orgs one but saw stacks of them one of them when we did ALPI4000.
https://twitter.com/firsthippy/status/1542966436229963776

Sounds like a great trip and lots of good suggestions from others already. From my experience of driving in Italy it’s not being on the other side of the road so much or the roundabouts, but rather the slip roads when you join on to an autostrada. They are significantly shorter than the UK equivalents and from my experience drivers aren’t that fond of moving into the middle lane to allow you an easy way on. If you’re crossing yourself already that’s a good step, I’d also suggest dousing the car in holy water before you set off each morning. If you’re up early each morning to avoid the worst of the sun the roads will be significantly quieter. Vai Vai Vai etc

I spent a couple weeks riding around Bormio and Como in June 5 years ago. All that you've mentioned sounds good. If you want a shorter ride from Bormio, look at the climb up to the fraele tower and lake cancano. It's it not a challenging one but very beautiful. There's a gravel road down to the road that goes across the dam which is cool.

We also did some riding around Como, which was immense. There's so many good twisty roads in the hills above the lake, plus the famous Ghisallo and Sermano climbs. Even the 100 mile loop around lake como was (mostly) a great experience.

Thanks again for yet more ace tips. Thanks @andyp that Bernina Pass-Forcola di Livigno, -Livigno- Eira and Foscagno, before a lovely long descent back down to Bormio looks another great local ride. Its Malpensa airport I arrive at, and have hired the smallest most basic car they have, so I shall be a honorary Italian for a fortnight revving it to death to get enough speed on those short slipways @ghostface mentioned :)

And thanks @damitamit, as much as I have mentioned some of the famous passes I'm not there just to tick off the big climbs, so beautiful rides rather than challenging are fine by me and I'll try and squeeze in those suggestions. Having watched a load of cycling in Italy Youtube clips since booking the holiday, I think I've fallen in love with the place already and I've not set foot there yet. Thanks all, the next few months until departure are really going to drag.

Col de Cenise 1700m next to la Colombière, 1km of easy walking on the south side.

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The way up is remote on the south side, very few buildings and no connecting roads.

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the refuges in French and Italian alps; if they are full can you pitch a tent on their premises/nearby?

Technically no (due to camping restrictions ) , but also it depends. As some specifically allowed it, like Refuge de la Balme. IIRC if you couldn't see your tent from the refuge you were fine. When we did TMB, we camped near a couple and had dinner in them no problems.

Using the term "bivouac" gets you a lot more results when researching.

amazing! thank you so much.

3 kms after the top you can turn left over the Forcola di Livigno

;-)

Is googling 'temperature at mont ventoux' an acceptable way of predicting the weather at the top? I'm nearby, with my bike, but only summer kit. Reading online people say it's proper cold even in Summer, but forecasts seem quite mild using the aforementioned method

The rule of thumb is you'll lose 1 degree of temperature per 100 metres of elevation. It won't be a problem on the way up, as the effort will keep you warm. It might be an issue on the descent, but even then unless it's wet and below 5 degrees, you'll only feel cold for a few kms as the temperature rises as you descend.

If it's not raining or in the early morning you'll be fine. 1C loss for every 150m ish. Just make sure the weather is stable. You can always turn around. Cut arm holes in a binbag to cut wind.

Both @FixedCheese and @Bainbridge are in the Alps at the moment, and they've been above 2000 metres without any issues as far as I'm aware.

You could all have said no, don't do it, absolutely not, and other discouraging advice, couldn't you? Bummer

I can still vividly recall hitting 110kph over taking cars on a steel bike with front roll panniers down the north side. Rapid.

Great climb.

I rode it in June 2018 and it was fine, arm-warmers and a gilet on the descent but only cos i was so sweaty from the ascent.

I also rode it in July 2019 on the hottest day ever recorded in France in Carpentras, just around the corner (I tihnk it was 46 dee to the C). I didn't need the arm-warmers or the gilet...

If you're that close and have a bike with you, then you'll regret not doing it.

It's a hard climb but as long as you keep it steady and don't get carried away early on, then you'll be golden.

yes absolutely, unless there is a thunderstorm over the mountain or wind warnings in Bedoin then as Dave Starsky says; Do it.

Here's some encouragement if you like:

Edited highlights of Mont Ventoux, 3 ascents, Cingles, 4,500 metres vertical, 142km in June 2018.

https://www.pinkbike.com/video/488976/

Boy, a lot of water has gone under the bridge since that day.

I rode it around this time of year last summer and it was glorious - no gilet or warmers needed and I normally run pretty cold. You'll find you get hot as you climb and as long as you don't dawdle at the top too long you'll cool down on the descent. You may want to check for wind rather than temperature as it can be pretty hairy when you exit the forested section in the wind is kicking off, when I rode it was pretty still. I would suggest the climb from Bedoin if you're not sure which of the three you fancy, unless you fancy all three in a row of course in which case, good luck.