Maxl's Fireflies Alps Diary

[SIZE=3]OK guys, for anyone who's interested here's some details of my ride so far. It's the rest day and I'm sitting in a chalet in La Grave at 1477m. [/SIZE]

Day 1:
78.5 miles
2500 m climbing

Started off from Lake Geneva, where we'd been swimming the day before. Long drag up to Morzine where the Col de Joux Plane started... where Armstrong bonked badly in '03(?) and where Landis did made his amazing juiced-up break in '06. Steep and hard at the start, then winding through Alpine meadows with herds of brown cows, their bells all clanking in different tones as they grazed. Eerie sound, cool to see. Ended the day at the top of the Col de la Colombiere., climbing via Scionzier. 16.3km up to 1647m, averaging 6.5%. Really tough final push. Hot and exposed, averaging over 10% in the last couple of km.

Day 2:
76.4 miles
3700m climbing

Four cols today, Aravis, Saisies, Meraillet and the Cormet de Roseland. First couple were nice. Chain snapped at the bottom of Saisie and, as I was mending it, Denis Menchov and Rabobank came haring round the corner and flashed up the hill I'd just decended. Really fast. A minute later, AG2R came down the other way, a bit slower... they were all talking about Menchov! Apparently all the teams are training around here, but try to keep their distance as they don't want the others to know what they're practising for the Tour. Spent the whole day playing catch up. Very beautiful climbs over Rosseland and then a really hairy descent. Mostly I am enjoying them, but I was tired and hungry and it requires so much concentration. Huge graffiti on the wall saying 'Johann' where Bruneel went over the edge a long time ago. Finally, a long, depressing climb up to Tignes, where we were staying.

Day 3
97.1 miles
3096m climbing

Cycled down and over the dam and into Val d'Isere. Ski resorts are funny off season, full of cyclists. Through the town and up the road to Iserand (the road doesn't exist in the winter!). Iserand takes you up to 2770m, the highest we're gonna get. It was really steady and fun – a gentle 5-6%. We climbed up the side of a beautiful valley, could see Fireflies graffiti on the road below from 2004. It sticks around forever – on the big climbs you get to see all the names – Mayo, Ullrich, etc... There's really no air that high, you feel it a lot – and it's weird going from 25 degree heat into the snow! Down from there was the best descent ever, and then I chainganged it with two others to the foot of Telegraphe. We were absolutely flying, really put the hammer down, because it's about 35 miles but on a slight downhill! Dropped from 2770 to 710m. Incredible. Had a crepe at the bottom, in Saint Michel, then climbed it on my own. Took slightly over an hour to cover the 11.8km at 7.3% - which is hooning it considering how hot it was. Tar was melting on the road. Was listening to my iPod all the way up. Then went up Galibier, which is usually reached by the Telegraphe after a short descent. Fairly early on I realised that I'd gone too hard on Telegraphe. Galibier is 18km long, gaining 1245m, but the last 8km are all between 8 and 9%. So I suffered up all of the switchbacks on Galibier. After about 2000m altitude it gets really barren, and the weather was closing in. Couldn't decide whether to puke or cry on the last bit, it was pretty emotional. Did it in 1hr45 - so 35km and 2000m of climbing in about 3 hours. People talk bollocks about mountains, but I can understand it now. Galibier really taught me a lesson, it was an experience I will never forget. Soon as I got to the top it started hailing, so it was a long, wet descent through Serre Chevalier and off the Col de Lauteret to La Grave. This day had everything. Best day of cycling ever, without a doubt.

Rest day today. Didn't do the optional climb of Alpe d'Huez. Knackered and figured that some of youse wanted to do it so we could pop back over sometime (this year?). I'm keeping all my route maps and things every day. Tomorrow... Izoard and some more, then we'll be making our way towards Ventoux. I'm pretty achy but looking forward to it all. This is definitely the hardest thing I've ever done, possibly also the best.

This site is really good btw: http://www.climbbybike.com/climb.asp?Col=Col-de-la-Colombi%E8re&qryMountainID=6095

Great stuff.
Can you give Tracey C a big hug from Jim and Vivien.
Thanks.

Crazy shit M, blown away. That Galibier sounds pretty humbling. Smart move to skip Alp d'Huez.

Damn, wish I was there.

Keep up the blog, good stuff.

Superb, Max. Sounds like an honest ride!

settles back with popcorn and soft drinks

@growup - she arrived today! i will.

@ elvis - it kicked my arse but i still loved it. sort out that pearson and we'll come back.

@ oliver - honest is the word. i loved johnny and clints blog.

chapeau!

holy cow!!! that's some serious altitude climbed in a day max. you are right...people do talk a lot of shit about mountains but they really are all different and the rider that doesn't respect them is toast. all the best lads this is a supreme effort

Great write up Max. The Iseran and the Galibier in one day? Chapeau indeed.

I think everyone has a epiphany at some point in their mountain cycling career. Mine was on the Tourmalet, it sounds like you had yours on the Galibier. Some wierd shit goes on in your head, that's for sure.

Thanks for sharing it and enjoy the rest of the trip. After what you've done thus far the Izoard and Ventoux will seem fine.

Humbling and inspiring! Good luck for the remainder ;-)

@ oliver - honest is the word. i loved johnny and clints blog.

And yours is further proof, if proof be needed, that this is just one of the best kinds of holidays you can have in Europe.

Your Galibier experience reminded me of this quote Max;
*
"The best rides are the ones where you bite off much more than you can chew--and live through it. -Doug Bradbury"*

Thanks for all the comments guys!

                              Day 4

92 miles
2,200m climbing

Bizarrely this felt like an easy day. After a crap first half hour my legs felt good again. Other bits slightly less so... must find some chammy cream. We climbed straight up out of La Grave the way we'd came, over the Col de Lauteret (2068m) and then straight down through Serre Chevalier (got that wrong before) to Briancon. Briancon is the start of Izoard, and the lower slopes ascend through pine forests. Smells lovely. We're close to Italy here and it feels more southern – and closer to Cannes. Izoard is a brilliant climb. It's 17km to the top, 1160m climbing to 2360m. The surface is amazing and the road undulates a little. Once the forest clears, a series of switchbacks takes you to the top, perfect for attacking. I had 93 til Infinity pop up on my iPod, which is exactly the right speed, so I tore through the last five minutes and went over the top in the big ring. There's a monument to Coppi at the top, so it felt fitting. Then a cool descent and a dull 80km chaingang across the flat to Gap. It's windy here, which doesn't bode well for Ventoux, which is where we're heading.

btw - www.thefirefliesride.com / www.justgiving.com/maxfireflies09

Thanks for all the comments guys!

                                       Day 4

92 miles
2,200m climbing

Bizarrely this felt like an easy day. After a crap first half hour my legs felt good again. Other bits slightly less so... must find some chammy cream. We climbed straight up out of La Grave the way we'd came, over the Col de Lauteret (2068m) and then straight down through Serre Chevalier (got that wrong before) to Briancon. Briancon is the start of Izoard, and the lower slopes ascend through pine forests. Smells lovely. We're close to Italy here and it feels more southern – and closer to Cannes. Izoard is a brilliant climb. It's 17km to the top, 1160m climbing to 2360m. The surface is amazing and the road undulates a little. Once the forest clears, a series of switchbacks takes you to the top, perfect for attacking. I had 93 til Infinity pop up on my iPod, which is exactly the right speed, so I tore through the last five minutes and went over the top in the big ring. There's a monument to Coppi at the top, so it felt fitting. Then a cool descent and a dull 80km chaingang across the flat to Gap. It's windy here, which doesn't bode well for Ventoux, which is where we're heading.

Day 5
85 miles
1,100m climbing

                                  Average speed 17.6mph. Trout with parsely and garlic butter for lunch. First view of Ventoux... 531.

go max!! hope the wind blows good for you. either way you'll be inspired i'm sure. best of luck mate and i'll shout you a beer when you return and i'm down brighton way

First view of Ventoux... 531.

Amazing huh. Rode it last week, my research in the weeks leading up to it to led me to some rubbish forum or other where some guy was pontificating about the Ventoux and how it wasn't much to look at from ground level. I can only conclude he was bullshitting and has only seen it in books. The place is awesome - I love the way you see the whole mountain from miles off, like some kid's drawing, a big triangular thing plonked down on the earth. The stretch in the woods will haunt me forever. Enjoy - and go wide at Chalet Raynard - its the only flat bit for 21kms! My humble opinion is that Galibier is harder by virtue of how difficult the last 8ks or so are after 20k odd of climbing - the bit in the woods on Ventoux is however quite mental. It is splitting hairs of course - one incredibly difficuly climb being slightly more difficult than the other incredibly difficult climb!

Exhausted and got an article to write, so just to say...

Day 6

84 miles
2,782m climbing

Ventoux from Bedoin in 1 hour 40...

Gorge de Verdon tomorrow, 105 miles to Grasse.

Sweet M, awe inspiring! Nice to see Souls of Mischief getting you up the steeps.

Keep it coming. This is legendary stuff you're doing!

"this is how we chill..."

sheeeet! i have not heard that for ages.

really good stuff max and thanks for the pics too. makes me want to get back in the saddle and ride off once again...

stay strong

from 93 til..

max, great stuff, keep it going, will definitely have to sort out some forum rides across the alps next year, we have the gears, we have the ideas, it can be done.

allez! allez! chapeau!

shit max, only just had time to catch up with this proper. it is totally amazing reading those stats, hearing your humble voice putting them out, and having an idea that they are hellish and wonderful.

you should have put this thread on the main forum cos i reckon loads would like to know that one of our number was out there racking up this beautiful torture.

i hope Ventoux was kind to you and those two laps of the Isle of Wight have put you in good stead ;)

catch ya soon mate, looking forward to hearing about this first hand. chapeau my man, chap fucking eau.

I agree this needs to be in the main forum. My hat is well and truly on the floor seriously imressive.

Hi guys,

Thanks for all the support!

I'm in Cannes now. We did 105 miles and 3,300m of climbing on the 7th day, back up the Gorge de Verdon into the Alpes Maritimes, then stayed in Grasse for a 40-mile mostly descending trip into Cannes yesterday.

Definitely the best thing ever. Corny, you'd better start training cos we're doing it next year.

I'd pay good money to see Corny tackle an Alp!