Alpe d'huez trip

If we were careful where we based ourselves, and went for say 10 days (inc 2 travelling), we could do

1. The Marmotte Route - Glandon, Galibier, Alpe D'Huez
   
2. Col de la Croix de Fer
   
3. A day in the vercors
   
4. Les Deux Alpes (the 2nd lake pictured above)
   5 Col D'Izoard (would be a long ride, but worth it), I think Armstrong rates it as the toughest
   
5. A couple of days R&R
   

route of the marmotte is great. hauling your shattered body up the alp after that is horrible. required a morning off after that one.

i can really recommend a short circular route from bourg-d'oisans, over the col d'ornon, through Valbonnaise, over the col la morte. (then up the alp - as should end every ride in the valley). Good in both directions, and good for an afternoon.

Drive over to Briancon to go up the Izoard (fastest decent i have done 99km/ph) to mont dauphin then take the high road back to briancon through les archards and campcella - maybe the best road i ever cycled on, and quiet too! - you can feel the italian influence there (we had a pizza for lunch - nice).

(you can tick off the croix de fer on the marmotte too) - i think the telegraph is the best climb on that route. the Galibier the hardest by far esp in the pounding heat.

Drive????!!!!!!

ha! (maybe for the best though unless you want to add about 70km (on a busy main road) onto an already pretty tough bike ride).

School holidays is good. My son is off to Japan for 3 weeks, late july/early august so round then would be excellent. Early July is the Marmotte so that's out. It'll be fucking hot, so we'd best take swimming cossies

japan??!! it's alright for some...school trips have greatly improved since i was a nipper...we went to wales.

oh and as the showing off has commenced i thought i might join in...

1st:

2nd time:

3rd time:

i would quite like to be up the tourmalet on Tuesday 20 July and Thursday 22 July, would anyone else?

whilst there maybe the aubisque...?

oh and whilst we're there....
http://www.lapierrejacques.com/

The pink sticker covering the bottom of the X on this photos is this:

Rabsda and I went last July to do it. It was fantastic. A couple of us are heading out to Alp d'Huez in June hopefully if anyone's interested in 3 days cycling around the area. More information here.

we're going too but in July i think. i read the other day the road is usually closed til mid june so watch for it..they reckoned it might be later this year cos of the crazy weather///

ok so 1st weekend in august we leave...anyone else up for it? we need to book soon

1. nes
   

ok so 1st weekend in august we leave...anyone else up for it? we need to book soon.

Planning to go Sat 31/7/10 and return Mon 9/8/10, Eurostar should be bookable from 2/5/10 and will cost IRO £110-130 return from London to Grenoble.

1. nes
   
2. Ronnie
   

Can't do this - but am taking the venerable Cinelli to Rotterdam for the grand depart... :-)

Oh yeeerrrssss...

1. nes
   
2. Ronnie
   
3. doug
   

ALL BOOKED!!!!!

eeeeeeeeeeeeeek

Each Monday or Thursday during the summer months you have the chance to climb the 21 hairpin bend climb of Alpe d'Huez in the Grimpe de L’Alpe a 13km mass participation event from Bourg d'Oisans to the ski station of Alpe d’Huez. Each rider will be given their own personal time.

                 ![](http://www.sleepoisans.com/images/alpe-dhuez-bend19.jpg)
                                                        Bends : 21 
                Departure : 2,351 feet 
                Arrival : 6,100 feet 
                Difference in height : 3,749 feet 
                Length : 8,89 miles 
                Average steep : 7,9 % 
                Highest steep : 14 % 
                Climb record : 37 mins 35 seconds 
                Average speed of 14,34 miles/h (Marco Pantani in 1997). 
                Number of crossings of the Grande Boucle : 25. 
                Arrival of the Cycle race La Marmotte (174km).

Climb record : 37 mins 35 seconds

easy peasy