Cycling up L'Alpe d'Huez - Page 3

brizzy · #41 13.02.2009, 19:52

	Quote:	Eire
	Its like asking if there is a sound when a tree falls over in the woods if there is noone there to hear it.

Actually wouldn't it be more like asking if a there is a sound when a tree falls over in the woods but the guy listening doesn't know what a tree falling down sounds like?....

lausanne hack · #42 13.02.2009, 20:44

	Quote:	HeatherM
	the non-doping record is something like 41 minutes.

Says who?

Eire · #43 13.02.2009, 20:48

	Quote:	lausanne hack
	Says who?

I asked this back in post #8 and it still hasn't been answered. I am curious though.

dakman · #44 13.02.2009, 20:48

	Quote:	lausanne hack
	Says who?

It has already been resolved, Heather M. did the climb in 41 minutes. The only dope she had was an ice cream stop at bend number 15

Eire · #45 13.02.2009, 20:49

	Quote:	dakman
	It has already been resolved, Heather M. did the climb in 41 minutes.

Was ChrisW Carmichael her coach?

Eire · #46 13.02.2009, 21:34

Totally off topic...

But I like Paul Kimmages style! Link

Just in case anyone doesn't know who he is, he was an Irish pro rider who rode at the end of the '80s. He rode at towards the end of the time of Sean Kelly and Stephen Roche and was probably one of the original guys who "Spat in the Soup" before the 1998 Festina affair after which Willy Vogt wrote his book.

The interesting thing is that the books by both Kimmage and Vogt are on the same wavelength, and even speak about similar people and situations. So Kimmage does have an idea what he is talking about.

patrickrd · #47 14.02.2009, 09:50

	Quote:	dakman
	Patrick, You may to consider the La Marmotte route (not the actual event). http://www.sportcommunication.com/GT...=1&trophee=128 It is more or less a pretty common tour route. You could break into two days as it would be a tough unsupported ride to do in one day. The big question mark would be about how early the Galibier is open as it is 2600 meters and I don't know if it is winter resort. Though I have heard the tunnels on the Galiber coming down are hell. There are quite a few feasible routes around that area...look at some of the recent TDF stages there. On the route you could stay at Bourg d' oissans and tackle Glandon and Galibier on day one and Alpe Huez on day 2. anyhow sounds like fun....a bit too early in the season for me to come over for a cycling holiday.... but if you are making in cycling trips in New Hampshire or Vermont once you are back let me know or was thinking of riding up to Montreal as I heard that was a nice trip. I need to pm my email.

Thanks for the tips!! Will let you know if I plan any trips in the US; i might do something in late may / early june before I start work.

hillseeker · #48 18.02.2009, 19:43

Patrick, sorry to hear that you're really leaving us! I know it's not the same without Dakman here, but please reconsider...

I know what you mean, you want to experience this kind of epic climb before you leave Europe, especially one that so many people are familiar with.

We did it at the end of LaMarmotte, so it was sort of a blur, but still nice to have experienced it.

There is some good info about it on this blog:
http://www.cycling-challenge.com/alpe-dhuez-4/
http://www.cycling-challenge.com/alp...fferent-rides/

And who knows, if you send a message to Will, the author, maybe he'd even join you. He obviously doesn't let winter or snow on the passes stop him!

Enjoy

And let us know if you come back and visit, so we can meet up again on some other epic mountain passes!

patrickrd · #49 19.02.2009, 12:37

It looks like I will actually stay until the end of may now (taking a project management course here before i start my job) so definitely will get some good weather before i head back to the states

Now how many epic climbs can I fit into May??

dakman · #50 19.02.2009, 18:29

at 3 a day plus a rest day once a week that would make 75 or so. Never ask cycling nuts such a question, like how much.

hillseeker · #51 21.02.2009, 14:08

	Quote:	patrickrd
	It looks like I will actually stay until the end of may now (taking a project management course here before i start my job) so definitely will get some good weather before i head back to the states Now how many epic climbs can I fit into May??

Sounds like a great challenge - and one we would be happy to help you figure out

I would suggest you add Stelvio Pass to your list of must-do epic rides in May if you haven't yet - from the Prato side. As one of our friends described, you could say it's the "Alpe d'Huez of Italy".

ChrisW · #52 22.02.2009, 21:41

	Quote:	hillseeker
	Sounds like a great challenge - and one we would be happy to help you figure out I would suggest you add Stelvio Pass to your list of must-do epic rides in May if you haven't yet - from the Prato side. As one of our friends described, you could say it's the "Alpe d'Huez of Italy".

Unfortunately, the Stelvio pass is not expected to open until June. Given the larger than normal snowfall so far this winter, it's unlikely to open any earlier than that this year. Info on when different passes are open can be found out on alpineroads.com, which is actually a motorbiking site.

Another useful link for which Swiss roads (obviously, not useful for the Stevlio) are currently open, see this page on the TCS website.