Alpine Cycling Adventures. Day 1
This is a series of posts on my daily rides and other events on our holiday in Bourg d’Oisan in the French Alps. I started to write an account of each ride individually and then thought that I was missing some interesting stuff either side of those rides and thought I would add it for your reading pleasure. It’s a daily diary if you will.
Three Years of Exile
Every time that the Alpe D’Huez stage is included in the itinerary of Tour de France we make sure we are there. Every November, when the Tour route is released we are eagerly waiting to see if it is included. On average, every other year seems to be the norm and that has been the case since the late 90’s when we first ventured down there. Unusually, it has been a three year gap from the last D’Huez stage in 2015 when Thibaut Pinot won in style and we were there cheering him on. So after three years of exile we were finally going back.
The Reunion
Book, Book, Book!
We book the same campsite every time. It’s a beautiful campsite at the very start of the climb to Alpe D’Huez and it’s a wonderful position for the mountain, the Tour de France stages and cycling any routes in the area. As you can imagine the place during the TDF is fully booked, so as soon as the dates are released we book our stay.
Loaded Up and Ready to Roll
What the Hell is That?
We flagged down a taxi because there was no way we were traveling across London with all that. Taxi complete and £25 lighter we trundled into St Pancras. The place was heaving and the Eurostar train that we were booked on was delayed by an hour which was a pain, but it gave us time to sit down in Pret A Manger and eat some food. It always amuses me when people walk past the bike box and stare at it not having the first clue what it could be. Time for the train, so we head over, find a great space for the bike box and the other items of less importance :) and sit down. We have a trouble free 2 hour journey to Lille and then we pick up a hire car at the station and start the journey to Reims where we have a room at the Ibis Budget booked. We were up reasonably early, after all we are on holiday, and set of for Bourg d’Oisans.
Definitely Not Like UK Service Stations
I'll Drive! No, I'll Drive!
The picture underneath is of the Valley to Bourg as it opens up. We enter from the background of the shot and then head left.
Beauty Overload
Ahhh! La Rencontre
The campsite is just outside of the town and right at the base of D’Huez. It is less than 5 minutes by car from the center and we were pulling into the car park of La Rencontre Du Soleil. We check in with the owners who we have known now for nearly twenty years and then move into our chalet that will be our home for the next two weeks. The picture to the right is the Montana chalet that we stay in. Bliss!
My first rides are always the same couple of routes when I hit the alps. There are two smaller rides in the area that are going to hurt slightly less than the others. These two are Oulles and Col d’Ornon.
Day 1 Setup ride. Oulles
This is my set up ride to make sure everything on the bike is working properly and I have no glaring issues. So I removed my bike from its travel box started to build it back up. To build it I have to replace the stem on the headset and tighten it up, replace the seat sleeve and saddle and fit the front and back wheels and pedals. The girls were happy to unpack and to get a little shopping in while I went out to test the bike (and myself).
From the village of Bourg d’Oisans to the peak of the climb and back is 22 km. The maximum gradient on this little climb is 10% over 7 km and total ascent is 768 meters. The highest point is 1400 meters and Bourg is at 720 meters.
I'm Home
After putting the bike back together I set off for Oulles on my own. I’m still buzzing from being back in one of my favourite places on this planet. Every time I come back here it feels like I’m coming home. I deliberately cycle through the village to take in the sights and to soak up a little of the Tour de France atmosphere that is building. The Alpe D’Huez stage and the Stage Depart from the village are Thursday and Friday. The place looks amazing, as always, people buzzing around, decorations for the coming tour and cyclist as far as the eye can see. I happily spin through the throng and exit the other side towards my destination.
Here Comes the Pain
It takes about 5 minutes to get to the base of the mountain which is actually the start of both Oulles and The Col d’Ornon. You pedal up about 3 km and then you peel off right for Oulles or remain on the road for Col d’Ornon. The pain which was slightly present already really kicked in at this point. The first climb in the alps will hurt, It always does. It’s kind of unavoidable unless you live in a mountain terrain and you are practising regularly. I live in Bucharest and it is flat and not particularly conducive towards cyclists, so my training (or lack of it) was just about to show.
At Least the Bike Feels Good
Even though the stats are similar, the big difference between the two climbs is that The Ornon stretches out a little further away and Oulles has lots of hairpins and seems to go straight up. 7 km to go to the summit, if I get that far! At least the bike was feeling good but the same could not be said for my legs. I pulled the plug on the ride after doing about 3 km of the 7, not because I couldn’t do any more or that it hurt (which it did) but more protecting myself from over doing it. I also had a calf strain which I have been nursing for a few weeks, so it made sense to stop whilst I was ahead.
Now For the Descent!
When you turn around on a climb or go over the top of a climb the relief is hard to describe. It is almost like somebody has turned the pressure tap off and the pain subsides instantly. So now I’m rolling down hill. This, for me, is a reward for every millimeter that you ascend. I love descending and I love descending fast. Of course, unlike the TDF guys, us amatures have to beware of cars coming up the mountain in the opposite direction. If it’s taken me 45 minutes of climbing to this point, it’s taken me about 5 minutes to get back down. I was feeling a little cautious on this one as it was my first downhill of the trip. I only hit 60 km per hour which is very steady and a bit pedestrian for me. Still, safe to descend another day.
Bread, Cheese and Wine
With the momentum from the descent and the lactic acid in my calves now gone I cruise home. This time I use the bypass instead of the village and arrive back at the campsite. Jayne and Jaime had already gone shopping at the local Casino Supermarket and picked up some bread, cheese and wine, the second great reason to be in France.
Next post: Rides 2 and 3 and Some friends arrive.
Thanks for reading.
Gaz
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Wow, those mountains look incredible. They're huge! I can only just imagine how awesome it is to be speeding down the mountain on your bike surrounded by spectacular views like those.
Thanks @derekrichardson
I regularly tell people about climbing that there is no better place to suffer! Going down is just a huge bonus. :)
Gaz
Hi cheese4ead,
Visit curiesteem.com or join the Curie Discord community to learn more.
Thanks very much @curie
60 KM is fast on a bike. Nice pics of awesome views.
Thanks buddy. Just getting started with the speed!
I never tire of the views.
Awesome job documenting your journey! What an adventure! The photos are fantastic!
Thanks very much @rwedegis
It's a photographers dream. Only using a mobile but the results are pleasing.
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60 KM is fast on a bike. Nice pics of awesome views.