|
Post by william39 on Sept 20, 2013 17:55:43 GMT
Just wondering if anyone has ever climbed Alpe d'Huez or any of the other famous climbs from the Tour? I will probably be passing close by next week on my way south and am very tempted to give it a shot. Only been cyling properly for a few weeks but have put in a fair few kilometres with some climbing.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 20, 2013 18:04:56 GMT
Let me be the first to say...you're mad.
|
|
|
Post by ianmoss on Sept 20, 2013 18:13:57 GMT
I know a couple of people who have done it when they had the chance, they said it was gruelling...
Give it a go if you get the chance I think. Maybe have a couple of stops o the way eh!
|
|
|
Post by william39 on Sept 20, 2013 18:28:31 GMT
From what I have read it isn't as hard as some of the other famous climbs because there aren't any very steep sections apart from the beginning at 12%. Will definitely make a few picture stops if I go for it and it will be granny ring all the way! Hardest climb I've done so far is 6.5km at average 6% gradient but there are sections at 20% plus.
|
|
|
Post by robertsims on Sept 20, 2013 23:14:19 GMT
it will be terrible and superb in equal amounts. I'd grit teeth and do it given a chance just...because you'll be gutted if you don't plus you can bore family senseless every tour de france with "I rode up there you know"
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 21, 2013 15:22:02 GMT
I've done Ventoux in a former life when I was still a bairn. I struggled up the entire way sat on my grandad's wheel, but I have some great photos of Simpson's memorial & the top and memories too. I'd love to get to a level to be able to do it again. At least being 24 I have time on my side!
|
|
richc
Peloton Rider
Posts: 172
|
Post by richc on Sept 21, 2013 21:34:36 GMT
If you are that close, it would be rude not to. Envious of you just having the opportunity to try it. Go for it, if you don't make it to the top, who cares, at least you were there.
|
|
|
Post by Radchenister on Sept 21, 2013 22:33:50 GMT
Let's get a bit more scientific! Here's the Strava Segment - app.strava.com/segments/652851It's an average and pretty constant 8.1% for circa 12km, they're pretty good at this road stuff in the Alps and have followed the line around the map contours that achieves this when designing the road originally. ... so, find an 8% gradient near you and have a go at it, see how you fare, then decide if / how you can tackle a manageable pace for 12 kms of the same - simples . The Velo Viewer image (not to scale vertically as randomly selected with slide bar):
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 21, 2013 22:39:43 GMT
Hats off william39. Heed Rad's suggestion and if feeling remotely doable, go for it :-)
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 21, 2013 22:44:33 GMT
12km of 8%, maybe in 5 years with someone pulling me up lol
|
|
|
Post by Radchenister on Sept 21, 2013 23:05:56 GMT
Getting a bit stalker geeky, this is the nearest the OP has come to the climb as posted on Strava account to date (see Strava segment www.strava.com/segments/2238337 ). A good 6+ km at an average of circa 6% ; so ... assuming the OP is doing this segment OK, I would presume he might / should be able to manage it ... but best decide after doing a bit more hill testing / practice on slightly steeper gradient, then the OP will know for certain / be getting ready for it at the same time - william39 , I think you can get up it one way or another ... doing it in one hit is the challenge and something to aim at.
|
|
|
Post by william39 on Sept 21, 2013 23:21:20 GMT
In a ideal world I would want to get some more practice in but next week will probably be my only opportunity before next summer. I am probably going down to the Cote D'Azur to work for a month so will pass through the Alps en route. I will be working in the Alps this winter but am assuming there will be too much snow.
I'm going to scope out if there are some harder climbs than the COl de Lect close by to have a go at in the next few days.
|
|
|
Post by Radchenister on Sept 21, 2013 23:34:10 GMT
The test is not speed based, it's if you can do it comfortably for a fair while.
Your speed on 6% was circa 12kmh, if I recall, so assume a bit slower and you're likely to be at it 1 hr 15 to 30 mins.
The Alpine roads are kept clear in the winter as livelihoods require it to allow skiing access.
For cycling, it's the temps on cold days, melt run off on warmish days that work against you, plus road salt on the bike. I would aim to ski as a priority, rather than cycle.
|
|
|
Post by william39 on Sept 26, 2013 20:10:10 GMT
Well I gave it a go and got about a quarter of the way up. Preparation was not ideal. Four hours in the car and then a blind panic in the car park trying to fit the back wheel on my bike for the first time. So covered in oil and grease I took the bad decision not to warm up properly as I thought it would only tire me out and set off.
I actually started off not too badly and the legs were going well, I overtook a guy at one stage. The problem was the heart and lungs. Heart going like the clappers and felt like I couldn't breathe. Took a small break and then had the problem of getting clipped in again on a 10% slope. There is a reason the pros get a push when they have a mechanical, shame there isn't anyone to help out the mere mortals! After turn 18 I started up the hill and then just couldn't go any further ending up on the floor, thankfully nobody was there to witness it.
Headed back down to the car and decided to take a look at the top but felt like a fraud in my cycling gear so didn't hang around. Overall it is a LOT harder than on paper, my admiration for the pros is even greater now even if they are all medically assisted. I'm a little disappointed I didn't persevere more but didn't want to kill myself or take three hours to get up there. Will definitely be back to give it another shot in November or next year. Really need to work on the cardio fitness though.
|
|
|
Post by Radchenister on Sept 26, 2013 20:42:25 GMT
Good effort, sounds to me like you went too quick and haven't done the base miles - you'll do better next time.
Re pros and 'medical assistance', I presume you mean they all dope?
My triathlete racer mate (retired) has no problem up stuff like that, he's a natural climber and can do that incline for hours ... he's slow compared to the pro's though as he's never been a pure bike only racer ... writing them off as medically assisted is not really fair; there's also loads of 'normal' riders who can ride up there - the Strava data proves it, 12000+ other people have done it.
|
|