Wonders of the world

jibi

Here is one man's list of his top 100 wonders

http://www.hillmanwonders.com/

I have been to quite a few but I would like to add
Torres Del Paine in Patagonian Chile

http://www.torresdelpaine.com/ingles/se ... aleria.asp


Have you somewhere you would like to add?

george

nick hanson

Stelvio Pass
Tourmalet
Aubisque
Etc etc....well,you did ask a cycling site!

stage_fright

and how long before the Victoria Pendleton fans discover this thread?

jibi

I don't know why I bothered


why no Alpe d'Huez, Ventoux ????
or even the Champs Elysee
george

BeaconRuth

jibi wrote:

why no Alpe d'Huez, Ventoux ????
or even the Champs Elysee
george

Can someone explain to me why everyone gets so excited about Alpe d'Huez? It's not particularly steep, not particularly long, not particularly scenic......... why is it such a big deal?

Now, the Stelvio - that is an AMAZING climb - and yet it gets hardy a mention compared to Alpe d'Huez.

SteveR_100Milers

I have always wanted to climb the Galibier via the telegraphe, then drop down towards Briancon, and turn left up Alpe d'Huez. Just to say I've done it, but not as part of an etape, just in a small group of friends.

LangerDan

BeaconRuth wrote:

jibi wrote:

why no Alpe d'Huez, Ventoux ????
or even the Champs Elysee
george

Can someone explain to me why everyone gets so excited about Alpe d'Huez? It's not particularly steep, not particularly long, not particularly scenic......... why is it such a big deal?

Now, the Stelvio - that is an AMAZING climb - and yet it gets hardy a mention compared to Alpe d'Huez.

I think there are a few reasons. Its mainly because the Alpe is traditionally the finish of a key mountain stage whereas the Stelvio is something you climb on the way to somewhere else. Particualrly for non-racers, the Alpe is steep / long / scenic-ish yet its of the scale that "ordinary" riders can manage. I saw a guy riding one year on a 5 speed, wearing sandals, pedalling with his heels and his wife taking piccies at every hairpin. I don't think you'd see that on the Stelvio. Also, the Alpe is "our" mountain - descending one year, a local authority van pulled out a bit in front of me. Once the driver saw me, he raced off and chucked his van in a gateway to let me pass - how many roads would that happen on? The problem on the Stelvio is that it is the "car drivers" climb. You run the risk of getting mown down by a photocopier service technician in a Focus estate living out his "Italian Job" fantasies.

OffTheBackAdam

I wonder why people can be such suckers as to think that Gordon Brown is a wonderful Prime Minister and has nothing at all to do with TB esq! :roll:

jibi

Climbs like the Alpe are in the collective consciousness of all cyclists, a "classic" to be ticked off,
Other climbs like Ventoux, the Tourmalet, Galibier dwell there too.
Everyone has heard of them, even none cyclists, so if you can say you have done them, everyone understands what you have achieved.

I love Mont Cenis from the french side, but not many people know about that climb. so it goes over their heads.

george

JustRidecp

jibi wrote:

Climbs like the Alpe are in the collective consciousness of all cyclists, a "classic" to be ticked off,
Other climbs like Ventoux, the Tourmalet, Galibier dwell there too.
Everyone has heard of them, even none cyclists, so if you can say you have done them, everyone understands what you have achieved.

I love Mont Cenis from the french side, but not many people know about that climb. so it goes over their heads.

george

Dont forget the Bealach na ba! :P