Tour des Cols

Jellylegs1968
Jellylegs1968 Posts: 73
edited December 2009 in Sportives/audaxes/training rides
Does anyoen know whether this event is being run this year?

Comments

  • mozwyn69
    mozwyn69 Posts: 170
    Yep i'm doing it the end of August. Just paid the outstanding monies so not sure if there are any places left.
    Sometimes you have to lose yourself
    before you can find anything.
  • sudholz
    sudholz Posts: 69
    The organiser lost his domain and has gone cycling.

    He said he'd be back at the end of the month.
    Well. Certaintly...
  • Berns12
    Berns12 Posts: 198
    edited July 2009
    I have signed up for it. Jellylegs, if you need to contact the organiser PM me and I will give you his details.

    When I signed up for it a couple of weeks ago he said there were places left so you should be fine
  • sudholz
    sudholz Posts: 69
    Any other forum-ites signed up for this?

    So far there is me, mozwyn69 and Berns12...

    S
    Well. Certaintly...
  • Berns12
    Berns12 Posts: 198
    sudholz wrote:
    Any other forum-ites signed up for this?

    So far there is me, mozwyn69 and Berns12...

    S


    Did anyone attempt this in its inaugural year in 2008? And if so any tips/experience they can pass on and what the overall pace was like?
  • mozwyn69
    mozwyn69 Posts: 170
    edited July 2009
    posted twice and can't delete!
    Sometimes you have to lose yourself
    before you can find anything.
  • mozwyn69
    mozwyn69 Posts: 170
    There are three of us doing it, one of whom did the event last year and spoke very highly of the organisation and the ride and therefore persuaded us (without much effort) to give it a go this year. We have all done a few Baxters trips to Euro sportives which were very poorly run in our opinion and my mate thought this one was in a different league.
    I think he said the fast time was about 17hrs and slowest 27h for the three days so you can ride at whatever pace you are comfortable with.
    Really looking forward to this one..see you fellas there
    Sometimes you have to lose yourself
    before you can find anything.
  • damoando
    damoando Posts: 40
    I signed up as well. Cycling weekly web site has a good piece on last years event. Would be interested to know what food we get on the course and what we need to bring with us.
  • Berns12
    Berns12 Posts: 198
    damoando wrote:
    I signed up as well. Cycling weekly web site has a good piece on last years event. Would be interested to know what food we get on the course and what we need to bring with us.


    I think they said "snacks" during the day (or did before the website was taken down) so that can mean anything I guess. Hopefully if its like a proper sportive (and it is advertised as such) there will be energy gels or bars, and hopefully some fruit.

    However I was re-reading the Cycling Weekly review (http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/routes/o ... rtive.html) and this is what happened last year

    "After dinner we were briefed about the following day’s stage and each of us was given a food bag into which we could place our en-route supplies. We would then be able to collect these at the feed stops the following day, allowing us to use our own choice of gels, drinks and food, avoiding digestion problems."

    That said I will probably end up taking a number of bars and gels with me and carrying a few each day along with energy drink tablets.

    What does everyone think?
  • sudholz
    sudholz Posts: 69
    I think its byo for the ride.

    Its what I would normally do on a sportive anyway: couple of peanut butter pittas, couple of cliff bars, emergency gel, isotonic tablets and a sachet of mental powder for the bottle.

    I believe the organiser is back from cycling next week so I'm hoping for more detail on the event from him then.

    S
    Well. Certaintly...
  • sudholz
    sudholz Posts: 69
    I received route sheets from the organiser on Monday and have mapped them on Bikely (which isn't really working at the moment....sort it out BikeRadar!) and also on on the competition at gpsies.

    Can't wait!

    http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/TourDesCols1
    http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/TourDesCols2
    http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/TourDesCols3
    http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=lufmdbljhieywtem Stage 1
    http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=hqwlsekvmwadxiew Stage 2
    http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=ppuvysbertbixsqm Stage 3

    123.jpg
    Well. Certaintly...
  • Berns12
    Berns12 Posts: 198
    I also clarified with the organiser in terms of food provided during the day of the rides, this is what he had to say:

    With regards to food I will provide energy bars, gels, fruit plus
    other bits at the feedstations. Water will also be available. On the
    Thursday evening I will provide each rider with two musettes you can
    then put your own supplies in them which you can pick up along the
    route


    looks like we will be well fed. My only concern is the route markings in the event the Garmin dies. Did anyone read about whether there will be signage in place?
  • damoando
    damoando Posts: 40
    Navigation is one of my worries too. As I only have the 205 I'm looking to draft someone with a slightly better sat nav.

    Whats everyone doing regards spares for bike? Had a mare at the Ryedale Rumble where my right shifter packed in. Wondering about a brand new set of tyres (current ones have about 500 miles on them). Also, a spare set of cleats might not go amiss since the Dura Ace seem to wear out rather quickly. Spare brake pads and thats about it. Anyone bringing other spares?
  • mozwyn69
    mozwyn69 Posts: 170
    I've printed off the route sheet and will stick some sort of laminate on it to carry as there is going to be a bit of scope for getting lost on the first two days (know day three quite well from the Marmotte).
    Not bothering with any spares other than what I would usually take such a spare tubes and repair kit. Tyres and brake pads only replaced a few weeks ago. Make sure you put new tubes on as any patches will likely lift off with the heat generated on the rims during the 8000mts worth of descent!
    Sometimes you have to lose yourself
    before you can find anything.
  • damoando
    damoando Posts: 40
    I take it Geraint Thomas appearing in the list of riders for TDC is a typo.
  • mozwyn69
    mozwyn69 Posts: 170
    Yes he's mixed my surname up, though I was going to rush out and get some Barloworld kit in today...
    Sometimes you have to lose yourself
    before you can find anything.
  • Berns12
    Berns12 Posts: 198
    Sudholz:

    Thanks for uploading the GPS files. Am having trouble converting them to TCX on Bike Toaster as the Garmin only supports routes with less than 100 way points.

    How did you get them on your Garmin?

    Ta
  • Berns12
    Berns12 Posts: 198
    Also does anyone know whether they will be providing a track pump? Know it sounds silly, but if they are, then would save myself the trouble of bringing one
  • damoando
    damoando Posts: 40
    did anyone get their disk of photos yet?
  • Berns12
    Berns12 Posts: 198
    damoando wrote:
    did anyone get their disk of photos yet?


    Not yet. Robert did say give him a couple of weeks, but I will chase if there is no news by the end of next week. Has anyone posted any pics of their own on Flickr or what not?

    BTW I guess I should re-iterate what Will said on the final night, that it was a superb event, well organised, great organisers, great bunch of guys, and I am still buzzing from it (no wasp pun intended :D ).

    Hope to see most of you back there next year.
  • mozwyn69
    mozwyn69 Posts: 170
    yes, what a superb event.,everything about it was spot on. With the 5 days I spent in Provence before the event I think I notched up over 400 miles in a week and 11 major climbs. My legs have still not recovered fully.

    It take it thats you Bernard, hows your throat ;-)
    Sometimes you have to lose yourself
    before you can find anything.
  • freddy2
    freddy2 Posts: 30
    Sounds like a great event and is on my wish list for next year.

    Can't get onto the website anymore so how do you get information? Will it be run next year?

    Thanks in advance.
  • damoando
    damoando Posts: 40
    Bumped in to Dave who ran the timing team at TDC at Tour of the Peak. He told me that the 2010 even was already fully booked. Strange, I thought, as I hadnt seen any mail from Tony C. So I mailed and had the following response:

    Hi Damian,
    Its not sold out, I am in the process of putting two events together for next year, one the same route, another with the same start and finish but a different route. Will have a new website, any body that has been before will give first opportunity to enter. Will keep you informed.
    Regards
    Tony
  • Berns12
    Berns12 Posts: 198
    damoando wrote:
    Bumped in to Dave who ran the timing team at TDC at Tour of the Peak. He told me that the 2010 even was already fully booked. Strange, I thought, as I hadnt seen any mail from Tony C. So I mailed and had the following response:

    Hi Damian,
    Its not sold out, I am in the process of putting two events together for next year, one the same route, another with the same start and finish but a different route. Will have a new website, any body that has been before will give first opportunity to enter. Will keep you informed.
    Regards
    Tony

    Anyone else get the email from Tony last night? Who is up for it again or who is doing the new route?

    What does everyone think of the new route? Looks like 2 nights in the same hotel at Albertville.

    Mozwyn69- sorry didn't see your post before. Am back again for round 2 next year!
  • damoando
    damoando Posts: 40
    Will be doing same route next year. Better in terms of Cols and timing. Lets hope the weather is as good as last year.
  • mozwyn69
    mozwyn69 Posts: 170
    Very keen to do the original TDC again next year, it's either that or a raid in the Pyrenees. Will decide in the next few days.
    Sometimes you have to lose yourself
    before you can find anything.
  • yothsr3
    yothsr3 Posts: 2
    We did the tourdescols 2009 and had a fantastic time. Cant recommend it enough. Have signed up already for 2010 but for the new route.

    Anyone else from 2009 doing it again?

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