Who's doing the Marmotte,
Comments
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I did exactly the same.dave milne wrote:ketsbaia wrote:Err, aren't you the guy who came 35th in last year's Dragon Ride?
*worries*
yes I was
. the marmotte is a whole different level though. but I was my own worst enemy in a way, went up the entire telegraph with a heart rate > 180 as it felt good to be passing so many riders. I paid for that dearly
As recommended I took it really easy on Glandon, but felt good on Telegraphe so I started to up the pace. Over-taking loads of people was fun, so I went quicker and quicker. By half way up Galibier I was f**ked!0 -
Cheers Russell, that's really useful - I want to read up on the course as much as I can so I know exactly what's coming and when.
The weather is a bit of an unknown factor though - the thought of a fierce head wind on the Galibier isn't great! Still, there's not much we can do about that apart from knuckling down and getting it done.0 -
I'll be there again this year. Dragon Ride yesterday has confirmed that I am not in the same shape as last year but looking forward to it anyhow.
Hoping that a Dragon 6h55 might be worth about a 9h30 in four weeks.Rich0 -
Thanks for all the info guys! I'm doing the event for the first time too.
I'm staying at the top of Alpe du Huez if anybody else wants to catch up over the weekend? Having just returned from a week cycling the climbs, I am already starting to feel the nerves.
I'm undecided as to whether to take my Alu Triple or my Carbon Compact (11-28 on the back) - Anyone have any advice?0 -
I'm off to Chamonix tomorrow night for a wedding and am sneaking in two days of cycling as well.
Looking forward to taking in three of the cols from this year's Tour De France - Colombiere (cat 1), Aravis (cat 2) and Saisies (cat 1) - and will try to hunt down an HC climb too, possibly the epic Col d'Iseran (although we'll have to drive some of the way there). Anyone know of any good climbs nearish Chamonix?0 -
Hmm, might actually shelve the Iseran and go for the Cormet de Roselend instead. It's 'only' cat 1, but looks like it's borderline HC and we can do the Col des Saisies on the way there!0
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I have just read that tragic article posted by Russell regarding the death of a cyclist on the Time-Megeve sportif and it is a timely reminder why we must show due respect to these alpine descents.
The article, however, goes on to say that his carbon wheels, although they were not the cause of the accident, were unsuitable for this type of road.
This has concerned me as I ride with Mavic Cosmic Carbone SL's (which are currently being serviced) and am now worried that they might be unsuitable for the roads of the marmotte. I did the event last year on aluminium wheels which I no longer have and did not pay much attention to what other riders were using.
Is there a reason why carbon wheels may be unsuitable for the marmotte?0 -
Russell- great read... ahhh- the memories
Doing it again this year... cant wait!! 3rd time for me. First time was 8:36- 2 weeks after ironman Nice and training camp in the Vercors- I was well and truely shattered by the end!!
Last year was a last minute thing but was fresh a feeling strong- did 7:20 but went easy from the start and decided to limit myslef on the Telgraph- made a huge diff.
This year I've decided to go all out- it's suicide mission with a very high chance of blowing. Badly. I'm riding with a few others on a 6:40 pace, I'm going to go hard from the start and just see how far I can get. Sod it. :twisted: :roll:
Brucey, are those Mavics clincher are carbon rims- I ride a zipp 808/404 clincher combo. Not problem at all. Not sure what they meant by "that type of road" but the majority of road is quality. Best advice is go with what your used to and feel confident with. If the braking quality isn't inhibited, you rarely puncture and you feel stable when descending then theres no reason why you cant use them. Just remeber you'll be climbing most of the day- apart from the odd section, they will make little difference.
Like people have said- respect the descents, but more importantly- RELAX! Keep focused on controlling your breathing, If you go down tense and in fear something will happen- there's a good chance it will. Just stay vigilant and within you ability to safely get down.
If they are carbon rims- I probably wouldn't.0 -
Only piece of advice i'd give is DO NOT underestimate the weather!
In 2005 it was 25c+ in the valleys and sleeting on top of the Galibier!
Other than that take it steady, pace yourself and enjoy. It realy is a classic ride.0 -
IM trying to organise my medical form out now and ive been told by my Dr its going to cost £75 to get a signature. Does anyone know if where I can get it cheaper (without registering for a new dr)?0
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My doctor signed the form for free again but I know that doesn’t help you at all.Champy79 wrote:IM trying to organise my medical form out now and ive been told by my Dr its going to cost £75 to get a signature. Does anyone know if where I can get it cheaper (without registering for a new dr)?
Do you have a BC racing licence? ...I've heard the organisers accept these as proof of fitness.
Cyclosport.org offer them for £65 which is still a rip off IMHO0 -
I just rocked up to my GP and told him I needed a stamp and he gave it to me. Didn't cost a thing.
All was going well with my prep until two weeks ago. Got a bout of mild tendonitis, which has eased now but I am still not sure if I am even going to do the Marmotte. There is no point rushing back into an injury.
As I said earlier, I have not done the Marmotte, but I have cycled the Cols and would echo all the advice gone before. Spin the earlier climbs and don't start 'gunning' the Galibier until you're past the first switchback past Plan Lachet (because the gradient increase at Plan Lachet will be shock enough - settle into it). The Glandon feels like it goes on forever and has some 10% sections at the start. Don't let this psyche you out, spin through it and enjoy the small, switchbacked downhill section after Le Rivier d'Allemond.
The descent off the Galibier to the Lautaret is narrow and twisty with some blind bends, so be careful. My wife followed me down it once and thought I was going to come a cropper because I was 'racing' a people carrier down it. Whoops. Sorry love.
After the Lautaret it is wide open tarmac, so enjoy and eat here. Remember that there is one small uphill section on the descent to Bourg, but this is nothing to worry about.
The first 3km on the Alpe are the steepest (about 10%), but then it eases, so get into your rhythm and just keep it going until Huez village (1400m) and then give it some extra, if you have any extra to give!
I wouldn't be worried about what it feels like to climb for 1 to 2 hours. It is simply spectacular. The scenery is awesome and I can only recall this - not the pain. It's a great distraction. Enjoy it!
Phil0 -
Great advice from everybody. I hope I remember it on the day!
It'e the first time for me so I'm going to take it easy (!) and try to enjoy and get round. next year and be back and go for it!
You've really got to pace yourself, that's obvious, but in the sportive at the weekend I could get my pulse up well into the 170s without an apparent effort but i knew I'd pay for it. You've got to watch your pulse because you just get carried away with it otherwise.0 -
my doctor does it free
tell him/her you are doing something that increases your health, and that is something they should encourage, not charge you for.
What is the point of being a doctor if you're not interested in encouraging healthiness....Facts are meaningless, you can use facts to prove anything that's remotely true! - Homer0 -
Managed to find a local dr who can do it for £20 but will mean re-registering at another practice. I find it so frustrating that a dr can charge £75-£80 without any information on what im getting for this service, and then having the cheek to ask for it only in cash!
Onwards and upwards now0 -
I'm doing it also, can't wait, the Dragon Ride, 3 days of the Tour of Wessex and another sportive under my belt, I'm feeling just about ready!0
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I'd agree with the general gist of taking it easy on the Glandon and Telegraphe and then seeing how you go on the Galibier. Someone, I think Russel, said you should treat the top of the Galibier as halfway. Sound advice.
I span up the Glandon, getting dropped by my mates and old women on shoppers, but then overcooked it between the bottom of that and the Telegraphe and didn't eat/drink enough. So I'd say don't get carried away on that stretch - the groups are terrible and nobody seems to want to ride through and off so if you aren't careful you'll end up taking monster pulls, when you look round there are 50 blokes all sitting in.
Resist all temptations on the Telegraphe no matter how good you feel. If you blow up on the Alpe you will lose more time than you can imagine so save yourself for that. I blew up a third of the way up the Alpe and it took a bit over 2.5 hrs to get up it.
As others have said, enjoy the scenery, enjoy the thrill of climbing with all these other people on some of the most famous cycling roads in the world. And a day or two after the pain you will start to enjoy your achievments.0 -
I would take a flasher for your rear, the road from Lauteret to Bd'O goes through some long tunnels and if the road is open you could be quite vulnerable.0
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Ouch. Just done 87 miles in the alps inculding the colombiere and aravis. First time cycling in alps and it was tough as nails. Thin air, searing heat, serious headwinds at the top of every climb (I'm told it's called a 'foehn wind'?) and hills that just go on forever! Amazing descents though and generally great road surfaces. Fantastic day and very useful to scope out what will be required in the marmotte. On these sort of climbs it's easy for your blood sugar levels to crash so I'll be taking loads of gels. Need to remember to start each climb even slower too!0
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I agree. I had little lights on my helmet and this made me feel a whole lot more comfortable.malcolmfrost wrote:I would take a flasher for your rear, the road from Lauteret to Bd'O goes through some long tunnels and if the road is open you could be quite vulnerable.
Also need to think about the ease with which you can get your sunnies on and off as you go in and out of the tunnels, so that you can see clearly when inside the tunnels. That descent, though, from Lautaret to Bourg is just fantastic!0 -
Tomorrow’s stage of the Dauphine finishes on top of L'Alpe d’Huez. Shame it’s not live because of the tennis - but Eurosport have an hour of highlights scheduled for 5:10pm and will probably show most of the climb.0
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ju5t1n- If you wanted to watch it live I'm sure a live feed link will be on steephill.tv from somewhere?
Maybe not in English.... but it think we all know what contador looks like0 -
Do the organisers check every medical form or would it be possible just to sign it yourself and save getting ripped off.
I know what I did
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Rodrego Hernandez wrote:Do the organisers check every medical form or would it be possible just to sign it yourself and save getting ripped off.
Last year I turned up with my BC licence and was given the third degree by the girl who inspected it. I seriously doubt she was more than 10 years old, but if she's manning it this year I'd go for one of the adults instead. They're far more likely to give any old piece of paper a cursory glance.0 -
Better to have a medical form that a BC licence as licence is no longer accepted due to not needing a medical check to get it - unlink other federations.0
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my understanding is that BC licences are accepted in lieu of a medical certificate.
I emailed the organisers (sportcommunication) to check this about two weeks ago, and they asked for me to scan in my licence and email it to them as a PDF, and bob's your uncle!0 -
...and what a cracking stage it was. I just watched it on the Sky+...and thanks Eurosport for showing most of the Col du Glandon and the entire Alpe d’Huez climb. Ace ace aceIronman595 wrote:ju5t1n- If you wanted to watch it live I'm sure a live feed link will be on steephill.tv from somewhere?
Maybe not in English.... but it think we all know what contador looks like0 -
I scanned my race licence and emailed them which worked fine0
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First time for me as well, really getting very excited about it - in fact first time cycling in the Alps so really looking forward to the whole experience. Should be interesting how my interval training on the relatively flat roads in Essex/Suffolk will help me on these climbs!!!
My Doctor stamped the certificate for free - but added that I had asthma which is well controlled, hope that won't cause any issues when I hand it in!!!
Best of luck to all who are taking part in the event and ride safely.0
