Alpine Descents

smithy21

Off to Morzine at the start of June and just wondered what people would recommend in terms of kit for the climbs/descents.

I was thinking of just taking a gilet and arm warmers so I dont feeeze on the descents.

Is a light baselayer necessary or will I cook on the way up?

pdstsp

Layers. It can still be very cold in the Alps in June (and very wet if it wants to be!). Morzine is in a valley and the chill if you go out first thing can be quite significant. Last time I sytayed there in the summer we stayed in a chalet about 2 km up the road towards Avoriaz and the drop down to the valley in the morning was really cold - it took a km or two of climbing to warm up again. However it also gets hot very quickly once the sun hits the valley so I prefer removable layers that you can stuff in pockets.

The climb up the Col D'Encrenaz is lovely in the morning as that side of the valley gets the sun early - then drop down to Taninges, turn left along the valley and then up the Joux Plane - only 40 odd miles but feels a lot more.

Also - wet weather gear - climbed to Avoriaz on a rainy/windy day and have never felt so cold as I did after the decent back to Morzine - I was shaking uncontrollably.

Enjoy.

Paul

greasedscotsman

Tricky one as you don't want to take too much, but then in June it can be still be pretty cold. So I'd also for the suggest descents gloves (I use thin liners which I can put on under my mitts), cap or buff under the helmet and maybe even knee warmers?

And I'd go for a baselayer, but then I pretty much wear one all the time.

APIII

Take everything you can. If it rains, you may need winter gear as a 10k descent in wet gear soon chills the bones.

wildmoustache

It depends on your physiology - people are very different in terms of resistance to heat and cold.

If I was going at that time of year I'd take:

SS Jersey
shorts
armwarmers
gilet
helmet
gloves

cougie

As the others have said - it varies so much. I've ridden the Alps in July with the tarmac melting and the year after the Galibier was closed with snow, and I rode the Telegraphe in torrential rain with a fleece underneath all my kit.

Prepare for the worst but you should get a better picture of what to take on the day.

rc856

As already stated, for the actual trip I'd pack arm warmers etc just in case, but personally, rather than have a gilet and arm warmers, I use an Altura Ergofit jacket.
It's very lightweight, can fold up into a jersey pocket and it's seamed sealed etc and classed as a proper waterproof.
Keeps the early chill out and keeps me warm on the descents.

wyattlad

I got to the top of Les Arc 2000 last year and got caught in a snow storm as a started to descend ....in August....take a gilet, arm warmers and full finger gloves (or liners at least).

Anonymous

Bear in mind that these pictures are from the same ride!... (late June last year)

Monty Dog

The high mountains in summer can be pretty grim - I would take a lightweight, full sleeve jacket e.g. Assos Climajet rather than a gilet, plus knee and arm warmers - once I was coming down the Aubisque in the pouring rain - it was sunny when we started - I was shivering so much, my teeth were chattering and my hands so cold I couldn't brake properly - I was so worried about getting hypothermic I took some serious risks on the descent 'cos all I could about was the warm shower in the gite! Got back 20 minutes before everyone else.

wreckedmyklein

There were 6" of snow on Galibier overnight before we cycled up last June in thick fog. It was below freezing and windy at the top. Off the top it was absolutely freezing and difficult to keep going as i was so cold.

Coming down the south side it got sunny and started to warm after about 3 miles. It was 19c at the start of Alpe d'Huez and hour later, which felt really hot given it was sheltered, sunny, steep and I was slow.

We had support in a car so at least I had somewhere to shed the layers, and carry them up before putting some back on towards the top of the Alpe. We used Craig from VeloVentoux as our support and he was great. He sorted our accommodation and car hire too.

unixnerd

Bear in mind that these pictures are from the same ride!... (late June last year)

Last year was exceptional. Even in the Highlands a year ago today I cross country skied to the next village and back! This year it's a lot warmer. My neighbours run a ski school in France and have closed it a few weeks early as it was +25C on the slopes over there.

wreckedmyklein

Also it was on 1c along the Maurienne valley the day before and we had hail on the Glandon/Croix de Fer. We needed overshoes as well as full winter gloves. Don't underestimate how horrible it can be in the Alps in the summer. Or how hot.

ozzzyosborn206

so basically take a majority of the kit you own with you, then decide on the day what to wear, i would say no matter how warm it is always take arm warmers and a gilet minimum in your pockets, going down hill for that long get cold quick especially when you get cold sweet having just ridden up the mountain. Good luck for nice conditions when i went to the alps last year it was lovely and sunny everyday bar one when it was drizzling a bit, we hired downhill bikes that day and took the ski lift. I imagine the wether can make a trip there either the best time on a bike or the worst......

JamesB

and would same `rules` apply for start of August? don`t really know Alps (apart from a 4000m mountain bagging trip when it snowed mostlty, in summer )

Doing Raid Alpine then and I`m thinking shorts / legwarmers / arm warmers / 3/4 bib knickers / base layers / gilet / ss jersey / ls jersey / gloves / buff / pertex jacket / waterproof / sealskins socks maybe too as kit for the week, decide on day what of it all to take, ---anythging else I should consider ??

Amazing too how weather changes, last year 5c on summit Port de Bales and cloudy (but strangely felt warm); day before 30c + and sunny coming into St Girons !

greasedscotsman

NapoleonD wrote:

Is that Mario Cipollini in the blue shorts?

Anonymous

Nah, Sam makes cipollini look like a choirboy.

markyone

Going to alps in june,cant believe those pics.
First time abroad cycling for me hope its sunny and warm.

smithy21

All

Many thanks for all the replies. Looks like I will be taking a bit more luggage than I originally thought.

Butterd2

Monty Dog wrote:

The high mountains in summer can be pretty grim - I would take a lightweight, full sleeve jacket e.g. Assos Climajet rather than a gilet, plus knee and arm warmers - once I was coming down the Aubisque in the pouring rain - it was sunny when we started - I was shivering so much, my teeth were chattering and my hands so cold I couldn't brake properly - I was so worried about getting hypothermic I took some serious risks on the descent 'cos all I could about was the warm shower in the gite! Got back 20 minutes before everyone else.

+1 to all that, twice I've done the Aubisque and twice the weather has been terrible. Last year the road down was a river and I was very glad of the opportunity to climb again over the Soulor just to warm up a little. I was wearing 3/4 roubaix tights, thick baselayer, jersey, rain jacket and full finger gloves and was absolutely freezing in early September.

wicked

NapoleonD wrote:

Nah, Sam makes cipollini look like a choirboy.

Is he lighting up a fag?

wyattlad

Ventouxin June...cold and lonely...