Trip to Alp d'Huez

16simon

Hi all, I'm travelling to Bourg d'Oisans soon (15th - 20th August). We're driving down, and have sorted out a campsite and plan to ride as many of the Tour climbs in the area as possible.

I wondered if anyone who has been could pass on any tips about the place: decent places to eat and drink, bike shops worth a look, that sort of thing. We're only there during the week, are there any organised rides or (I'm guessing not) midweek sportives on that week?

Also, any gearing advice would be good. I've got a 2nd cat BC licence and am reasonably fit, and have ridden in the pre alps around Bergamo in Italy (up to 1200m height) with 39x25 without difficulty but I'm thinking about buying a 12-25 cassette for the French Alps. Will I be ok with this?

cougie

There is a bike shop that was nice in Bourg. Quite central too.

You can climb the Alpe and then go up past the airport and down the back route - thats an exciting and quiet descent. Just dont go mad.

If you're 2nd Cat I'd have thought a 39*25 would be enough really.

Oh and if the cameraman is there on the climb - take his card and they process photos of you climbing at the shop at the top. That may just be peak season though ?

wicked

Eating wise if you want a proper meal (i.e not pizza) the only place is Le Tire Bouchon in Bourg. Superb quality food and excellent friendly service by the british owners Gil and Tony. We went every day!

holmeboy

wicked wrote:

Eating wise if you want a proper meal (i.e not pizza) the only place is Le Tire Bouchon in Bourg. Superb quality food and excellent friendly service by the british owners Gil and Tony. We went every day!

+1 Think this was were we had our best meal in France, were at chamoniax and Calais as well.

I picked up 30 cycling routes from the Reception at campsite think this is the link to download
http://www.bikes-oisans.com/mtb-cycling ... e-352.html

you'll LOVE the area especially the downs!

One favour please smile and look like your'e enjoying yourself while there. Most of the cyclists I saw were dour and unsmileling. Very few spoke.
One of the good memories after coming off Galbier going towards La Grave at feck knows what speedand giving out a massive YeeeeHaaaaaaaa! through one of the tunnels. Brill!

Brian B

Spent a week there 7 years ago and a few rides that could be done.


The Alpe obviously!
Col De Croix De Fer/Glandon - Same climb
You can do a mini marmotte route and do the croix de fer/telegraph/galibier circuit
La Berarde climb about 5km up the Lauteret from Bourg and possibly the nicest climb I have ever done apart from the Gavia
Les Deux Alpes but as Alpine climbs goes there are others more pretty and demanding.
Col de Ornon.

I was back there for the Marmotte this year but never had time to do La Berarde again.

As for food when I am abroad cycling I usually go for quantity not quality and pasta/pizza and salads are fine for me. There are plenty of pizza restuarants. There is a good bike shop in Bourg and its only slightly higher than price than others.

http://www.grenoblecycling.com/the-Alps.htm

This link from Russell at Grenoble cycling has good info

chrisba

We ate pre- and post-ride in a bar called La Romanche on the Rue Docteur Loius Faure.

Good food , cold beer and hearty portions, but nothing special. Steaks looked a bit chewy, so had a burger, which was excellent, as was the various pasta and pizzas that others had. It was almost the only place open when we went in early June.

Good bike shop opposite the Hotel Milan ( where we stayed ) on Rue de Charles de Gaulle.

kr1s

Definatley fit in the Galibier/Lauteret, croix de fur/glandon, the col d'ornon is a great climb just off the road out of bourg towards grenoble.

All the local cafes are great for food and drink, excellent bike facilities, you will not be dissapointed.

I agree with the riders attitudes though. We did meet and speak with a load of friendly riders at cafes and summits but on the road the attitude was poor

andysol

What is the earliest / latest times for cycling in the Grenoble area, for d'huez / telegraphe / Galibier etc?
Andy

chrisba

Mentioned in other posts elsewhere, but you definitely need front and rear lights for the tunnels between Bourg and the Col du Lauteret. No buts.

Police have been stopping people this summer who haven't got them, and for good reason, at least one of them is completely dark.

It also helps to take your sunglasses off. I worked that out after the first tunnel. :-)

DavidCr

16simon wrote:

are there any organised rides or (I'm guessing not) midweek sportives on that week?

You are leaving a day early, the Marco Pantani memorial 2Alpes->2Alpes is on 21Aug.
http://www.sportcommunication.info/web2 ... rophee=161

avoidingmyphd

16simon wrote:

are there any organised rides or (I'm guessing not) midweek sportives on that week?

There's a timed climb up the alpe midweek every week. I can't remember when - mid morning Thursday maybe?

16simon

Great thanks for the tips everyone!

bennj

rode there 2 weeks ago,

+1 on La Berarde climb, just stunning we did it in the pi$$ing rain and a landslip stopped us going all the way through, but one of the best I have done.

Glandon/Croix de fer seemed tougher than described, but very enjoyable.

Enjoy, its a very special place.

londonlivvy

Another climb to add to your list:

Boyf drove over to Briancon to do the Izoard climb circuit (about an 80km circuit I think) and said it was brilliant - really worth the detour.

95kgsSemtex

lights or reflective vest is need for the tunnels in the area. I believe the timed ascent of the Alpe is on a Thursday, there is a good bike shop on the main street in Bourg, I don't recommend the one behind next to Griffen Photo shop, our group had a bad experience there.
Also La Grave is a nice village with plenty of restaurants and accommodation half way up the Lautaret.
Enjoy the trip.
Dont forget suncreen I rode there twice this season and it was mid to high 30's, very little shelter.

markyone

chrisba wrote:

Mentioned in other posts elsewhere, but you definitely need front and rear lights for the tunnels between Bourg and the Col du Lauteret. No buts.

Police have been stopping people this summer who haven't got them, and for good reason, at least one of them is completely dark.

It also helps to take your sunglasses off. I worked that out after the first tunnel. :-)[/quote
+1 we had guys with lights and for those that did not we stayed in the middle through the tunnels.

DaveMoss

A good route :- start up towards Alpe D'huex. At the first hamlet after a few hairpins take the minor road off and down to the right. This is the Balcony road, amazing how it clings to the cliff face. Eventually this drops down to the main road from Bourg, head up past the road to Deux alpes and over the dam, then take the road to the left, this climbs up and up, lovely little back road, really high at the top, it then drops down to the top side of alpe d'huez.

Wee tip, when you go up to Alp d'huez, contiinue on up past the stage finish on the minor road out of town to the very end, worth the extra when your there.. Also, the cafe with bunting and a podium outside is NOT the stage finish.

this is worth a look http://www.aukadia.net/alps/index.htm for anyone going anywhere in the alps

airwise

andysol wrote:

What is the earliest / latest times for cycling in the Grenoble area, for d'huez / telegraphe / Galibier etc?
Andy

How long is a piece of string?

I had a wonderful week there in early November last year and it snowed last month.

September and October are great though as the traffic levels are massively reduced and the roads less crowded with cyclists. The Galibier is usually off limits from mid September. The rest - well like anything in the mountains it's luck as much as anything.

guinea

chrisba wrote:

We ate pre- and post-ride in a bar called La Romanche on the Rue Docteur Loius Faure.

Good food , cold beer and hearty portions, but nothing special. Steaks looked a bit chewy, so had a burger, which was excellent, as was the various pasta and pizzas that others had. It was almost the only place open when we went in early June.

I went twice recently. The first time I was told to piss off as I was on my own and it was going to be too busy later on. I ate at a Dutch place near by which was great and had the only free wifi in the town. When I passed the restaurant after dinner it was still half empty.

The next day, much to my disappointment, the group I joined wanted to go there. The rudeness to our group and everyone around us was beyond anything I've witnessed in a restaurant.

Even though I've been there in the past and it was fine, there's no way they'd get another euro from me again.

wicked

Similar experience with La Romanche, my missus told them to fuck off she was so furious!

heystacky

Cant beat the small brassiere,in the main st only one with leffe ruby.out and back to briancon with the galibier,in the middle ,made me wish i had a compact,18 mile descent into briancon fantastic.wish i could remember name of bar but staff cycling mad ,great place.also hotel on roundabout opp casino supermarket,esplanade or something british couple .think i spent to long on dutch corner :shock:

airwise

Just as an aside, the roads around there will be really busy in mid August with most of France on holiday.

The best climbs I've enjoyed around Bourg would be the Sabot above Vaujany (no traffic) and the Solude via Villard then onto the Ornon. The climb up to Auris from Le Freny is a bit of a beast - steep unlike everything else around the area.

The Col de la Morte is also lovely from Sechillienne as is the Luitel and the drag up to Chamrousse 1750 - all easily accessable from Bourg and relatively free of traffic.

If you must go up the Galibier, I'd suggest avoiding climbing it from Bourg. Really busy road. Loads of tunnels. Not a tour climb. Ride over the Croix de Fer, down to the valley and up via Valloire. It's a classic route and vastly more enjoyable IME.

malcolmfrost

Cant beat the small brassiere

A small brasserie is wonderful, but a large brassiere is better!
The climb to Villard Reymond off the road to Ornon is great, almost as long and steeper than AdH but empty. Nice place and a very good cafe at the top with a fantastic view from the terrace.
The tourist office have a leaflet which describes lots of climbs, you can buy/rent a chip for electronic timing. I think there are about 20 in all.

harpo

holmeboy wrote:

I picked up 30 cycling routes from the Reception at campsite think this is the link to download
http://www.bikes-oisans.com/mtb-cycling ... e-352.html

What campsite did you stay at?

Does anyone else have any campsite comments? I'll be there at the end of next week for 5 or 6 nights with a large tent.

Cheers

malcolmfrost

The Timtoo timed routes are here:

http://www.timtoo.com/timtoo.php?chronometrage&fa_view_parcours&idpays=2

We've stayed at the Colporteur for the last 2 years, clean, quiet (but no pool, a voucher for the municipal 100m away though). It's a short walk to town and the big supermarket. Can I recommend the bakers opposite the little Casino in town, great patisserie and the best looking assistant for miles around!

16simon

Just getting over gastroenteritis, how's that for bad timing? I'm meant to be leaving on Saturday, and if it was down to me I'd cancel as I'm feeling quite weak and haven't touched the bike for 6 days, but I don't want to let my friend down. I'm just really hoping that now that I can eat properly I'll be able to recover quite quickly...

holmeboy

harpo wrote:

holmeboy wrote:

I picked up 30 cycling routes from the Reception at campsite think this is the link to download
http://www.bikes-oisans.com/mtb-cycling ... e-352.html

What campsite did you stay at?

Does anyone else have any campsite comments? I'll be there at the end of next week for 5 or 6 nights with a large tent.

Cheers

Le Colporteur Highly recommend.