Video Diary- Alpe d'Huez Balcony roads and Col de Sarenne

russell_in_france

Hi all,

With the temperature set to drop next week and snow arriving in the high Alps, I rode my last tour of 2011 in the high mountains on Saturday.

The 72 km route started in Allemont and climbed the first six hairpins of Alpe d'Huez before turning off towards Auris-en-Oisans. The main climb of the day was the 1999 metre Col de Sarenne before a small descent and climb up to Alpe d'Huez. The return leg was on the balcony road to Villard-Reculas and then the descent to Allemont.

Great views all day, and really really tired legs on the main climb. Funny how our head still thinks we can ride like we do in the summer.

You can see the video diary from the ride on the link below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S8GEJMm0hPw

Cheers, Russell
http://www.grenoblecycling.com

ermintrude

Russell - thank you so much for that, the video is absolutely stunning. I didn't get the chance to do the Sarenne this summer. Does the route you took join the road that comes up from Mizoen (think thats the name, close to bottom of les deux alpes). Your route looks better, that is going top of my list for next summer.
Anybody who looks at this thread do watch the video.

ratsbeyfus

Nice video (shame about the song )... I recognised some of the sheep and one of the goats at the summit.


Spot the goat by ratsbeyfus, on Flickr

mtb-idle

good work fella.

Nice route and a stunning video. I followed the Alps week of Le Tour this year with my road bike so those Alpe d'huez hairpins felt very familiar.

Lazarus

Holy crap Russell your Standringr ! ! !

If you only knew how many times i've watched your HP Alpe Videos, Truly lost my heart there and keep watching your videos to remind myself how wonderful the place is.

russell_in_france

Yes Ermintrude, the Sarenne starts with the climb up to Mizoen.from the dam near the ascent to Deux Alpes. It's probably the steepest kilometre of the whole climb. I love riding the Sarenne and it's up there with Galibier for me.

Yep I'm Standringr, Lazarus. First name Russell, last name Standring. I'm happy to hear you've enjoyed the videos. The HP ascents started when I took my team across from work to climb the Alpe d'Huez. I couldn't believe that they all lived so close and had never thought to cycle up this famous road.

Cheers, Russell
www.grenoblecycling.com

Lazarus

Pleased to meet you Russell

mac111051

Hi Russel, just wondering whats it like living and working in France at the moment, we were there for a month this year, staying on the municipal camp site at Allemont for two weeks and found everything so much more expensive than it used to be, as you know we are deep in the brown smely stuff in England is it the same in France,

Thanks Mac

russell_in_france

Hi Mac,

Yes, we agree. We've been here for 12 years and we (my wife and I) have found life has been getting more and more expensive. Our food bill has shot up in the last two years and my wife assures me that it's not just because we've got three little mouths to feed as well.

Another change is people drive a little slower and a little less aggressively than a couple of years ago.

At least cycling and the view is free.

Cheers, Russell

MatthewBulmer

That's just brought a massive smile to my face. Brilliant video, great music. Happy days!

pollys_bott

Great video Russell - we have a week booked at the Eurocamp site in Rochetaillee next June, that route has just been added to the list of possible rides to do. How I fit the Alpe, Galibier, Izoard and that into two days may prove a challenge

russell_in_france

Thanks all. Music was a little slower than my usual choice as my legs were a little slower than in the summer. I was so knackered at the top of the Sarenne. It needed to be something nice and mellow that went with the scenery.

Pollys Bot, I'd say you need another day in the area. Galibier, Alpe d'Huez and Izoard are must rides as well.

Cheers, Russell
www.grenoblecycling.com

LeDomestiqueTours

Great video!

rc856

Excellent Russell, cheers.

You still in Grenoble? The video brought back happy memories. Stayed in a gite in Allemont for 2 weeks about 5 years ago.
Great base for some great climbs. It was the Pyrenees this year, Italy next but need to get back to your part of the world!


Richie

Omar Little

excellent video

dabber

Very nice video Russell. I've just bookmarked your webpage and will be going through the other videos you have there.

We spend about a third of the year in France in the department du Lot in the Le Parc naturel régional des Causses du Quercy. Lovely hilly riding country but not as challenging as where you are.

inaperfectworld

apparently the Romanche valley was a lake the plug holding it back burst back in the middle ages flooding the grenoble area. So the balcony roads were once lakeside roads and i'm told that there are still mooring rings up there

inaperfectworld

Hi Russell
Incidentally I cannot maintain that sort of cadence. I've been on a 22" wheeled airnimal witha low gearing of about 26" (roughly equivalent to chainring and cassette having same no. of teeth). It's not your average col climber and sometimes I'm got luggage. All told including my age I wonder if I need lower gears?