A couple of Alpine descents

Feltup

Just had a great 3 1/2 days in the Alps where we cycled from Chamonix to Val d'Isere then on to Bourg d'Oisans the back to Chamonix via Faverges and the Col de la Colombiere.

These are two videos I got round to taking on the descent off the Iseran and the Galibier. The Iseran video shows the whole descent so what you see is what you get when you climb for over an hour! Not a bad investment if you ask me!
https://vimeo.com/49836404
https://vimeo.com/50047395

Omar Little

Nice videos

pdstsp

Did that descent off the Galibier in August - wow - that video's brought back some memories - great stuff. Said to Mrs pdstsp when I got back to our chalet that if I never got on a bike again I could still be happy thinking about that climb and descent.

Wardster00

Well that has prompted a google search for chalets in the alps for next summer!!

Great Videos - Your mate had a seriously cheesy grin on that first video

Pumpkin Positive

Superb vid's thanks for posting. Roll on the summer...

thecrofter

WOW!!!!

Feltup

Thanks all If you get the chance to go out and ride some of these cols then I really recommend it. I have in the past ridden from Geneva Airport (bike bag in left luggage) and just carried a pair of shorts and base layer for the evening at a hotel then cycled back the next day and caught a flight home. The ultimate weekend!

bobinski

Great Vids! Wish i had the skills and balls to descend so fast.

I did the Iseran this summer though up from Bourg st Maurice, 48km ascent but then a lovely descent almost all the way back, so the opposite side to your descent. I want to do yours now though!

Thanks.

Pumpkin Positive

Feltup wrote:

Thanks all If you get the chance to go out and ride some of these cols then I really recommend it. I have in the past ridden from Geneva Airport (bike bag in left luggage) and just carried a pair of shorts and base layer for the evening at a hotel then cycled back the next day and caught a flight home. The ultimate weekend!

I'd wondered about doing this, particularly after watching your vids (incidentally I think you must have a cruel streak to post these at the end of the season when we have months to wait until we experience them for ourselves).

I'm intrigued to discover you can leave a bike box at Geneva airport, I thought the days of being able to leave luggage at airports were long gone? Do you need to book this in advance? Also, how easy is it to cycle away from the airport - are the roads OK for that?

My wife has just returned from a three day spa break so I feel justified in demanding a weekend in the alps on my own!

Feltup

There is a left luggage area downstairs below departures. I think it cost about 10 Swiss francs a day to leave a bikebag. I just rocked up and handed it over once I had changed out of my flying clothes in to my lycra and built the bike up of course.

You can cycle from just outside the left luggage office via a marked cycle route that takes you in to Geneva by quiet roads. I mapped a route from the centre on my Garmin but had to wing a bit as there are a lot of one way systems I hadn't realised were there. Riding across the border in Annemasse was uneventful i.e. no one there. It was super easy until I hit the Col de la Colombiere and then it got very hard!!

Pumpkin Positive

Many thanks Feltup. I will begin my negotiations with SWMBO!

Feltup

Good luck! Always the hardest part of any solo excursion!!

davidof

Feltup wrote:

You can cycle from just outside the left luggage office via a marked cycle route that takes you in to Geneva by quiet roads. I mapped a route from the centre on my Garmin but had to wing a bit as there are a lot of one way systems I hadn't realised were there.

Geneva can be quite a maze. The river crossing means there are limited road options but cycle paths are ok as you found out. If you want to head out towards St Julien then there is a useful cycle bridge called the Passerelle de Chevre between Vernier and Loex. You get to Vernier by following the cycle path to the south-west from the airport, it basically runs alongside the main runway.

The Galibier descent video is very well done, chapeau to your mate for having the restraint to ride behind.

Feltup

Thanks! Good to know there is another option through the city.
I was behind on the Galibier in the red jacket. I have to say the jacket made a big difference in straight line speed with all the frapping, I should have used my gilet!