French Alps
navrig
Posts: 1,352
A group of us are planning a short trip to the alps somewhere in the Tignes, La Plagne, Val D'iser area. The nearest town is likely to be Bourg St Maurice. We will fly to Geneva or Lyons.
We are still thinking about taking our own road bikes but also considering hiring locally. Most the hire shops I have found on line are aimed at MTB.
Does anyone know of any road hire shops in this vicinity?
Does anyone have some suggested routes for that area. We''ll have 3-4 days cycling and hope to do one decent ride (80-100miles).
We are still thinking about taking our own road bikes but also considering hiring locally. Most the hire shops I have found on line are aimed at MTB.
Does anyone know of any road hire shops in this vicinity?
Does anyone have some suggested routes for that area. We''ll have 3-4 days cycling and hope to do one decent ride (80-100miles).
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Comments
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Navrig,
got your pm.
As you know i went in the summer. I couldnt find anywhere in Bourg to hire a decent road bike and so took my own. I am glad i did. The riding around there is superb!
http://app.strava.com/rides/19162848
http://app.strava.com/rides/19132659
Beautiful scenery. Some of it like Wales-but warmer.
Road surfaces most great but there were some poor sections where i suspect a greater risk of sidewall punctures or damage.and i was glad i had my Rubino pros rather than Ultremos.
Be aware that as soon as you move outside Bourg you are going to be climbing. But if you do Les Alps or Col D,Iseran you will have some great downhills too. Road are relatively quiet. Huge road cycling culture in the area and drivers are careful etc around you. Take lights if you ride to Tignes and beyond as some of the routes go through tunnels.
I don't know how fit you are but i needed a larger rear cog. I couldn't spin the pedals as freely as a result. And i had problems with my gears that i could never quite fix which was interesting when trying to drop down the gears on increasingly steep sections.
Lovely 15km cycle path fown the valley alongside a world championship white water rafting and canoeing course too. Try the whitewater rafting if you can.
Enjoy!0 -
Navrig,
you'll have an amazing time - you are totally spoilt for choice! I'm heading to Bourg St Maurice in the first week of June, after a week cycling around St Jean de Maurienne. I'm flying into Geneva for simplicity.
Try this website for descriptions & photos of potential rides - another potential base is Beaufort (where the cheese is produced);
http://www.cycling-challenge.com/?s=bourg+st+maurice
I've chosen the following routes;
Day One - Col d'Iseran
Day Two - Col de la Madeleine
Day Three - Col de Petite St Bernarde & Colle San Carlo
Day Four - Courchevel & Val Thorens
Day Five - Col de Roselend (both sides) & Col du Joly
This doesn't even touch Les Arcs, La Plagne, Cormet d'Areches or La Ville des Glaciers - these are all on the website above.
Enjoy the planning & have a great time! If you want any information on rides around St Jean de Maurienne, just let me know.
Gavin0 -
Finding somewhere to hire decent road bikes here is difficult. We have hired bikes through http://www.francebikerentals.com in the past, they were very good but as they have to deliver from Provence the cost may be excessive if you do not have sufficient numbers.
As you will have already worked out there are plenty of good quality climbs from Bourg. I would recommend
a. the Petit St Bernard - a long climb of 30km but with a manageable gradient. If you want to extend the ride descend into Italy, La Thuile is about 12km downhill but you will have to come back the same way.
b. the Cormet de Roselend - you can make this a loop of about 115km
After these 2 I think the Col de la Madeleine would be my next choice but there is a stretch of main road to negotiate getting both there and back.
If you still have days available you could then choose from Les Arcs, La Plagne or the Iseran.0 -
If you do the Iseran you might want to start from Tignes or val d'isere. Its a slog on less than nice roads to Tignes with heavy if considerate traffic rushing to get to the resorts.0
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Guys,
Many thanks for the replies and the information. It is invaluable.
Can't wait
Navrig0 -
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This guy may be able to hire you road bikes:-
Mout'n Bike
Sq de la Liberte
73600 Moutiers
moutnbike@hotmail.fr
tel: 09 63 25 13 76
web: http://www.moutnbike.fr/BASI Nordic Ski Instructor
Instagramme0 -
Hi,
We are more in the Col du Galibier area but have a great local company that supply our guests with Scott CR-1 road bikes if they don't want to travel with their own bike.
Take a look at our site www.colconquerors.com or drop me a mail if you need any more detailed help. Either way have a great trip next summer.
Cheers
Rob0 -
You can hire a really good road bike in Bourg from here
http://www.bourgsaintmaurice.com/fiche- ... 5-Revolver
good range of high end Treks; and good service as well.
Enjoy0
