Cycling Holiday in June- Alps or Pyrenees?

Will Ingram
Will Ingram Posts: 26
edited April 2013 in The cake stop
Hiya List,
I have got a week off in June & always wanted to cycle the European mountains- not sure whether Alps (Switzerland/ Italy) or Pyrenees (France/ Spain).

I have got a Specialized Allez 2010 (road fast bike, no rack mounts) and would like to go from 'A to B' rather than stay in the same hotel/ B&B & do different local routes. E.g. Perpignan to Pamplona or Geneva to Turin.

Really a training week with a race at the end to get my hill abilities up to scratch. Presumably the tours of France have covered all of these areas a lot- what are the favourite passes/ areas for cycling?

From your experience is it more rewarding to go 'A to B', or stay at an out-of-season ski resort & do a favourite area? Is it sane to take the train from London to Geneva or Perpignan ?

Would you recommend a cycling holiday operator?

This is the area I am referrring to-
https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=Alps,+ ... g+Alps&z=5

ANY ADVICE RECEIVED GRATEFULLY

Regards
Will

Comments

  • FatTed
    FatTed Posts: 1,205
    This is a bit of both
    http://www.alpinecadence.com/programme1.php
    If you go from A-B laundry is harder
    Or this in the Pyrenees
    http://www.pyractif.com/cycling-package ... coast.html
  • MichaelW
    MichaelW Posts: 2,164
    Perpignon has flights from Stansted, much cheaper and quicker than rail.
    Hub and spoke tours suit some terrain, esp where different mountain types meet, such as Grenoble. A-to-B work better on more linear features such as the Pyrenees.
  • mrushton
    mrushton Posts: 5,182
    edited April 2013
    Pyractif are superb at the Pyrenees rides as they are located nr. the 'circle of death' rides. I'd recommend GPM10 for the French side of things but they aren't cheap. Their TdMB or Chamonix-Nice rides are classics. I've stayed at White Room chalet for a week and that was good but I did use their pickup service to save the slog up the Iseran road then a 5km climb to the chalet. But some superb riding at that end of the valley (Bourg St.Maurice).

    I also should have mentioned Alpcycles.com who are at the other end of the Isere valley and have the Trois Vallees climbs and the Madeleine (ride over that to St.Jean and back is a good day out) nearby as well as the ride down to Bourg and the climbs there
    M.Rushton
  • APIII
    APIII Posts: 2,010
    Pyrenees is my choice. Pyractif are great, did the RAID with them a couple of years ago and is a superb experience. Alternative is to base yourself in Argeles Gazost or Bagneres de Luchon which offer enough for a week's riding with the benefit of having all the amenities of a town. Luchon is the better town (we have an apartment there) but Argeles has the more alluring climbs for first time visitors.
  • rolfrae
    rolfrae Posts: 6
    If it's Swiss and Italian Alps you're after I'd recommend staying in Bormio in Italy. There are great climbs - Stelvio, Gavia, Moritrolo - all easily accessible from the resort. The Stelvio and Gavia can be climbed directly from Bormio.
    Author of The Breakaway - Cycling the Mountains of the Tour de France
    http://www.rolfraehansen.com
  • izza
    izza Posts: 1,561
    rolfrae wrote:
    If it's Swiss and Italian Alps you're after I'd recommend staying in Bormio in Italy. There are great climbs - Stelvio, Gavia, Moritrolo - all easily accessible from the resort. The Stelvio and Gavia can be climbed directly from Bormio.


    I'm doing Stelvio at the beginning of the June as part of the Granfondo.

    My advice having seen http://skiweather.eu/snowcam/stelvio-pass/125879 is to check the weather forecast and current conditions before you decide. Anyone got any recommendations for good climbing tyres that can handle 8ft of snow?
  • rolfrae
    rolfrae Posts: 6
    izza wrote:

    I'm doing Stelvio at the beginning of the June as part of the Granfondo.

    My advice having seen http://skiweather.eu/snowcam/stelvio-pass/125879 is to check the weather forecast and current conditions before you decide. Anyone got any recommendations for good climbing tyres that can handle 8ft of snow?

    :D I read somewhere recently they had been using explosives to clear the snow atop the Stelvio, so you might make it over without the snow chains!
    Author of The Breakaway - Cycling the Mountains of the Tour de France
    http://www.rolfraehansen.com
  • bernithebiker
    bernithebiker Posts: 4,148
    We had lots of snow in June 2012 in the Alps - Galibier shut, etc. etc. This year looks like being even worse. It's always a gamble doing the Alps this early, only in July can you be certain.
  • izza
    izza Posts: 1,561
    rolfrae wrote:
    izza wrote:

    I'm doing Stelvio at the beginning of the June as part of the Granfondo.

    My advice having seen http://skiweather.eu/snowcam/stelvio-pass/125879 is to check the weather forecast and current conditions before you decide. Anyone got any recommendations for good climbing tyres that can handle 8ft of snow?

    :D I read somewhere recently they had been using explosives to clear the snow atop the Stelvio, so you might make it over without the snow chains!

    I'll strap two mine detectors to my front forks.

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