Cycling gear for Alps

triathlonthomas

I'm off to the French Alps to trace the pedal turns of Froome and co. in late September.

Never been cycling abroad and would be grateful for any thoughts on kit requirements.

We'll be riding fairly hard, mostly loops back to base taking in a couple of the big-ticket climbs each day.

Going for a week from 22 September. I appreciate weather can be a bit hit-and-miss but from experience, what sort of kit should I be looking to take? I'm thinking bib-shorts x 2, s/sleeve jerseys x 2, l/s jersey x 1, arm warmers, rain/windproof lightweight jacket. Am I being naive (will it be absolutely freezing at the top / on the downhills?)?

Or should I be thinking about base layers, winter-weight jerseys etc, gloves, thick socks, full leggings...?

Much appreciated.

ugo.santalucia

THing is... if it rains in Bourg d'Oisans, it's probably snowing up the Galibier... you don't want to go up there in bad weather, so pointless to pack winter clothes... unless you are a real hard core one, in which case pack for 4 seasons, as the temperature above 2000 metres can be zero degrees even in summer... add the wind chill coming down and you've got the picture.
If you only plan to ride in good weather, a long shirt and windproof should be enough

EdgarAllenPoe

You need to think about the descents. Even with a wind cheater I froze my tits off descending Ventoux, coldest I've ever been on a bike.

robbo2011

The thing is, in late september it can be very cold higher up, so you do need something for when it is colder. I would also take a pair of leg warmers and some base layers.

If the weather is bad, then don't ride up there, stay lower.

Edit: definately take some gloves too.

itboffin

erm only taking 2 pairs of bib shorts for a week of riding? i assume you dont sweat then?

triathlonthomas

itboffin wrote:

erm only taking 2 pairs of bib shorts for a week of riding? i assume you dont sweat then?

Yes, on occasion. Fortunately I also know how to wash my clothes... 2 pairs on rotation should be fine I'd have thought.

cougie

I think your original kit did look a little light. If you're taking a bike with you - then theres no harm in taking extra kit - you dont have to wear it if the weather is good.

I went to the Giro this year - I'd planned it last year and was hoping for sunshine. We got snow.
On a good sunny day I was in a gabba with nanoflex armwarmers , bibs and knee warmers. And a rainjacket for descending - oh and gloves. And a bandana.

On the bad days - it was full winter kit.

And always base layers - even when its warm.

Ouija

Mmmmmm.. cycling gear for alps?.....

ROPE......

mercia_man

To add to the OP's original list, I would suggest base layers, knee or full leg warmers and some full finger gloves such as a warm woolly pair you can fit over your mitts.

I rode the Bonette in late September and it was scorching Mediterranean weather at the bottom and freezing sleet and snow at the top. I had to run alongside my bike on parts of the descent in a attempt to get some feeling back into my feet and hands. Despite wearing a long sleeved lightweight jacket, I was shivering uncontrollably and couldn't control the gears and brakes safely on a streaming wet slippery road.

bigpikle

We went to Bourg for a few days in early Sept and had everything from roasting hot up AdH to 0 degs and absolutely crushingly cold up the Galibier. As said you need to have lightweight and windproof stuff to bring with you for the descents. You wouldnt believe how cold you get in no time at all when descending with a chilly wind or ambient temperature. Skull cap, gloves and gilet/rain jacket that you can stick in a pocket on the way up and use on the way down!

Austin316

Agree with all the suggestions and I'd take some overshoes too. And a waterproof/windproof fleece. If you want to make the most of your time be prepared to ride in worse conditions than you'll usually see in England.

mrushton

Remember a newspaper down your jersey (and down the back of your shorts) will keep you insulated but you won't believe how cold/wet/miserable you get on an Alpine descent in the rain. Once rode up a climb in the pouring rain and had to do a long descent (summit was 2 deg and rain/windy) which resulted in one of the group having to leave his Pinarello Dogma left by the side of the road whilst a car was flagged down to take him back to the summit to the support vehicle to thaw out. 6 hours later, we were riding into Nice in 30 deg C. Even a dry day can be cold if you've done a long climb, got sweaty and then need to do a long fast descent. The Iseran to Bourg is 50km, mostly fast downhill from 2800m and it may be warm at the bottom but the wind chill can be sapping.

triathlonthomas

Thanks for the responses.

Bought myself some decent neoprene overshoes, some leg warmers and a Rapha Winter jersey in the sale - this is windproof and splashproof. Hoping that the Rapha top will be v versatile so I can wear it over thin baselayer if it's warm (or indeed wear s/s jersey over baselayer if it's really warm) or over a proper merino style baselayer on days where we're heading high in coldish conditions.

Am I likely to overheat going up the big climbs wearing the Rapha winter top over a decent baselayer?

mrushton

yes, so get the zip down at the start of the climb and any other zips eg underarm open. Also depends on the effort going in. I can go slow and I don't overheat but past a certain pace I know I need to back to stay comfortable

triathlonthomas

Thanks. I'm kind of wondering whether the Rapha jacket might have been a mistake... would I be better off with baselayers and "standard" jerseys, plus e.g. a windproof gilet? I'm going end of Sept so really don't know how warm or freezing it's going to be.

I can still return the Rapha jacket, although I think it'll be a useful addition to my wardrobe for UK rides too...

cougie

If its decent weather then you will be very sweaty in a Rapha winter jacket on the long climbs.
If its cold - then you'll be fine. Keep it cos as you say you can always use it in the UK - I'm sure you'll pick the right kit after you've acclimatised yourself. Its hard to know what you need until you've been up that high.

robbo2011

You need to be prepared for a very wide range of temperatures. Last weekend in the Swiss Alps, it was hot and sunny in Airolo, but at the top of the Sustenpass in the clouds and 4-5 degC and bloody freezing. And that was on a nice day.

If you wear a non packable long sleeve jersey or jacket, you will overheat like crazy on the climbs from the valleys and then freeze at the top because you are soaked through with sweat.

I wore a summer base layer and jersey with a gilet over the top and with arm warmers and light gloves. I then carried a packable waterproof shell in a back pocket. when it was warm, the gloves could be removed, arm warmers pulled down and gilet unzipped. at the top the armwarmers were pulled up and the shell put on for the descent. Worked very well and a lot of people were doing this.

durhamwasp

As people have said, the weather will most likely be quite different at the tops of the climbs to the bottom. Personally I would go for a base layer under my jersey, and a packable rainproof/wind jacket in my pocket or saddle bag. If its too hot you can take the base layer off, if it gets cold you can put the rain jacket on.

A cheap pair of leg warmers and arm warmers could be a good purchase too.

We cycled Alpe d'Huez on April 1st (2011) and it was 24c at the bottom and 17c at the top - very lucky!

SFT

Hi, the last 3 years I have gone out for the last weekend of September and most of the time we have been very lucky and had good late summer weather.
The riding is great as there is little traffic and no motorbikes and camper vans!

For me I will make sure I have
short sleeved base layer
bib shorts
short sleeved jersey
arm warmers
knee warmers
early winter socks
over shoes
Rain jacket
Gilet
cap
shoes and helmet

but most of the time I ride without the rainjacket, overshoes, knee warmers, and have the gilet in the back pocket...

on another, but equally important topic - make sure you carry food and drink. You are outside of the summer and winter tourist season and many restaurants ands cafes will be closed.

SFT

I forgot the gloves!

curium

EdgarAllenPoe wrote:

You need to think about the descents. Even with a wind cheater I froze my tits off descending Ventoux, coldest I've ever been on a bike.

Seriously?

What month did you go? I climbed it twice in mid August and it was 30 ºC in Bédoin and around 18 ºC at the summit.

Even covered in sweat with the wind rushing past on the descent I was fine in bib-shorts and s/s-top. Once you get past Reynard on the descent it's practically balmy. No idea about late September though...

robbo2011

I would think he is serious, this is the mountains we are talking about. Even in summer, one day can be 30 degC and unbearably hot, then the next can be cool and cloudy with low single figure temperatures at the summit. It's very unpredictable.

crescent

The vast difference in temperature at top and bottom is, as others have said, the most difficult thing to deal with. I was in the Alps in May, on the back of a very long, late winter. Short sleeves going up and several layers for the descent and still painfully cold on the way down. Carrying your descending clothing on the way up can be tricky if you don't want to end up like a pack horse. I would suggest keeping it as compact as possible e.g. arm warmers and leg warmers and a good quality, light, windproof jacket that all tuck away into a jersey pocket . Other than that, look after your extremities with good gloves and overshoes/toe warmers. I would strongly recommend a "Buff" for your neck as well.

Tom Butcher

I was on the Galibier last week, probably 22 degrees in Valloire and a hail storm at the top - luckily as my 11 year old son was climbing it with me we had the Mrs at the top in a car to drive us back. Around Bourg even on hot days most of the riders I saw returning from rides had jackets on obviously for descending - which you wouldn't have needed when I've been over there in July.

Late Sept I might take a small saddle bag to stuff the overshoes, winter top and gloves in. So long as the weather is OK at the bottom you should be OK to get over a mountain if it turns bad on the way up. You probably cold stick enough in your pockets if you prefer but if you are taking a camera, phone, tube etc it may get a bit bulky.

marcusjb

Slight derail - Pyrenees, next week - slightly warmer than Alps but with the same chances of rain/sleet etc.?

I am credit card touring for 3 days and will be riding 600km over that time, I'll have a Carradice saddlebag with a couple of pairs of shorts and some decent layers, so should be okay.

I can't decide whether to go with overshoes or not yet - I probably will.

Anyone ridden in central Pyrenees this time of year? My route is based out of Argeles Gazost and is a special type of Audax ride - starts with Col Du Tourmalet and ends with Col d'Aubisque.

Anyone with hints for weather at this time of year - greatly appreciated.

cougie

Even in July you can have foul weather.

We did the Alpe - glorious sunshine. Tarmac melting at the top.
Galibier a few days later - closed to snow. We still did the telegraphe but it was peeing down and cold. I climbed in all of my kit and on the descent I couldnt feel my hands. Brrrr. A lot of people didnt even bother getting the bikes out that day.

schweiz

I was doing exactly the same ride as robbo2011 last weekend and went for the same option. Summer Jersey, merino vest, bib shorts, mitts and gilet for the desents. Apart from the second half of the last climb of the day on the Susten pass, the arm warmers were just wolled down on the climbs and pulled up for the descents. I decided against kneewarmers and a long sleeve packable windproof although if the weather forecast hadn't been so perfect, I think they would have been take/worn too.

On one day in June 2009 I rode in snow on the Sustenpass (2224 m), rain and fog on the Grimselpass (2165 m) a couple of hours later, bright sunshine on the Nufenen (2478 m) a couple of hours after that and was almost blown of my bike on the Gotthardpass (2106 m).

Even when I go to Spain in May, I as much kit as I can pack and cover every weather possibility in which I will ride. There's no point spending a fortune going away on a trip and wishing you had a load of kit that you'd left back home!

john_wr

Do what a lot of the continental riders do these days and carry your gear in a small rucksac. You don't have to worry if you have the right kit with you, just the weight to think about.

John