Bourg St Maurice For An Alpine Virgin

Skyewalker16

I visit BSM every year for my annual ski trip and have always wondered what it would be like to visit in the summer for say 5 days of road cycling. I normally stay between Les Arcs and La Plagne and look in awe at some of the roads and think "I wonder if I could ride up these???" Unfortunately being a big guy (6' 3" and 95 kg) am I just dreaming? I consider myself quite strong but on steep climbs (20% and greater) I am destroyed, Gravity can be so cruel!!!

If I was to go it would be with others, a small group but we would be self sufficient, ie no tour guide just some maps. Does this sound reasonable or would it be better with a guide?

Whilst the climbs in this area are perhaps not the most famous in the Alps (excluding La Plagne) as a first time visitor to the Alps in the summer does it really matter? Any information or experiences would be appreciated. Thanks

whoof

Being 95 Kg should be no problem provided you have a low enough gear and you don't hit the bottom of a climb like you would a 1km British climb. There are very few very steep sections on the climbs (i.e. > 10%) they are just very long.
There are plenty of books and maps showing where to ride.
http://www.cicerone.co.uk/product/detai ... rench-alps
Go too early and the passes may be shut due to snow. Mid july and August is very busy June and September are better.
Go and do it.

mrc1

Never let your weight or anything else put you off giving the mountains a go - if you want to get to the top you 100% will and it doesn't matter whether it takes a lot longer than you would like, or if you need a few stops along the way, the experience is simply incredible and one you definitely will not regret.

There are a huge range of options when it comes to planning a foray into the mountains, but if you already know the geography of the area you are looking at then going solo or with a group of mates should be fine. If you don't have any form of support (a car/van driven by a guide or forgiving partner/mate), then make sure you take gear out with you to cover cold and wet conditions as even on a hot day in the valley the tops of the mountains can be brutally cold. Likewise if you are heading out unsupported its worth doing a little research to establish whether there are any water refilling options along your route (lots of Alpine climbs do have fountains) as you can quickly burn through liquids while climbing and it can get very costly getting supplies from restaurants/cafes!

This article is based on training for the Marmotte, so is a little more involved than would be required for recreational riding in the mountains, but it should give you an understanding of what is required and help you make the most of the experience:

http://www.ledomestiquetours.co.uk/marmotte-training/

Hope this helps

Rob

cc78

Some good advice above ^

Petit St-Bernard is long but very gentle, 30km with an average gradient of 4.6%. The climb is pretty regular all the way up and rarely gets steeper than 5%, apart from maybe a 500m section just before the top that hits 7-8%. Nothing too dramatic and the scenery is beautiful. You also have the option of stopping in La Rosiere on the way up. If you are reasonably fit you would be able to ride it no problem. From the summit you could also drop down the other side into Italy: La Thuile is a good point to aim for which I think is about 12km down. It's slightly steeper than the French side coming back up but then you have an absolutely joyous hour-long descent all the way back to Bourg.

The Cormet de Roselend is shorter but slightly steeper, 20km at 5.9%, and less regular, ie there are some fairly steep sections (9-10%) and also some (nearly) flat stretches. If you carry on down the other side you will reach the beautiful Lac de Roselend.

I don't know the roads to Le Plagne or Les Arcs but I'm sure they would also be extremely enjoyable to ride.

Pacing is the key, ie don't hammer it at the bottom, and make sure you are well fed and watered. And have something warm to put on for the way back down, even in high summer it can be chilly once you are above 16-1800m or so, especially if you have been sweating on the way up. The general rule is that the air temperature drops by 1 degree for every 100m of altitude, ie 25º in Bourg would mean 12º at Petit St-Bernard.

Skyewalker16

To all who have responded, many thanks for the advice. It is really appreciated. I think you have increased my desire for a late summer visit. I now just need to convince my wingman. Thanks again.

JoostG

That is good to hear. Some advice from my side: be prepared for sudden change in weather. Early September I experienced a drop of 10 to 15 degrees in temperature and severe rain out of nowhere.