Alpe'd'huez

ravenvrider

Sorry ive searched but could not find exactly what i wanted to know.

Planning to do the alpe this June or September and wanted to know which is better for temprature, traffic etc i need to book time off work soon so any advice appreciated even to which week in month is best etc

I am working on the theory (rightly or wrongly) of doing it in under an hour, the full tdf version that is, i would like to know from anyone who has done it around the hour what gearing you used, i have a 53/39 front so my choice is a 11/25 or 11/28 cassette Im not a spinner, my cadence will probably be around 75-80rpm.

durhamwasp

I would say it doesn't matter, plus you could aim to set off from the bottom at either 8am or 5pm before, when its not the hottest part of the day.

We did it on April 1st, +20c at the top!

Can't help with gearing, as my goal was 1h30 (managed 1h24).

Enjoy

ravenvrider

Thanks for that, i was thinking about varying start time based on conditions, although i would prefer to ride mid afternoon as that seems to be my strongest time to ride weirdly...

rodgers73

I rode it late July and it was 38 degrees. The next day it was about 15 degrees and throwing it down. I expect the location means reliable weather predictions are a bit tricky...

durhamwasp

Are you trying to break Pantani's record? seem to be taking it very seriously! Just get up, and ride up!

FatTed

Look at this
http://alex-cycle.blogspot.co.nz/2011/0 ... rtals.html

ravenvrider

Thanks FatTed that was really interesting, based on that my aim for an hour is realistic which is reassuring.

Snook, at 37 minutes i hardly think so, and yes i am taking it seriously. 18 months ago i broke my back in 2 places T6/T7 (1 badly) riding downhill on my mountain bike, as i laid in the hospital after the doctor told me i started to wonder how life would change, could i still be an active dad to my son, family life, work and frankly would i ever ride a bike again...at 51 i feared the worst.

After 11 weeks in a spine brace i started riding again 80 odd miles a week....i had to or i could not get to work, weirdly riding is even now the only time my back feels good i put it down to it being supported by hands on handlebars, anyway its taken a while but i can still ride at a reasonable pace when i want to (for me that is). As i have put my racing times behind me i needed something to focus on to motivate me, which leads me to the Alpe, i have always dreamed of riding it as hard as i can, as i am not getting any younger and family commitments will more than likely see i probably wont get another chance when i am in reasonable shape i decided this is the year i do it. I have no interest in just riding it, i want to show my son if you set a goal work hard and hurt like hell anything is possible.

Sorry i rambled...reminding myself why.

crescent

Can only add to what others have said - there are no guarantees with the weather. I cycled up it a couple of years ago and saw four seasons over the period of about an hour. Drizzle and mist at the bottom, fog halfway up, brilliant sunshine and then mist again at the top. The descent was in brilliant sunshine but absolutely f*****g freezing. I went at the end of May and there was still a fair bit of snow around as well. My time was nothing to write home about but my personal goal was just to say I'd done it. For the record I checked my progress after 37mins (Pantani's record) and I was about halfway. Make sure you look "pro" when you get to the last few bends though, there is a photographer who jumps out, takes your picture and then runs (ok, walks) alongside you to give you his card. the photos appear on his website the next day if you want a souvenir. Enjoy!

FatTed

I would think you would be better off having a 50/34 on the front.

guinea

June and September are both good months for cycling in that part of the world. June is probably more reliable weather wise, but I've cycled up l'Alpe d'Huez in the snow in May.

Getting up in an hour is a good effort for anyone and you'll need to be in decent shape to manage that. The first time I did it (@ about 80 something kgs) I took 65 minutes going easy, so the next day went all out and still managed 65 minutes.

I used a 50/34 with a 12/25 and stayed in 34-23/25 almost the whole way up. There are only a few areas when I used a lower gear than granny. A 39-25 and anything above 71 cadence will get you up in an hour.

t4tomo

ravenvrider wrote:

Thanks FatTed that was really interesting, based on that my aim for an hour is realistic which is reassuring.

Snook, at 37 minutes i hardly think so, and yes i am taking it seriously. 18 months ago i broke my back in 2 places T6/T7 (1 badly) riding downhill on my mountain bike, as i laid in the hospital after the doctor told me i started to wonder how life would change, could i still be an active dad to my son, family life, work and frankly would i ever ride a bike again...at 51 i feared the worst.

After 11 weeks in a spine brace i started riding again 80 odd miles a week....i had to or i could not get to work, weirdly riding is even now the only time my back feels good i put it down to it being supported by hands on handlebars, anyway its taken a while but i can still ride at a reasonable pace when i want to (for me that is). As i have put my racing times behind me i needed something to focus on to motivate me, which leads me to the Alpe, i have always dreamed of riding it as hard as i can, as i am not getting any younger and family commitments will more than likely see i probably wont get another chance when i am in reasonable shape i decided this is the year i do it. I have no interest in just riding it, i want to show my son if you set a goal work hard and hurt like hell anything is possible.

Sorry I rambled...reminding myself why.

thats a great an admirable reason and I can understand why you are targetting a challenging time. However if its not on and meant in the best possible spirit, dont give your self a heart attack trying to make it up in a hour if you find out once your riding up there that your not in the shape you thought would get you up in that time. Your family won't thank for that.

Once you've done the alpe in June have a crack at Ventoux in September. You definately wont make it up there in an hour.

ravenvrider

Guinea, thanks thats good info, i am only 65kg and bike is only 7.1kg with pedals so at least i dont have a lot to push up!
t4tomo i understand what you are saying, all i can say is i can and will ride at threshold for an hour how far up my legs get me in that time is the unknown.

We have decided to go the 2nd week of August now due to family commitments etc so i guess it will be a bit warmer...maybe an early start to avoid the heat.

Gives me a bit more time to train for it now though.

http://beta.veloviewer.com/athlete/1290927/

Aigars HC Bike Tours

Hi, I cycle Alpe d'Huez few times every year. The weather s unpredictable. It could be below 10C at the top even in July. I would suggest go there end of June or early September, better in July or August. The snow could be up there early spring and quite a bit chilly end of September. Although, it depends, I have been riding up there late October too, it was around 4-8C and that was OK for me.
53/39 front and 11/25 cassette... hmm, good luck:) Definitely you will complete it, but it will hurt:)
I recommend at least 11/28 cassette, better use compact 34/50.
Post you result here when you compete it.
Have fun!

sonny73

As the others have said the weather can change radically day to day. I've ridden it several times from +40 degrees to freezing low cloud, have to say the 40 degree version was brutal! If I were you I would go in June, purely as you may also get to see the Dauphine too in the area, just to add to your experience.
As far as times of day go, as noted by others early doors or late afternoon are the best options. In saying that lunch time is pretty good too, if it's not too hot, although I've always found traffic to no limit the ride up at all. As it's the Alpe cyclists are respected I find, and to be fair the whole area seems to reflect this sentiment.

The thing that sticks in my mind the most about the climb each time I start it, is it's steeper than I remembered from the previous visit. As is well documented the lower ramps are the worst, but further up there are sections that are really trying and if the weather is hard work this is only adds to things.
I have always done it with an 11/28 and a compact, I'm way more of a spinner than a power rider, but that set up I have always found perfect for the Alps full stop. My fastest is 1h16m for the full Tour route and I was ruined at the end, but I would do it again every day given the chance.

While you are out there you have to ride the Glandon/Croix de Fer too, for me the best climb in the area, beautiful in every way.

Either way good luck and enjoy, you'll love every minute of it and I hope your back continues to improve

durhamwasp

Well done to you for your recovery and effort, still, just enjoy it, 59mins or 1h01m, you are riding a bike!

I've heard June 17th at 7:03am is the best time to start.

ravenvrider

Oh I will snook....The goal just focuses the mind!

Now I'm confused...i heard 07.02 was the best time.....dam more research required, oh but as I'm now doing it 2nd week of August that's thrown that ou the window.....06.59 then!

meanredspider

Good luck with this - it's a great challenge and I wish you every success. Pacing yourself will probably be the secret to success as it's steep at the beginning and end. I used a power meter but my challenge was very different.

The day I spent on the mountain, it was early June. -4C overnight at the top, 33C and 95% RH at its peak during the day and 10C by around 6pm. You will at least know what to wear given you'll only be on it for an hour.

Given your motivation, I'm sure you'll succeed.

ricey155

Awesome might see you there if its September

just posted up asking about routes on a separate thread, there seems so much to do Ventoux is only 150 miles away if the weather is bad maybe an option ?

Aigars HC Bike Tours

It's around 3+h drive to Mt Ventoux from Bourg d'Oisans. I'm not sure it's very close:)

ricey155

Its close enough if you've never done it and its snowing :-)

Aigars HC Bike Tours wrote:

It's around 3+h drive to Mt Ventoux from Bourg d'Oisans. I'm not sure it's very close:)