Marmotte 2016

itboffin

IMO three nights isn't enough time especially when you factor in building and packing your bike for the flights.

A week or more is just about perfect but at a stretch at least 5 nights I'd say.

rc856

Yeah, would love to but it's a combination of shift working, using the minimum amount of leave days (this falls on a weekend off) and having a wife and 2 kids etc to have the least amount of disruption with!

DeVlaeminck

Personally I wouldn't consider it for 3 days as on previous experience if it's a hot week like last year it takes me a few days to acclimatise - and I like hot weather in the uk. Last year I almost couldn't complete a loop of the Ornon and Morte we did on the Tuesday - really in trouble, had to find a cave and recover in the valley after the Morte descent - yet on the day of the event I was in the 650s position which I was happy with. If at all possible do a full week, also means you can rent a nice house, get your eye in on the descents and do all the other climbs in the area.

edit cave should read cafe!

rc856

Think I'll just do P-R instead!

narbs

Honestly, I think three nights is fine. I've done the Marmotte three times and my best result came when we didn't arrive in AdH until about 7pm the night before - although I don't recommend that

I've booked accommodation for next year for our small group and we're arriving on the Wednesday. Hopefully the weather will allow us to do the Lacets de Montvernier on Thursday and then a shorter ride on Friday.

wallace_and_gromit

DeVlaeminck wrote:

Personally I wouldn't consider it for 3 days as on previous experience if it's a hot week like last year it takes me a few days to acclimatise - and I like hot weather in the uk.

I think it takes longer than a week to acclimatise in any meaningful fashion. Poor performance shortly after arriving may simply be due to fatigue and dehydration due to travelling.

FWIW, my Good Lady bagged a gold medal in 2013 in searing heat after arriving on the Thursday, with Friday devoted to eating, drinking, registration and practising a few descents. (She had spent the last three weeks of hard training doing turbo sessions in a very hot garage though.) My best time came the year before to the same schedule, albeit in very warm rather than hot conditions.

Caveat - We've done 5 Marmottes between us but have only ever arrived on the Thursday so have no comparisons against coming out a week in advance!

rc856

Ah, that sounds better
Had looked at the organise trips which were 3 or 4 nights and less is better for family etc

So...length of stay aside, where do you look for accommodation if you're going solo.
Sport Tours say they'll do you an entry only if required.

After all this, I'll probably be the club member staying home as I would be worried getting the training in to make the time cuts.
Having a 1 year old has seriously damaged any training on days off etc

Cheers

narbs

The first year I booked thru the AdH tourist office and got a room in one of the large Pierre et Vacance/Club Med hotels by the altiport. I've also gone with a group and we used one of the chalet hotels that UK schools use for ski trips and I've camped once.

For 2017 I've just booked a small chalet in Bourg thru Airbnb for three of us.

Training with young kids is tough. I concentrate more on the turbo than I'd like, but it means I can get a meaningful session before my daughter wakes up or after she's gone to bed without putting too much strain on marital harmony! I do manage the club run most Sundays as well.

rc856

Cheers.
I've managed LBL and Flanders the last 2 years but there were no time cut offs to worry about!
You make it sound easy enough. Guess the best thing to do is get in early?
Couple of guys are interested in going with a company.
Would hire a car rather than hang about for bus transfers so the cost seems the only big
difference?

I do go on club runs but shift work means I do 2 in a row, working for next 3.

DeVlaeminck

Apologies if I put a bit of a doubt over doing it. I do think you are best to take a week if possible but if that isn't an option it shouldn't put you off. Last year was exceptionally hot even compared to 2013 hence 3000 dnfs

narbs

RC856 wrote:

Cheers.
I've managed LBL and Flanders the last 2 years but there were no time cut offs to worry about!
You make it sound easy enough. Guess the best thing to do is get in early?
Couple of guys are interested in going with a company.
Would hire a car rather than hang about for bus transfers so the cost seems the only big
difference?

I do go on club runs but shift work means I do 2 in a row, working for next 3.

If you're going by train and staying in Bourg the transfers are simple - bus station next door, bus direct to Bourg in about an hour. For AdH there's a bit of a wait for the connecting bus up the hill.

I'd consider a car for AdH purely for the option of driving down each morning and avoiding having to climb back up the Alpe each day if you don't want to! Of course that means a car big enough to take 3 or 4 bikes and people which isn't cheap. This is where the extra initial cost of an organised trip can be made worthwhile.

Regarding registration, you'll need to be on the ball as it's becoming more and more like the Etape in popularity. I think last year sold out in a few hours.

itboffin

At least the website worked this year and they sprang an early sign up than usual

fatdaz

narbs wrote:

Honestly, I think three nights is fine. I've done the Marmotte three times and my best result came when we didn't arrive in AdH until about 7pm the night before - although I don't recommend that

I've booked accommodation for next year for our small group and we're arriving on the Wednesday. Hopefully the weather will allow us to do the Lacets de Montvernier on Thursday and then a shorter ride on Friday.

I did Lacets de Montvernier last month and loved it but it is less than 3.5k so I'm pretty sure you'll struggle to find a shorter ride the next day

narbs

fatdaz wrote:

narbs wrote:

Honestly, I think three nights is fine. I've done the Marmotte three times and my best result came when we didn't arrive in AdH until about 7pm the night before - although I don't recommend that

I've booked accommodation for next year for our small group and we're arriving on the Wednesday. Hopefully the weather will allow us to do the Lacets de Montvernier on Thursday and then a shorter ride on Friday.

I did Lacets de Montvernier last month and loved it but it is less than 3.5k so I'm pretty sure you'll struggle to find a shorter ride the next day

Oh, I don't know

I think the route I had went over the Glandon and the Croix de Fer from the Allemond side to get to the Lacets and then back the same way. It worked out about 4000m of ascent anyway.

rc856

Thanks for all the replies. Something to mull over. A year to train!
A red headed, pasty white Scot in July sun!

I might be better suited to France in April!

rc856

Cheers for all the comments.....just signed up for this after all!!

itboffin

Signed up? Entry isn't open yet?

rc856

Sorry....planning to do this I should say.
Going with Sport Tours so by them saying it's a guaranteed entry, I thought I'm as good as signed up.

narbs

RC856 wrote:

Sorry....planning to do this I should say.
Going with Sport Tours so by them saying it's a guaranteed entry, I thought I'm as good as signed up.

The Sports Tours website says that the event is on Sunday 2 July. It's always been on a Saturday - anyone know if this is correct?

bendertherobot

Apparently I'm doing this. With two climbing whippets as well. I'll show them.

wallace_and_gromit

narbs wrote:

I think the route I had went over the Glandon and the Croix de Fer from the Allemond side to get to the Lacets and then back the same way. It worked out about 4000m of ascent anyway.

That's quite a day out!

bendertherobot

I need that type of feedback to keep Narbs in check. Keep it coming. He's sneaky and devious. I might just drug him.

itboffin

oh dear i've been looking at the Pyrenees route and even though I said previously its a bit dull i sort of wouldnt mind giving it a go but the 28th August is a tad soon

narbs

Wallace and Gromit wrote:

narbs wrote:

I think the route I had went over the Glandon and the Croix de Fer from the Allemond side to get to the Lacets and then back the same way. It worked out about 4000m of ascent anyway.

That's quite a day out!

It's a nice route though - nothing super steep and I'd like to really enjoy the Glandon rather than speeding* round during the Marmotte.

*clearly not literally

bendertherobot wrote:

I need that type of feedback to keep Narbs in check. Keep it coming. He's sneaky and devious. I might just drug him.

My plan was just to tell you about the 3.5km climb and not mention the other 30-odd!

bendertherobot

You told me it was just like doing the Bwlch and Rhigos twice. Some people.

narbs

bendertherobot wrote:

You told me it was just like doing the Bwlch and Rhigos twice. Some people.

twist83

I didn't do the actual Marmotte event but did the Marmotte route early July when I was over there. Cracking route Bloody hard work though.

itboffin

twist83 wrote:

I didn't do the actual Marmotte event but did the Marmotte route early July when I was over there. Cracking route Bloody hard work though.

What was the traffic like? That valley road to Turin must be hellishly busy

Bound4Glory

Yes, in 2017 it will be sunday 2nd july.

narbs

Bound4Glory wrote:

Yes, in 2017 it will be sunday 2nd july.

Has this been confirmed? Sport Comm still won't tell me anything!