Which rides to do when facing not-quite a mid-life crisis?

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  • hugo15
    hugo15 Posts: 1,101
    Thigh_burn wrote:
    Thanks for all the really helpful tips.

    The ideas on here have been fantastic in helping me focus my mind and work out what I don't want to do, as well as do want to do. Some of the tour companies look fantastic, but not quite what I'm after for now.

    So, having looked and researched, I'm thinking 5 days, in late May / early June staying in or around Bourg d'Oisans. That gives us access to Alpe d'Huez, Croix de Fer and Galibier. Which, if I can do them, will be some good going.

    I'd really like a decent recommendation for a gite or B&B that is bike friendly and well located. My ideal is a place we can stay that can do airport transfers and some basic mechanical assistance. I'm a sucker for a bit of comfort, so the place doesn't have to be too basic...

    I did something similar last year. Stayed at the Eurocamp just north of Bourg d'Oisans. Flew to Geneva then hired a car and drove down (it's mainly motorway). There are a few different hire places in Borug to rent bikes from. We used Bleach Xtreme and the bikes were spot on (Giant TCR/Defy). Did Lautaret and Galbier, Glandon and Croix de Fer and the Alpe. We went mid-June and there was still a lot of snow at the top of the Galibier but the roads were open.

    We used this site to help ride planning http://bike-oisans.com/en/cycling-oisan ... tes-oisans
  • crescent
    crescent Posts: 1,201
    I can recommend this place - Le Petit Catalan. Superb food, bike friendly, clean and comfortable. Located a couple of miles outside BdO and perfectly positioned for all the climbs you mentioned.

    https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Rev ... Alpes.html
    Bianchi ImpulsoBMC Teammachine SLR02 01Trek Domane AL3“When I see an adult on a bicycle, I do not despair for the future of the human race. “ ~H.G. Wells Edit - "Unless it's a BMX"
  • DeVlaeminck
    DeVlaeminck Posts: 9,106
    We stayed in this place http://bourgdoisans.com/noesit/!/fiche/ ... ard-115140

    If you are going to Bourg make it as late as possible as for my money I'd want the weather to be as nailed on as it could be.
    [Castle Donington Ladies FC - going up in '22]
  • phreak
    phreak Posts: 2,953
    If you're in Bourg I would recommend riding up to Villard Notre Dame. Having done both that and d'Huez it's a much better climb, but obviously has no Tour history attached to it.

    138villard2.jpg

    Doesn't that look cooler? :)

    There's also the long drag up to Les Duex Alpes. They have a Pantani statue in the village if that's your thing :)

    Sure you'll have a great time whatever you do though as the mountains are awesome.

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