The Cycling Thread [Archive] - Page 26 - SV650.org

fizzwheel

04-09-12, 06:30 PM

It was. I'm trying not to dwell on it, but I didnt have a very good nights sleep last night.

I rode back over that bit of road this morning, she wasnt even trying to overtake me, looking at where the skid marks are, I dont think she saw me at all until it was to late and then paniced and braked.

The skid marks are on the correct side of the road and are in a straight line and dont veer off. God knows what speed she was doing. I was travelling at 15 miles an hour and it took me 6 seconds to cover the distance that the skid marks go on for.

I think shes come tanking along the country road not paying attention and then looked up at the last minute and saw me.

I have taken out British Cycling Membership now. I only went for the ride, but now I have legal cover and third party liability insurance, if I need it.

Works out at £2 a month for maybe some piece of miind.

maviczap

04-09-12, 07:14 PM

Well just to change your mind from your near miss, every time I see Joaquim Rodriguez on the podium without his Oakley's on I'm convinced he is actually the 'Devil'. I bet he's got a couple of horns under that cap

http://www.katushateam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/RODRIGUEZ-4a-VUELTA-2012-016-624x419.jpg :smt077

Dipper

06-09-12, 11:08 AM

F*CKS SAKE

Nearly re-ended tonight. I'm coming along my usual route, its a B road, I alter my trip home so I dont use this bit of road in rush hour, I avoid it and come along it at about 1815 ish

Blue Peugeot 206 behind me. Shes sat a bit close to me. I move out a bit wider to defend my space. Theres a maroon people carrier coming the opposite direction.

I hear the engine rev, shes about to overtake me then she bottles it and decides probably correctly that she wont make it past. Except this point shes along side me almost.

She hits the brakes I hear the wheels lock and I decide not to brake, so I start to sprint for all I'm worth, I look behind me to see the bottom of the front bumper almost scarping the tarmac and the front wheels locked with clouds of smoke coming from the front tyres. I'm thinking I'm going to get hit any minute and close my eyes and wait for it, I'm still sprinting and the screeching stops. Shes stopped in the road and I am wondering on how earth she didnt drive / slide into the back of me.

I livid, I'm looking round and gesticulating at her. She eventually comes past me leaving me plenty of room, shes in tears and mouthing the words "I'm so sorry" and suddenly the anger puddles out of me and I'm thanking my lucky stars I'm not under the wheels of her car.

Scarey stuff. I can still see the front of the car bearing down on me now..
Only just read this, boy that's bad. Luckily rear-enders are rare but it's probably the thing we fear the most because we have very little control over the outcome. You did well Fizz to avoid it the way you did.

pookie

06-09-12, 01:16 PM

found this on another forum ..stay safe on the roads..

wzL0Kyk4m-8

Luckypants

07-09-12, 09:25 AM

I have been struggling for ride time and form since the Alps trip back in June, so much so that the Wild Wales sportive was torture after 65 miles....

Last night I had my 5th ride on the bounce with no gaps in my schedule for sometime, I had a go. Very pleased to say I averaged 17mph for the 25 mile ride, including the hateful hill back to my house. I'm chuffed that I'm back on track and just wanted to show off! :D

fizzwheel

07-09-12, 09:55 AM

I'm chuffed that I'm back on track and just wanted to show off! :D

and rightly so :cool:

maviczap

07-09-12, 10:01 AM

Last night I had my 5th ride on the bounce with no gaps in my schedule for sometime, I had a go. Very pleased to say I averaged 17mph for the 25 mile ride, including the hateful hill back to my house. I'm chuffed that I'm back on track and just wanted to show off! :D

Cool,

We're off to the Alps tomorrow. Bike is packed, gear is packed.

We're a bit concerned, as most of the scheduled rides are classed as 'high' difficulty :( So currently ****ting myself as to what is to come, but also excited.

Our average daily rides are between 60 - 70km, with the last day being 122km, with 2 climbs. :confused:

All of the rides finish with a downhill and the major part of the climb in the first 30km

I've got a few more miles in my legs than last year and I'm 3kg lighter and its too late to do any more. :rolleyes:

Luckypants

07-09-12, 10:04 AM

Pah! You will be fine, after the way you rode last year! How the hell does a skinny git like you lose 3KG?

Where you staying? It sounds like an organised bike ride, are you being guided?

Whatever, have a great time mate :D

maviczap

07-09-12, 10:16 AM

Thanks LP

Lost it from my lovehandles, thats the only place I can see, and a bit from my forearms

We're going with these people

http://www.velovercors.com/alp-dhuez-tour.html

We're on the Alp D'Huez tour, which although is self guided, its pretty organised (i hope).

We're staying in different places along the ride, with the exception of 2 nights in Boug D'Osains & 1 night at each end with Velo Vercors. Bit of a pain having to pack up, but at least we'll be somewhere new.

Transfer of our baggage is included.

Its a bit more expensive than I wanted, but its the only week I could fit in with work & school holidays, but staying in different places obviously bumps the cost up.

Temp back to 27 deg, so I hope it stays like that :p

Luckypants

07-09-12, 10:35 AM

That looks great Mav, some of the rides are spectacular. The Col D'Ornon is lovely, not too hard either. The big day over the Croix de Fer and Galibier was attempted by me while I was there but abandoned to look after my mate who crashed on road debris in St. Jean de Maurienne....

You are gonna have a great time! Not jealous... much!

maviczap

07-09-12, 10:52 AM

Cheers

Looking forward to it

SV-net

07-09-12, 11:48 AM

maviczap

07-09-12, 12:07 PM

My new Endomondo GPS service on my phone shows the following data from riding my MOUNTAIN BIKE, all my workmates tell me I need a road bike because riding like one will be much easier. I am riding a 12Kg bike when I can easily shave off 4kg and be quicker/faster timed.

Mountain biking
Total workouts: 4

Total duration: 1h:47m:31s

Total distance: 33.99 mi (two of these rides were just 3 miles, then one 11 miler and a 16 miler ish)
Average speed: 18.97 mph

Average pace: 3m:10s per mile ridden

Calories burned: 1379 kcal
Show Statistics (http://www.endomondo.com/?wicket:interface=:17:pageContainer:lowerSection:l owerMain:lowerMainContent:personalSummary:footer:s tatsLink::ILinkListener::)

Riding a MTB on the road is like riding through porridge IMHO, heavy tyres & frame (even a lightweight MTB), plus big gaps between gear ratio's, don't make for riding quick. The only thing is that they are more comfortable on rough roads.

You could fit slick MTB tyres and a closer ratio rear sprocket cassette, that'll help immensely, but still won't be as razor sharp a ride as a proper road bike

SV-net

07-09-12, 12:23 PM

I do have road tyres 26x1.5 which have made a massive difference. been keeping my eyes peeled for a road bike at sensible money, by that i mean sub 500 quid. I dont mind second hand.

maviczap

07-09-12, 12:51 PM

Well EBAY is good for that, or your local paper, but pays to know what you're looking for.

But up to £500 will get you a decent bike.

pookie

07-09-12, 12:54 PM

I saw this carbon bike http://www.decathlon.co.uk/btwin-facet-3-id_8127608.html for 599 on sale.. shame its a bit on the large size..note the seat tube extends a bit above the top tube so check for size

maviczap

07-09-12, 12:57 PM

Still its a good price for mostly 105

The whole 105 groupset is £419 at Merlin

http://www.merlincycles.com/bike-shop/road-parts/transmission/groupsets-road-bike/shimano-105-5700-groupset-black.html

maviczap

07-09-12, 07:54 PM

This looks a bit ominous on our last days ride, apparently we're going to Die

copy these co-ordinates into Google maps

44.7590 N, 5.37044 E

fizzwheel

07-09-12, 08:12 PM

Enjoy your trip Mav :cool:

Total Milleage for me this week ( Mon to Fri ) 111 miles. I bonked really badly on the way home tonight, no power in the legs and felt all wobbly and really hungry as well.

I'm thinking for a bit of fun, of creating a group on Strava for the org. I know we dont ride the same routes, but it'd be fun to compare speeds and distances etc

Anybody else up for it ?

Luckypants

07-09-12, 08:49 PM

This looks a bit ominous on our last days ride, apparently we're going to DieHe He We had lunch there on our recent jaunt around France. The gorge ride down to it is awesome. Here's a photo of the bike with a different kind of horsepower in Die

http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/528510_4462490960429_526521959_n.jpg

I actually recognised a lot of the places on your itinerary, it's going to be AWESOME! :thumbsup:

Luckypants

07-09-12, 08:50 PM

I'm thinking for a bit of fun, of creating a group on Strava for the org. I know we dont ride the same routes, but it'd be fun to compare speeds and distances etc

Anybody else up for it ?I have Strava on my phone, don't use it but will do for this.

EssexDave

07-09-12, 09:44 PM

I'd be up for a strava group

Jackie_Black

07-09-12, 10:19 PM

What's strava? Is it like cyclemeter for the iphone?

maviczap

08-09-12, 06:55 AM

Not a good omen for my trip, as my car tried to crush me last night, lucky I didn't get in the way and all that's buggered is the car door. :(

So plan B to go in my mates car to Ebbsfleet to get the Eurostar

fizzwheel

08-09-12, 10:55 AM

Thats not good, hope thats your bad moment for this trip

I've setup the org strava club, If I have done it right this should be the URL for it

http://app.strava.com/clubs/sv650-org

Luckypants

08-09-12, 04:13 PM

Damn! Forgot about this on our ride today, a gruelling 70 miler with 3 big climbs.... 15mph average tells the story of a hard day.

SV-net

08-09-12, 09:40 PM

For those that do not use Strava, there is another which is quite popular known as Endomondo.

Endomondo users click and join here http://www.endomondo.com/teams/uD2dMtUfqCA

Jackie_Black

09-09-12, 01:45 PM

Just finished a lovely 42.5 miler in 2hrs 40 minutes, i'm getting quicker. Got the eating on the bike thing right and finished with energy to spare, woo.

EssexDave

10-09-12, 09:40 AM

Does anyone know of any reasonably good drop bar road bikes for around £500 with proper STI shifters rather than the cheapo shimano 2300 with stupidly placed shifters?

maviczap

10-09-12, 04:29 PM

Damn! Forgot about this on our ride today, a gruelling 70 miler with 3 big climbs.... 15mph average tells the story of a hard day.

Pah that's nothing 2 x 100km rides today & yesterday, where we climbed for nearly 3 hours yesterday 5 hours riding avg speed 12mph

Today was also 5 hours two climbs 11.9 mph avg :-| And I fell off doing 1mph, sore thigh and grazed elbow :(

Tomorrows an easy day only Alpe D'Huez :p

Full details to follow :D

Luckypants

10-09-12, 04:34 PM

Tomorrows an easy day only Alpe D'Huez

I hope you are going to do the Col De Seren and Les Deux Alps as well? Otherwise you be a lightweight.... :p ;)

Jackie_Black

10-09-12, 08:00 PM

Evening cycling forum which masquerades as a motorcycle forum.

I've been toying with buying a new bike recently but have become quite attached to my specialized allez. Winter is coming up so I have decided to upgrade a few bits on the allez but I have a few questions.

I fancy upgrading from the sora shifters to some ultegra ones I have found at a friends shop cheap, problem is they are 10 speed and my bike is currently 9. Would the upgrade require a full new groupo or just a chain and cassette replacement?

Also i was going to buy a set of these for winter training as they are apparently very tough and great for the (fat) larger cyclist.

http://shop.kinetic-two.co.uk/kinetic-one-k1-aero-wheels-700c-road-time-trial-triathlon-bike---black-10-p.asp

Any thoughts org?

fizzwheel

10-09-12, 09:34 PM

I dont think that'll work. 10 speed is 10 speed and 9 speed is 9 and never the twain shall meet.

IIRC the Shimano 10 speed stuff is only compatable with 10 speed, i.e. you shifters wont work with your rear mech even if you change the cassette and chain.

I think...

With regard to winter training. Personally I'd keep your Allez for a Winter bike. It'll be fine. If you have eyelets for mudguards get a pair and fit them.

Winter is really tough, mud, salt, rain. Really takes it out on your kit, and its the shiney expensive stuff like wheels and drive trains that take the battering.

If it were me. I'd save my money, run what you have now through the winter and then when the spring comes with the better weather replace with new stuff then. Or if you can afford it, think about having a summer bike...

Luckypants

10-09-12, 09:44 PM

Milky Bar Kid

11-09-12, 01:17 AM

One shall be in Dumfries tomorrow for the tour of Britain, hoping to catch a glimpse of Wiggo and Cavendish!!

Jackie_Black

11-09-12, 06:06 AM

Changing the chain and sprockets will allow the rear to shift just fine. The rear deurailler will only move as far as the shifter will allow. However I suspect the problem will be your chain rings and front shifter, the ten speed chain is narrower so may not fit on the chainrings.

I'm definitely not an expert, so may be wrong on this.

I'm off to my LBS to pick up a (hopefully) much straighter and better running rear wheel this afternoon so I could ask them. Since I posted i've realised my bike is in fact only a 16 speeder so i'm going to have a look for some old stock 8 speed shifters/levers. It's the annoying downshift button on the sora levers that I can't stand. The rest of the bike is quite nice now and there seems to be little point saving weight until the engine (me) is lighter!!

maviczap

11-09-12, 03:05 PM

I hope you are going to do the Col De Seren and Les Deux Alps as well? Otherwise you be a lightweight.... :p ;)

Nah mate we're taking it easy, only the Croix der Fer tomorrow, then the Galibier or the Glandon Thursday, then a couple of easy days of 72km & 128km ;)

Did Alpe D'Huez today as you know, I enjoyed the climb but it wasn't as hard as the previous days climb up the Col de Morte. :confused:

Luckypants

11-09-12, 03:16 PM

Nah mate we're taking it easy, only the Croix der Fer tomorrow, then the Galibier or the Glandon Thursday, then a couple of easy days of 72km & 128km ;)

Meh do the Glandon tomorrow on your way up Croix de Fer, it's only 500m off to the left as you ascend. Unless you intend going up the Glandon from the far side to Bourg D'Oisons? If so, Chapeau again!

Galibier from Bourg D'Oisons is lovely ride on the motorbike as well as bike, you'll enjoy the descent!

Did Alpe D'Huez today as you know, I enjoyed the climb but it wasn't as hard as the previous days climb up the Col de Morte. :confused: Looks like you got your legs, glad your enjoying it. Still jealous though! :mrgreen:

EssexDave

11-09-12, 04:00 PM

Apparently the new sora shifters are the same style as tiagra so may look at that.

cycles UK had a real nice Wilier for £650 reduced massiely with campag on it that looked lush BUT was only a 54cm :(

maviczap

11-09-12, 04:26 PM

Meh do the Glandon tomorrow on your way up Croix de Fer, it's only 500m off to the left as you ascend. Unless you intend going up the Glandon from the far side to Bourg D'Oisons? If so, Chapeau again!

Galibier from Bourg D'Oisons is lovely ride on the motorbike as well as bike, you'll enjoy the descent!

Looks like you got your legs, glad your enjoying it. Still jealous though! :mrgreen:

Not sure we can do that, because our ride is to our next hotel, which is why we're doing the Glandon or Galibier the next day on a ride back to Bourg

Haven't quite got the legs I had last year & I'm missing my triple, as I can't spin the compact like the triple, and there's lots of people passing me using triples. But I'm getting up the climbs, which is all that matters.

The signpost is incorrect ;)

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/--gn6xGklcM8/UE9joaj0LoI/AAAAAAAAA84/wa_OUT6qOa8/w124-h165-n-k/Col%2Bde%2BMorte%2Bride%2B%252811%2529.JPG

stewie

12-09-12, 11:29 AM

Right, I know its early days but I reckon the summers gone now for this year so has anyone started making plans for next year yet ? I'm hoping to do a couple of sportives, not sure where yet but I think ones in Scotland, so what about you guys ?

Luckypants

12-09-12, 11:36 AM

Not made any big plans for next year, but I'll definitely be doing the Wild Wales Challenge Sportive again in 2013. Might have another go at the Dentdale Beast because that broke me, need to go back and have a word with myself on that.

In the meantime I think I will be doing this as my final sportive of the year. http://www.roadsportives.co.uk/ruthin.php

EssexDave

12-09-12, 11:37 AM

Interesting sportive....that's linking me to the IB threads are like books in a library...

I'd love to do a couple of rides in scotland.

Luckypants

12-09-12, 11:40 AM

Gah! Fixed!

stewie

12-09-12, 11:45 AM

Quite fancy this one next year
http://www.sportivescene.co.uk/galloway-recycle-sportive-2012/

fizzwheel

12-09-12, 12:03 PM

In the meantime I think I will be doing this as my final sportive of the year. http://www.roadsportives.co.uk/ruthin.php

Good Luck Mike

EssexDave

12-09-12, 12:06 PM

Shame that that's the day I'm moving into uni because I would have come :(

EssexDave

12-09-12, 12:06 PM

Stewie I'd be up for that. Would you stay up there?

maviczap

12-09-12, 04:28 PM

In the meantime I think I will be doing this as my final sportive of the year. http://www.roadsportives.co.uk/ruthin.php

Yep good luck mate, I'll be heading back on the Eurostar, if I survive this week.

Which I'm not kidding!

Yesterday we climbed Alpe d'Huez in hot sunshine, today we left our base to climb the Col de la Croix der Fer, 3km in it started to rain, and rain some more, and then even more. We pulled over into a bus shelter, as a group of Brits went back down from the ascent, which we hadn't even started. They shouted turn back! So we called our tour people and they picked us up. We drove up the climb and didn't see 1 cyclist and only 1 car on the way up. We went down the Glandon descent.

Rockfalls and a Polish HGV trying to climb the Glandon from the other side made for interesting trip. The HGV is either stuck or fallen off the mountain, as there was a hairpin bend, it was never going to get round.

Got to our new base, dried off and went for a beer.

When we got back, a group of Brits were just arriving on their bikes, having gone over the Madeline in snow!!! The first of this year.

No plans for next year although I would like to do Ventoux, but that could be done in a long weekend.

It is the 100th anniversary of the TDF next year, so maybe go see a good stage somewhere?

Luckypants

12-09-12, 04:32 PM

No plans for next year although I would like to do Ventoux, but that could be done in a long weekend.

It is the 100th anniversary of the TDF next year, so maybe go see a good stage somewhere?That would be some weekend! TDF stage and Ventoux in one hit anyone?

maviczap

13-09-12, 04:18 PM

Col du Glandon today just below the snow line, but quite a good days riding.

El Saxo

13-09-12, 10:05 PM

Wow, plenty of reading in this thread since I've not been on the forum in ages! :lol:

Does anyone on here do any time trials? I'm thinking of joining one of the local CTT-affiliated clubs and having a go at a few TT events next year so that I have some motivation to keep training through winter. I don't have a turbo yet so all my training has to be out on the road...
If anyone has any recommendation for winter gear I'd be interested too - so far I have some bib tights and some gloves but that's about it.

EssexDave

14-09-12, 09:41 AM

Saxo - I use http://www.wiggle.com/dhb-pace-roubaix-padded-bib-tight/ through the winter with the Aldi/Lidl winter tops and you can wear that quite comfortably down to about 5 degrees.

If you're still cold, then a winter jacket (from aldi/lidl) and a skull cap (something real thin - aldi did a runner's skull cap a while back for about £3) is ideal.Then it's just winter gloves. I have some decent gloves that are good to about 4-5 degrees, under that I use my alpinestars motorbike winter gloves :D

Dipper

14-09-12, 10:40 AM

.... also Lidl/Aldi overshoes, when it get really cold I use Ski Mitts http://www.surfanic.co.uk/PRD_ProductDetail.aspx?cid=6&prodid=18637&Product=Mens-Grasp-Ski-Mittens-Black they're good down to about -10, watch out for ice though!

fizzwheel

14-09-12, 05:32 PM

If anyone has any recommendation for winter gear I'd be interested too - so far I have some bib tights and some gloves but that's about it.

DHB Roubaix stuff from wiggle as suggested. Toasty warm and reasonable priced and comfortable to.

You'll probably want some over shoes and something like Woolie Boolie socks. The trick I found is just like on the motorbike to layer up. Several thin layers work better than one thick one.

Best winter gear I can really recommend though is a set of full mudguards if your bike has clearance and eye lets for them. If not a set of Crud Road Racer 2's will do an adequate job. Keep the spray and water off you and just as importantly off your bike.

El Saxo

14-09-12, 07:06 PM

Cheers guys, have got some Dhb bib shorts that am happy with so will try their roubaix stuff.
Fizz - have got some of the Crud guards already, my brakes don't leave enough clearance for proper guards. The Crud ones are a bit rattley and a b**** to fit though! :lol:

Got my eye on an Altura waterproof jacket, but could do with a decent jersey too for those 'cold but dry' days cos in waterproof jackets I end up like a boil-in-the-bag dinner!

Dipper

14-09-12, 08:46 PM

The Aldi/Lidl jerseys and Jackets are excellent, I've not found the dhb ones as warm/comfortable and twice the price. I've never bothered with waterproof stuff as I've always ended up just as wet "from within" as without one, as Fizz says layers are best.

maviczap

16-09-12, 07:30 PM

I'm tired & my legs still ache :smt015:smt015:smt015:smt015

maviczap

17-09-12, 07:33 AM

+1 to the DHB & Aldi & Lidl stuff.

DHB Roubaix tights are warm and toasty, and my Aldi jacket is also warm to. I have a Decathlon fleece MTB top which is very very good, its got a windpproof front and is the best of all my winter tops. I got it in the sale too.

I descended from the top of the Col du Glandon in my Aldi gloves and my hands were fine, and I picked up another pair the last time they were on sale

Good news is, that Aldi will have their winter stuff on sale soon, should be in the next few weeks

http://www.aldi.co.uk/uk/html/offers/25481.htm?WT.z_src=main

fizzwheel

17-09-12, 07:37 AM

Did a 50 miler over the weekend 15.7mph average and 3 hrs 11 time. Quite pleased with that.

Then when to watch Ironman Wales yesterday, very inspiring !

maviczap

17-09-12, 08:31 AM

Nice one, glad to see you're getting out again. Its a lovely day for a ride here, no wind & sunshine

Luckypants

17-09-12, 09:00 AM

In the meantime I think I will be doing this as my final sportive of the year. http://www.roadsportives.co.uk/ruthin.phpDid this at the weekend, rode from home in order to make it 100 miles total. :D The route differed significantly from that published, the main difference being we were sent up 'The Road to Hell' (as it is known) from Denbigh. It ended up being short, so I did a lap of Ruthin after the Sportive before riding home, in order to make 100 miles! This is my first ever 100 mile ride. Here is my mate's Garmin plot of the ride, he rode from Mold so ignore the little tails at start and finish!

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/223178533

This was not as hard as the Wild Wales sportive 4 weeks ago, that was a leg breaker! Craig's Garmin plot of that is below for comparison...

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/215932331

fizzwheel

17-09-12, 09:16 AM

Well done Mike, nothing beats that feeling when the computer clocks round 100 miles !

maviczap

17-09-12, 09:20 AM

Chapau Mike doing 100 miles in that terrain is bloomin good

maviczap

17-09-12, 07:57 PM

Well here's a summary of last weeks Alpes trip

Caught the Eurostar to Valance via Paris (not recommended!) and was collected by Roger from Velovercors

http://www.velovercors.com/index.html

Great location & great hosts, as Roger is an ex pro cyclist.

Unbeknown to us, we were the first group to book for their Alpe D'Huez tour, so we were the test pilots! I'd only seen the maps & route profiles the week before and all but one was rated as high difficulty!

Day 1

So we set off with some of the other guests, and our luggage would follow. The first part of the ride up the Grand Goulets was pretty damn hard for a first day climbs of up to 10%, and when we split from the group it didn't get any easier with some bits going to 12% and even 15%!!!

Once over the top (and after lunch) we descended down to the classic Tour town finish at Villard de Lans. Down the valley and then we turned off the main road and had a pleasant ride to St Nizer, where there was a fantastic descent, few cars at all. We missed a turn in our directions & descended too far and had to get back on route, which meant a bit more brutal climbing. Back on route we made it to the next point in our directions, but after that we got lost again! Not a great start, but the owner of the Chateau came and picked us up, as we were in the next valley! We'd already done 54 miles of hard riding & it was 6 pm! We'd have still been cycling at 8 at night!

Here's the route & link to my Garmin

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-j7xP-s-PUjQ/UFdzC7yFZlI/AAAAAAAABMI/sfMHOEt8hFM/s585/garmin%2520day%25201.JPG

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/220733746

Here where we stayed & I would highly recommend it if you were passing through or wanted to stay a while

http://www.lemanoirdesalberges.com/MANOIR%20ETE%20HIVER.jpg

http://www.lemanoirdesalberges.com/

fizzwheel

17-09-12, 08:48 PM

Mav - cant see your garmin track on garmin connect. Have you got the security set so that its private ?

maviczap

17-09-12, 08:56 PM

Mav - cant see your garmin track on garmin connect. Have you got the security set so that its private ?

Try it again, I had made them public, but when I tried it wouldn't let me in.

I've changed it back to 'everyone' can view it.

Let me know if you can't see it

fizzwheel

17-09-12, 09:09 PM

Nope still cant.

On the individual ride in garmin connect, theres a little padlock symbol. It is open or closed, if its closed thats why I cant see it.

maviczap

18-09-12, 07:12 AM

Ah my bad, fixed it now Fizz, thanks.

Dipper

18-09-12, 09:59 AM

That's a pretty impressive max speed you had there Mavi;)

Hats off to you guys, the thought of the sort of climbing you do seems really daunting to me.

maviczap

18-09-12, 10:29 AM

That's a pretty impressive max speed you had there Mavi;).

I know, something about my Garmin & France :D

Day 2
So after breakfast down the vally and turned off for the Col de la Morte (climb of the dead)

I knew it was going to be a tough day, as I was in bottom gear right at the start of the climb & still 12km to go, my legs were still in shock after the first days ride!

La Morte was a tough climb, with no easy bits at all, but at least it was cool climbing thanks to the tree cover, but this also made it difficult to gauge where you were, as there were no markers. plenty of 7 - 10% grade. But we made the top and after a drink & some food we headed downhill, with a great descent, very few cars on this road at all.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-M-OQFvLqXrU/UFc9vxpYkgI/AAAAAAAAA9o/FABUaaXfKQA/s512/Col%2520de%2520Morte%2520ride%2520%25282%2529.JPG

Stopped off at Valbonais only to find the whole town was shut! So no food for the rest of the ride, only half a Powerbar :(

We continued on the climb the Col d'Ornon which although it wasn't too steep, it was long drags to each turn, although we did have a slight tail wind.

Once over the top, there was a fantastic 10km descent into Bourg d'Osains, another 96km ride over. Stopped off at a roadside cafe for food, then I fell off, the only downside to the day. No major damage done

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-vudBDOBrZww/UFdzClGp_WI/AAAAAAAABME/mjexglgN1-4/s587/garmin%2520day%25202.JPG

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/221168746

We stayed here for 2 nights and again I can recommend it, its out of town, but its a good warm up ride to all the climbs and Lynn & Alan know their stuff. Great food & great accom

http://www.bourgdoisansbandb.com/index.html

Luckypants

18-09-12, 10:43 AM

Mav, we stayed just up the little side road that turns up the Veneon valley by that B&B on our cycling trip. Its about 8km up the road at Venosc.

Dipper

18-09-12, 11:13 AM

We've holidayed in this are a couple of times and it's stunning, I could never get over the local's tackling these hills mid summer in relentless 30 degree sunshine. Mavi what gearing were you using to do this?

maviczap

18-09-12, 11:42 AM

Mavi what gearing were you using to do this?

Compact 50 - 34 on the front & 30 - 12 on the back, but if I'm honest I preferred my triple set up from last year, as these climbs seem to be longer than most of the Pyrenean ones I did with Luckypants.

With the triple front I had a 30 front with a 29 or 28 rear, which meant that the gearing was a few inches less than with the compact set up. It seemed to suit my climbing style better, as I'd spin the gear rather than grind up the climbs.

Apart from some really good climbers passing me, the only other ones passing me were using triple front set ups.

Luckypants

18-09-12, 11:54 AM

Compact 50 - 34 on the front & 30 - 12 on the back, but if I'm honest I preferred my triple set up from last year, as these climbs seem to be longer than most of the Pyrenean ones I did with Luckypants.Wow that's low, but yeah it certainly did suit your high cadence style.

I use a 50-34 compact on the front and a 27-11 on the back. I wouldn't say I grind up hills but my natural cadence is a lot lower than Mav's. I would say that apart from the monsters like the Tourmalet in the Pyranees, the Alpine climbs are longer, so the higher gearing suited me better.

maviczap

18-09-12, 03:48 PM

Day 3 Alpe d'Huez

Doesn''t need introduction does it, 21 bends with the first 3 being particularly steep. I'd forgotten how steep they were, as I'd made my then pregnant wife walk up to the first one in 1997.

Here's the first ramp onto the climb.

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-SCFcArYfYDw/UFc-kIKu4gI/AAAAAAAAA_U/Irxq-L2saQ4/s720/P9110040.JPG

Took me at least 3 bends to get my breath back, which is quite a way up.

Its not a particularly hard climb, there's a couple of parts where it flattens out a bit, only near the top does it get difficult again. But then counting down the bends helped my motivation, especially once they get to single figures.

Don't let this picture fool you, I'd quickly returned to the saddle after this shot!

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-1lG4yu19w1Y/UFc9-0xrTdI/AAAAAAAAA-0/DuugrNxXxc4/s720/F47436.JPG

Great weather and a fabulous descent to Bourg for a well earned beer afterwards, a nice short day compared to the previous two!

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-7O0fFSmIjNE/UFdzjxuT_bI/AAAAAAAABNE/nBiQB99fmsI/s583/alpe%2520d%2527huez.JPG

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/221522542

http://www.climbbybike.com/profile/Alpe_dHuez_profile.jpg

maviczap

20-09-12, 08:45 AM

Day 4 - Col de la Croix der Fer

Abandoned - set off after breakfast, got to the roundabout at Bourg and it started to rain, went to cycle shop in Bourg chaps bought overshoes & leg warmers. Now ****ing it down, rode 10 miles, saw some Brits cycling the other way who told us to turn back. Enough for me, rang the broom wagon who picked us up and took us to our next destination up via the climb we should have done. We didn't see one cyclist on the way up and at the top it was 5 deg. :smt104

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-38kyNG9kSGY/UFc_CIKfzFI/AAAAAAAABB0/MpOaaebIX00/s720/P9120061.JPG

Joel in red was from Florida, and didn't find the temperature to his liking when we stopped at the Glanon for a quick photo. The Glandon is part of the climb to Croix der Fer, you turn right 2.5km from the top of the Croix der Fer.

Here's the hotel where we stayed, quite modern & a good cycling breakfast.

www.hotel-saintgeorges.com

fizzwheel

20-09-12, 10:30 AM

We didn't see one cyclist on the way up and at the top it was 5 deg. :smt104

Yuck.

I'm enjoying reading about your trip though :cool:

Dipper

20-09-12, 10:40 AM

Yuck.

I'm enjoying reading about your trip though :cool:

+1, great write up.:D

maviczap

20-09-12, 12:47 PM

Cool

Day 5 - Col du Glandon

So after yesterday's non ride, it was back on the saddle. What I hadn't written about was the group of shell shocked & bedraggled riders who arrived at the hotel later on that day. Turned out that they'ed ridden over the top of the Col de la Madeleine in a snow storm! The leader of the group said in all his years of running cycling tours he'd never been so scared! The Madeleine is at similar altitude to the Glandon & 500m lower than the Croix der Fer, so I'm glad we abandoned.

So set off from St.Jean de Maurienne to the start of the climb, as usual my fellow riders set off at far to brisk a pace for my liking, but things evened up o the start of the climb. After the previous days rain the weather was ok, quiet mild a the bottom. The climb isn't too bad at the bottom & I was quite comfortable setting a nice tempo, andthere were even some places where it flattened out to get a brisk pace on (between 10 - 12km). Then the length of the climb & the gradient start to kick in, and also the altitude, where I stopped for a gel & to put my toe covers on as it was getting colder.

Still I plugged on until the final 4km where I recognised the last bit where I'd seen David Millar struggle to get up, which seemed to go up forever, and then the last 2km were the hardest climbing I've ever had to do, we'd seen it the day before where a Polish HGV was attempting to do what we'd just done on our bikes!!!

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-FSIX5bS8vKk/UFc_L7uRb-I/AAAAAAAABDA/jTbOokxmhRU/s720/P9130070.JPG

Yes, that's fresh snow on the hills behind!

Still it was a good ride and once we'd donned our race capes, a great but cold ride back to Bourg was our treat for all the effort. I wish I'd taken a breather & just gone up to finish the Croix der Fer, but that's easy with hindsight.

http://www.climbbybike.com/profile/Col-du-Glandon-La-Chambre_profile.jpg

see how it kicks up at the end

Our hotel for this night was the Hotel Oberland, which has loads of cycling newspapers & memorabilia hung up on the walls. But I can't recommend it,as the room we stayed in hadn't been upgraded since the 1960's. Shame because its a real gem of a place and the food was good. The fact it hasn't even got a website shows the owners aren't ploughing any money into the business and shows how stupid cyclists are by staying there. Te owners have a regular captive clientele who will pay & put up with this.

Apparently this is typical of many French hotels.

maviczap

20-09-12, 06:46 PM

Next Thursday at Aldi, well my regional ones

http://www.aldi.co.uk/uk/html/offers/offers_week39Thursday12.htm?WT.z_src=main

The winter jackets are good

Jackie_Black

20-09-12, 07:05 PM

I just ordered some decent bib longs and a jersey from wiggle but I will be buying all of my proper winter gear from aldi next week. It's just soooooo cheap. Determined to ride all winter if i can.

maviczap

22-09-12, 09:33 AM

Day 6

So left the crappy Hotel Oberland and headed back up the Col d'Ornon. Its a nice climb, not too long & not too steep and a good way to start an Alps week if you're in Bourg. Waited at the top for one of the group to catch up & what should have been a straight forward ride to Valbonais turned out to be a bit of a slug. We'd had a tail wind up the Ornon & it should have been the same all the way down the other side, but it had switched to a headwind, so we were pedaling downhill too. :confused:

A quick cafe au lait & Croque monsieur after finding the cafe in Valbonais open this time, we headed further down the valley, turning off the main road to some lovely quiet lane for a bit, but still hampered by the headwind. Which was also cold

Unwisely I'd said earlier in the day, that I thought this ride should have been classified as a medium difficulty day, as it didn't look too bad on the profile, especially as we'd done the major climb of the Ornon. How wrong:(

Still the roads & scenery were impressive, twisty and hanging off the hills above steep gorges.

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-rdO7JyYutUE/UFdBKJ35o2I/AAAAAAAABFA/laBPuuOTG8c/s512/P9140092.JPG

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-P2vuT539hrY/UFdBKdd_fkI/AAAAAAAABFE/Ayhh2SeIF70/s720/P9140093.JPG

We got to within 20 km of our destination and we thought it wouldn't be too difficult, but we were wrong & the last few KM went on for ages, the last climb was a nasty sting in the tail. It only started going downhill in the last 2 km :(

Still when we got to our next overnight stop we were impressed with this gate to the place.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7lNxHWwPHFQ/UFdBn0N4B0I/AAAAAAAABHE/OqEvMQZ-qPk/s720/P9140110.JPG

A proper 16th century Chateau

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-12SXEOgZFdA/UFdBqE7tLtI/AAAAAAAABHM/SpyZkxPcTkc/s720/P9140112.JPG

Oak floors & other stuff

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-K92PS7N2qEg/UFdBVK0T9EI/AAAAAAAABFo/3Ng1Jov9iEQ/s720/P9140100.JPG

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-4i4HuOxF5Bg/UFdBVkv2nOI/AAAAAAAABFs/AkfJJVAW-oU/s512/P9140101.JPG

This is where we stayed. Good food & the village nice too. The owner said a lot of folk stopped there enroute to the South of France and its just off the motorway at a place called Monestier de Clermont so very convienient.

www.bardonenche.com

Only 45 miles, but flippin hard

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-C_rAJvnZisc/UFdzCqKXGoI/AAAAAAAABMA/Fo2-8XXajAg/s583/garmin%2520day%25204.JPG

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/222540891

Messie

22-09-12, 04:05 PM

I went for my first bicycle ride today in at least 20 years. Two wheels and no engine!!!!

Actually really enjoyed it. Good friends and a great breakfast in the middle.

Funny thing was though, I kept pulling the 'clutch' in whenever I went to change gear or stop. Couldn't work out why I was coming to a halt so quickly for ages!

Dipper

23-09-12, 07:36 PM

Dipper

23-09-12, 07:44 PM

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-rdO7JyYutUE/UFdBKJ35o2I/AAAAAAAABFA/laBPuuOTG8c/s512/P9140092.JPG

We're they bungee jumping off of here? Apparently this is the highest drop bungee in europe, looking over the edge was too scary for me, impressive to watch.

maviczap

23-09-12, 07:47 PM

Not when we cycled over the bridge, but there were signs for it. Not for me:smt104

Luckypants

23-09-12, 08:06 PM

We're they bungee jumping off of here? Apparently this is the highest drop bungee in europe, looking over the edge was too scary for me, impressive to watch.

We went over it in late July on the VFR and yes, there were nutters diving off it!
Sent from my phone.

fizzwheel

24-09-12, 06:15 PM

Got a King of the Mountain on a segment on Strava tonight on the way home. OK so I am joint KOM with 5 other people but I'm still chuffed about it !

Jackie_Black

24-09-12, 06:48 PM

Got a King of the Mountain on a segment on Strava tonight on the way home. OK so I am joint KOM with 5 other people but I'm still chuffed about it !

Top work

Strava is addictive, i've bought an extended battery for my phone so i can use it on my longer rides. Can't believe some of the times posted on there. I rode so fast yesterday I popped a spoke on my fornt wheel and it buckled a bit, never done that before and i was still only in the top 20. Must have been the silly pants speeding me up.

pookie

26-09-12, 01:21 PM

just a reminder about aldi cycle kit tomorrow...also in the mirror there is a voucher for £5 off on £35 spend
http://www.hotukdeals.com/deals/buy-daily-mirror-thurs-27sept-voucher-for-5-off-35-spend-aldi-1321081

Luckypants

27-09-12, 10:43 AM

We went over it in late July on the VFR and yes, there were nutters diving off it!
Sent from my phone.

Ahhh found a photo of said nutters

http://sphotos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/603405_4462489080382_1597629385_n.jpg

krhall

28-09-12, 05:11 PM

Bloody pot hole!

Just pinged two spokes out, can I simply get them done at an LBS? If so how much is it likely to cost?

Wheel is now buckled!

maviczap

28-09-12, 07:18 PM

Yep, LBS should be able to do this, depends if the spokes are a standard type or a unique to the wheel make

Jackie_Black

29-09-12, 07:05 PM

I just had my front rim fixed, needed a new spoke and a straighten, £9. Bargain.

maviczap

30-09-12, 09:11 PM

Ok, I'm a bit behind here.

So here's the last days ride, setting off for Velovercors base in Jean St Royan, some 127km away. After a hearty breakfast, with my American friends discussing how many ghosts or similar things they'ed heard in the Chateau during the night. Me I was dead to the world and saw or heard nothing :p

So we headed off, with low cloud covering the mountain tops & making everything very chilly, so knee & arm warmers were order of the day.

Both Joel and my legs were still feeling the effects of the previous days ride and despite the route profile we'd been given showing it to be flat for the first few Km, it was decidedly rolling and neither of us were happy. Plus the road we were on, was like an A class road here, fairly heavy traffic wise, with big lorries etc. :(

So we were glad to turn off this and start the climb of the Col de Menee back on a nice quiet road, with next to no traffic. Its long climb, nearly 20km from the base, but not steep and near the top it flattened out and was nice to ride. Apart from we'd ascended into the low cloud, which was making it cold.

But no problem here, and we transited through the tunnel at the top to completely different conditions on the opposite side. Gone was the cloud, only to be replaced by high winds. Descending was a new experience, with the winds buffeting us both on certain corners, plus I'd got quite cold, even though I'd donned my jacket & gloves, which was affecting my concentration.

It got to a point, where I stopped in a sunny sheltered spot, just to warm up :( Which was a shame, because it would have been a great descent if it had been warm and less windy.

But once we'd got to a certain altitude and got onto the flat section between the climbs, where a helpful tail wind helped us along, it wasn't too long before we stopped to take off leg warmers and jackets. Especially as the sun was out now. :D

We made our lunch stop at the aptly named town of Die :D

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-vRcsPzp2WVs/UFdBzZnl1lI/AAAAAAAABIA/Q8o-mQQfI-g/s512/P9150117.JPG

Velovercors had recommended a cafe/restaurant for lunch, and we had a pleasant lunch there.

Fortified and fueled, we headed off for the first part of a two part climb

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-q1TZzKUmEd0/UFdzDh7M81I/AAAAAAAABMM/f6uJ6J8aiWw/s579/last%2520day%2520profile.JPG

Still nearly 20km of climbing to go, the troublesome wind returned with a vengeance, some places it was full on in your face, with progress nearly coming to a standstill, but in other places, it was super helpful as the road twisted and turned up the climb. But we made it and we were rewarded with this view

Most of the roads you can see below is the climb up the Col Du Rousset

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-D8MsXkXNbg0/UFdB2V8NrUI/AAAAAAAABIM/9r7siC-bFBQ/s720/P9150119.JPG

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-c5ZNt7wLLXs/UFdB5l6HA-I/AAAAAAAABIc/pkai7sg7Nx4/s720/P9150122.JPG

So after transiting the tunnel, we descended for a bit, before starting the final climb of the Col de la Chau, where there is a museum to the Resistance fighters of WW2. By this time, my legs were still feeling ok, and quite used to the daily effort and because it was only a short climb, we made it to the top with no problem.

So the final 25km was all downhill to Jean St en Royans, using this road which was nailed to the side of the mountain. I haven't got any pics of the sheer drop off the road to the bottom of the gorge, but it was a long way :smt104

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-ivIMxKglM_w/UFdB7SH7eTI/AAAAAAAABIs/L5TaVRApgaE/s720/P9150125.JPG

So after loads of great descending and no cars, I arrived back at VeloVercors house for a welcome beer. I'd never ridden that far on the flat here, so I was pretty pleased with doing it on such a hilly route.

Our hosts were expecting us to call them from Die, to ask them to come and collect us, but we didn't, so that was cool.

Sorry its a long post, but it was a long ride :p

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/223529605