Hello

I’m considering heading to the Alps or Pyrenees end Sept or early Oct to ride some classic TdF climbs.

Plan is cheap easyjet/ryanair flights, stay in a hostel, rent a bike. I’ll be travelling solo, probably midweek, probably for 3 days.

Any views on where best to go? Weather, most iconic climbs, ease of logistics?

I’ve never actually ridden a tour climb… this is me trying to tick some off!

Bob

borg d’oisans is a good start IMO with plenty of climbs from the valley floor.

Bourg d oisan (I cant spell it bottom of alps du heuz).

fly to lourdes, rent from here, go and do some of the great cols like d’aspin and peyrousourde around bagneres de luchon?

http://pyreneesrental.bike/

When do the big climbs start to get snowy?

Hmm I’m hoping snow wouldn’t start til November, but I’m not super keen on cold/wet.

Bourg D’Oisans maybe a good shout, short drive from Grenoble.

Lourdes looks interesting but not sure how best to fly there from Edinburgh/Glasgow – might be complicated.

Any other suggestions?

Tolouse would be another option for flights, not far from Bagneres de Luchon.

Borg d’Oisans is hard to beat if you only have 3 days. Alpe d’Huez, Lautaret/Galibier, Croix de Fer, loops taking in more than that if the weather’s good, also the one-way road to La Berarde just outside B-d’O that’s not a tour climb but is a stunning road, well worth the ride.

La berarde, as long as you time it so the restaurant at the top has food, great climb though.

Don’t forget that the road from Bourg to the Lauteret and Galibier might still be closed.

Lourdes then south to Argeles Gazost . From there you could do Tourmalet , Luz Ardiden , Cautarets , Pont D Espagne , Gavanie , Col D’soloir / Aubisque and Hautacam

We drove but there will be bike hire shops locally.

As for snow, Saw snow in Avoriaz mid Sept a couple of years ago,but Pyrennes last year was great second week September 22- 26’c and sunny.

Last year I was in the Alps in October half term. The first few days were sunny and warm, after that it snowed and was -7 at the top of my local col. Take clothes for all weathers. I also take an MTB in case road biking is snowed off.

tagged for future ref..

I stayed in St Michel de Maurienne this year while the TdF was on. ~It really is in the centre of a lot of climbs with the Telegraphe starting literally from the crossroads in the centre of the high street which then leads onto the Galibier.

Other climbs within easy distance are the Lacets de Montvernier, Col de Glandon and Croix de le Fer, La Toussuire all ridden on this year’s TDF.

Alternative locations are St Jean de Maurienne which is about 15 km further down the valley.

I have no idea what the weather is like in October but it was 35 to 40 degrees in late July although some big ole thunderstorms too.

At least I was in a chalet in the valley unlike my cycling buddy who was in a tent a klick from the top of the Croix de la Fer 😯

The Maurienne valley is really massive. When I left St Michel to drive back to Blighty we descended on the motorway for over 40 miles, yes forty MILES at a noticeable angle. Amazing place.

Edit: pics added.

That’s my youngest son (age 22) in blue following me up La Toussuire. The town in the valley far below is St Jean de Maurienne which we had ridden through on the way up

Top of the Telegraphe which is actually quite an easy climb

I’ll be doing this route over three days mid September – flying into Geneva, transfer down to lake Annecy then ride for thee days, back up to geneva again….

Don’t discount Turin. Close to the lovely, warm, southern Alpine climbs such as the Galibier and Lautaret, but also you can go and do some classic Giro climbs as well!

I think with the road closed between Bourg d’Oisans and Lautaret/Galibier you might have more options going for somewhere in the Maurienne valley. We stayed in an awesome AirBnB in St Michel de M.

Flying in to Turin is a very good idea. There are fairly regular flights there, unlike Grenoble (is it possible to get flights out of the ski season?). Flying Lyon leaves a longer drive, as does Geneva.

Ryanair in to Lourdes is also a good idea for some Pyrenees action.

Like MTB-idle we spent a week this summer in the Maurienne. It’s pretty much perfect to ride a number of climbs. Chaussy/Madeleine, Lacets, Telegraphe, Galibier, Glandon, Croix de Fer. Head over to Modane and do the Iseran or Mont Cenis. Having spent the last few summers heading towards Bourg de Oisans I thought that the area would be difficult to top, but I actually think the Maurienne has more accessible cols.

once you’ve got an idea of location…

Roads to Ride

(and thread bookmarked for reference….)

Unlikely to be a major problem, as I’m sure there will be some places still open, but worth noting that a lot of hotels/restaurants in the Alps close up mid-Sept and don’t reopen until the ski season.

http://www.lesvoletsjaunes.com/

My sister and brother in law have just opened this chambre d’otes in the pyrenees. They offer airport pick up from the likes of Carcasonne or Toulouse and they know people who do bike rentals so could organise that, I think they know a couple of people who do do guiding as well.

We did bourg d’oisans in June and it was really really good, I’d go back .
Used http://promptcc.com/ for bike hire and accomodation.

Loads of routes available from medium to massive.

Alp d’Huez
Col de La Sarenne
Les deux alpes
Col de la croix de fer
Col du glandon
Col du Galibier via lauteret (You will need lights assuming it’s open Tunnel or snow!)
And the easy but spectacular balcon d’Auris

Croix de fer was a great climb. Lautaret was shut but the road is busy and unpleasant.
There is a booklet you can download somewhere with all the routes. Much quieter than the maurienne valley.

We also saw bardet training on alp d’Huez.

Just don’t scratch the bike.

<tick>

Morzine another option – short transfer, lots of accommodation options. Joux plane straight from town. Ramaz, joux vert, colombierre, various other climbs all nearby. Low too so less chance of snow

Book marking

Also bookmarking. I’ve done quite a bit in the Pyrenees and I’d recommend Luchon for a lot in a small area – Superbagneres, Port du Bales, Peyresourde, Aspin, Aubisque, Tourmalet etc.

Our plan is to get to the Alps next year to coincide with TdF week – I’m assuming it’ll be the second week as they should be going clockwise.

beej
I’m assuming it’ll be the second week as they should be going clockwise.

Yep, that should be correct. Pyrenees first then alps second in 2015 and the reverse next year.

I have done the Pyrenees too. 2014 TDF week. Stayed in Lourdes which has been described as the most soul-destroying town in France. Lots of nuns and people in wheelchairs.

rode the Tourmalet, Port de Bales and Pla d’Adet. All superb climbs but really difficult in different ways.

The only thing i found with the pyrenees was the famous climbs were a bit more spread out and i needed to drive between them rather than access them via bike as per the alps.

a few more pics to inspire you:

A well composed shot on the Port de Bales. Check out the fans all looking at slightly different things, even the professional photographer and his moto man are getting in on the act

Geraint on the Port de Bales

Sagan struggles up the Pla d’Adet

Up close and personal with Nibali on the Tourmalet

Thanks all.

Decision made – flights booked to Geneva, train booked to St Jean de Maurienne.

I’ll let you know how the weather is in 1st week of Oct!

Was just clearing stuff away and found the guide book.
Download here
http://bike-oisans.com/en/footer/guides-to-download

Looking forward to hearing your report when back. We’re looking for somewhere for next June. Bourg is favourite at the minute

Book marking.

what doctor….. said about Borg d’Oisans, only I would add the road up Villard Notre Dame and back on the Col d’Ornan road, its not a TDF route but a must do if IMO if your in the area.

I avoid Grenoble Airport, Lyon is only 30 mins further down the road as Grenoble airport isn’t that close to Grenoble itself and has a far greater choice of flights.

Any other suggestions?

Cragg Vale, Buttertubs, Col du Scott Hall Road..

Hi all

Brief update after I went away last week (28 Sep – 2 Oct) for those who were considering something similar.

– flew to Geneva, train from the airport via Geneva CFF & Chambery to St Jean de Maurienne. Very easy, pretty cheap.

– stayed in St Jean de Maurienne at Hotel de l’Europe. Very cheap, clean, basic, friendly staff, secure bike room. Simple breakfast with lots of coffee.

– rented bike from Solaro cycles – nice people but not as slick as rental operations I’ve used in Mallorca. Bike was perfectly functional (Tiagra, alu) but I’d expected more (at least 105, ability to swap stem, loan of a multi tool). Only bike shop I could find in StJdM but I’d probably seek another outfit next time.

– weather was sunny thoughout. On the valley floor, it was about 10deg first thing in the morning rising to 18-20deg. Lovely. On the summits though, it’s bitterly cold – air temp 5deg roughly, but with the windchill it feels well below zero. There was snow and ice atop the Galibier. If it had been raining, its would have been chilly much of the time and summits/descents would have been verging on dangerous without many many clothes.

– Clothing – wore shorts and a longsleeve windstopper with a superlight rain/wind jacket & a buff in pocket. I’d probably wear more next time – maybe a base layer, thicker gloves, 3/4 legs. Cannot overstate how cold I got descending for 30mins at a time, even though on the climbs what I had was perfect.

– Stuff being open beyond the season, as this was – many things weren’t. On the valley floor it was very quiet but most shops open. In the higher towns and on summit cafes, about 1 in 5 were open. I was often the only person in when I stopped for coffee/croque monsieur/gaufre/etc. Tasty.

– I rode the following cols, and it was all totally brilliant – Chaussy, Lacets de Montvernier, Glandon, Croix de Fer, Mollard, Telegraphe, Galibier, Madeleine, La Toussuire. And there are more/ride in reverse/etc.

Summary – had a brilliant time, great place to go, would probably go at least a few weeks earlier next time.

Hope that’s of use to someone!

B

There was snow and ice atop the Galibier

Just on this point – I climbed it in July 2013 and there was snow on the top then, despite it hitting 40 degrees in Bourg D’Oisans.