Cycling UK Forum

i do have a fancy for doing one of these, the scenery and the sense of achievement but lack the confidence to go for it. i started cycling about 12/13 years when my son got a bike ago but 4 years later was seriuosly ill and had to stop for about 3 years and then could not do it properly due to weakness in my legs, tiring and aching legs (after a 20 mile ride which i did weekly they still ached when i went to bed and actually 20 miles was my limlit). i now think it was due to high doses of medication and now can do 50 miles a day and do a week's tour without problem. so i think i am reasonably fit by the standards of the general population of my 53 years but can't imagine i am anything like fit enough to do any alpine cols, mts. so how would you train up for these, how severe are the gradients, what sort of low gears might you need, 25" or thereabouts, how fit do you need to be, will i die, and can anyone recommend some less testing climbs to start with, so i don't have to come home and say i gave up

When are you going? What are you intending to do it on? I've fancied riding up and then down the road up to Alpe D'Huez (I've driven up it when off skiing) and I've seen it on an inline skate vid' where a guy skates up it then down it - I know sounds a bit mad but you've got to see it to believe it.

To answer two of your 'Qs' yes you might die (more on the way down than the way up) and you may actually give up despite your training but at least you will have tried - maybe even having to walk up some of it. If you have to walk up some of it you can always free-wheel down...........

I will do it one day on my trike, sorry cant answer your other Qs more sensibly.....

Although I have very little experience of this, I don't see that as a good reason for not giving advice! The only cycling I've done in the Alps was actually in Austria - a circuit over the Grossglockner pass, but I think that is a fairly typical one. The main difference to over here is obvious - the ascents are much longer: expect to be climbing for a fair while. For this reason you really want to be in a comfortable gear. On the plus side, however, the gradients are generally easier - there was nothing on the Grossglockner as steep as the climb into the village where I live, and that only gets one arrow on the OS map. I think 8-12% is a fairly typical gradient. The other good thing is that the long ascents mean an interesting change in scenery as you get higher. It also gets cooler, which maybe good or bad...

Gradients are typically about 6%, though some are steeper.

Note however that these are average gradients over longer distances - either the whole climb, or at least a km if not. Here in the UK the signposted gradients tend to be the steepest short stretch, so a 10% alpine climb is probably a fair bit steeper than one signposted as 10% here.

It's mostly a matter of getting your head round how to climb them. You've got to be able to judge the level of effort that you can keep up for a good couple of hours, and set your gear and pace to match that level. Generally it's at about the top end of what you can hold a conversation at. Try to avoid rest stops except when prearranged.

As for what gears to fit, choose very low ones. Look at something like 24T chainring, 32T sprocket as a bottom gear.

Jawaka,

Your experience/circumstances seem to reflect mine - as well as sharing a similar aspiration with similar reservations!

About a month ago I visited some (English) friends now living near the Pyrenees and took a drive up Col De Tourmalet as a recce for an attempt on my bike. I'm interested in this Col because I'd heard it wasn't particularly steep (which would doubtless exclude me) - just a long grind. I think it's about 18 km distance wise.

And it's a bit exposed; so if the weather is bad, it's bad.

Obviously from the perspective of driving a car it didn't seem that daunting but my cardiologist still thinks I'm completely bonkers (his words not mine) to even consider it. A secondary issue to be taken seriously is the air thinning with altitude.

But I still want to have a go. If I do try it, I'm planning on using a stupidly low gear - less than 20" and sitting back and spinning slowly. Even if it's a case of doing 1/2 kilometre followed by 1/2 hour break - which might require spreading it over a couple of days - I want to do it. I don't know why I want to do it. It may be that I'm trying to prove to myself that I'm not as incapacitated as perhaps I am, I don't know.

I've done day rides of 60 miles without too much difficulty but don't know if they were 'one-offs' or whether I can repeat that sort of distance on consecutive days for, say, a week.

To find out I'm doing a simple London to Paris in a couple of months time. Obviously it involves crossing the North and South Downs which might be telling. To prepare I intend to try and ride up all the 'big' hills where I live - unfortunately they're actually all pretty tame but it might be a useful test to see if they become easier with practice.

I did hear of a disturbing notice in one of the cafes at the bottom of a climb - might well have been Alpe D'Huez - saying that people do die in their attempts through over exertion. That bothers me but I am on beta blockers and assume/hope they would 'chemically' prevent me from trying too hard.

As pointed out elsewhere.... I reckon it will be the altitude that will make or break it. Take as many stops as you need and when your breathing again move on.

As already said, many of the cols are very long but gradual climbs however the gradient does vary within the climb itself.
When I rode the Tourmalet (full touring kit etc), and other Pyrrenean climbs, I stopped halfway up at cafes for coffee and for plenty of photo opportunities. there are no rules that say you have to cycle it all in one go, take your time, enjoy the scenery after all it is not the TdF you are doing. You can also get off an walk segments if need be.

If you have ever been to Scotland you will find the climbs are more like some of the long climbs in Scotland just much longer, they are not like the climbs in the Dales/Yorkshire Moors.

My situation is fairly similar but I'm a few years further down the line! I've been touring over Alpine passes and those in the Pyrenees for several years now. Usually I go over them fully loaded with camping/cooking gear (I've even been known to carry a bottle of wine over a col on a Sunday when I thought I might not be able to buy any on the other side -- I was caught out once!). Sometimes, I may camp for a couple of nights go over one unloaded.

If you are reasonably fit you should have no trouble at all. In the early years I prepared with 15 mile or so rides three or four times a week -and that was when I was living in a flat area- for a couple of months prior to the trip. More lately I have tended to do more cycling throughout the year so I don't need to make any special preparations. My advice would be low gears. I see there are several threads where people are amazed at gears as low as 20 inches. My granny is 16 inches and I use it for a lot of the time in the mountains when fully loaded!

jawaka,
I rode Alpe D'Huez back in 2003 on my touring bike, just before le Tour went through. Bottom gear of 30 front, 32 rear (25 inch). Didn't need it. I rode in 40x28 (39 inch). It was no worse than riding over the North Downs in Kent, just a bit longer. Just take it easy, sit back and pedal. On the way up I rode with a french chap who had a dikky ticker. He was stopping at every other bend. Nothing wrong in that. Just enjoy the scenery. Stop and take a few photos etc. Breath in the mountain air.
The hardest thing was to avoid all the camper van doors being flung open, and the wet paint on the road. A great experience!

We did some alpine climbs + Mont Ventoux last summer. I am 50 and cycle around Newmarket area (ie not very steep hills)and an average cyclist and used my 35X 27 compact most of the way up the bulk of the climbs. Just sit up and get comfortable .I poodled along at about 6.5 mph ! Most of the gradients were 8% ish 9-10% max in places .

I have enclosed 2 pics, the first looking up to Alpe D'huez from the hotel, the second looking south down from Col de Galibier.

We stayed in Bourg D'oisans in the hotel Oberland.This is a basic bikers hotel, and ideally siuated for Alpe d'huez, Col de Galibier and Croix de Fer and others a bit further if you are keen.
Alpe d'huez (approx 1100 m climb 700- 1800m ish)is probably less scenic as it is just hairpins (ideal to take a breather on the corners) until you get further up. took me about 1hr 15.

Col de galibier if you go from Bourg d'oisans is a steady climb up the river valley (25miles quite busy road + tunnels which a rear light is advisable) to col du lautaret(2000m) then turn left up to galibier(5miles ) up to 2600m . I didnt find the altitude a problem, you will be well warmed up and breathing plenty enough by the time you get to the top!!. The good thing is the 30mile down hill return!!

One climb a day is very comfortable i felt that doing more at altitude started to take it out of me. There is nothing much you can do i this country to match the length of the climbs, maybe cycle up ben nevis?

It is worth it the views are breathtaking.

I wont bore you any more . I have some other pics / info if you are interested.

Like Broadsmiles, I've stayed in Bourg d'Oisans as a base for a few weeks cycling in the area. The favourite ride I did was as a rest day after following what I believe is called the Marmotte route and was looking to take it easy...
I went out of Bourg for about 2 miles and turned right up to a village called Berarde - which is pretty much the end of the road and a base for climbers looking to go up La Meje (I think thats what they're doing!). Some steep climbs though not too long and at the end of the road you can stop and have hot chocolate and cakes in the cafe at the end. Before you stop and turn round and have a fantastic downhill for about 15 miles with beautiful scenery. I've been back and done the same ride again with a friend and it was just as good. My computer clocked 90kph on the way down - i'll not be doing it that fast again!
g

Did a two week loop out of Nice north into the mountains some years ago on fully laden tourer doing cycle camping. I'll try and find my old notes from the trip (it was 17 years ago!) but the only training I did before hand was cycle commuting to work! As for gears, the lowest I had was a 26 chainring married with a 34 cog at the rear to haul my sorry looking self over the top. But if you have to start walking, so be it, the scenery is so beautiful! Just remember if you've got rim brakes and using them a fair bit on the way down the other side, to stop occassionally to let the rims cool down. There are tales of tyre blow-outs due to such things... (anyway, good excuse to enjoy the view and enjoy some chocolate!). Can stronly recommend the Galbier and the Restfond(Col de la Bonette), the latter at 2802m/9133ft high - yes, I do remember every pedal stroke of that one!

just one more to encourage you - i went over the simplon pass a coupla years ago, aged 58, my first big climb, and i hadn't been on a bike for three years when i set off. obviously by the time i got there i'd got a thousand miles under my belt and was well fit. i'd found the idea pretty intimidating but it wasn't a problem. if i remember right it was about a 1300m climb in about 25km, and i hardly changed out of my lowest gear, which was 28 front 30 rear, on a heavy bike carrying camping gear. i took my time, about five hours, and wasn't too proud to get off and walk some bits. nice ride.
of course you'll die, we all do - it's just a question of when!

hi jawaka, on the annual alps trip i go on with my club, a 71 year old guy came with us last year, he got up alp d'huez, col du galibier, col du izoard and many more and he's coming again this year, he used a triple ring for the low gears. we always stay at les deux alps, i'd recomend a trip to the alps whatever age and whatever fitness level you are. do it