French Alps 2016 - Day 3 - Glandon from the North

I had driven up and down the "proper" Glandon climb in 2015 on the way to and from the Galibier and could tell it was a beast. However I did not do this climb last year as it is over an hours drive just to get from Bourg to the bottom at Saint Etienne d'Cuines.

However this year I decided to bite the bullet and have a go. My wife and I drove over and parked the car in Saint Jean de Maurienne. This was about 7-8 miles from the foot of the climb so I'd get a chance to warm up and she'd have somewhere to have lunch whilst I was away cycling.

Once in Saint Jean de Maurienne it took a little while to get ready and I set off just after 11am. It was already quite hot and windy in the valley floor. It had taken 25 minutes to ride to the foot of the climb as I turned and headed up. From the roundabout at the bottom it rises up immediately for the first km or so is pretty gentle but once through the small village it kicks up to 7-8% and never stops.

Every 1km there is a marker telling you how many km left to the summit and the average gradient of the next km. This is both good and bad - you can measure your progress but also worry about what's to come. I passed a few cyclists in the first couple of km and had managed to hang on in the 34-28 gear for a few km but after that needed to drop back to the 34-32. It stayed like that  all the way to the 10km point where the road (almost) flattens for a km or so.

Given the consistent gradient and the heat I was drinking a lot of water and using some over my neck to cool down. At the 12km to go point (so 8km done) I'd used almost half of the water I had. Remembering back to climbing the Col de Sarenne in 2015 when I almost ran out of water, I started to look out for some water replenishing points (eau potable) to make sure I had enough to last the top. I also had eaten half my food by the 12km point as well (1 gel and 1 cereal bar) by this point so I knew it was going to be tough all the way.

There is village at the 10km to go point and for just over  km the gradient eases to almost flat. There's also a couple of cafes/restaurants so I knew I'd be able to get water however I saw the usual drinking fountain trough so I filled the now empty first bottle and carried on. Past the village and swinging round to the left the climb resumed at its normal 9-10% rate. By this point you are mostly out of the trees as well so the temperature rose  little as well. Up to the village the km markers were generally 7-8% but after they were 9-10% so much steeper for 2nd part of the climb.

By this point I was pretty well stuck in the 34-32 gear. I was very glad of this to be honest. It was slower but I felt I could almost climb anything all day with it. I slowly ground up and it was in this part of the climb that I was now passed by 3-4 riders - all using higher gearing and leaving me pretty well standing still. I was not too bothered - my objective was to climb without stopping rather than set a faster time on the lower slopes before blowing up in a big way. Km 9-4 were really hard as it seemed to be still a long way but by the time I reached km 3 I knew it was just a case of keeping going and that it was doable. The final 3km were probably the hardest - I think km 2 to 1 was an average of 11% and I saw a stretch of 14% for while - but finally I knew I just had a few metres to go and the top was in sight:

I had done it! 

The major Strava segment was Col du Glandon rated at HC - 12.1 miles with an average 7% gradient and height gain of 4658ft. My time was 1hr 55min - none too shabby and just about in the 50% placing range. However to put in context - the KOM is held by Laurens ten Dam in 57 minutes - twice as fast!

I was very pleased with the time up. After a quick can of pop I started down. Given how twisty the roads were it took me 30 minutes just to descend.

By the time I got back to Saint Jean de Maurienne I was pretty well done in. A burger for lunch in the town square went some way to make up for that.

Here's the full ride on Strava: https://www.strava.com/activities/623639355

 

In summary - a very hard climb but very satisfying. Every bit as fearsome as it looked when driving up and down as well.

French Alps 2016 - Day 2 - Croix de Fer & Glandon

Day 2 in the Alps and a big climb planned - Croix de Fer and the Glandon. This was a route I had done last year with my son and was pretty big. However unlike some Alpine climbs its slightly different in that there's a reasonable flat section and noticeable downhill stretch about half way. 

From Bourg d'Oisins its about 10 miles to the foot of the climb. Its along a straight and almost flat road to the turning for Allemont, up the face of the dam and alongside the lake. After a small dip and over a bridge the first part of the climb starts. Its straight up to 8-10% and through the trees. It stays like this for the next 4 miles. There are a couple of spots where the gradient drops to 5-6% for a few meters but otherwise its pretty consistent.

I tried to hold the lowest gear of 34-28 but found it too difficult if I wanted to keep my heart rate to below 160bpm so needed to use the 34-32. It is a spot too low and whilst does take the effort off the speed also drops as well. Last year (with 10 speed) I had an 11-30 cassette and the 30 was a slightly better compromise.

The road was very quiet with few cars and other cyclists. Unfortunately all the other cyclists passed me this time. 

The first "easier" part comes at Le Rivier d'Allemont where it flattens and eases through the village and then drops slightly before the set of switch backs where you lose over 200 feet very quickly. Immediately at the bottom the roads kicks up again to ~14% and today there was also a strong headwind. The next kilometre was hard - battling up a 12-14% stretch with a headwind. Once past this there's a section of steep climbing (~10%) rising to a slightly easier section approaching the Barrage de Grand Maison. Once past the 2 sharp switch backs level with the dam it again eases significantly (enough for even me to get into the big ring) and then there's a fast downhill section (about 150feet) into the final valley. From here its probably the easiest section at ~8% to the summit, The fact that you can see the cafe at the turn for Glandon helps. Once at the Cafe its again another relatively easy 2.5km to the summit of the Croix de Fer.

It took me 1hr 53 mins this year - average heart rate of 159bpm (so I didn't do that good a job of keeping it below 16) and average speed of 8mph. I was pretty pleased with this.

I had an obligatory coffee and ice cream at the top and took some pictures:

I also made an obligatory (?) video of the climb from the Lad de Grand Maison. It's twice speed to lower the level of boredom.

 

I then got back on the bike and rode down (and back up a few meters) to the Glandon

It was quite windy and a little cool so I wore my Pocket Rocket for the descent - not sure if I really needed it but I didn't feel cold - I stopped and removed it in Le Rivier d'Allemont.

As with last year I think it best that I describe my self as a "nervous descender".

The switch back descent near Le Rivier d'Allemont is even worse coming off the mountain as your legs have just spent  minutes doing nothing and then need to drag you up 12% slopes!

Once back at the very bottom its then a reasonably pleasant ride back to Bourg.

Overall - I really like the climb - excellent scenery, several different vistas at different stages of the climb, lost of different bits of road to ride on, and its a big climb at over 2000m.

Stats for the day - 50.8miles, 3hr42min moving time and 6100ft of ascent:

On Strava:

In the French Alps Again - Day 1 - Ornon, Oulles and a stab at Villard de Notre Dame

Like last year, I rode Col d'Ornon again as a starter. It's long enough to be a challenge but not a monster - it takes me about 45-50 minutes from top to bottom. I did it twice in 2015.

I'd picked up a booklet for road cycling routes from the campsite office we're staying at (again the same as last year - the La Cascade at the foot of Alpe d'Huez)

This booklet identified the climb to the village of Oulles as worth doing. The road to Oulles is about 2km from the foot of the climb of Col d'Ornon so not out of the way.

Unlike last year I rode from the campsite on the road to Grenoble and at the turn to Allemont did a U turn and headed back for the Ornon climb - this I hoped would get me properly warmed up. We rode straight to the climb last year and I almost blew up on the 1st km. This year by the time I was on the climb I felt pretty good and was able to ride comfortably in the 34-26 gear for several km before needing the 34-28. Given that I was no where near as fit this year compared to last year this was good. However at the shorter steeper section at Le Rivier I dropped into my old man gear of 34-32 as I felt myself getting tired. This section was more10-12% compared to the 8-10% up to that point. I was able to drop back to the 34-28 after a km or so and get to the summit in progressively higher gears. I felt quite strong at the top given where I was fitness wise and decided to do the Oulles climb. So after a reasonable later I took the turning to the village

Right from the word go it was steep and challenging. It was a very narrow road with minimal safety barriers. The gradient seemed a consistent 10% (sometimes a little lower but often 11-12% for some time. Here I needed the 34-32 and ground up slowly. For a long time it was difficult to see where the road would end up as it twisted back and forth frequently. Eventually I could see the village and a more straight piece of road that led to it. The village was nothing more than a few houses in reality, and at the end of the road I turned round and descended carefully back to the Ornon road. It was a tough climb

I used my Virb to record the climb:

Once I'd uploaded the ride to Strava I found that I'd bagged a KOM somewhere on the road. However this was down to poor a GPS signal rather than any decent pace, so apologies to the true owner of the KOM.

Once back down on the main road to Bourg I decided that I still felt OK and would climb to Villard de Notre Dame. I'd become aware of this climb from a Bikeradar forum post and it looked magnificent. I had plotted this on my Garmin as it climbed from the back of Bourg somewhere, but in reality it was well sign posted and easy to follow. I was aware of the tunnels and had fitted my (be seen) lights in anticipation. As I rode up a sign warned people of the tunnels and I thought I was OK. The first tunnel appeared and was all of 20-30m so no problem I thought, As I emerged the road was stunning with the overhanging rock. 2-300m further on came the 2nd tunnel - 350m in length.

As I roe in so did a load of motorcyclists so there was lots of light. The road surface was poor. Unfortunately as the last of them turned a corner I was left in complete and utter pitch blackness and could not see a thing. My front light was hopelessly inadequate. I briefly thought about walking further on (I'd seen 2 cyclists walking the other way) but decided discretion was the better part of valour, turned round and headed for the light slowly and back to the camp site. However the road was stunning - I can only imagine that it looks the same further on. Here are some pictures (from my Garmin Virb):

The first tunnel

The first Tunnel

Past the first tunnel - see the overhang

Entering the 2nd tunnel

Following the motorbikes - looks OK!

Back down out of the 2nd tunnel

Approaching the first tunnel back down

For the first day just under 36 miles and 4800ft of climbing - not bad.

Here's the route on Strava - https://www.strava.com/activities/621176871

Hill Climbs in the Cotswolds - Sunday 5 June 2016

Hoping for glorious weather as forecast I cycled down to Broadway in the Cotswolds. About 4-5 miles north of Broadway are 3 reasonable sized hills. In order of my route there is Dovers Hill, followed by Saintbury Hill and finally Fish Hill. I have done them all before but never on the same ride, so today would be a first.

First up was Dovers Hill.

This is #13 in the 100 Greatest Cycling Climbs book. Its quite tough - it steepens after 1/2 way to ~12% and the average is 8%. I was hoping for a faster time than the previous time I have climbed as I was on my Scott with its 34-32 lowest gear. Unfortunately whilst my fitness has continued to improve through the year it still was not where it needed to be - a maximum heart rate of almost 180bpm shows this. It was hard work. The first attempt I made last year was the best at 8:02 - I am currently 474th of 233. Today's effort was much slower at 8:58.

Here's a video of the climb and immediate descent:

Next up within not much more than 2 miles is Saintbury Hill:

Saintbury is a bigger and longer climb than Dovers Hill. The maximum gradient is nearer the bottom and the gradient eases 2-3 times meaning its not quite as tough. I still made the slowest ascent today compared to the other times. I pulled a 8th plave on the descent but I think thisis down to GPS error more than any thing else!

Here's a video of this climb and descent

The final climb was Fish Hill. This is actually the A44 to Oxford so is a much busier road than the other two earlier climbs. Its definitely a Sunday morning climb only although the road is dual carriageway (on the ascent) so there is room - but its still not the most pleasant climb:

Two miles at an average of 6% - easier although the first mile is less steep and the last mile (the twisty bit is around 10-12%). However the descent is super fast because of the wider road and sweeping bends and I just managed a Strava PR on the descent - average speed of 31.8mph.

Here's a video of the climb and descent:

An excellent ride with the 3 climbs but the headwind all the way back from Broadway just about did me in

Here's the full route:

 
I chopped the top off (where I live) as the Cotswold part is hopefully more interesting. The full route is here on Strava