L'Alpe D'huez Hill Climb

iregk

Lads and ladies looking for some info here.

Myself and a mate are very keen cyclists and in a moment of drink fuelled madness decided to make a pact on saturday night and vowed that within the next few years we will go over to France and climb L'Alpe D'huez.

My question is. Has anyone here done it before and exactly how difficult is it? I have gone on seriously long cycles and am a long distance runner (marathon included) so I'm not adversed to a serious bit of physical and mental stress. What difficulties do you face, what time are you talking to do it and is it the killer I'm lead to believe. Ok watching Le Tour as we have done for years and watching pro's dismount it obviously ain't no walk in the park so any help is appreciated.

Also when is a good time to do it? The heat of mid summer would make it extra difficult but spring time and snow could be just as bad!

kincsem

Look under the thread Bike Box for Sale or Rent just below, for a great report on how easy it is. Sure, you'd do it in no time.

It seems easy on the telly.:)

cargrouch

Um, don't take my word for it but there is an organised amateur stage every year - L'etape? This year it was on that stage I think. I will be out cycling with some people who did it (I think it was that stage) in a few hours, will check it out if I get a chance. One of the guys is quite fit and blacked out at the top from dehydration. But one of the ladies finished in the top ten.

Quigs Snr

If you are just going to drive to Alpe dHuez and attack it fresh, you will have no problem. Late May/Early June or Early september would be a good time to do it.

If you are fresh and have the right gears (a triple on the front and a 12-25 or 12-27 on the back, or a compact on the front plus a 12-25 or 12-27 on the back) then you will be fine. Even the tough guys were using a 53-39 with a 12-27 on the day I did it and most of them ended up walking.

I was on a 50-34 compact with a 12-25 on the back and spent the whole climb in the lowest gear. To be honest, If it wasn't for the 177k before it, I think I would have made it up in a 53-39, 12-25, to give you a reference point, I am one of the slowest riders in my club, but thanks to my low weight I am normally as quick as or quicker than some of our Cat1 and 2's up the seriously steep slopes of say 7% or more. On less than that, their power blows me away.

Bring lots of water on the day, do at least 20km of warming up on the flats and have the right gears, if you have an athletic background, you will make it, it just depends how fast. Bring the wrong gears, fail to bring enough water, then bring good walking shoes ! Of course practice makes perfect so out to your local mountain a few months in advance and off you go !

Its actually not the toughest climb in the tour, the pyrenees are tougher albeit shorter, the Alpe is only as tough as it is because it is always the end of a mountain stage, if it were in the middle of a stage you might have only heard of it in passing. Col Du Galibier for example is probably worse and thats more or less the next one over, the joux plane is no party either I am told. I wonder would Mt Ventoux be worse....

iregk

Yeah I have heard of the L'etape, to be honest its the 170k before the climb that would do me in. I'm athletic as it is and as I said am indo endurance sports however I have been off the bike for quite some time. Used to ride long distance regularly and do some serious mountain biking but haven't been seriously on a bike in about 3-4 years.

Quigs, thanks for the gearing advice I will bear that in mind. The bike I have just bought came with a double on the front so obvious I will be upgrading that.