17 July
Well, I was going to spend the week in the Alps and was hoping to catch a few stages of the tour there in the mountains…change of plans. With no plans for accommodations, and knowing I wasn’t going to get the lucky break like I had last night in finding a campground, and the weather turning like it did…I was not going to attempt a week riding/camping in the rain and snow with no way to ever dry out. Love the Tour, but not worth it…really, no regrets. I know I will be in Paris on the final day…I’ll enjoy the ‘circus atmosphere’ of it all then.
My ascent of Alpe d’Huez. (For those who are not familiar with the staple of this climb in the Tour de France, you can read more at
Wikipedia) I sickly smiled all the way! To have watched the pros on TV for so many years, and to finally be doing this ride myself, I was in heaven. A sick sort of heaven with an average of 10% grade…relentless climbing for 14km…but I was there! And I rode it exactly like I said I would: “I’m going to take my time and enjoy every bit of this ride. I’m going to stop in every turn and take a picture. Then I’m going to ride uphill a bit and take a picture looking back. I’m going to stop and check out the views when I want…this is not a race, this is me enjoying a climb that many will never get to ride!”
AMAZING!!!
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| Breakfast before my ascent |
As I left the campground, my warmup was about .5km. I rode away from the mountain for about .25km, took a couple of pics, and then back toward the mountain for the summit.
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| A look at where I'm headed |
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| Climbing time! |
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The ride quickly turned upward and never stopped! I was already breaking a sweat after the second climb which wasn’t even at turn 21! But as I came into turn 21, the sprinkles started falling. I thought the rain wasn’t supposed to come til afternoon. Maybe it’s just a morning sprinkle in the mountains like in the Rockies. No big deal…riding on.
Relentless rain throughout the day.
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| The first turn (they are numbered in reverse) |
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| Looking back at turn 21 |
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There were many people making the climb, but only one other guy was riding loaded, hauling a ‘BOB’ trailer behind his bike. Everyone else was decked out in their team kits, riding all sorts of bikes…and most with compact cranksets. I too was riding with a triple ring, but I was hauling a lot of weight too…and I really was not far off of some of their paces. But again, it didn’t matter, I was not racing!
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| Looking back at turn 13 |
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| My brother Chan from Iowa...what motivation! |
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| For my polish brother in Chicago...KOZY, KOZY!!! |
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| Nice I skip from 13 to 1 |
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| This is a reflection of me in the rain covered road! Almost there... |
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As I made it to the top, I took my picture in the Village at the Arivee, but knew I had an additional 2km to ride to actually ride the TDF route.
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| Unofficial finish |
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| 1.1 km to go! |
So through the village I went, continuing to ascend and finally made it. Tour riders make the ascent in 37 minutes, many people attempt to break the hour mark, several try for 90 minutes. I just wanted to do it. And for stopping and taking all the pics I wanted, eating when I wanted, the rain and riding loaded, I was more than ecstatic…I had ridden it and I had fun all the way! Two hours and 55 minutes. Yup! I broke the three hour mark! Yeah me!
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| I have arrived!!! |
It was time to descend and make my way down the side of the mountain as I was moving on to Allemont for my next night of camping. Had the roads been dry, this would have been a scream! It was anyway, but very controlled…I never really let the speed get away from me, but still had a good time, though the rain/ice pellets? Were really pelting my eyes (glasses in my jersey pocket because I couldn’t see with them anyway). I continued down the mountain to turn 5 where I made a hard right to travel through Villard Reculas. A beautiful narrow road above the valley town of Le Bourg d’Oisan, and not heavily traveled.
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| looking down on le Bourg d'Oisan from the road toVillard Reculas |
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| Still pouring rain and visibility is not good! |
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| Heading back to Bourg d'Oisan |
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A little more climbing and then it was time to descend…and time for the rain and wind to pick up even more. It was already only 44 degrees and now the wind was gusting up to probably 50mph! I was shivering on the descent having to curl my fingers on the top bar to keep them out of the wind as I descended, so it was hands off the brakes for a while. Had the road been dry, this descent would have been better than that of Alpe d’Huez I think!
As I made it to Allemont, I made a decision to head back to Bourg d’Oisan and ultimately Besancon. The weather, and no accommodations dashed my plans for a great week long ride in the alps (rain forecasted for the entire week)…but again, no regrets. I have ridden Alpe de’Huez…yes there are harder climbs, there are longer climbs, and there are bigger climbs, but this one made me happy. Of all the Cols in the area, I rode the one I wanted!
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| changed clothes behind the bus terminal and am packed up to head back to Besancon |
I made a call to Jen to let her know I was coming home…
Then I was back on a bus to Grenoble, and when I arrived was able to switch my pre purchased train ticket (for next Saturday) for a train leaving this evening for Besancon at 1714, arriving 0005.
I had a 2+ hour layover in Lyon from 1900-2100…arrived in Besancon around 0009. Loaded the bike up with the panniers and rode back to the apartment, only to have to once again throw my gear in the elevator and send it to the 5th floor and carry my bike.
But I was home, I was dry, and I had ridden Alpe d’Huez!
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| My Alpe d'Huez ascent (the red line about 2/3 up is me heading to Villard Reculas after my ascent) |
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| My route for the day as recorded by my Garmin Edge 800 |
Click here to see the entire album of my ride.
Click below to see my ride.
