Alpe d'Huez

[black'n'yellow]

Most of it tbh,

The assertion that serious training MIGHT be required to post a quick time.

that was your assertion - not mine. Are you now saying that serious training is 'not' required in order to post a quick time?

What do you call appropriate gearing and an appropriate amount of time

Appropriate to his level of fitness. What else did you think I meant?

There is a reason you see so many folk pushing bikes up the various cols and climbs in the Alps and Pyrenees and it isn't because they where trying to go too fast!

It probably was, tbh. Presumably they are pushing because they lack the fitness to continue riding at the level they were riding at. Ergo, riding at a lower level of effort or in an easier gear may mean that they stay on the bike for longer.

Congratulations on trying to turn the Alpe into some kind of mythical, elitist climb which must only be tackled by the super-fit. In my opinion, if you can walk up it, there is nothing to stop you riding up it. The only variables will be the gear chosen, the effort required and the time taken.

 

[bainy16]

Ride over to Holmfirth and tackle Home moss, then freewheel down and do it again, and again. when you can summit Holme moss in 15 ~20 minutes on each occasion then you can aim to tackle the alpe in under an hour.

no way will i be aiming to do it under 1 hour my father in law did 1,12 last year and i would class him as a cycling nutcase

 

[screenman]

Unless you are already the perfect weight for your height I would say lose some.

 

[bainy16]

Unless you are already the perfect weight for your height I would say lose some.

thats the intention........from tomoz

 

[black'n'yellow]

thats the intention........from tomoz

good idea - coz nobody who is overweight has ever made it to the top...

 

[bainy16]

good idea - coz nobody who is overweight has ever made it to the top...

well now theres the motivation i need...... i know its going to be no easy task but that is 1 of my aims for next year,look a fool if i dont make it. plus the 3 riders who will be with me wont be impressed if i dont make it....so onwards and upwards i say.........let the training comence thanks for all the advice

 

[ayceejay]

Funny you should say that, the guy having a wiz was dressed in the finest Lycra making his figure resemble an Easter egg, in fact when I think about it none of the guys we passed going up on bikes were "the perfect weight" but I never saw any wasted skeletons lying about so they all must have made it.

 

[screenman]

That as you know was not my point, just that carrying extra lard means extra work. Trust me I have experience on that matter.

 

[bainy16]

That as you know was not my point, just that carrying extra lard means extra work. Trust me I have experience on that matter.

2 stone to lose for me

 

[screenman]

Good luck, I lost 4 stone in 2011 not easy but well worth the effort.

 

[oldfatfool]

that was your assertion - not mine. Are you now saying that serious training is 'not' required in order to post a quick time?



Appropriate to his level of fitness. What else did you think I meant?



It probably was, tbh. Presumably they are pushing because they lack the fitness to continue riding at the level they were riding at. Ergo, riding at a lower level of effort or in an easier gear may mean that they stay on the bike for longer.

Congratulations on trying to turn the Alpe into some kind of mythical, elitist climb which must only be tackled by the super-fit. In my opinion, if you can walk up it, there is nothing to stop you riding up it. The only variables will be the gear chosen, the effort required and the time taken.

I won't bother insulting you, but if you read your post it is you assertion that training MIGHT be reqd, mine is it will be. As for turning the Alpe into a mythical elitist climb, I have been up the Alpe, and many other climbs rated much harder than the Alpe riding a bike (something I would hazard to guess you probably haven't) so not mythical just realistic.

To the OP, sod it and just turn up on the day, sure you will be ok. Walking, riding, you have all day rite?

 

[bainy16]

Good luck, I lost 4 stone in 2011 not easy but well worth the effort.

well done .....secret to your success please

 

[Pedrosanchezo]

Bainy 16,
Sometimes, on here, you get good answers and not so good ones. I am almost sure though, in this instance, you are going to get the best answer from your father in law as to what is required of you. He may have ridden it before or he may not have but, as a keen cyclist, i am sure he has a good idea of the pace he is going to attempt.

He will keep you right. End of the day you wouldn't think he will fly away up it and leave you on your own?
He might even have some good training tips and, if you live close together, take you out on a ride or 10 to help.

Good luck though. Not many get to do Alpe D'Huez as a beginner. Lucky bugger.

 

[bainy16]

i'm sure he wont leave me just keeps telling ride more more and then somemore with a little rest inbetween lol he as cycled in the alpes many times goes over several times a year(now that is lucky) we live about 80 miles apart so tends to cycle up to see us aleast once a month now plans on coming up more as i'm now getting into cycling hes already planning a few rides which we can do together hes not one for all the technical stuff just get out and cycle is his advice got my first 100k with him next week.found this forum is great place to search for advice but like you say everybody as different views but so far found the feed back to be really good

 

[addictfreak]

I did some climbing in Italy about 18 months ago. I was a little apprehensive to say the least. I was over there for a week, I hadn't really done any serious climbing before the trip. A few days out in the north Pennine, but in comparison with Italy the hills were no where near as challenging. We tend to have short steep climbs over here.
Anyway I need not have been worried I actually found the climbing much more enjoyable in Italy, even when it's a 28 km climb at an average of 6%.
The key is enjoyment, don't start off like a whippet or you will pay the price. Take it easy find your pace and stick at it. Getting to the summit is the ultimate goal, but there is so much to see and enjoy on the climb and if you are head down and arse up you will miss some great views.