Grande Alpe

[MatG]

Day 4

The day started with a gentle descent on wide roads & no hair pins – so I could ride with the group which was good. I was even working at the front keeping the pace up.

Rode to base of Col d’Izoard – which has nickname Col is hard. To be honest it was the normal 20km up no harder than others.

Next came 20km descent – the panic & screaming in my head seemed louder than usual – and mate said “What is that horrible noise” – I realised it was my brakes over heating & the rims screaming “let go of me” this made me even more of a chicken.

Another valley floor hack to the base of the last climb of the day. This climb was fine, in the groupetto. The descent was slow, for me anyway. Luckily one guy waited for me & then we time trialled to the day’s end point (averaging 40kph).

Arriving in the town we asked if anyone knew where the hotel was & was told “I think it is still open after the fire”. We got to the hotel which was open a few windows black outside. The owner insisted we take off our cycling shoes so it didn’t ruin his carpet. The carpet looked like it flood damaged stock in 1950! They then insisted we pay for room before the reception closed at night – I expect they usually charge for the rooms by the hour!

Stats

Day 127km

Ascent 2351m

Cols 3 –

Col de Lauterat 2058m

Col d’Izoard 2360m

Col de Vars 2019m

Basil Fawlty like hotel owners 1

Screaming Wheel Rims 1

Screaming bike riders 1 (me)

Total

distance 551km

ascent 11560m

[MatG]

Day 5

Got up early & gave my rims & brake blocks a good clean. Then found a group of riders who had a support vehicle & asked to use their track pump – they took control – probably looking at me & thinking I would break it. Then pumped my tyres up to the highest pressure they had ever been.

We then set up with some fast riding to the base of Cime de la Bonnette. The highest pass in Europe (2860m about 9000ft). A 30km of climbing! Good news – When we started the road was closed due to resurfacing. Bad news – we managed to get past the workers & ride it anyway. We rode up & up & up – I rode with one other stopping a fair few times. The pass itself is strange that the original col was high but cime is a man made addition to the col to make it the highest pass. When the two of us reached the pass we thought we would wait for third amigo who was 500m behind so we waited. Only for him to reach us & go speeding passed. Suddenly he saw how steep the last bit was & noted there was a short cut to miss out the man made part – he returned passed us the other way & went down the shortcut. I continued up the one I was riding with pushed up. When we arrived it had a good view but not much to it. So we descended to the short cut to meet the other guy – who had met a bunch of Germans doing the same trip with a support vehicle – who gave us drinks. I did then think of asking them if I could have a lift down – but thought I better ride it all. The two people I helped up soon disappeared into the distance leaving me to descend on my own. I stopped a few times to relax my hands & let my rims cool down. We regrouped & rode to the next climb where the whole process started again. I rode up staying under 135bpm. At one water fountain we stopped to top up our water & talked to a guy – who was 74 doing the same trip as us – don’t I will do this at that age. Reached the top took a few photos & descended (slowly). Then near the bottom I punctured & any urgency I had disappeared while I repaired the puncture & set off to our lunch stop. I realised how slow I was riding then – when a ten year old boy on a mountain bike overtook me & started doing bunny hops. I thought this was funny & thought of ruffling his hair & saying “You Rascal” – unfortunately I couldn’t catch him! – no I did pass him & cycled with more purpose to my lunch date. When I arrived everyone had more or less finished there food. My two companions said we waited for ages for you – but you didn’t turn up so we decided to go on. Probably deciding there was something seriously wrong so no point in missing their lunch 

After lunch we sped along the valley to the start of last climb. Although this was short(ish) the temperature was 38c & no shade the 3 of us quickly ran out of water. When we saw a stream grabbed the water tipping over our heads & drinking – risking that clean & no dead animal lying in it upstream!

6 of us regrouped at top – the other two had to go on – because one of them was getting hotel at end – then getting a taxi to Nice airport. Flying to Stansted, hiring a car driving to travel lodge, having some sleep, driving to Luton, flying to Belfast, hiring a car, picking up his girlfriend, driving to a wedding. I am exhausted just writing it down!

Stats of day

Distance 114km

Ascent 2700m

Punctures 1

Spare inner tubes left 0

Mates waiting for me to check I am OK 0

Minutes to eat lunch 3

Cols 3

Cime de la Bonnette 2860m

Col de Raspaillon 2513m

Col St Martin 1500m

Total

Distance 665km

Ascent 14260m

Punctures me 3

Punctures others 1

[MatG]

Day 6 last day

Easy day today (well comparatively still got 2 cols). I decided to change my tactic today as having inner tubes I couldn’t afford to be at back stranded. So on first climb I rode up with one of the better riders (who was taking it easy) but reached the top twenty mins before the back marker & I had a quick drink then headed down – this time arriving at the lunch stop twenty minutes before everyone else! I should have ordered food for everyone & then insisted on going soon as they arrived. But I am not like that! Well I knew everyone would ignore my decision.

Then followed a leisurely ride to the coast with one climb.

We arrived at the coast (Menton) early afternoon – we had finished it! We stripped down to our bib shorts & went in the sea. One of the bunch stood in water holding his bike aloft expecting us to take a picture of the victorious stance. Strangely none of us paid any attention. After a few minutes some American girls who were on the beach felt sorry for him & came & took a photo. After ten minutes of swimming around we went to the hotel that two of the team were staying at.

We sat & discussed the highs & lows of the trip – one the guys said to me “I wasn’t sure about you to start but then I decided you were OK – because you like the Wurzels!”

Oh joy I mentioned their best album “Never mind the bullocks”

It was a great trip!

Four of us were continuing to Nice. This was the same who had made the initial journey from Geneva airport. The two who had made the disastrous journey decided to catch the train!! Who knows where they will end up. Me & one other rode (same two who rode from Geneva). We rode through Monaco & Monte Carlo – squeezing between the Ferraris & Porches (which were probably the driver’s cheap cars). After a couple of hours we arrived at the hotel where the other two said they were staying. Shortly after we arrived they arrived. Well their journey wasn’t a disaster this time – or so we thought. Next morning we found out this was the wrong hotel & they arrived at the correct one an hour later 

Stats

Distance 112km

Ascent 1500m

Cols 2

Col de Turini 1604m

Col de Castillon 800m

Total

Distance 777km (ride from airport next day takes this above 800km)

Ascent 15760m

Cols 17

Punctures me 3

Punctures others 1 (although late dash on this – one guy punctured on plane)

Wurzels fans 2

Idiot Drivers 2 (both in Bristol 1 at start & 1 in Bristol after airport)

[Sweaty Eds]

I knew there was something deeper with you, Mat. The Wurzels! Bloody fantastic. My favourite album is Top of the Crops, it’s got all the classics on, The Blackbird (with a gurt big stick I’ll knock him down, Blackbird I’ll ave ee), I am a Cider Drinker and that little known collaboration with the Gallagher boys, Don’t Look Back In Anger.

Well done on the trip Mat, 10 vertical miles of climbing! Great blog too and you finished writing it, Valleyman take note!

[ValleyMan]

I can only echo Sweaty’s sentiments (apart from the Wurzels for God’s sake).

I may well be shamed into finishing what I started (which would be a first…)

[Author]

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