Croix De Fer

[huw williams]

Which as you know is an Iron cross at the top of a famous hill in France - and there it is behind me, yesterday. (The Galibier was shut thank God).

A) Easily the worst conditions I have ever ridden in

B) They don't pay me enough to do this job sometimes

C) I'm never going back up there

[img]http://i5.tinypic.com/63tkujb.jpg[/img]

[img]http://i2.tinypic.com/67y8tox.jpg[/img]

[-Adam-]

You were telling me the whole idea was for it too look like winter Huw, so whats the problem!?

I hope its a tad warmer than that come the end of june!

[Phil S]

Can't believe you're wearing tights and long sleeves. Puff.

[Marek]

You look far too fresh and cheery to have actually have ridden up that, I am guessing that the camera man actually drove you up the mountain and back down again and you just posed for a couple of pictures. How did you find riding in the slush, it is a bit dodgy hey, I have that every Xmas in Poland.

Cheers

Marek...

[Grahame]

[quote="huw williams"]
I'm never going back up there

[huw williams]

"You look far too fresh and cheery to have actually have ridden up that, I am guessing that the camera man actually drove you up the mountain and back down again"

Damn rumbled!!!

[img]http://i1.tinypic.com/54ehy83.jpg[/img]

Actually you'r only partly right - you could ride up (in fact it was the best way to keep warm) but not down - not because of the slush which was only at the top section, but because of the cold. It was -2 on the car thermometer and that's without wind chill. Meant you couldn't breath on the descents. Despite having 5 long-sleeve Assos layers on (the top one was a full-weight winter jacket) and two pairs of full weight Assos tights.

Then my heart started hyper-fibriliating irregularly above the range of the HRM - 230+bpm! which means oxygen in the blood going round your body is sporadic at best so I thought it was safer to go back down in the car cos I was starting to feel feint. Also I didn't have any brakes because lower down the col it was p***ing with rain and there were fallen rocks all over the place - a right horror show.

Galibier was closed, Alpe d'huez was too misty to get any pics. Did some pics on other cols too, these are me and Hannah on the Col d'Ornon - you should have been able to see the majestic Alpe d'huez over my right shoulder but it was shrouded in rainclouds.

[img]http://i2.tinypic.com/4ytbom9.jpg[/img]

Amazing really - The guy in red runs a small cycling hotel just outside bourg d'osian and he said he'd been up the Galibier in shorts and short sleeve shirt three weeks ago! TAKE NOTE ADAM!!!

But we were shooting for a winter training-guide so I guess you could also say that conditions were perfect.

[Phil S]

The guy in red looks a bit like Guy from King of the Mountains - am I right?
As for not riding down you were quite wise, I did an Alpine training trip in March a couple of years ago and did the descents and it was the coldest I've ever been, and none of us could speak at the bottom of the descents as our lips were totally frozen.

[-Adam-]

Hmmm... think ill be taking my whole cycling wardrobe with me then!

Might borrow some salopettes actually!

[mrP(Boonen)VT]

Only ever been up there in July/August in glorious wall to wall sunshine - was the cafe at the top open?

They do the most amazing oeufs savoyarde (or omelette, with a beer of course (then roll back down).

Would have been an interesting descent.........

[huw williams]

Phil - Yes that's Guy Little, erstwhile Surrey league racer who now runs the KOM hotel. Anyone wanting to visit the area I'd highly reccomend staying there - its right at the foot of all the big climbs and only an hour drive from Grenoble airport - I'm planning on going back later this year when the snow's all gone and I might see if I can get enough ACCers to fill the place cos Guy will give us a good rate (7 others needed)

So if anyone fancies doing Alpe D'huez, Croix de fer, Glandon, Deux Alpes, Galbier, Ornon and Lautaret in one long weekend towards the end of summer - post a reply here.

Adam - like I say, three weeks ago you could have been up there in shorts - its down to luck and carrying enough kit for all eventualities

Paul - I too have only ever been to the area in wall to wall sunshine - so it was a bit of an eye opener seeing it like this. Unfortunatley none of the cafes on the climbs were open

[Ian A4size]

Huw, can you get me any info etc as i am out to that area for about 10 days in sept.

[huw williams]

Here's their website - http://www.kingofthemountains.co.uk

Prices may look steep initially but they ain't, once you set foot inside the apartments everything is done for you. Helyn's food is sumptuous and includes wines and beer (not with breakfast though). And if we can find enough ACC riders to book the place, they'll do us a special rate for a long weekend.

All you need to do is ride your bike, and your 20 minutes ride away from the bottom of Alp d'huez with Croix de Fer even closer - awesome

[mrP(Boonen)VT]

That sounds great to me, but depends on dates as quite a lot going on.

[nigel w]

Huw

have you got any dates in mind. I may be very interested as long as we dont do them all on one day!!

Nigel

[huw williams]

probably september time - when most domestic stuff is out of the way and its cheaper - I'll keep you posted

H