Official Ride 8: Alp Duez TimeTrial I don't know what you're having, but this morning we're having Alp Duez for breakfast. As the saying goes.. 'You're only here once'. So we better climb it Twice. On what is actually our travel day to Avignon, what better way to kick it off than with a sunrise edition of the 12km, vertical lung buster. I sensed also that for some there was an element of unfinished 'Strava' business.That a second crack at The Big Daddy, fre...

Official Ride Seven: Twin Peaks, Du Glandon & Croix de Fer. OR.. Hotter, Longer and Steeper than Yesterday!! The two New South Welshman woke weary and battlesore, and perhaps a little perturbed at the Victorians reinvigoration. Over breakfast there was mature discussion over potential course alteration for the day, to accommodate yesterday's expenditure. Whilst a sensible compromise of driving to the days start point, thus avoiding summiting 'The Beast' a...

Official Ride 6: Alp Duez (the Big Daddy) Alp Duez is the most famous Tour de France climb. Generally the Penultimate stage before the Paris Procession. A mid distance, but steep unrelenting climb, it's first 3km is pretty much all above 10% gradient up to 13 &14's at times and often burns many before they've hardly began. The remaining 10kms is only marginally less steep averaging 10% through 22 hairpins to the summit. By the way if you don't quite get the...

Travel Day. We checked out of Chez Bear. A Big Thank You (Merci) to Michael for sharing his amazing property, and wealth of local knowledge during our five day adventure in Briancon. A precedent set that will be hard to rival. Van packed we drove the long/scenic way (due to an avalanche closing the 2hr shorter route) to and Up Alp Duez. Good news and Bad news.. The good news, despite being an almost three times longer drive, we once again were able to take...

Official Ride 5: Gravel Colle delle Finestre Gels check Helmet check Vest check Passport check Passport?!? That's different. Yep, today's ride crosses the border.. France / Italy. Hence the slightly different pronunciation of the mountain.. Oh and yes.. and did you notice that first word 'Gravel' that's not Italian for anything, that is indeed the English word for Gravel!! See also: Crazy/You're Kidding Me/No Way and Why. Today's climb up and over Finestre...