Retrobikers trip to Pyranees? Whose game...

[mj3200]

Re: Re:

Thanks for the link. My bike is 53/39 and 13-28T. Hmmmm,.....

I did a tour of the usual suspects in the Alps aged 47 on a 39x29. To be honest lower would have been better but I wasn't all that well prepared and by the end of the week the finale over the Galibier was not too bad, but if you want to hit more than 1 per day I wouldn't recommend it. But if a retrobike is the number 1 ingredient in the trip it is doable.

 

[Deleted member 24574]

Re:

Always get the smallest gear you can and don't get sucked in by any macho bullshit.

Lower gears on modern bikes are the main thing that has made cycling in the mountains considerably more enjoyable.

 

[pigman]

Re: Re:

Always get the smallest gear you can and don't get sucked in by any macho bullshit.

Lower gears on modern bikes are the main thing that has made cycling in the mountains considerably more enjoyable.

Yep, like he sez
Although the first time I went on a standard chainset, you don't half get some kudos from the Compact chainset boys. Second time I went I had a compact with a 30 cog - didn't climb any faster, just wasn't as knackered


On another note, MJ - re the Glandon picture. The Glandon from the Maurienne Valley is the hardest climb in the Alps (of the ones I have done)m esp the last bit where it steepens up before the summit. After that, the last bit of the Croix de Fer seems a breeze

 

[Deleted member 24574]

Re: Re:

On another note, MJ - re the Glandon picture. The Glandon from the Maurienne Valley is the hardest climb in the Alps (of the ones I have done)m esp the last bit where it steepens up before the summit. After that, the last bit of the Croix de Fer seems a breeze

I've done it from both sides and yes that final ramp is a killer; they come down that in the Marmotte and usually a few muppets over cook the first or second bends ...

My experience of various mountain tours is the hardest one is the one where you are most knackered ... or the wind/rain/sleet is giving it the beans.

Here are some videos of last years tour if anyone is interested. ************************/2015-tour-of-grand-cols.shtml

 

[stormed]

Looks like I'll need a compact 50/34t then.

 

[mj3200]

Looks like I'll need a compact 50/34t then.

Remember if you are going to buy new stuff for the trip lots and lots of people in the Alps and Pyrenees use triple chainsets with a 30 inner.

 

[mj3200]

Re: Re:

Always get the smallest gear you can and don't get sucked in by any macho bullshit.

Lower gears on modern bikes are the main thing that has made cycling in the mountains considerably more enjoyable.

Yep, like he sez
Although the first time I went on a standard chainset, you don't half get some kudos from the Compact chainset boys. Second time I went I had a compact with a 30 cog - didn't climb any faster, just wasn't as knackered


On another note, MJ - re the Glandon picture. The Glandon from the Maurienne Valley is the hardest climb in the Alps (of the ones I have done)m esp the last bit where it steepens up before the summit. After that, the last bit of the Croix de Fer seems a breeze

If I remember correctly the first part of the Telegraph was a ballbuster as were the first few pitches of Huez. We hit that as our first climb on the hottest day of the year. It was 38.5 and sunny when we got to Huez village. I also recall the pitches through the last ski villages on the Croix de Ferre being quite fierce. Definitely we had toughened up by the end of the week though. But like Montello says it depends on a variety of factors which seems the worst on the day.

 

[Velodiversity]

If you want a brilliant location and a cycling oriented host you can try http://gitebellevie.com/wp/. they're located in the village where the road splits to go up the col d'aspin or the tourmalet, so an absolutely perfect location. if you go a few km up the aspin, you can then turn off for the horquette which is a stunning ride.

 

[Pionir]

Re: Re:

Yep, like he sez
Although the first time I went on a standard chainset, you don't half get some kudos from the Compact chainset boys.

Funnily enough I went up Leith Hill yesterday with a 42x21 and the couple of chaps having a drink at the top looked at my gears and commented on how "they didn't do compact chainsets back then"

I think in proper mountains though you just want as low as possible. 39x28 I reckon should be ok as lower than that you're quicker walking!

I've wanted to do a tour in the pyrenees ever since Roger Miller took a wrong turn in 1988. I reckon driving down, staying in B&Bs and doing circular routes with minimal kit is the way to go, then drive to a new area in the morning is the way to go

 

[Velodiversity]

On the Tourmalet I was very glad to be running a compact and have a 28 as a bail out gear. Its not the slope, but the constant climbing that gets you. Especially as it gets steeper in the last few km.