Day 7 Les Dix Alpes Stage 4 Etroubles - Bourg-St. Maurice (Pt St Bernard)

tiny chapel aloft in mountains

village en route to col

hungry!!! lunch - with bonus coffee and croissant!

pretty outlook from lunch stop

old chateau on mountain side

old church built into mountain

huge overpass into a tunnel on road to Petit St Bernard

Col du Petit St Bernard

deep snowdrifts on Col du Petit St Bernard

time for a quick coffee break and kit up for the cold ride down

YouTube link

After overnight rain and gloomy outlook this morning, the day didnt start well, and most of us would have been happy to stay warm in our sleeping bags, and take a well-earned rest. However our tour director Wilbert assured us that the weather "was lifting" later in the day. So we reluctantly layered ourselves with thermals and waterproof jackets and set out for the climb up Col du Petit St Bernard (2150m). After 50km on the flats we reached the lunch stop at the foot of the Col. This was Pre St Didier, and the Bike Dreams folk had arranged a sheltered stop at a hotel, which was much appreciated given the rain and cold conditions. The climb to the Petit St Bernard (and the border from Italy into France) was a steady gradient at 5-6% and conditions improved throughout the afternoon. Deep snowdrifts were evident at the summit as the road had only been opened a week before. The descent to Bourg-St. Maurice proved a treat as the road was free of traffic and the surface smooth. Quite a few hairpins. Most of the 40+ riders were back at the capsite at 3pm, giving a chance to dry clothes and enjoy a walk into town and a refreshing beer or coffee. Tomorrow is Col de l'Iseran and a relatively short stage at 70+km with a very solid main climb of 1200m. Garmin Connect link http://connect.garmin.com/activity/186873782

Day 6 Les Dix Alpes Stage 3 Visp - Etroubles (Gd. St.Bernard)

lunch at the base of climb to Col du Gd. St. Bernard -  near Orsieres

leaving Visp

Bourg-St-Pierre

where I have come from

hydro scheme - below Lac de Toules

roads that go up... and up...

Lac de Toules

"when does this thing stop going up???"

Damian, Eduardo and Mark

Gd St Bernard profile

Michael, Stuart and Harry

bike parking facility outside coffee shop

sign at the souvenir shop at top of col

large snowdrifts on Gd. St. Bernard

This is the "moment of truth" stage for this tour. With 145 km of distance to ride and the massive Col du Grande - St Bernard at 2473m altitude to finish. This was a truly testing climb with 7-8% gradient most of the way and a gruelling 11% kick at the last 6kms. The weather closed in at the col with cloud limiting vision to 200-300m and wind chill below zero. Glad I took waterproof jacket and arm warmers! Fingers froze and legs turned blue on the 20km descent to Etroubles (Italy). Very fast as the table below indicates. Most of the riders on this route today said it was the most difficult biking challenge they have faced - all of them are experienced riders. The warm hotel/coffee shop at the top was a relief. I look forward to an easier stage tomorrow to Bourg St Maurice in France across the Petit St-Bernard. I havent included the rest day at Visp (Day 5) in this blog as it was a train trip to Zermatt and Matterhorn. I have put pics and details on my travel blog. Garmin connect link http://connect.garmin.com/activity/186615348

YouTube link here

Day 4 Les Dix Alpes Stage 2 Locarno - Visp (Simplon)

some very pretty scenery along the first valley section to Sempione

 This was the first of the big climbing stages including the Simplon Pass at 2000m in elevation. A truely breathtaking route and one I will remember for both the pleasure of the scenery and the pain of the 20km climb to Simplon. The descent to Brig and Visp was a cracker! Punctured twice on this stage - one on the climb to Simplon Pass and the other just 3km from camp. Garmin connect link http://connect.garmin.com/activity/186105179

lunch stop at the bottom of Simplon Pass

chugging up Simplon (photo by Stuart)

some of the views back along the valley at Simplon Pass

the pain of the climb!! (photo by Stuart)

Richard from Bike-Dreams and Dave Jobey helping me to get going again after puncturing on Simplon climb

coffee at the Simplon Pass summit

John Aitken checks directions on the way to Simplon Pass

Simplon Pass 2005m

Simplon Pass profile

view down the western side towards Brig

YouTube links for Day 4 and Rest Day (Matterhorn/Zermatt)

Visp

Day 3 Les Dix Alpes Stage 1 Como - Locarno

Bike Dreams converted firetruck which transports all camping furniture (tables chairs etc), cooking equipment, food, supplies - amazing!

 This first stage of the ride is along the scenic shores of Lake Como and through the pretty lakes district of northern Italy. A total of 145kms with mostly flat sections. The ride into Locarno for me was very scary as I got lost and ended up in a 7km motorway tunnel with trucks wizzing past!! Made it in safely and enjoyed a walk along the river bank at the campsite. Garmin connect link http://connect.garmin.com/activity/185668852

Harry and I at the start in Como

Les Dix Alpes full group and Bike Dreams crew at the start in Como

Big John helps with some map reading on the Como-Locarno route

Lunch stop near Luini

coffee stop on Lake Maggiore

Lake Maggiore - very picturesque

campsite just outside Locarno

well earned bowl of soup after 145 kms

a lovely alpine stream that runs alongside the campsite

the mess tent set up alongside the Bike Dreams truck

YouTube link for LDA Stage 1

Day 2 Como (ride to Madonna del Ghisallo)

the restaurant square in old section of Como

a church perched up high on the hillside between Asso and Nesso on todays ride to Madonna

Madonna del Ghisallo

cycling monument

on the road to Bellagio

outside the cycling museum at Madonna del Ghisallo

Phil myself Ken and Peter at Bellagio for coffee

fruiterer on the way across to Nesso from Madonna (lunchtime)

The Madonna del Ghisallo celebrates the patron saint of cycling. There is a museum of cycling located near the church. Great views down the valley and along the lake. A spectacular route with plenty of tough climbing (and cracking descents). Overcast and some rain which left the roads a bit slippery, and therefore difficult to descend quickly. I was joined by my mate Phil Kalafatis, one of our Victorian riders, on this ride which took us up over the Plano de Tivano to Nesso on Lago di Como and back into Como. Stopped briefly at Asso to purchase some much needed fruit for lunch at a roadside produce stall. Garmin connect link http://connect.garmin.com/activity/185668907


Harry and Charmaine tuck in

YouTube link



Day 1 Les Dix Alpes Como

my patented bike box wheels worked well

Como

Today was our introduction to Lake Como after travelling a squillion km's across the globe for a gazillion hours trussed up in an oversized airtight metal cabanossi... the best therapy was agreed to be the consumption of multiple machiattos at dawn and a cycle along the shores of Lake Como to the lakeside touriste destinazione Bellagio. This proved an excellent combination of exercise, and sightseeing, as the route took us along a rather narrow, windy, but spectacularly picturesque road. The added bonus of icy gelatissimo washed down with chilled l'aqua minerale was also appreciated. Garmin Connect link; http://connect.garmin.com/dashboard?cid=291255 

Convict 100 Sat May 5 2012 St Albans NSW

Once again the Old Great North Road plays with mind and muscle with murderous mayhem and many "moments of truth"! This course is just pure punishment for those of us who may prefer the rush of wind against the body and the pleasant hum of smooth rubber on bitumen! Nevertheless, on we plunge.. over rocks, gravel, sand, mud puddles, kayak bridges and mongrel climbs that cruelly squeeze the last painful push out of already spent muscles! I will be back next year to go under 6 hours! Garmin connect link : http://connect.garmin.com/activity/174819492