Training Log Archive: kido

Bikes were stolen. Have hired a car, plan is to cut down the list of climbs we want to do and hire bikes for those (it's about €40 for each hire so it would add up if we did all the climbs we originally planned). Tent was also stolen, bought the exact same tent from Decathlon, got to campsite at 9pm, found they had forgotten to include pegs, which it needs to stand. Luckily old campsite man found us some pegs in his basement. We were ready to crack it completely, worst day. At least we're both safe and healthy.

C • That sucks! 2

Very slow and pained shuffle around Turin - the River Po and Valentino Park. Legs like lead.

Today started off beautifully, with a stunning 21km descent over the border into Italy. Sadly the rest of the ride was shit and got progressively shitter. It was flat, but the whole valley seemed to be very industrial, all factories, petrol stations and car dealerships, the roads were busy, and the ride into Turin was positively frightening. Few days off the bike now.

This was a bit of an epic! We found out a few days ago that the SNCF train from Modane to Oulx doesn't allow bikes, and the Trenitalia trains only run every 5 days or so. So there was nothing for it but to haul over the alps by bike. We started off in St Michel de Maurienne and finished the day in the Mont Cenis pass. This included a 10km climb (Col du Mont Cenis) at 6.9%, which with 10kg+ of panniers and at times a fierce headwind was a serious challenge. We made it though, and were treated to perhaps the best views of the trip, the sparkling blue Lac du Mont Cenis surrounded by mountains.

The Galibier!!! (and also Col du Télegraphe). Accessed from the North, starting in St Michel de Maurienne (which means no warm up!), which means first climbing the Télegraphe (11.8km, 7.3%), followed by a 5km downhill section into Valloire. The Galibier itself is then 18.1km at 6.9%.

Felt pretty good until about 7km to go. I think the altitude was definitely a factor, and for once my lungs were burning as well as my legs! The last 2km were super hard, averaging 9%. The views were off the chain though, so imposing!

Loved it. Particularly liked the Télegraphe as a climb, very steady and nice and shady, but the Galibier was special just for the scenery and the prestige! Garmin went flat at the top of the Télegraphe for the second time, so stole the stats from Kyhil. Ave HR is very likely lower because I've missed the last descent.

A couple of days ago we had a change of plan and decided the road to Briançon was too shit and also we wanted to do the Galibier from the correct side (the North). So today we bombed downhill back to Grenoble and caught a train around to St Michel de Maurienne, the foot of the Galibier. The ride would have been nice but would have added 121km, and we're both very aware of time and fatigue.

The Col d'Ornon, from both sides. Following the guidebook, the original plan was to climb the Ornon, descend the other side, climb the Col de Parquetout, then turn around and go back. But when we got to the foot of the Parquetout we decided we couldn't face it. It's short, only 7km, but averages 10% with sections at 16%, and we're both feeling tired and very aware of the Galibier coming up shortly.