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From:
Linda and Matthew [mailto:ledbar@pobox.com] Your trip sounds great and reading about it has brought back many lovely memories for us. We spent three nights in Sault (staying at the Hotel d'Albion - http://www.provenceweb.fr/84/albion/ukindex.htm) and nine days in Bourg d'Oisans (staying in a cabin at the most central campground - http://www.camping-colporteur.com/index_gb.htm) The rest of this email contains some random observations on your page - we hope that they are helpful. We can only comment on your second and third base camps - we didn't get to the first one. We've noticed that your web page mentioned Singapore Airlines having a 30kg checked baggage allowance. Did you get special arrangements for this? Their web page says that they only have a 20kg checked baggage allowance to Europe. http://www.singaporeair.com/en_UK/travel-information/baggage-allowances/ Our favourite ride in the Bourg d'Oisans area was La Bérarde. Not a classic climb like the others, but it has a bit of everything: narrow valley cycling, some of the steepest cycling in the area, tight switchbacks and then a wild and rugged finish (where there happens to be a restaurant for lunch). http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/page/?o=1&page_id=80135&v=6b Col du Lautaret and Col du Galibier - shame you're not riding all the way from Bourg d'Oisans, as it is a lovely climb up the valley, especially the narrow gorge up to the lake. It is also a nice warmup for the higher climbs. Admittedly we only went to Col du Lautaret, but then Linda does get altitude sickness above 2500m. Some other cyclists have commented on this road being busy - we didn't find this, but then we set off at 6am on a Sunday morning. Two of your pages mention doing Alpe d'Huez via Col de Sarenne and Rochetaillée. However, both of the routes described don't actually go to Col de Sarenne, which is further up above Alpe d'Huez, to the east. However, Col de Sarenne is a very lovely side trip if you have the time. http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/page/?o=1&page_id=81337&v=5X We'd suggest changing the order of the Mt Ventoux climbs. It might be nice having the easiest climb first, after having driven to Sault the previous afternoon. So maybe do the climb from Sault on Sunday. This is the only climb of Mt Ventoux that we did, and it was lovely. While in Sault the nougat shop is a must see. Also the cafe that has the lovely views across the valley towards Mt Ventoux. Another great side trip from Sault is Gorges de la Nesque. We enjoyed it so much we did it twice! http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/page/?o=1&page_id=78663&v=9h In Bourg d'Oisans we picked up a very useful cycling guide from the tourist office. This guide is also available online at http://www.bikes-oisans.com/IMG/pdf_186-guide-cyclo-1112-web-2.pdf Regarding your schedule, is it possible to insert a rest day somewhere? Or at least a transfer day between Bourg d'Oisans and Sault? We find that rest days on a long tour are very beneficial, especially when there is lots of climbing. Maybe one of the days in Paris at the end could be moved to the middle. But then we have a preference for the countryside rather than big cities. We do hope that you have a great trip. Happy cycling, Matthew & Linda. |
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