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The Idea
 2013 Tourmalet
Inspired by climbing the Col du Tourmalet in 2013 and mindful of her "do it now, before it is too late" philosophy of life, Sheila proposed that we take the Greenspeed trike to the mountains again, while we still had enough energy to wind our way, albeit very slowly, to some summits and cols.
So, she spent the winter planning a trip to the Vercors and French Alps that would provide scenery on a grand scale and a selection of legendary Tour de France Cols, together, of course, with a summit finish at Alp d'Huez. The Plan
 2014 ?
1 Two days leisurely drive down through France to the Vercors
Aperitif, dinner and drinks already booked with our hosts. 2 Three days cycling in the Vercors. Sheila calls this “training”. If it were not for the Alps to come, I would call a few of her included items, such as the Col de la Bataille and the Col de la Machine, seriously mountainous. 3 Drive to Alps and rendezvous with an organised group. No doubt none of them within a decade or four of retirement age and all sporting light-weight bicycles designed to float up mountains like a feather wafting on the breeze. Seven days cycle touring over the cols, but with our luggage carried (not including waterproofs, woolly jumpers, gloves and snow shovel – these are mountains). 4 Assuming we are still going, start our solo (well duo) and even higher Alpine forays. The three epic (and no hyperbole here) French Cyclosportives are Paris-Roubaix, the Marmotte and the Mercantour. Paris-Roubaix is at the other end of the country so that leaves just two to do in the Alps. Marmotte: 174km long, with more than 5,000m climbing The cols including Glandon, Télégraph, Galibier and Lautaret ought to be enough but after finally descending from Lautaret it is then on to the finish at 1,888m at the top of Alp d’Huez. Mercantour: 190km long with 4,750m climbing Includes the highest paved road in Europe and among other cols takes in the Col de la Bonette. which is really into thin air at 2,715m We are not so foolish even to think about cycling these circuits as a day out on a recumbent tandem trike, but have a cunning plan to chop them up with some hotel beds on the way. We will start backwards and attempt to climb and come back down again from Alp d’Huez, before taking on other cols. Our Final Alpine Col Collecting Tour Itinerary
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The Result
Holiday verdict: EPIC
Total number of named Cols climbed: 16 Total number of summit finishes: 2 Total number of highest roads in Europe: 1 Total number of marmots spotted: 35 Total number of p***tures: 0 Total metres climbed and litres of water drunk on the way No idea, we lost count many days before the end. (PS. We have heard that there are pensioner holiday coach tours available?) Click on the link below to read the whole story |
