Blogs
Sun, 1 Aug 2010
Alps riding
By Penny Rowson - Horizon Fitness Racing Team
I set off from Leeds/Bradford airport, on a plane with the Yorkshire Roses on it, (guaranteed to be a good flight) with a group of cyclists also from Yorkshire. It was my boyfriend's crazy idea to go ride the Alps, so I thought 'why not?', let’s give it a go. The plan was... arrive in Geneva, Switzerland, meet Chris Young (who drove the van there with all our bikes and suitcases) ride place to place over the alps, and eventually end up in Nice, France. Sounds easy enough.
I’ve never been to France and honestly, it was the hardest yet most amazing experience of my life.
Day 1 – 120 k, Thonon les Bains to Notredame de Bellecombe
As we were at sea level, the only way was up! We rode up a Tour de France climb 2 days before they did, so it was amazing how many motorhomes and caravans were parked up. It was this climb where my real respect came from for the riders in the tour. I wasn’t used to the heat, which made the climb so much harder! Almost unbearable at times, but you have to keep pedalling a good rhythm. I also had to keep pouring water over myself, 'til up the last 15k climb I ran out of water, which almost cracked me. I ended up blowing with about 3k to go, but lucky for me, my boyfriend's a cyclist, so actually came back and pushed me home. Day 1 – absolutely nailed... it can only get better from here.
Day 2 – 106.5 k, Nortredame de Bellecombe to Val d’Isere – over (Col des Saises, Col du pre, and Col de Meraillet)
That night we stayed in a lovely traditional wooden hut, and set off uphill the next morning. Later on in the week I eventually found out that every day we started and finished going uphill! I enjoyed the start 'til we reached 2 massive climbs that made it a real tough day. I just kept on going at Penny pace, pushing myself hard at times to make it to the top, which is so worth it cause of the amazing scenery. I was so grateful for the Cafe stop and the rain going up Val d’Isere - a refreshing end to the day.
Day 3 – 84.5k, Val d’Isere to Susa
Next day we rode up Col de I’Iseran, which I enjoyed very much. It was great to see so many cyclists 'cause the road had been closed for a TT. I rode higher and higher 'til I was stood at the top in shorts and jersey next to a pile of snow as tall as me, it was crazy! From then on it was pretty much all downhill, down the best descent of the trip into... Italy! As I was with a group of competitive males there was this massive hype and build up about sprinting for this Italy sign. So I thought I’d leave 'em to it, no point in crashing. After letting them go, they got held up by a car, then a dog in the road. So I took full advantage and began to gain places on the sharp bends. Being light isn’t always a disadvantage downhill, it means you stop quicker, so can break later to get round the corners. I ended up 4th for the sign and 3rd to the very bottom, not taking it seriously of course, which surprised a lot of people... showing us girls can descend, no matter how tiny!
Day 4 – 120k Susa to St Marie-de-Vars
That night I realised why we were here, not to ride our bikes, but to drink! The lads had a crazy night out - with all of them smashed it looked like I wasn’t going to be last up the climbs anymore! It was hilarious how the bars in Susa opened for a group of English lads with Andy as their best customer. He made it back to the hotel at 6am. Determined as ever to make it to the next destination, Andy wasn’t going to get in the van... can’t fault his enthusiasm. Andy riding the Alps obviously wasn’t hard enough, but to do it on a hangover is just hardcore! He set off at 7am while we set off around 10, made it to the Frontier to France and only on the last climb we caught Andy. He actually made it to St Marie-de-Vars where we all clapped and cheered him in. He even earned himself the award for... ride of the week! Nice one lad.
Day 5 – 120k St Maire-de Vars to Roare
Today was another tough day with Col de la Bonette - it was probably the long climb of the trip. You just keep turning the pedals and hoping around this bend is going to be the top. When you're at the top, there's actually a blob of rock added on that you can ride a loop around if you fancy. Fair play to everyone in the group who completed it, whereas I was there to survive, so didn’t chicken out, just decided not to lose any more time, fair enough. I easily lost a good 1hr to Josh up this climb. Then we found the first bit of flat for the whole trip, so as you do, after going up the longest climb ever, through and off through lads! Lastly a small 9k climb up to a place in the middle of nowhere called Roare. It was such a strange road, with a narrow dangerous cliff edge and the odd snake or lizard popping out here and there. It felt like a jungle to nowhere... 'til we did find somewhere and it was perfect.
Day 6 – 150k Roare – Grasse
For the first time ever we set off downhill - yay! Though not for long of course; halfway down everyone turned right to start the Col de la Couillole. Well, all except my boyfriend Josh, who decided to go to the very bottom and add on an extra 18k. Once at the bottom he realised he’d gone wrong, but in his attempt to catch us all up he got a puncture, but had no phone or pump! Luckily, he came across some American MTBs (on this random road to nowhere) who helped him on his way. With just a little piece of paper, Josh managed to do an extra 30k and found me up the Col de St Raphael, as lucky for him I set off early ahead of the group. This day we went over lots of little cols. I stopped at every water fountain and even rode on the left-hand side of the road to keep in the shade because of the soaring heat. I didn’t enjoy this day to be honest. It was so hard and with no cafe’s anywhere, I really didn’t want to get the bonk! We all made it to the hotel after 8hrs of continuous riding, with just about enough energy to walk up the hotel stairs to then sleep.
Day 7 – 10k Grasse – Nice
Nice easy ride to Nice. So happy to have an easy day after such a hard week. It was so busy because of the traffic we ended up splitting up and arranged to meet along the seashore. After eyeing the beach up for about 30mins, I cracked and went for a swim in my horizon kit, unusual, but I needed the cool down. We checked into a very swish hotel, and air conditioning was a good idea. Put our feet up and packed the bikes away.
At the end of the week we all got little awards; such as Josh – for getting lost, Mark – for attacking loads, Andy – for ride of the week, Richard – for half wheeling and Ewen – for the classic... I regret last night award. The trip was amazing and I would recommend anyone to go… just not with a load of hard Yorkshire men 'cause the Alps ain’t easy. I rode at Penny pace enjoying the view as I went along. So glad I never got in the van - it was such a good feeling making it to the end.
Penny x
For more information about the Horizon Fitness Racing Team, visit www.onthedrops.com.