Possible for newbie to train for and ride Alpe d'Huez

[marinmomma]

Thanks heaps - more determined than ever to put the MTB on -

have put my stuff on strava - OMGosh - so embarrassing - with my power I think I will need a motor

If its on strava its not automatically public is it???? - oh the shame....... so much for motivation.... oh well the only way is up I suppose!!!

fiona

Gotta start somewhere, I find Strava is very good for motivation!

[fionahills]

thanks guys - your encouragement is great - not going to give up now.....

amazing the things I am willing to try now that I am getting old and starting to feel time run down...... I am becoming an proponent of USE IT OR LOSE IT -
my girls and I are aiming to do a pink triatholon in a couple of weeks - 200mtr swim, a 1km run and a 3km ride- did a bit of practice today - shuffle, shuffle round the block - not elegant but did ''run" most of the way -

poor kids their mother has turned into an exercise nazi - they are very good girls though - I just book us all in and they groan a bit but still do it...

will let you know how the McEwan ride goes ........hope i shake this bug - what if I have to take sudafed for my headache and sinus - will it count as a PED???

[winstonw]

Flick through this for motivation Fiona.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/willj/7711 ... /lightbox/

[fionahills]

awesome photos - have walked up some of them - hopefully will be able to ride some too - Tony will be so far in front of me he can capture the images for my brag book.

[roller]

Flick through this for motivation Fiona.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/willj/7711 ... /lightbox/

love the glandon photo!

[ldrcycles]

Luz Ardiden is my pick, beautiful.

[marshmallow]

As you know, a few cycle hire shops in Bourg and a really good one on top of Alpe which I rented from in June. A reasonable level of fitness will see you get to the top - I'm not sure speed and time matter so much. It's more about the experience and the fantastic views. I'd suggest Col de la Croix de Fer and Col du Galibier as extra rides for your husband. Croix de Fer can be ridden from Bourg.
I did all in June and I'm a 54 yr old man of average fitness, but I do ride a lot.
I wrote an eBook about my cycle across France and quite a few Tour de France climbs
http://www.amazon.com/baguettes-and-bic ... B00ADTILCW" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

enjoy the ride - join your husband for Croix de Fer - it's beautiful.

[fionahills]

Thanks Marshmallow

have been a bit slack with the riding due to a non riding back problem - on the mend but missing the bike like crazy....off to the US next week for 5 weeks so another big ga in the training schedule!!! but have entered a 100km in April so will get back home and get stuck in again.

thanks for your tips - we will take our bikes with us but nice to know that there are some other rides that I might be able to manage

thanks again Fiona

[Rxticle]

Fiona - did you end up riding it?

[Manu3172]

As you know, a few cycle hire shops in Bourg and a really good one on top of Alpe which I rented from in June. A reasonable level of fitness will see you get to the top - I'm not sure speed and time matter so much. It's more about the experience and the fantastic views. I'd suggest Col de la Croix de Fer and Col du Galibier as extra rides for your husband. Croix de Fer can be ridden from Bourg.
I did all in June and I'm a 54 yr old man of average fitness, but I do ride a lot.
I wrote an eBook about my cycle across France and quite a few Tour de France climbs
http://www.amazon.com/baguettes-and-bic ... B00ADTILCW" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

enjoy the ride - join your husband for Croix de Fer - it's beautiful.

Col du Galibier can be ridden from Bourg d'Oisan as well, but there is too much traffic. It's much better to start from St Jean de Maurienne (with Col du Telegraphe first ).