Tour de France - what roads!

[Sydneywizard]

If you're watching the Tour de France, can you believe the incredible roads on the Pyrenees and the Alps?

Those roads were made for riding a Sprint if ever I saw one. Granted, some of them are a bit narrow and a h*ll of a long way down if you get it wrong but sheer magic.

Anyone here ever ride any of the Alpine roads? Love to hear about t.

[Roden]

Did you see the guy that went off the road and slid down the mountain?

Scary s***!

Cheers,

Roden

[Sydneywizard]

You're not wrong Roden. It was a long, long way down from the edge. It was so steep that he couldn't even climb back up to the road!

I can't believe that these bicycles go down those alpine roads in excess of 90+ kph. I'm not sure I would be doing that speed in my Silver Bullet. Not good enough, nor brave enough.

[tellis247]

I did the Alps 2005 from Monaco up to Lyon the roads are great. I was following a mate on his Blackbird on my Trophy 900.The following year 4 of us went down to the Pyrennes and stopped with a couple that cater for bikers on tour. The roads are as good plus you get the benifit of local knowledge from an English couple living in France.

http://www.bike-stay.net/france/accom/puilaurens.html

[ridgerunner]

I'd love to go follow the tour someday.
Mike

[harrya13]

G'day folks..

I'm over there in November this year, looking forward to renting a bike for a few days and trying those bends - on the wrong side of the road !! Still looking for tips and advice from some locals ??

Adam - check your pm, I sent you a note about a BA ride this Sunday thru Nasho, south coast hills to Jamberoo pub for lunch - lazy return, will be about 20 bikes I expect, if your up for it.. Any other takers ??

[Dusty]

I had a great trip 2 up on my BMWR100S in 1982, and have fond memories of those roads.There's often a high kerb, or small wall, about 300mm, presumanly designed to prevent you going over the edge. I always felt that it would trip you up nicely. The road surfaces wre often covered with gravel so it woukld be easy to get it wrong. Regrettably, I've only driven them in a car since then on family holidays. As I type this, I'm on holiday in the Dordogne and the only riding I'm doing is on my mountain bike as I couldn't persuade my better half that towing the bike trailer was a good idea! Off to Brittany tomorrow to play in the surf with the kayaks. Will definitely get back to those Alpine roads on two wheels one day!

[Pilsbury]

Originally Posted by Sydneywizard

If you're watching the Tour de France, can you believe the incredible roads on the Pyrenees and the Alps?

Those roads were made for riding a Sprint if ever I saw one. Granted, some of them are a bit narrow and a h*ll of a long way down if you get it wrong but sheer magic.

Anyone here ever ride any of the Alpine roads? Love to hear about t.

My ST was 1 month old when I did a 3500 mile trip across the Pyrenees and France 3 years ago and some of the roads are amazing.

Even more so is the coach loads of cyclists who look in their 60's and 70's who get taken to the top of a col by coach with their bikes in a trailer then free wheel down the hill turn round a cycle back up it. Cant work it out

[Smoothlennie]

Originally Posted by Sydneywizard

If you're watching the Tour de France, can you believe the incredible roads on the Pyrenees and the Alps?
Anyone here ever ride any of the Alpine roads? Love to hear about t.

Adam,

An eternity ago, I was a student in the Toulouse area for the N summer of 1978. I rode all over Southern France, including the Pyrenees, Andorra and a memorbly bumpy loop through Spain one day. I later had an almost head-on on my Honda 400/4 with an elderly crazy French cager, resulting in the bike being returned to me five months later, minus the Cibié headlight and fairing, but with replacement forks and standard light and bars.

More recently in 2005, I drove across Alpine passes from Austria through Switzerland to to the Savoy region of France (Chamonix, Chambéry), not far from some of those epic Tour de France climbs. The Alps are a magic region, IMHO. Some day I'll get over there and hire a bike to do them.

cheers,

Dave

[redonblack]

Originally Posted by Roden

Did you see the guy that went off the road and slid down the mountain?

Scary s***!

Cheers,

Roden

Yeah it looked pretty painful, but then don't forget they wear all that protective lycra, so I'm sure it looked worse than it was.