France 2013

FranceWild Rock packs the bikes, loads the suitcases, and heads to the land to great food, wine and legendary cycling.

Kieran and Dee climb the Croix de Fer

his August a crew of 20 headed off to Lyon France to begin a bike trip organized by Wild Rock.  After collecting our entire group in 3 vans we headed to Lans en Vercors near Grenoble.  This underrated area is a fantastic place to ride a bike.  The roads are small and quiet and the riding is quite diverse.  The area has plenty of climbing in the 3-10km range but everyday need not be an epic.  Some of the most spectacular gorges like the Gorge de la Bourne near Pont en Royans are very moderate rides that can be enjoyed by a diverse group.  Like all Wild Rock trips we stayed on top of a pass, with each day finishing with a nice 3.5km climb back up the Col de Perrins where our Auberge was.  We enjoyed great attention as the Wild Rock crew took up the entire hotel.

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Dee on the lower slope of the Croix de Fer

After several days of riding gorges with spectacular descents, tunnels, twists, climbs, cliffs and waterfalls it was time to jump back in the vans.

Our transfer day brought us into the land of the giants.  Our hotel was located at the top of a spritely 7.7km climb at the ski station OZ-en-Station.  The views at the hotel were incredible.  A true bird’s or mountain goat’s eye view of the surrounding hills.  Again we had the run of the hotel so our chef pampered us with great food, Leffe beer and the odd bottle of French wine!

From this vantage point there was no question what the next few days entailed.  CLIMBING!!!!

First up was a small recon day of sneaking up to Huez on a lovely 10km climb via a tiny road to Reculas.  After warming up on this climb we descended Alpe D’Huez where some continued on to the Col de  Arnon.  This day was also a bit of a groundbreaker as Scott and Ron tackled the route on a tandem after almost 400m of practice.  Both lived to tell wild tales of daring teamwork and heartfelt laughs on board the hot pink tandem.

The Stats650kilometers ridden

12,000meters climbed

121.8longest ride

29km climbing on Croix de Fer

70age Paul B turned

After this warm up day it was time for some alpine legends.  The next morning a nervous crew hit the road to tackle the Croix de Fer where ½ the group would descend and the other half would continue up and over the Col de Glandon around the back and for good measure up the other side of the Croix de fer to tally up over 11,000ft of climbing.  This does not take away from the first group as the Croix de Fer on its own is a 25km HC Climb.  No small feat for anyone.

Most of us took a well-deserved rest day following this in Briancon.  This UNESCO World Heritage city is a great place to stroll about and have lunch.  Of course there was Kieran’s group who could not pass by the Galibier without a quick trot up its switchbacks before lunch!

Not a bad view from the hotel room!

After enjoying some version of a rest day our final day in the Alpes was on the mighty Alpe D’Huez’s 21 switch backs.  Although not the longest climb nor the hardest its first 2km are quite the kick in the face as it rears up 150m from a traffic circle.  This route is just as it appears on TV complete with the painted name of every rider over the last decade.  Every type of wheeled vehicle hurls itself at this Alpe.  On the Croix de Fer it was us, the wind, and a few goats.  On D’Huez is every manner of wheeled vehicle, going up and down.  Runners and hikers going up and down, photographers taking pictures at 3 different areas while chairlifts, gondolas etc. ferried downhill mountain bikers up.  An amazing spectacle to witness.

Happy to say all made it to the top with smiles including Scott and Ron on the tandem.

Our final evening was spent in the old city of Lyon enjoying the spoils of French cooking and wine.  After coming home and recovering it got our minds racing about the next trip!  Stay tuned for them in fall 2013.

Mark and Tom take a break. Port en Royans