| Archive for justcycling.myfastforum.org Just Cycling |
| Bartali |
PyreneesI'm going to be spending three days riding in the Pyrenees at the beginning of September. Here's the nearby climbs and the distance from my base. I can't do them all, so any suggestions as to what's not to be missed will be very welcome. Many thxARES 795m 7km ARTIGASCOU 1400m 20km ASPIN 1489m 46km AUBISQUE 1709m 94km Port de BALES 1755m 8km BEYREDE 1417m 42km HAUTACAM 1635m 90km HOSPICE DE FRANCE 1385m 27km LARRIEU 704m 23km MENTE 1349m 14km NISTOS CAP NESTES 1600m 19km PEYRESOURDE 1569m 26km PORTILLON 1293m 28km PORTET D'ASPET 1089m 43km TOURMALET 2115m 69km |
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| last km |
Of the ones I have either ridden up (or driven up to see the Tour) I can recommend these :-
ASPIN 1489m 46km AUBISQUE 1709m 94km HAUTACAM 1635m 90km PEYRESOURDE 1569m 26km PORTILLON 1293m 28km PORTET D'ASPET 1089m 43km TOURMALET 2115m 69km Tourmalet would be my No 1 choice to ride up even though its a tough slog........ |
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| MAILLOT JAUNE |
Sorry, I tried replying earlier, but my message got lost when I tried to post it!!!
When I saw your list, I thought Chapeau Bartali as I thought you were going to do them all, then I read on. But Chapeau anyway for even attempting any of them. Not having even ridden any of these or even been there but just from the names from climbs in the Tour de France and the Vuelta these are the one's I'd choose... ASPIN 1489m 46km AUBISQUE 1709m 94km HAUTACAM 1635m 90km PEYRESOURDE 1569m 26km PORTILLON 1293m 28km PORTET D'ASPET 1089m 43km TOURMALET 2115m 69km |
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| redster73 |
If you do Tourmalet and Hautacam take some pics be nice to know what the hell the views were like!
Oh and do the Aubisque... |
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| thunderthighs |
yup me and Redster... are on the same page.. ciao |
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| Bartali |
Red ... you would have to pick the ones that are furthest from my base 
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| last km |
Yes but worth the effort | ||
| Bartali |
Well here I am in sunny France. Pitched up late this afternoon - Parlee still in one piece (phew) - so nipped out before dinner to bag the Col de Ares. Pretty easy, but I had to put the hammer down on the way back so as not to miss dinner. Early start tomorrow - can't decide whether to have a go at Mente and Portet d'Aspet ... or Portillon and Superbangres. I'll see what the weather is like in the morning.
The biggies (tourmalet, aubisque and Hautacam) are too far west and I can't realistically get there and back in a day .....I think? |
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| last km |
Enjoy B, take some pics and full report, easy on the vino collapso......jealous as F**k 
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| berck |
Have fun Bartali. I wish I could be riding there too. | ||
| cardinal guzman |
Party like it's yer birthday man!
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| paperman |
Lucky man Bartali. Have fun.
Try the three Red suggests. 
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| bbnaz |
and remember, we want pictures and stories when you finish! | ||
| Bartali |
Too tired to type at the moment. set off early and rode the 30km to Luchon before taking on Superbangres, Hospice de France and the Portillon. All were up and down rides ... all hurt! Check out the profiles if you are interested at http://www.climbbybike.com/climbs...eparture=Bagn%E8res%20de%20Luchon
I think I prefer the Alps. I just can't find a rhythm on these climbs - they jump about all over the place. Great views at the top of SB and Hospice. Portillon not that exciting though you do get to ride into Spain at the finish of the climb. Rubbish camera phone photos but here goes ... 
Anyway ... with the Col de ares yesterday, that makes 4 cols!!! |
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| bbnaz |
AWESOME.......and the Parlee looks great too
although every time I hear the word "Parlee" it reminds me of those scenes in the first Pirates of the Caribbean movie 
did you have to "parlay" on those climbs? |
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| last km |
Excellent Bartali, very jealous........ | ||
| sheeponabike |
yep, we're all jealous.... | ||
| Bartali |
I rode up the first 15km of SuperB with a couple of French blokes who couldn't (or wouldn't) speak a word of english. I can only do about three words in French so there wasn't much talking! Anyway, they ripped my legs off about three km from the top .... I had no answer to their acceleration ... or was it me slowing down? Anyway, thats when I stopped to take a photo oh the shame of it! 
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| last km |
No shame at all, you could have said they were pros out for some training
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| Bartali |
Oh they were ... I'm sure of it!
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| berck |
Ahh, those French. Always so kind.
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| Bartali |
Oh good ... Col de Mente and Col de Portet d'Aspet are both open.
Ah ... which one shall I do? 
Col de Portet d'Aspet - ride past the Castartelli monument and up 4.4km @ ave 10% gradient with the odd bit of 17% to stretch the old legs! 
Aw nuts ... lets do Col de Mente as well ... 
Here's the monument at the foot of the Portet d'Aspet - god rest his soul! 
The heavens opened just as I got back down the Portet d'Aspet. I was lucky because i wouldn't want to descend down that in the rain - steep and a crap road surface. Gravel everywhere. Anyhow, it was nice to climb the Mente in the rain - nice and cool. Lovely climb. Best yet - a bit like the alps with an even gradient and lots of hairpins. half way up the rain stopped and it got very spooky as the water started evaporating from the road and valley ... 
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| last km |
Stop it right now Bartali, I am so envious
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| sheeponabike |
Bartali - what size small chainring and cassette are you using?
Watch out lad - they've forcast snow up there this week-end! |
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| Bartali |
I'm riding a compact chainset so its 34 up front and 26 at the back. Snow above 1800m they say  looks pretty grim at the moment and its my last day today. I could only get a three day pass
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| paperman |
Ok I've never looked into a holiday spent on some of the big climbs from our fav races but whats this pass thing???? Don't tell me you have to pay to cycle up a hill in France.  I guess its popular so they decide to screw tourists for every cent and you have to get in line to pay for soemthing which should be free  
Nice pics by the way.
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| Bartali |
The pass is from my cat sitter! She will only let me out to play for three days - any longer and my boys go hungry!!
You should try this place I'm at Paperman. I'd come again. http://www.pyractif.com/news/roadlibertynew.html |
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| Bartali |
Cold and wet today ... yuk:(
Went up Port de Bales which is okay for a HC climb. Its long, about 19km, but many of the early KM are quite shallow. Back home to Blighty in the morning. 
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| last km |
Cold and wet today ...
No need for any aclimatisation on your return then 
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| thunderthighs |
bartali..thats when the major damage is done..at the begining of the climb..
remember, cycling is all about surprise and putting other riders in the red zone right away.. does look wet and mushy.. but i like that !!!ciao |
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| berck |
Hey Bartali,
Are those Look KEO carbon pedals? They have a recall on those. Well, I know they do in the US. Models marked from January 04 to Dec 05. You can check the dates on the bottom of the pedal. The arrow points to the month and the year is next to the pedal. The Ti versions are fine. link BTW: Great pictures. I notice the bovine team put an obstacle in the road on you.
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| Bartali |
Many thanks Berck. Fortunately they are the Ti versions so I'm in the clear if I understand it correctly. Thanks anyway.
These french 'cows' will do anything to slow you down! To be honest, it was nice to have an excuse to stop and reach for my camera! Steak tonight ... so I have the last laugh!
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| Sooty |
Great photos Barty - keep 'em coming. (My old mate "Barty" - we go back years you know....)
I wonder if I could have my life again - start with a new pair of legs? I never did do any of the cols - regret that - and I was a damn good climber too. Good on you Bartali, have a great time! |
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| paperman |
Nice Bartali your cats...lol. Cheers for the link I was going to put up a thread about this I'd like to try one of those holidays. Looks great.!!
This web site is pretty good. You know it already I imagine. http://www.climbbybike.com/index.asp |
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| headwind |
Awesome Bartali!!!!!! | ||
| berck |
Correct, the Ti versions are fine.
I do envy you!
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| chardon |
Breathtaking, Bartali! Thanks for sharing it with us!
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| kellyrocheearly |
Fantastic photos | ||
| thunderthighs |
thats a swiss cow.best milk producer..and candian bull best bull..all jokes aside..
ciao |
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| SlowRower |
Some years ago, the Good Lady and I walked up the Tourmalet for a stretch and then branched off-road (wet grit and gravel) up to the observatory (around 2800m). We got overtaken by a pair roadies on skinny tyres near the top. They must have climbed in excess of 1000m on the grit and gravel, which was impressive enough, but they turned straight round and headed down, noses on the crossbar. Mad! | ||
| sabcarrera |
I didn't see these photos. Nice
17% I'm leaving toothmarks on the handlebars |
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| thunderthighs |
NICE PICTURES.. love those cows...hehehe...
ciao |
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| Slapshot 3 |
It's a hell of a place...
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| thunderthighs |
not for sprinter.....ciao | ||