Epic Cycling Climbs of France

Epic Cycling Climbs of France Itinerary:

• Day 1

  Our trip begins today in Grenoble, France. We will meet our guides in Grenoble and transfer approximately one hour to a charming hotel in the famous town of Alp d'Huez. After a bike fitting and orientation talk, we can warm up with a downhill spin (time permitting) before enjoying our first taste of French cuisine at dinner. Dinner included.

• Day 2

  We start our first full cycling day with a long, scenic warm-up descent to the small village of Villard Reculas before beginning individual timed climbs to Alp d'Huez. While the Tour de France route varies from year to year, Alp d'Huez is the most famous mountain climb and has hosted a stage finish almost every year since 1976. Located at 1869 meters (~ 6,100 ft) above sea level, Alp d'Huez is a year-round hub of outdoor activity. A ski station in the winter, it offers glacier skiing, gondola rides, hiking and, because of the history with the Tour, it is a huge draw for cyclists. We'll keep focused on the task ahead while pushing hard through the 8% average gradient (12% maximum) and counting off the famous 21 switchbacks. Fantastic panoramas and memories of legendary history-making races are guaranteed to distract you from the hard, but very gratifying, climb. Afterwards, we are rewarded with a thrilling descent. For the strong and willing, our guides can offer more riding on other nearby famous climbs. Breakfast, picnic lunch and dinner included.
  
  Cycling: 26 mi/43 km (elevation gain: about 3300 ft.) with many options for longer or shorter rides.

• Day 3

  The big challenge for the day is one of the most impressive climbs in all of the French Alps: the famous leg-burning ascent of Col du Galibier! We start with a long climb up to the highest col (mountain pass) in the region, passing first over Col du Lautaret (6,750 ft) and then up, up, UP! Along the way we will pass through several tunnels and the charming little ski town of La Grave before reaching the saddle-summit of Lautaret. Above tree line now, we continue on to the Galibier pass (8,681 ft), where we can admire an amazing view over snow capped peaks all around. This summit is rife with Tour de France history, as it is not only a very popular climb on the Tour (having been climbed more than any other col in Tour history) but is also where the monument to Henri Desgranges - the founder of the Tour de France - is located. A long descent takes us back to our hotel, or we may add on a trip up Les Deux Alpes, a category 1 climb (+15 mi/24 km). Breakfast, picnic lunch and dinner included.
  
  Cycling: 38 mi/61 km (elevation gain: about 6,500 ft.) with many options for longer or shorter rides.

• Day 4

  This is the longest day of all among our rides in the Alps. We descend from Alp d'Huez via the Col de la Sarenne and take a long rolling ride to Allemont. Here, the climbing begins again as we push up to Glandon and Croix de Fer before returning to Alp d'Huez via Villard Reculas or Bourg d"Oisans. We'll celebrate our last night in the Alps on the hotel terrace overlooking peaks as far as the eye can see! Breakfast, picnic lunch and dinner included.
  
  Cycling: 69 mi/115 km (elevation gain: about 9,300 ft.).

• Day 5

  After breakfast we say goodbye to the Alps and transfer 4 hours to Provence and the quaint town of Bédoin located at the foot of Mont Ventoux. This afternoon we keep our legs warmed up for tomorrow's big ascent with a scenic ride through lavender fields and vineyards, and we also spend some time on foot visiting the historic sites of the village. Dinner tonight will be on the terrace of our very charming Provencal hotel with the sound of cicadas in the background. Breakfast, picnic lunch and dinner included.
  
  Cycling: 30 mi/50 km.

• Day 6

  Known locally as the Giant of Provence, the infamous climb up Mont Ventoux is long and steep with little relief from the first turn of the crank in the direction up! At an average grade of between 9% and 10% for the first 9 miles, it will take some time to reach the summit. But who's in a hurry? We have all day to do as much or as little of this climb as we like. We'll make a stop for water, snacks and a much needed break at Chalet Reynard, 3-½ miles below the summit. The final miles are breathtaking with beautiful open views of the Provencal countryside. After a mountaintop photo we have a well-earned descent and ride through the Gorges de la Nesque on our way back to the hotel. Options abound, and for those wanting to give their legs a rest we have an amazing ride bypassing Mont Ventoux and instead focusing on the rolling countryside of lavender and sunflowers, as well as the option to stay behind and relax poolside and schedule a great afternoon massage. Tonight, we'll toast our newfound friends and the week's accomplishments at a final celebration dinner. Breakfast, picnic lunch and dinner included.
  
  Cycling: 54 mi/87 km (elevation gain: about 5,100 ft.) with many options for longer or shorter rides.

• Day 7

  After breakfast and a final farewell, we transfer one hour to Avignon for rail connections back to Paris or other European destinations. Please schedule departures from Avignon after 12 p.m. today. Breakfast included.

Although we do our best to adhere to the schedule listed above, this itinerary is subject to change for numerous reasons beyond our control including weather and terrain conditions.

If you are traveling alone and specifically request single accommodations, you will be asked to pay the full single supplement noted on the trip itinerary.  If you wish to share accommodations, we will assign you a roommate if one is available. If a roommate cannot be found, you will be asked to pay a reduced single fee, which is half of the full single supplement. Please be advised that there are a limited number of single rooms available on most departures.

Please check with us before purchasing your airline tickets to ensure your trip has the necessary minimum number of participants required to operate.

Hotel accommodations; LOOK 566 carbon frame road bike; meals as noted in the daily itinerary; expert guide/leadership; vehicle support and luggage transportation.

Air transportation to/from France; airport taxes (if any); rail transportation within France; bike helmet and bike pedals; soft drinks and alcoholic beverages; travel insurance of any kind; guide gratuities; laundry fees and items of a personal nature.

We provide ultra-light carbon frame Look 566 bicycles with comfort carbon fork, compact geometry, and triple chain rings. As a result, the bike is very responsive, light, and comfortable. This is the 2009 Look series that will fit riders from 5' 2" up to 6' 4" comfortably. Each bike comes with a saddle bag including 1 spare tube, tire levers, patch kit, frame pump, 2 bottle cages, and cycle computer. Components include Shimano 105 groupo, 172.5 mm cranks and 120mm stem. Frame and fork alone weigh just over 3 lbs.

This trip is rated Strenuous [5]. Trip members should be strong, experienced cyclists in excellent physical condition. Your physical fitness level will be a very important factor to your success and enjoyment of this trip. A serious conditioning program should be undertaken several months ahead of departure in preparation for the demands of this itinerary. Time in the saddle during the trip ranges from 4 to 8 hours a day. Although options abound and a support vehicle will be available, trip members should feel comfortable in their capability of completing extended, difficult climbs most every day of the trip. Pace and speed are not important, as there is sufficient time each day to complete the big climbs, however slower climbers and riders may have less time for extended riding. Those individuals considering taking advantage of longer cycle options should increase their pre-departure conditioning accordingly. Grades on these climbs can range from 7% to 14% and are extended over many miles with little relief. Descents are fast and caution is mandatory. Consult with your physician.

We have scheduled our departures during periods that typically offer abundant sunshine and comfortable temperatures. Weather in the Alps can vary greatly depending on location and can be warm and sunny in the valleys and cold and wet at the summits. Daytime temperatures typically average from the mid 50s to mid 80s. Provence is generally warm and sunny in June, July and September with daytime temperatures ranging from 60 - 85 and a small chance of rain. As we are in mountainous regions, participants must be prepared for variable weather conditions that can change suddenly and include hot, sunny days, prolonged rainfall and even an occasional dusting of snow on the mountain passes.

This trip is subject to the booking information set forth in the current REI Adventures Reservation Information. Please read this information carefully and call us if you have any questions. A full gear list and pre-departure information is sent upon sign-up. We highly recommend the purchase of travel insurance through REI Adventures. If coverage is purchased at the time of your initial reservation, the 'Pre-existing Conditions Exclusion' is waived (certain exclusions apply).

We look forward to having you join us for the trip of a lifetime! Why wait? Space is limited, reserve your adventure today.

The key to staying comfortable while on an active trip is layering. To get maximum comfort with minimum weight, you need versatile layers that mix and match to create the right amount of insulation, ventilation and weather protection. This gear list has been created to help you in choosing your equipment for the trip. Try to bring only what is necessary, this will help you and the field staff.

Weather

We have scheduled our departures to avoid the mid-summer heat and crowds while still traveling during periods that typically offer abundant sunshine and comfortable temperatures. Weather in the Alps varies greatly depending on location and can be warm and sunny in the valleys and cold and wet at the summits. However, temperatures typically average from the mid 50's to mid 80's. Provence is generally warm and sunny in June and September with daytime temperatures ranging from 60° - 85°F and a small chance of rain. As we are in mountainous regions, participants must be prepared for variable weather conditions that can change suddenly and include hot, sunny days, prolonged rainfall and even an occasional dusting of snow on the mountain passes.

Gear Checklist

Things to Consider

• Please remember to always pack essential items such as your passport, money, eyewear, helmet, a pair of cycling shorts/shirt, film and medications in your carry-on baggage, in case your luggage is delayed.
• Due to the variable weather conditions in the mountain passes, especially on the early and late season departures, we highly recommend bringing the cold weather items listed above. Many of the early morning descents can be very cold due to the altitude and speed you may be travelling. After a long climb, the wind can be blowing at the summit and it too can be very cold.
• Your luggage is transported for you to each night’s accommodation. Your belongings should fit in the equivalent space of a large duffel bag. Tip: Roll your clothes to save space and reduce wrinkles. Stuff sacks are great for sorting your gear. Use different sizes and colors to differentiate the contents.
• Always test your clothing layers before a trip. Your outer layer should fit easily over the inside ones without binding. 
• A vest or light windbreaker works great for long descents after a lot of climbing
• If you are bringing your own bike then please know that standard bike tools are provided, but you will need to bring any special tools that you may need to build your bike prior to the first ride.
• The restaurants have a very nice, pleasant atmosphere, but formal attire is not required. You will feel quite comfortable in casual clothes for these meals. We suggest bringing slacks, shorts that are mid-thigh or longer, skirts, summer dresses, etc. in fabrics that are easy to wash and wear. 
• Helmets are required, so please bring your own. We recommend bright-colored bicycle clothing for visibility and safety.