For those of you amongst us not content to climb the various hills in the area at tourist pace, there are a number of hill climbs coming up that may be of interest.

We are particularly excited about the series of 3 climbs that take part in our own valley, the Lignarre Valley. There is one climb up our own col, the Col d'Ornon and the other 2 take you up various sneaky little side roads. If you allow yourself the chance to take your eyes from the handlebars and heart rate monitor, all are pretty stunning. Neither of us have ever TT'd up the Col d'Ornon, Guy has always been too busy and the one time I signed up I couldn't ride due to a embarrassing bout of sunburn that lead to a giant water sac developing on my right calf - I'll spare you any more gory details.

Anyway, the dates and distances are as follows:

Friday 18th July - Col d'Ornon - 14km 650metres
Saturday 19th July - Villard Reculas - 16km 900metres
Sunday 20th July - Oulles 10km 700metres

Then comes another series that takes in a couple of beasts in the area. The Col du Parquetout, not far from here, well hidden and pretty but a bit of a short sharp shocker. It's being climbed from both sides, the closest side to us takes place on the Saturday. The climb from Corps to Notre Dame de la Salette is a ride that we did for the first time the other day. The climb itself is a dead end road that resembles in scenery and gradient a Pyreneean climb. The road ends at a huge church and accommodation complex for religious retreat - an unexpected find in the middle of nowhere but a good source of cold Coke and huge sandwiches! The descent by the way is worth the climb if you like sweeping bends and sonic booms!

Sunday 10th August - Notre Dame de la Salette - 14.3km 900metres
Saturday 16th August - Parquetout (from our side) - 14.3km 685metres
Sunday 17th August - Parquetout - 9.8km 600metres

Finally, the Granon, a climb a little way from here, over the other side of the Lautaret in fact, but well worth the trip. We have done this climb the last couple of years (well, strictly speaking not true as last year we turned up 2 minutes too late for the sign-on but rode up anyway!) and it's amazing. The road is again a dead end but really wild and open giving great views over the Serre Chevalier ski resort. Runners also take the same route and are set off some 5mins after the cyclists - it's pretty humbling watching them whiz by you. Celebrity cyclist Jeannie Longo usually turns up for this one and shows most of us up - she's usually heading back down by the time I'm half way up! A good goody bag too and lots of other prizes up for grabs on the day (if Jeannie Longo leaves any!).

Defi du Granon - Saturday 16th August - 10km at about 10% average

If that's not enough for you, don't forget that every Monday evening during July and August there's the regular Alpe d'Huez hill climb and now the new hill climb to the resort of Oz (not via a Yellow Brick Road in case you were wondering):

Every Thursday at 10am from 3rd July to 28th August - Alpe d'Huez hill climb/TT
Every Wednesday at 10am from July to August - Oz hill climb/TT

Happy climbing!

Helyn
www.kingofthemountains.co.uk

Last Saturday we rode a very local sportive to us, 'La Metropole Sud Isere'. It has been said by many people who have ridden it that it's the most beautiful sportive they have ever taken part in, and we would have to agree, the surrounding views are breathtaking.

There are a choice of routes and both Guy and I signed up for the longest, 150km. We know all the roads that the circuit takes in, though under normal circumstances would never ride them in the order that the sportive prescribes - mainly because the last 5kms take you up a killer hill that immediately rears up before you at 15% and even has you grovelling up some sections of 21%.

Owing to a rare puncture and poor 'pit stop' on my part, and the stifling heat (34 degrees), both Guy and I cut short and opted for the middle distance of 100km, unfortunately this shorter distance still finished with the 'killer hill'.

Last year the hill got the better of me - that is maybe an understatement. I recall vividly sitting at the side of the road at the summit of this beast, dry retching and grappling for my inhaler, waiting for the broom wagon and vowing to never to ride my bike again (until a marshal pointed out I was only 500 metres or so from the finish line!). This year I was determined to banish the demons and not let it break me again. I managed to do so by concentrating very hard on my handlebars and front wheel and taking it very steadily, in my periphery vision I could not help noticing lots of riders suffering, mainly from cramp. Guy said at the finish that it's the hardest end to a 100km ride he has ever experienced.

Yesterday we were in the area again enjoying a gentle and very scenic ride with Martin. Martin is here to complete 'La Trophee de l'Oisans' which consists of 3 sportives (Vaujany, Prix des Grand Rousses and the Marmotte) as well as a time trial up Alpe d'Huez the morning after the Marmotte - not for the faint hearted. As if this isn't challenge enough for the week, Martin expressed an interest in finishing our ride yesterday with a climb up the famous killer hill. So, only 4 days after grinding up it's unforgiving gradients, we found ourselves there once more. This time my chain snapped on the second hairpin, I welcomed the rest that fixing it provided. Guy had a magic moment when he realised a desire that he had had riding it last Saturday and plunged into a local water fountain/bassin to cool off (see picture top left) - a fitting end to another scorching day in the Alps. See photos attached below of the sportive and also some of the fantastic scenery from yesterday.

Summer is here!

Helyn

www.kingofthemountains.co.uk

We have a new track pump!

I know that this is probably not blog-worthy information, but my over blown excitement over the arrival of the 'Joe Blow Pro' in the workshop is due to the fact that I've been wanting one for absolutely ages. Maybe also an indication that my life needs a little more excitement in it!

Come and get some mountain air in your tyres, it's a track pump sensation!

Helyn
www.kingofthemountains.co.uk

We have seen a few feats of fund raising here at King of the Mountains these last few weeks and take our hats (or helmets) off to Nick and Tay who have both undertaken some incredible efforts for charity.

Nick, with the slick logistical support of Victoria, completed 'Les Cingles de Ventoux'. This is the ascent/descent of Mont Ventoux from all 3 possible sides in just a day, or in Nicks' case, a little over 7 hours, which is pretty incredible. In undertaking the 'Cingles' Nick has raised around £9,000 for Dingley Specialist Centre at Reading Hospital who intend to buy specially adapted bikes for children with disabilities (http://www.justgiving.com/nicksheppard)

A week later, Tay arrived with his father, Brian, to ride the Col du Galibier (which only just opened in time!). Nothing unusual in that, except that he rode it on a bike called a 'Paris Galibier' (http://www.classiclightweights.co.uk/Paris.html) renovated by his dad. Given that the bike was built in the late '40's, you can imagine that the frame weight, crazy geometry and gearing (not to mention the saddle!) were a far cry from the lightweight bikes usually ridden to the top of one of the hardest Hors Categorie climbs in the Alps. Tay managed it though, and in doing so raised a tidy sum towards the renovations of a school he recently visited in Albania.

Finally, Matt, a great friend from our old triathlon club in the UK, who now lives in nearby Grenoble, will be taking part in the Swiss Ironman event in just under a month (3.8km swim, 180km bike, 42km run). He is raising money towards research into finding a cure for his and his wife, Colette's' son, Joseph, who has been diagnosed with an incurable neurological genetic disease called Leukodystrophy, and for others affected by similar demyelinating diseases. His training blog (http://tri4joe.com/) is a frank and often very funny account of his build up to the big day - good luck to you Matt!

See photos below.

Helyn
www.kingofthemountains.co.uk

Just spotted a tough sportive that the fellas at les Deux Alpes have put together.  It will take place on Sunday 24th August and the route is staggeringly tough - check it out at: 

http://www.sportcommunication.com/pantani/

It is a Marco Pantani Memorial ride and you will need to climb like him just to get round.  I think it is even tougher than the Marmotte sportive.  Some unusual cols have been chosen, not least the col du Parquetout (a wickedly tough climb that almost nobody ever rides) and the classic col d'Ornon too.

I think Helyn will be doing it.

Guy

www.kingofthemountains.co.uk

Fresh stuff - loads of it.  June eh!

Guy

PS: I didn't go, but our 11 Dutch guests did!  And came back again.  Cold.

At last!  Going to go and have a look tomorrow.

Guy & Helyn

www.kingofthemountains.co.uk

The Dauphine Libere sportive took place yesterday and the weather held off beautifuly for almost all of us.  We had a van full of riders and most of us did the 123km route, with only Michelle & Keith brave enough to take on the 173km route  Michelle was 3rd lady in the long event and won 2 trophies.  Well done! 

Sadly, 3 of our favourite guests from Dromara CC in Northeren Ireland missed their flight due to an accident blocking the motorway on their way to Dublin airport on Thursday.  So, I wore their club jersey in their honour and even got a mention on the PA as I rolled over the start line.

In keeping with my recent experience of this event, I had mechanicals.  Last year, my left crank arm fell off and this year my seat post snapped in half, leaving me to struggle on  out of the saddle for the last 30-odd  kms.  Oh well.

Photos to follow.

Guy & Helyn

www.kingofthemountains.co.uk