maxn
05-23-2016, 07:50 AM
I'd been meaning to do a birthday challenge for years, and with the passing of friend Steve who started the birthdaychallenge.com website recently, I thought the time was right to go for it. My plan was significantly less ambitious than most challenges, but I think Steve, as a cycling climber (or climbing cyclist?) might have approved if nothing else than for the scenery.
Part 1: Cycle 43 miles and 4300 vert gain (1300m) all above 4300ft altitude. I left le Monetier-les-bains at 7:30. It was pretty cold (2 degrees C). I was wearing basically all of the clothes that I brought. First col was Lautaret, and my plan to hop the fence to ride the still closed Galibier was foiled by the disapproving looks of some locals as I approached the gate, and the road department coming down the road with flatbeds loaded with snow moving gear. Getting to Lautaret from Monetier is only 600 meters of "up", so I needed to find another 700 somewhere. The obvious choice was to descend the other side of Lautaret, which I did. After a brief detour up the beautiful road towards Ventelon, I descended through La Grave, turned around and did the grind back up to the col. I grabbed a quick espresso at one of the cafes, and the owner told me that cycling up to the col was totally fine. This meant that I could not resist the call of Galibier, which would have no road traffic! It might not seem like a big deal, but the constant stream of motos and Sebastien Loeb wannabees exploring the limits of their Twingos can sometimes be a drag on this stretch of road. So, over the fence along with a few other guys and up to the top. It was as spectacular as ever with snow walls on both sides. I stopped at the col and on the descent for photos, and eventually arrived back in Monetier. By now I was sweating because it was 18 degrees. In the end, the Galibier detour changed the gain a bit -- around 2k vert, which is 6560 feet. It is, however 4374 cubits -- perfect! Mileage was a bit longer too.
Part 1b: My belayer, who also happens to be my wife, was not feeling great so I brought the kids to the park for a couple of hours, which also gave me a chance to recover.
Part 2: Climb routes that add up to 43 grade "points". e.g. a 5, four 6's and two 7's (US grades of 5.9->5.12). We got the kids together, drove down to Les Vignettes, South of Briancon, set the kids up with some things to do and got to work. The five felt fine and I thought for a moment that it wasn't going to be as painful as anticipated. Then the 6b and 6c (5.10c, 5.11a) made me realise that I had perhaps overestimated my post ride climbing capability. A 6a and 6a+ (5.10a, 5.10b) later I was feeling good again. Then I retreated off one 7a+ (5.12a) and did a different one (ahem) uncleanly which chloe informed me in no uncertain terms still counted. Finally, the last climb was a 7a which I actually don't remember anything about other than having to shake out on basically every hold. By the time my wife finished a lap on this climb it was almost seven. We drove to the nearby Luc Alphand brewery but it was closed, which made me sad.
So there it is, my first birthday Challenge. Very early season Galibier was spectacular. I would have ridden it again on Sunday if every strand of connective tissue and muscle in my body hadn't been screaming at me.
Part 1: Cycle 43 miles and 4300 vert gain (1300m) all above 4300ft altitude. I left le Monetier-les-bains at 7:30. It was pretty cold (2 degrees C). I was wearing basically all of the clothes that I brought. First col was Lautaret, and my plan to hop the fence to ride the still closed Galibier was foiled by the disapproving looks of some locals as I approached the gate, and the road department coming down the road with flatbeds loaded with snow moving gear. Getting to Lautaret from Monetier is only 600 meters of "up", so I needed to find another 700 somewhere. The obvious choice was to descend the other side of Lautaret, which I did. After a brief detour up the beautiful road towards Ventelon, I descended through La Grave, turned around and did the grind back up to the col. I grabbed a quick espresso at one of the cafes, and the owner told me that cycling up to the col was totally fine. This meant that I could not resist the call of Galibier, which would have no road traffic! It might not seem like a big deal, but the constant stream of motos and Sebastien Loeb wannabees exploring the limits of their Twingos can sometimes be a drag on this stretch of road. So, over the fence along with a few other guys and up to the top. It was as spectacular as ever with snow walls on both sides. I stopped at the col and on the descent for photos, and eventually arrived back in Monetier. By now I was sweating because it was 18 degrees. In the end, the Galibier detour changed the gain a bit -- around 2k vert, which is 6560 feet. It is, however 4374 cubits -- perfect! Mileage was a bit longer too.
Part 1b: My belayer, who also happens to be my wife, was not feeling great so I brought the kids to the park for a couple of hours, which also gave me a chance to recover.
Part 2: Climb routes that add up to 43 grade "points". e.g. a 5, four 6's and two 7's (US grades of 5.9->5.12). We got the kids together, drove down to Les Vignettes, South of Briancon, set the kids up with some things to do and got to work. The five felt fine and I thought for a moment that it wasn't going to be as painful as anticipated. Then the 6b and 6c (5.10c, 5.11a) made me realise that I had perhaps overestimated my post ride climbing capability. A 6a and 6a+ (5.10a, 5.10b) later I was feeling good again. Then I retreated off one 7a+ (5.12a) and did a different one (ahem) uncleanly which chloe informed me in no uncertain terms still counted. Finally, the last climb was a 7a which I actually don't remember anything about other than having to shake out on basically every hold. By the time my wife finished a lap on this climb it was almost seven. We drove to the nearby Luc Alphand brewery but it was closed, which made me sad.
So there it is, my first birthday Challenge. Very early season Galibier was spectacular. I would have ridden it again on Sunday if every strand of connective tissue and muscle in my body hadn't been screaming at me.