Pedal Dancer®: Col de Peyresourde

Showing posts with label Col de Peyresourde. Show all posts

02 March 2015

The Creperie on the Col

One of the best landmarks of cycling

There is the Giant of the Tourmalet, the Henri Desgrange stone pillar on the Col du Galibier, the pointed white observatory on Mont Ventoux, but without a doubt one of the most beloved landmarks for visiting cyclists to France, is a tiny creperie on the crest of the Col de Peyresourde in the Pyrenees.

Why, because cyclists can linger at a table at this creperie and watch fellow cyclists come and go with a sense that they have not been the first, nor will they be the last. It's also a gem exactly because it is not. It's a shack.

As I sit at home in the United States, I often think of that small brown wooden building on a grassy pass in France. I remember the characters who work inside, who take the time to ask where cyclists have traveled from. They ask knowing the answers will most often vary greatly, for this creperie is not located at a peak, but along a passage. A passage that hosts cyclists from around the world often on their way to other magnificent mountain passes.

It is a place to say "I have been there!"

So when I read today, that this special creperie, on the Col de Peyresourde, had been damaged by a recent avalanche at the end of February, my heart sunk. Oh no! Not the creperie!

Read (and see the images): Café on Col de Peyresourde damaged, by Velo Peloton.

I have cycled to the creperie three times and driven past it a few more. It is a fantastic place and I hope it is rebuilt in all its shack-like glory. I have stood next to this landmark with family, friends and by myself. It is a place I like to imagine still exists.

©All photos by Karen Rakestraw of Pedal Dancer®

The wonderful Creperie on the Col de Peyresourde, Pyrenees, France

On the Col de Peyresourde on Tour de France day 2012:

Everyone here - rode their bike to the top

A landmark for cyclists

Characters!

A great place to people watch

The scene at the top of the col with riders coming and going

The creperie set up for max capacity on Tour de France day

Camping out before the stage start

We visited Peter Thomson of Thomson Bike Tours at their perfectly placed perch on the Col in 2012

Typical scene on Tour de France day with campers, cars, hikers and cyclists

Camping all along the west side of the road to the Col de Peyresourde

This is what is feels like to camp out in advance of the Tour de France (this is a choice location). We rode up from Arreau on this day.

The simple beauty of cycling up the Col de Peyresourde on a non-Tour de France day in 2010 - pure peace and quiet.

My first visit to the creperie in 2008 with my brother Mike, and friend Dash.

Learn more about the climb to the Col de Peyresourde on VeloPeloton's informative page: Col de Peyresourde

The road up and over the Col de Peyresourde travels along the bottom of that valley floor (left (west) to right (east)) between these mountains. The ridge in the background unleashed it's snow on the small wooden structure of the creperie below (view from the top of nearby Peyragudes Ski Resort)

Location of the smooshed creperie

PYRENEES

My favorite climbs scattered across the Pyrenees are: Col de Agnes, Col du Portillon, Col de Peyresourde, Hourquette d'Ancizan, Col d'Aspin, Col du Tourmalet, Hatuacam, Col du Soulor, Col d'Aubisque, Col de Marie Blanque, Col d'Ichere.

Map of my favorite climbs in France https://mapsengine.google.com/map/edit?mid=zF3Mdi_RS4EA.khPsCpthHhgk

Also read an earlier post by Pedal Dancer - a travel series : Guess Where? #2

05 July 2013

Best Climbs in the 2013 Tour de France

Great climbs of Europe included in this year's TDF

If you love to ride a bike, chances are your pulse rises just thinking of the thrill of riding the big roads in France. Every year when the names of the climbs in the Tour de France are announced, there is an excited response, "Are you kidding me - L'Alpe d'Huez twice?" Or "What, no Tourmalet for the 100th year?" The beauty of the Tour de France is that every year they change up the inclusion or the order of the climbs on each stage.

This year you may see all the climbs (with profiles and ratings) in the 2013 Tour de France listed on this comprehensive page by Climb By Bike, but my post today is mostly about bucket list climbs.

A few years ago Pete Thomson of ThomsonBikeTours.com created a list of what he believed to be the best climbs in Europe. Pete would know - he gets to guide clients over these mountain every year (read: An Interview with Thomson Bike Tours By Pedal Dancer). If you would like to request a copy of this list, send an email request at this link: Yes I want to tick off the best cycling climbs in Europe (which has now grown to a list of 50!).

If you want to go to France to ride these climbs. I have attempted to organize the climbs by region for you so you will know which ones to tick off when you are in the area traveling. I have listed my favorites along with the ones on this list.

You gotta go climbs these mountains!

The best BIG climbs in the 2013 Tour de France

We know they are big, but where are they and which ones should we go climb?

#11 Col de Pailheres - featured in Stage #8
Climb Profile: (three approaches)

Col de Pailheres climb profile from Usson Les Bains (the direction of Stage 8 in 2013)

Col de Pailheres climb profile from Ax les Thermes (the direction of the descent of Stage 8 in 2013)

#26 Col de Peyresourde - featured in Stage #9
Pedal Dancer posts: Stage 17 on Peyregudes (TDF 2012), Images of France, Guess Where? #2, The Valleys of the Pyrenees.
Climb Profile:

Col de Peyresourde climb profile from Bagneres-du-Luchon

#6 Mont Ventoux - featured in Stage #15
Pedal Dancer posts: I love Mont Ventoux, Traveling to Mont Ventoux, Three Sides of Mont Ventoux, Recommended Ride: 100km around Mont Ventoux, Guess Where? #4.
Climb Profile:

Mont Ventoux climb profile from Bedoin

#19 L'Alpe d'Huez - featured in Stage #18
Pedal Dancer posts: My Ride up the Alpe d' Huez, "21 levels of hell", or 21 steps to heaven, Guess Where #3,
Climb Profile:

Alpe d'Huez climb profile (double this) from Bourg d'Oisans

Plus add in this climb, off the top of l'Alpe d'Huez

Col de Serene from Alpe d'Huez (9km)

#7 Col de la Madeleine - featured in Stage #19
Climb Profile:

Col de la Madeleine climb profile from La Chambre (The Tour will go up this side in 2013)

Col de la Madeleine climb profile from the D90/D97/D66 (Albertville) side

#10 Col du Glandon - featured in Stage #19
Pedal Dancer posts: Col du Glandon and Col de la Croix de Fer
Climb Profile:

Col du Glandon climb profile from Allemont side (The tour will go up this side in 2013)

The climbs of Col de la Croix de Fer and Col de la Croix Fry - both in the Alps

Note: the Col de la Croix de Fer (near the Col du Glandon) and the Col de la Croix Fry (featured in Stage #19 of the 2013 TDF) are two different climbs in two different areas. I remember it took me a while to find the de Fry climb. Which happens to be an absolutely gorgeous climb on the road through the village of Manigod, one of the most beautiful scenery I have ever ridden on a bike.

Location of Col de la Croix de Fer versus the Col de la Croix Fry:

Col de la Croix de Fer and Col de la Croix Fry: link to map

Pedal Dancer posts: Cycling in the Grand Bornand

Note: these last climbs are all climbed in the same day this year in the Tour on Stage 19. A day of 5 big climbs!

7/19/2013: Stage 19: Bourg d'Oisans - Le Grand Bornand - 204,5 km

Climbs grouped by region:

Some of the main cycling regions in France. Map by Pedal Dancer®

PYRENEES:
On the list and in the TDF: Col de Pailheres and Col de Peyresourde.

Other top climbs in the area on this list: Col d'Aubisque, Hautacam, Luz Ardiden, Col du Tourmalet, Col d' Aspin, Port de Bales, Superbagneres, Col du Portillon.

If you are in the neighborhood also climb in the Pyrenees (not on the list): Col de Marie Blanque, Col du Soulor, Horquette d'Ancizan (in the Tour this year), Col de Portet d'Aspet, and the gentle Col de Port.

For good information on climbs in the Pyrenees, please refer to: Velo Peloton in Saint Savin. Also my own posts: The Valleys of the Pyrenees and Valleys of Pyrenees in Pictures

Pedal Dancer favorite climbs in the Pyrenees link to google map by Pedal Dancer®

VAUCLUSE/PROVENCE:
On the list and in the TDF: Mont Ventoux

For good information on climbs in Languedoc and Provence, please refer to: Cycling Languedoc in Nimes.

Pedal Dancer favorite climb - Mont Ventoux link to google map by Pedal Dancer®

ALPS:
On the list and in the TDF: L'Alpe d'Huez, Col de la Madeleine, Col du Glandon, Col de la Croix de Fer.

Other top climbs in the area on this list: Col d'Izoard, Col de l'Iseran, Col du Galibier, Col de Joux Plane, Cormet de Roselend.

If you are in the neighborhood also climb in the Alps (not on the list): Col du Telegraphe, Col de Tamie (in the Tour this year), Col des Aravis, Col de la Croix Fry (Manigod) and Col de Colombiere.

For good information on climbs in the Alps, please refer to: Cycling the Alps.

Pedal Dancer favorite climbs in Alps. link to google map by Pedal Dancer®

Photos

The simple beauty of the Col de Peyresourde.
©Photo by Karen at PedalDancer®

The dramatic landscape of Mont Ventoux. ©Photo by Karen at PedalDancer®

The long west side of Col du Glandon.
©Photo by Karen at PedalDancer®

Me, riding the fun no brakes needed descent of the gentle Col de Tamie (Featured in Stage 19 this year). ©Photo by Karen at PedalDancer®

This is the Col de la Croix Fry - only a category 2 climb in the Grand Bornand (Featured in Stage 19 this year). ©Photo by Karen at PedalDancer®

This was the friendly Col de la Croix Fry dog who had lunch with us at the cafe on the summit. ©Photo by Karen at PedalDancer®


Andy Hampsten's name is on Sign #5 of 21 on Alpe d'Huez ©Photo by Karen at PedalDancer®

Thomson Bike Tour Client's comfortably waiting for a stage of the tour on the Col de Peyresourde last year (2012 TDF). ©Photo by Karen at PedalDancer®

Climb by Bike lists their 10 most climbed Cols as:
1.   Mont Ventoux (Bédoin)
2.   Alpe d'Huez
3.   Angliru
4.   Mortirolo
5.   Col du Galibier
6.   Col du Tourmalet
7.   Passo dello Stelvio
8.   Monte Zoncolan
9.   Plateau de Beille
10. Côte de la Redoute

Related Pedal Dancer Guide Page:

FRANCE CYCLING (with lots of posts about climbs in France).
An Interview with Thomson Bike Tours
Recommended Reading: All About Col Signs

02 May 2011

50,000 Views - the joy of the destination

Destination Rides

Don't we all have our favorites. Almost more than a loop route, a destination ride is the best way to spend a day. Let's ride to a lake, let's ride to a cafe, let's ride to a great view, let's ride up to the top of that mountain. But what do we find once we get there? We all have our favorites finds at the end of the road, here in Colorado, about once a week during the late spring, summer, and fall, I do my favorite local ride up Deer Creek Canyon / High Grade Road. It is a destination ride. My goal is a wonderful rest stop located under the shade of tall pine trees.

Last week I arrived at the rest stop in the woods and no one was there, I almost expected to see a local bear walk up, when 8 cyclists trickled in over the next 10 minutes. Swarming the site, they walked their funny walk in their cycling shoes in the dirt, filling water bottles and watching each other come and go and checking out the bikes. This is Colorado's version of the town water fountain.

The High Grade Rd rest stop

There are no other stores or water supplies on this route. The rest stop is a courtesy of the local grange (I was recently told by a cyclist that you can write-off your purchases as charitable donations) and is resupplied by local grange volunteers who say their purpose is to keep the local cyclists safe (in a sometimes not so friendly neighborhood). Water at the top of a climb makes cyclists happy. Having a place at the top of a climb as a marker of we have arrived is even better.

To celebrate 50,000 views, I have collected some of the more famous destinations (and my favorite memories), of the top of some other well known climbs: