Pedal Dancer®: Col du Glandon

11 June 2011

Col du Glandon and Col de la Croix de Fer

Stage 7 of the 2011 Criterium du Dauphine pedals its way through the French Alps

Sunday, June 12, 2011 stage 7 - Pontcharra - La Toussuire 117.5 km

Images from cycling in the region (from June 2007). I have never been on the road from Le Chambre to the Col du Glandon, we went down the Col du Glandon to Bourg d' Oisans (at the base of Alpe d' Huez) instead, so I do not have images up the east side from Le Chambre, which is the route of Sunday's Stage 7. I remember having one of my favorite French meals in a cafe in the town of St-Jean-de-Maurienne an earlier evening that same week, in a simple locals place (Restaurant La Parenthèse) with good regional food.

Le Grimpeur created a good ride summary of the climb of the Col de la Croix de Fer in 2007. I remember reading years ago that Andy Hampsten considered the climb one of his favorites, so this is what led us there in 2007. Plus of course we had to climb all the other biggies in the area - The Col du Galibier, Col du Telegraphe, and Alpe d'Huez.

The images below are of the last big climbs on Stage 7 - the Col du Glandon and the Col de la Croix de Fer. See the the full stage route here: Stage 7 route map

[I am hoping my brother and sister-in-law will surprise me with images sent from being a fan at the race this weekend.]

COL DU GLANDON map profile description on Climb by Bike

Col du Glandon climb profile

West side of Col du Glandon, I don't have one of the east side

There is actually a cafe bar inside this place on the Col du Glandon

the juncture of the Col du Glandon (view from the Croix de Fer). Turn left to go down to Bourg d'Oisans, turn right to Le Chambre

long roads and rugged mountains and much better in good weather

looking up at the north side of Col de la Croix de Fer

Profile north side of Col de la Croix de Fer

looking back down from the Col de la Croix de Fer to the climb up from Col du Glandon

the top of Col de la Croix de Fer (north side), yes that is a cafe

It is a whole different world on the south side of the Col de la Croix de Fer. First of all, the road surface changes and is made of pressed gravel (below). It is a rocky wild wilderness opening up to some modern (but deserted in June) ski towns. Very green and dramatic, but not too many cyclists.

COL DE LA CROIX DE FER map profile description on Climb by Bike north side / south side

rough golden gravel road

descent off the south side of Col de la Croix de Fer

It is sort of steep (switchback)

Profile south side of Col de la Croix de Fer

view down from Croix de Fer to the town of Saint-Sorlin-d'Arves

the switchback up the south side of Col de la Croix de Fer

passing through Saint Jean d'Arves

The ski town of Albiez-Montrond (deserted in June)

Up valley from Saint-jean-de-Maurienne

Looking south across the mountains from the Toussuire side toward the peaks, beyond is the Col du Telegraphe and Col du Galibier!

these photos were taken within the range of this road

More information about climbs of Col du Glandon and Col de la Croix de Fer:

Col du Glandon:

DangerousRoads.org

AlpineRoads.com

Col de la Croix de Fer

Cycling-Challenge.com

Video of the descent off the Croix de Fer

This was an interesting site I stumbled upon: Biking in the Alps - top roads (motorcycles!)

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: