PJA Sabatical: Sunday 7th of August

After the now usual breakfast we jumped in my car and headed back over Galibier and Telegraph to Modane to collect the hire car. We came back the same way too but we were in no rush so could stop to take some photos. We also had an excellent omelette and chips at a restaurant/cafe about half way up the Galibier. The two Japanese guys with plastic bags over their bike shoes looked in a similar state to what Dave and myself were in yesterday. There were a few people out on bikes though despite similar weather at the top of the Col. One guy we passed on the way down the Galibier and he looked like he was on a borrowed mountain bike. He did have a crash helmet but he also was wearing jeans. We couldn't believe it. Turns out he made it to the top (well we saw him about 1km away from the top so I'm happy to assume he made it the rest of the way). We were also attacked in the car by a crazy collie dog which later appeared at the top of the Col too although it was less antagonistic when the car wasn't moving.

When we got back to the hotel it was still raining but Dave and Stu had the crazy idea of climbing Alpe d'Huez again. I left them to it, loaning my rain jacket to Dave. Again they were cold on the descent but they knew they didn't have far to go from the bottom of the alpe to the hotel. I guess they only had a limited time in the area before they headed back where as I still have plenty of opportunity to ride some of the mountains in Italy.

So a few stats from the Garmin and plenty of pictures to go with them to give an idea of the ride the day before.

Col de Telegraph: 12.78km climbing 827m (ave 6.5%) completed in 1 hour 7 mins (11.4km/h)

Col de Galibier: 18.28km climbing 1207m (ave 6.6%) completed in 1 hour 40 mins (11km/h)

so a total of 31km climbing 2000m in 2 and 3/4 hours. Either I'm fitter (unlikely) or this bike is much easier than a mountain bike on slicks as Ventoux at 21km took me 2 1/2 hours.

Telegraph