I've always wanted to do it but until now never got round to it. So, on Saturday after a week working in Munich, My better half and I decided to go and see my folks who were at their place in Tignes for the weekend. We jumped on the bike (after a quick look at the weather forecast...) and headed up there. I'll post a route as soon as the Sports Tracker servers come back online.... grrrr! What was particularly cool for us was that we were hooning around on the bike in places that we would normally be hooning around on skis! It was just excellent - sweet roads too!
There were a LOT of other people with the same idea, so the roads were a bit crowded in places. There were several moments of alarm, but on the whole a totally awesome trip.
Just don't whine at me for taking the motorway up to the foot of the hill.... :sleep1:
Here are the obligatory pics. There are plenty but hey it was great!
The start - Susa
(http://i512.photobucket.com/albums/t328/rosbif_2000/GTR1400/Col%20de%20Iseran/IMG_4730-1920-70PC.jpg) (http://s512.photobucket.com/user/rosbif_2000/media/GTR1400/Col%20de%20Iseran/IMG_4730-1920-70PC.jpg.html)
Yup - that's the road that goes up there
(http://i512.photobucket.com/albums/t328/rosbif_2000/GTR1400/Col%20de%20Iseran/IMG_4737-1920-70PC.jpg) (http://s512.photobucket.com/user/rosbif_2000/media/GTR1400/Col%20de%20Iseran/IMG_4737-1920-70PC.jpg.html)
Some of the locals...
(http://i512.photobucket.com/albums/t328/rosbif_2000/GTR1400/Col%20de%20Iseran/IMG_4765-1920-70PC.jpg) (http://s512.photobucket.com/user/rosbif_2000/media/GTR1400/Col%20de%20Iseran/IMG_4765-1920-70PC.jpg.html)
Stormin' roads!
(http://i512.photobucket.com/albums/t328/rosbif_2000/GTR1400/Col%20de%20Iseran/IMG_4766-1920-70PC.jpg) (http://s512.photobucket.com/user/rosbif_2000/media/GTR1400/Col%20de%20Iseran/IMG_4766-1920-70PC.jpg.html)
(http://i512.photobucket.com/albums/t328/rosbif_2000/GTR1400/Col%20de%20Iseran/IMG_4768-1920-70PC.jpg) (http://s512.photobucket.com/user/rosbif_2000/media/GTR1400/Col%20de%20Iseran/IMG_4768-1920-70PC.jpg.html)
(http://i512.photobucket.com/albums/t328/rosbif_2000/GTR1400/Col%20de%20Iseran/IMG_4778-1920-70PC.jpg) (http://s512.photobucket.com/user/rosbif_2000/media/GTR1400/Col%20de%20Iseran/IMG_4778-1920-70PC.jpg.html)
(http://i512.photobucket.com/albums/t328/rosbif_2000/GTR1400/Col%20de%20Iseran/IMG_4785-1920-70PC.jpg) (http://s512.photobucket.com/user/rosbif_2000/media/GTR1400/Col%20de%20Iseran/IMG_4785-1920-70PC.jpg.html)
(http://i512.photobucket.com/albums/t328/rosbif_2000/GTR1400/Col%20de%20Iseran/IMG_4787-1920-70PC.jpg) (http://s512.photobucket.com/user/rosbif_2000/media/GTR1400/Col%20de%20Iseran/IMG_4787-1920-70PC.jpg.html)
(http://i512.photobucket.com/albums/t328/rosbif_2000/GTR1400/Col%20de%20Iseran/IMG_4820-1920-70PC.jpg) (http://s512.photobucket.com/user/rosbif_2000/media/GTR1400/Col%20de%20Iseran/IMG_4820-1920-70PC.jpg.html)
(http://i512.photobucket.com/albums/t328/rosbif_2000/GTR1400/Col%20de%20Iseran/IMG_4826-1920-70PC.jpg) (http://s512.photobucket.com/user/rosbif_2000/media/GTR1400/Col%20de%20Iseran/IMG_4826-1920-70PC.jpg.html)
Snow!! 13 or 14 degrees up here at 2700 odd meters. 39 in the valley
(http://i512.photobucket.com/albums/t328/rosbif_2000/GTR1400/Col%20de%20Iseran/IMG_4840-1920-70PC.jpg) (http://s512.photobucket.com/user/rosbif_2000/media/GTR1400/Col%20de%20Iseran/IMG_4840-1920-70PC.jpg.html)
The top of the world!
(http://i512.photobucket.com/albums/t328/rosbif_2000/GTR1400/Col%20de%20Iseran/IMG_4841-1920-70PC.jpg) (http://s512.photobucket.com/user/rosbif_2000/media/GTR1400/Col%20de%20Iseran/IMG_4841-1920-70PC.jpg.html)
Usually, there is about 4m of snow, when I'm here...
(http://i512.photobucket.com/albums/t328/rosbif_2000/GTR1400/Col%20de%20Iseran/IMG_4852-1920-70PC.jpg) (http://s512.photobucket.com/user/rosbif_2000/media/GTR1400/Col%20de%20Iseran/IMG_4852-1920-70PC.jpg.html)
Some others may recognise this
(http://i512.photobucket.com/albums/t328/rosbif_2000/GTR1400/Col%20de%20Iseran/IMG_4861-1920-70PC.jpg) (http://s512.photobucket.com/user/rosbif_2000/media/GTR1400/Col%20de%20Iseran/IMG_4861-1920-70PC.jpg.html)
Wow...
(http://i512.photobucket.com/albums/t328/rosbif_2000/GTR1400/Col%20de%20Iseran/IMG_4867-1920-70PC.jpg) (http://s512.photobucket.com/user/rosbif_2000/media/GTR1400/Col%20de%20Iseran/IMG_4867-1920-70PC.jpg.html)
(http://i512.photobucket.com/albums/t328/rosbif_2000/GTR1400/Col%20de%20Iseran/IMG_4921-1920-70PC.jpg) (http://s512.photobucket.com/user/rosbif_2000/media/GTR1400/Col%20de%20Iseran/IMG_4921-1920-70PC.jpg.html)
(http://i512.photobucket.com/albums/t328/rosbif_2000/GTR1400/Col%20de%20Iseran/IMG_4928-1920-70PC.jpg) (http://s512.photobucket.com/user/rosbif_2000/media/GTR1400/Col%20de%20Iseran/IMG_4928-1920-70PC.jpg.html)
(http://i512.photobucket.com/albums/t328/rosbif_2000/GTR1400/Col%20de%20Iseran/IMG_4925-1920-70PC.jpg) (http://s512.photobucket.com/user/rosbif_2000/media/GTR1400/Col%20de%20Iseran/IMG_4925-1920-70PC.jpg.html)
Could get a bit dodgy if some idiot comes round that corner in a bus...
(http://i512.photobucket.com/albums/t328/rosbif_2000/GTR1400/Col%20de%20Iseran/IMG_4931-1920-70PC.jpg) (http://s512.photobucket.com/user/rosbif_2000/media/GTR1400/Col%20de%20Iseran/IMG_4931-1920-70PC.jpg.html)
Outstanding!
(http://i512.photobucket.com/albums/t328/rosbif_2000/GTR1400/Col%20de%20Iseran/IMG_4933-1920-70PC.jpg) (http://s512.photobucket.com/user/rosbif_2000/media/GTR1400/Col%20de%20Iseran/IMG_4933-1920-70PC.jpg.html)
Just look at it!
(http://i512.photobucket.com/albums/t328/rosbif_2000/GTR1400/Col%20de%20Iseran/IMG_4936-1920-70PC.jpg) (http://s512.photobucket.com/user/rosbif_2000/media/GTR1400/Col%20de%20Iseran/IMG_4936-1920-70PC.jpg.html)
Who's this poser??
(http://i512.photobucket.com/albums/t328/rosbif_2000/GTR1400/Col%20de%20Iseran/IMG_4953-1920-70PC.jpg) (http://s512.photobucket.com/user/rosbif_2000/media/GTR1400/Col%20de%20Iseran/IMG_4953-1920-70PC.jpg.html)
(http://i512.photobucket.com/albums/t328/rosbif_2000/GTR1400/Col%20de%20Iseran/IMG_4954-1920-70PC.jpg) (http://s512.photobucket.com/user/rosbif_2000/media/GTR1400/Col%20de%20Iseran/IMG_4954-1920-70PC.jpg.html)
How tall are the piste markers when there's no snow?!
(http://i512.photobucket.com/albums/t328/rosbif_2000/GTR1400/Col%20de%20Iseran/IMG_4876-1920-70PC.jpg) (http://s512.photobucket.com/user/rosbif_2000/media/GTR1400/Col%20de%20Iseran/IMG_4876-1920-70PC.jpg.html)
Top of the Fornet cable car
(http://i512.photobucket.com/albums/t328/rosbif_2000/GTR1400/Col%20de%20Iseran/IMG_4881-1920-70PC.jpg) (http://s512.photobucket.com/user/rosbif_2000/media/GTR1400/Col%20de%20Iseran/IMG_4881-1920-70PC.jpg.html)
Most bizarre... Can't normally come in to Val d'Isère from this direction...
(http://i512.photobucket.com/albums/t328/rosbif_2000/GTR1400/Col%20de%20Iseran/IMG_4888-1920-70PC.jpg) (http://s512.photobucket.com/user/rosbif_2000/media/GTR1400/Col%20de%20Iseran/IMG_4888-1920-70PC.jpg.html)
A load of others off for a go now
(http://i512.photobucket.com/albums/t328/rosbif_2000/GTR1400/Col%20de%20Iseran/IMG_4949-1920-70PC.jpg) (http://s512.photobucket.com/user/rosbif_2000/media/GTR1400/Col%20de%20Iseran/IMG_4949-1920-70PC.jpg.html)
T'was great :) :punk:
Back to Munich tomorrow though... in the car...
Cheers
Ros
Breath taking beauty
Stunning, thanks for sharing :clap:
WOW Ros.. Beautiful pictures... I really must go there.. :yes:
Now your talking, i have skied in both Tignes and Val D'Isere in fact i went to the Winter Olyimpics in 92 and stayed in Tignes, looks a great biking place when the snow is gone, now this has me thinking of a trip.
Alan
Excellent photos as always. Just like Yorkshire :mfr_lol:
Thanks folks!
Here's the route. This is taken from the way back, so from France to Italy. The reason being, on the way there, we lost a pair of sunglasses and had to go back so it screwed up my tracking :)
Never mind - you get the general idea.
(http://i512.photobucket.com/albums/t328/rosbif_2000/GTR1400/Col%20de%20Iseran/ColdeIseranMapandDatareturn.jpg) (http://s512.photobucket.com/user/rosbif_2000/media/GTR1400/Col%20de%20Iseran/ColdeIseranMapandDatareturn.jpg.html)
Cheers
Ros
lovely pictures.
Ros, you may recognise this view ..... :clap:
(http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r183/Hoody_photo/BigTour463.jpg) (http://s144.photobucket.com/user/Hoody_photo/media/BigTour463.jpg.html)
Very nice indeed.
I've been to Val d'Isere 3 years ago on my 1250 Bandit.
I reckon the road from Modane to Bourg-Saint-Maurice is one of the most challenging ones I've been on in the Alps so far.
In steepness and tight hairpins at a par with the Furka and Petit St Bernard.
Unfortunately all those passes are very busy with lots of cars and busses and that can really spoil it.
The Rhone Alps are my regular playground since I spend 5 weeks in that area every year.
The scenery is always breath taking all around and tons of exciting passes with less traffic in abundance.
Quote from: mecki on August 05, 2013, 05:27:49 PM
Unfortunately all those passes are very busy with lots of cars and busses and that can really spoil it.
- am guessing as much too , looking at the pics.
.
absolutly fantastic photos there,,,,,,,,,,,,, :clap:
Quote from: mecki on August 05, 2013, 05:27:49 PM
Very nice indeed.
I've been to Val d'Isere 3 years ago on my 1250 Bandit.
I reckon the road from Modane to Bourg-Saint-Maurice is one of the most challenging ones I've been on in the Alps so far.
In steepness and tight hairpins at a par with the Furka and Petit St Bernard.
Unfortunately all those passes are very busy with lots of cars and busses and that can really spoil it.
The Rhone Alps are my regular playground since I spend 5 weeks in that area every year.
The scenery is always breath taking all around and tons of exciting passes with less traffic in abundance.
Mr Meckie... :clap: :yes: see... it doesn't hurt to be nice :mfr_lol: p.s are you feeling ok :undecided: :wink:
excellent pictures of some breath taking scenery there :yes: :clap: I'm sure we took that route from France to Italy in 2010 :smiley: looks like you had a brilliant time :smiley: also see you have the bestest colour GTR :grin: just like the one I use to have :smiley: can't wait till next year when we do it again :yes:
Lovely lovely lovely !! :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :yes:
just going through the GoPro vids and I found this gem :)
Cyclist coming the other way overtaking traffic (http://youtu.be/zfnU_oyQ69g)
He was well over on your side wasn't he? :sweatdrop:
- why is the camera's resolution so poor?
- what cam was that ?
.
I believe that was in 720 HD. if it doesn't look good , click on the little cog bottom right hand corner and change to 720 HD.
Ant
LW - yeah, he had me going for a moment. Wasn't really expecting a pedal cyclist to be overtaking motor vehicles around there to be honest! I was looking out for them after that though :)
Pistole - i was not too pleased with the editing software's compression. Original res is as Ant says 720p. Done with an original GoPro HD Hero. Anyway, after a lot of messing around, my PC ate my vid so I'll have another go at the whole thing 'sometime'...
Cyclists, Pah............. a pain in the arse, riding all over the road in big groups pretending to be Bradley bloody Wiggins or some other clown, demanding their own cycle lanes on the roads around here, and riding past my quiet rural abode shouting at each other even though they are only two feet apart ... WTF is all that about :shocked:
A pal of mine says he'd shove 'em into the gutter :mfr_lol:
Don't be shy, OC - just speak your mind! :punk:
:mfr_lol: :mfr_lol:
Will do Ros :mfr_lol: