Daideron

WezO...yes they could. In all honesty its not the toughest climb. There are many things to remember with regards to the Alpe, most importantly is that guys like you and I wont be racing this. Chances are we have some sort of pilgrimage there and ride it then. If thats the case, done at your own pace you could make it. But a cassette with a 28 is like having a soup-plate attached to the bike! You want to enjoy your experience. A compact crank with a nice spread on the cassette means you will have all the gears and (relative) comfort to enjoy the climb. Remember that the climb is a destination, and many of the routes and rides dont start at the bottom of the climb. Usually you have to ride there, and the tarred roads in the area are very heavy and energy sapping. If you are there with a tour group, chances are you will be offered a chance to choose where your ride starts, but always remember you have to think of other roads in and around the area as well. So in my opinion a compact crank is the best tool for the job. Also remember that if your are watching Le Tour, the road up the mountain is sheer chaos on the day of the stage. So if you are planning on riding it on that day you will be very disappointed! Everyone should go at least once to ride it and to spectate. No one can say they were close enough to smell the sweat of David Beckham or Michael Schumacher in the heat of battle like you can watching the pro's as they tackle the Alpe!

My suggestion Davem...wait for Chris Froome to come back here after the Tour and ask him for some pointers! I am hoping he will see the beast up close and in all her miserable beauty! But seriously, compact crank and a nice ratio that is not too heavy on your legs. And a nice set of light aero wheels. I would also suggest watching Armstrongs TT for some pointers. The switchbacks are best ridden wide and steady, and learn to breathe through your ears as well! Enjoy it!

Not sure what happened to my quote of AFD...but he is right. Speak up.

This is a brutal climb, but not the hardest climb that they throw at the riders. What makes the Alpe d'Huez so hard is the sudden gradient that you are faced with as well as it being virtually consistently steep to the top. Typically by the first switchback the field is destroyed. The pro's ascend at the end of long day of climbing, and I can imagine having to fight your way through the crowds in the corners must be hard. I would love to see the data of guys like Contador and co for this climb. I love the history that surrounds the climb. For years the French maintained the rider who finished second on the stage would win the Tour. That was part of the lore of the Tour until guys like Armstrong and Sastre proved it wrong. Stories of riders weeping and being pushed physically by spectators so that they can continue is just awesome! I think any rider who see's the route and see's that they will be climbing the Alpe d'Huez, Superbagneres, Mont Ventoux or Luz Ardiden, it will give them sleepless nights!

Armstrongs TT win was started from a point just before the actual climb, in Bourg Doisan. The other times were recorded as the riders took the left hand bend which is the start of the climb. That said, its a ruthless climb. Worst part is from 4km to 3km to go. For Joe Public compact crankset is needed! I think the pro's use a 23 rear sprocket. Seen the pro bikes with 180mm cranks fitted as well (Ulrichs bike)

This was just a case of bad manners in my eyes! He should ride like everyone else in the group. It I may add my two cents on other bad riding manners...half-wheeling, this is just such bad manners on a group training ride! It is not a race and there are no points or prizes, so why insist on continually trying to keep your wheel ahead of the other rider in a shared line? Snorting snot out of your nose when you are in the middle of a shared bunch or paceline? Seriously?! Have you forgotten there are people around you? Guys who insist on weaving all over the road in an attempt to break away during a training ride?? It is not a race. The car passing may not be ready for your Contador'esque attack and you wont look as good on his bonnet either! Riders who insist on riding alongside a shared 2abreast paceline just to be next to their friends. Your just making our bunch wider, and making us all even more of a target. I hate to sound like a grumpy old man but so many of these factors end up not only upsetting the riders around you, but other road users as well. And lets be honest we dont need any more bad press! And yes, I do concede it is wrong to ride 2 abreast. But lets be honest nobody is going to change that anytime soon. So lets just manage it better guys? Club leaders be harsh on riders regardless of who they are. You could be saving a life. And yes it is irritating having to sit behind a bunch who are taking up the road. But reacting to them with rage and violence is only going to land you in hot water as well. Is that overweight guy who believed buying a fancy bike would also buy him talent worth going to jail? Just think. Count to ten and thank your lucky stars you are free to have the burden of sitting behind a group of inconsiderate people, and go home to your loving family. I know I do! And I do apologise to all for my fellow roadies behaviour. We are not all bad. Just like we are not all good!

Picked up 2 myself over the last 3months. Crazy. As well as a Shimano crank bolt!! And a derailleur wheel! While the last two must have been accidental! But seriously, whats with the tubes?

Boldenone? What idiot in his right mind uses Boldenone? Equipoise? Its a horse steroid?! Sorry, just realised the paradox here! Right mind and idiot rarely go together

EPO does not kill you! Blood Canadians would be proud to call Maple syrup is what kills you! The fact its a by-product of EPO is hugely coincidental! Use of EPO for anything outside of its intended therapy by a licensed medical professional is both crazy and illegal. First time poster C120657, are you referring to a supplement product you can buy legally in a Dischem called EPO? I've seen such products, and just like the hGH supplements they are very far removed from the actual products that will get you banned or killed, or both. Or are you just trying to get guys riled up? Leave the stuff alone for the love of Moser! Learn to enjoy riding up hills and hurting like everyone else and leave the EPO and all that other gear alone!

Chris Willemse, I applaud your intentions and efforts here. I really do. I have only personally ever heard good things about you Chris Jnr, and your aversion to doping, so keep it up! However, what you are saying will effectively end the careers of a good few riders, ie, Mcleod, Fouche, Hoffmann et al. You have to consider some other sides of this approach, are you talking all forms of cycling should support this? If so, a certain cycling program will have to oblige and remove a presenter. Several managers, coaches, and others involved will also have to go. You cant apply it to some, and not to others. Do you understand what I am saying? You can easily set yourself up for a rather hippocritical situation, imagine one of these riders mentioned is forced out of cycling through the measures you suggest and opens a bike shop or becomes an agent for some bike brand. Will you do business with them? Would you sell a bike to a rider who has been banned?I know its not actual riding, but what you are suggesting could go further than you realise. I'm not attacking you Chris, just pointing out something that maybe its worth considering. It also pains me to see an Olympics where its won by a formerly banned rider, as is the Vuelta, and the Giro. But they have paid their due and done their time. Oh, and thanks for the great prices!!

I think you mean 'hormonally HOMICIDAL'?!

Ok, the grey colour with the colour splurge makes a better picture in my mind. Yes, its a nice frame. Not sure what it would be worth to be honest. Some people here will moan its old and not worth anything. Others with a retro interest might say its worth more. Depends on who you are asking! I think they are nice bikes, having owned a similar Look frameset! At that time the aluminium lugged carbon frames were cutting edge, and the most popular came from Look, TVT and Vitus. There were very few other carbon frame manufacturers then. Shortly after Giant entered the market with the Cadex which was a really cheap (but very good) carbon frame. I cannot remember if the KG66 was full carbon, or just the main triangle.

Early to mid 1990's if I am not mistaken. Is it blue? Or a blue black, or red and black combo? It was one of I think possibly four bikes offered by Look at the time. (KG96 Team Replica, KG76, 66 and 56) They were a popular bike at the time, and as far as I know they were a decent frame. More than that I cannot be sure of. Hope this helps

SKY rode well today, very clever to keep the pace high and eliminate the chance of Contador attacking like crazy. Like I said a couple days ago, two different riding styles pitched against each other makes it interesting. The only concern for me would be that SKY need to do this as much as possible in the upcoming mountains to nullify Contadors attacking style. This will surely work the SKY guys into the ground. I think Froome is stronger than Contador, but if left to himself against those attacks of Contador it could work against him. But all said and done, I'm merely an armchair spectator, and SKY employ guys to work out these details! Good ride by Froome today, although just a few seconds, SKY really seem to enjoy the mindgame side of it.

It is early days, and that is a big concern. Froome is strong enough to go with Contador, and so is Contador with Froome. It should be interesting and at the end of the day it will have been a well fought for race.

Yes Dracs, the unwritten agreements seemed on the table yesterday! It is also interesting to see a Vuelta which in my opinion has been tailor made for a guy like Contador! The Spanish are not shy to favour their own! But that is not a crime! I was also going to say that in those bursts of Contador's, had Froome not been up to the challenge, he would not have got back on. Yes Contador was gapping him, but it was only a gap for a short while. That Kenyan/South African/Brit has a lot of power in those legs!

For what its worth I dont think Froome was in too much trouble. Different riders have different styles, and Contador to me is a lot like a Golf GTi, super fast bursts of speed break up the pack and wreak havoc. Froome on the other hand is like a big V8 Range Rover, it takes a while to wind up, but once its wound up its very very effective and fast! Yes Froome has ridden the Tour prior to this, and Contador is on fresh legs per say, but if you really think about it that little Spaniard will have been riding a lot in his time off. Its not like he has been sitting at home sulking. In the same light, Froome was sidelined for most of the first part of the year due to sickness. So I think its quite fair to say it is a fair fight. Yes, Le Tour was boring, but at least here we have two riders capable of taking the fight to each other in very different styles. It should be good viewing and a true test of these guys in a grand tour. My only concern would be the Spanish patriotism amongst the top Spanish contenders vs Froome. Contador, Valverde and Rodriguez were very vocal with each other during the final ascent, which in my opinion suggests there is some collusion going on. All said and done, I hope Froome does well, I hope at the end of the year Richie Porte gets a huge bonus from SKY, as he certainly deserves it.

Sorry to hear, a true gentleman and a real good rider. RIP and condolences to the family

Fair comment and I agree. Good service should be praised. But I personally will not name and shame because it seems like it can get out of hand online, and I also believe there is always 3 sides to a story. Many shops have customers from hell. Many people simply accept service from hell. I'll just keep to praising good service. But good topic Ant J Allen

Ant J Allen, I've not been a member here for too long, but I'm certain this is a topic that pops up at least once every two weeks! Thats probably why you've got the response that you have! From my side, Northcliff Cycles are fantastic, always willing to go the extra mile.

Was a nice race and well marshalled, heal quickly Trubie and Cyclewizz. Sorry to hear about the injuries.

Is the Moser a TT bike? Nice collection you have there

Seems ok, pretty sure you could knock him down in prica a bit more. Is there nothing here on the Hub that you could look at?

I've witnessed the same thing, coming upon a group who are unaware that there are loads of cars behind them, and show no intention of moving over to at least 2 abreat. I'm a cyclist, and it angers and frustrates me at the same time. Maybe there should be more action taken against a club, that would make the clubs take a more stern approach to the behaviour of the riders in their organised bunches? I'm not saying police charges, or anything that drastic. I know some would criticise this, but at the end of the day it is for the benefit of the riders and ultimately their families at home. People these days react to things on the roads without ever considering the consequences, laying blame becomes a never ending argument. Maybe we could just find a way to police ourselves,respect other road users (regardless of who has more rights in the eyes of the law) and not depend on the driving public to have to think about a group of cyclists. We are afterall our own worst enemies.