[webbo]

the last time i did any serious riding in the alps i had 39/53 which was fine.it all depends on your fitness,i had spent all season racing but hadn't done any specific hill training.
the hardest thing i have found is coping with the heat.i've usuall been out there for 2 weeks and the first time over one the passes feels like  living hell,by the 2nd week it just feels like hell.

[tlr]

I'd be up for the training, but I'll probably just aim for the Whitton again. Should get a UKB team together for that too.

Tim

[Percy B]

I really fancy doing the Marmotte at some point in my life, and next year seems as good a time as any, (as long as ladies and kiddies can be persuaded that it would be a good idea!) Entry stuff is here - http://www.sportcommunication.com/GT/index.php?langue=2

[fatdoc]

I'm looking at doing L'etape or La Marmotte next year. Does anybody know the entrance process, and how likely I'll get a place?

Anyone care to join the training hell that will take place over the winter?

I'm also wandering how I'm going to train for the thing. On paper the average gradients don't look too bad, but its the length of the hills that worry me - 18Km at an average 7-8%. I can get over all the hills in the Peak / Lakes on a 53/39 but these are often steeper and pretty short. So I'm guessing compact chainset with some large dinner plates on the rear!!! Any advice appreciated and if anyone else is serious about entering get in contact -  fatdoc??? - Stop all this XC lark.

may i remind you that you've just spent quite a lot of cash on a MTB? 

could a also say that I. Norton & others will be holidaying at

www.switchbacks.co.uk some time in april ish.... no training camps for me next year i'm afraid!

[chappers]

I'm looking at doing L'etape or La Marmotte next year. Does anybody know the entrance process, and how likely I'll get a place?

i think that you may need a french address?? i know that julie who i stayed with at easter did several forms and got all sorted for the people. if it is in the pyreneese she would do an entry/accomodation/lift to start deal...oh and the best food ever.

[Percy B]

That is the french address Chappers - click on Presentations and then races and a window opens with a list of events on the left hand side. Scroll down and click on La Marmotte. It's in the Alpes, not the Pyrenees, but good nosh shouldn't be a problem to source - it's France after all!

Fatdocs switchbacks link gives me a page linking to a number of sites, mostly relating to holidays for mountainbiking singles....?!?!?! Has your missus found the secret bike stash and thrown you out, Doc?

[fatdoc]

 

hang on...

www.switch-backs.com


ahem. that's better!

[fatkid2000]

may i remind you that you've just spent quite a lot of cash on a MTB?  

could a also say that I. Norton & others will be holidaying at

www.switchbacks.co.uk some time in april ish.... no training camps for me next year i'm afraid!
[/quote]

The truth is out about fatdoc - off on a singles holiday.

Well I can attempt to learm to ride the MTB and get even better riding the road bike up-hill. Oh yes, I forgot the new job - maybe I can become a house-husband.

[chappers]

That is the french address Chappers - click on Presentations and then races and a window opens with a list of events on the left hand side. Scroll down and click on La Marmotte. It's in the Alpes, not the Pyrenees, but good nosh shouldn't be a problem to source - it's France after all!

non! i meant that you may need to apply from a french address as this last year it was not open to international entry (for the etap). i know where it is (la marmotte), but any ex-pats en france could apply for you is what i was getting at!

[Percy B]

Aaaahhh. Now I get you! I know a few brits who've done the marmotte and they didn't mention this french address thing, although it does sound like a very french piece of random buerocracy (sp!). Maybe they entered through a club or tour operator like Sports Tours International who provide the entry as part of a package that inclues accomodation too.

[fatkid2000]

Well it looks like 'The Cobra' was a little too much in awe of 'The Pirate" - idiot.
http://www.bikeradar.com/news/article/riccardo-ricco-fails-drugs-test-at-tour-de-france-17591

That makes 3 caught using EPO.

With regards to the La Marmotte - I've not looked at the entry form, could I blag it with a Spanish address, or does it have to be a French one. Just thought it might be a bit of anti-British Frenchness.

[Percy B]

Yeah - nice one Ricco you total cock! Those french drug testers will never detect this special 3rd generation EPO that I've been taking - oh bollocks, yes they can. Another career in tatters - lets hope he hasn't got aspirations of going the whole way of 'the pirate' and dying of a massive cocaine overdose in a seedy hotel room on his tod.....
At least the dopers seem to be getting caught now so maybe the new doping controls are working a little better. 3 chancers caught in a field of 180 top level cyclists isn't too bad. 2 of these were 'older' pro's, who probably wouldn't have made pro team selection without taking drugs - a symptom of the 'old school' mentality of drug taking, and fear of what happens when your sporting career ends and you realise that you will have to get a proper job or cheat to continue as a pro. Long may they continue to catch the diminishing numbers of dopers - I fucking hate questioning my belief of an amazing sporting performance. There's nothing worse than finding out a stunning effort was fuelled by drugs rather than talent and determination.

[saltbeef]

well said perc. i was well impressed by ricco the other day, now it just questions everything about cycling. hopefully the more aggressive drug testing will weed out the cheats... 

[chappers]

i just knew it was too good to be true, as i watched him win i was worried this would happen, too much like pantani for my liking! what a cock.

[fatkid2000]

  With Percy. Apparently the testing is being more targeted at certain suspicious performances / older pros. The Spanish are moaning that few French riders are not being tested as regularly as others. IMO it seems to be working. I'm just pissed off the so called new generation of riders that were suppose to be cleaning the sport up. So far this year Boonen - done for Coke, Ricco - EPO - I'm sure there will be other young riders caught, it seems to me that the young boys are probably indulging just like the older pros.

[Oli]

From a non-roadie view, is it not possible to blanket test all the riders? Or are the drugs taken only detectable for a very short time that would make that an impractical approach?

[saltbeef]

yeah i don't think it would be impossible, look at athletics they get tested all the bloody time. but they all get tested.
on the flipside well done mark cavendish, awesome effort. (but shouldn't you be training for the olympics?)

[fatkid2000]

All the riders get tested during the season - and its pretty random - so they don't get warnings, the test guys just turn up and do the tests at the location where the rider states they are. I think in big events like the tours - the reason that they can't test all the riders is lab capacity. There are too many riders (100+) and not enough specialist labs to run the required tests, so the organisers test the winners of stages and then target other riders.

Its good to see that Mr Chambers won't be representing the UK at the Olympics, after today's judgement.

[Dolly]

I'm looking at doing L'etape or La Marmotte next year. Does anybody know the entrance process, and how likely I'll get a place?

When I did the etape a couple of years ago, we did it all through Sporting Tours - or Graham Baxter's Sporting Tours. Registration opens in November (I think) You need to get all paperwork ready before and then courier on the day of opening to make sure you get in. Its a real pain, but once you're in everything is organised for you. Hotels, coach transfers etc.

[Plattsy]

Piepoli and Ricco sacked by Saunier Duval for 'doping practices' found during an internal investigation. 

[Percy B]

At least nowadays their pro cycling careers are finished but still, what a bunch of 

Supposedly the poor results of French cyclists in recent years is due to the fact that the french authorities have a very strict and thorough anti doping policy (as we do in British cycling nowadays) and so they have been beaten by the Italians, Spanish, Belgians, etc. due to the fact that they have been racing clean. This was always thought to be an excuse for bad results, but when 'up and coming stars' such as Ricco are caught doping it looks a lot more feasible. I hate doubting the achievements of others, but it does make you have the odd moment of doubt about others performances. At least Mark Cavendish is dope free (as his performance in the mountains proves!) and has won his 3 stages by specialising in what he obviously excels at - flat out, eyes-out-on-stalks sprinting.

[fatkid2000]

That'll be 4 wins for Cav now - get with the programme Percy.

[Falling Down]

Amazing effort by Cav... 4 stage wins now.

[webbo]

yeah i don't think it would be impossible, look at athletics they get tested all the bloody time. but they all get tested.
on the flipside well done mark cavendish, awesome effort. (but shouldn't you be training for the olympics?)

the bbc were saying this morning that the athletics test for epo ain't that good and there will be a fair few winning medals who are on it.

[RobinB]

On a separate note from the Tour etc - I am thinking of buying one of the SDG I-beam saddles and posts for my road bike. Saddles I am looking at are the I-Fly and the Bel Air - anyone got any experience or opinions on either?