Alp d'Huez

The ride from Alpe d'Huez to col du sarenne was one of my favourite. Its a small little road that snakes its way high up in the mountains and offers stunning views. Then you get the col du sarenne decent which is both spectacular and scary!! If your staying bourg, consider this as a route back down the mountain, or if your staying in the ski station and fancy taking on the galibier, go via this way.

This is the t-shirt, get it when you come back, or get it now like me (one day I might do it myself, was there watching in 2004)

http://www.tweekscycles.com/Product.do?method=view&n=3623&g=592689&p=592...

..also - in terms of memento's, there are usually 2 photographers permanently based on Alpe d'Huez who will snap you as you round the hairpin, then shove a card in your hand with a special code. You can then log in to a website and download your photos, or one of them has a shop in Bourg you can pop in to if you prefer.

There is a really popular cafe bar with cyclists that you cannot help but notice. As you get close to the top of Alpe d'Huez there are a few shops/bars and this place is next to the new Trek store - it's on your left hand side as you near the top and called the Indian, or Indiana, or something like that! It has a a long bike rack out the front and chairs outside to sit back and watch a few fellow sufferers arrive.

This is also the arrivals point for the official timing chip, if you rent one. You don't need to though, the start point and finish are clearly marked with sign posts so you can use your garmin or computer.

As Farrell says though, if you've come this far don't stop here - carry on under the bridge and follow the road for a further 200m of climbing. This takes you up to the ski station, large car parks and hotels and is the finishing point used in the Tour. Better views up there and a stream of pure cold water you can refill your bottle if you want.

Depending on your fitness you are looking at 60-90 minutes, so I don't think you'll need anything more than one bottle to get you up there.

As the other guys said, do not ride your brakes all the way down. Get your braking done on the straights between hairpins, so that you keep full control on each bend (if you brake on the bends it's harder to steer, but you probably know that). It is a stunning descent, just relax and enjoy it.

As for your other free day, you are spoiled for choice! The climb to the Col de la Croix de Fer is simply stunning. It's a really tough challenge, long, steep in places and open to the wind. The view from the top is utterly breathtaking though, and you may well see a few marmots sunbathing as you get nearer the top! If you ride this all the way from Bourg and back it's a 50 mile round trip, but half of it is downhill of course.

If you don't want such a physical challenge, a less demanding and quieter climb is the col d'ornon. It's just 8k from bourg and is a beautiful climb, usually dead quiet other than the cow bells.

Best advice is to get straight to the tourist information and get the free guide to bike routes. It is awesome and details every climb in detail and with a few suggested routes so you can judge your mileage exactly

All the above advise is good. I would say don't skimp on the water on really not days, you will suffer before the end.

Most of the other surrounding climbs are worth a bash, but some are further away then others. I really enjoyed Croix De Fer, Lauterer Galibier and D'Ornon

Basically everything Farrell said above.

As for blowing tubes and tires it's a distinct possibility on an alpine descent, don't don't don't drag ur brakes.

I've descended on a road bike an mtb and in a car......
my cars discs were hot enough to stink and turn water to steam when I got to the bottom
My mtb hydraulic fluid boiled

By the time I descended on the road bike I'd learnt my lessons , alternate ur braking if u want to semi drag before applying both hard enough to scrub enough speed to get round the bends

Another good climb and descent is the col d'ornon as descended in last year's tdf and there is a bar/ restaurant at the top

It's rubbish mate, wouldn't bother, the whole region is bobbins. None of the other climbs are worth it easier.

Bitter jealousy out of the way, here are my bits of advice:

Tourist information in Bourg D'Oisin do a TimToo timing chip which costs a couple of Euros to hire, plus a returnable deposit and you can also purchase a certificate when you return it.

The first five or six bends are the toughest, so don't go guns blazing at the start or you risk blowing before the top, just get in to your rhythm and build up. After that you can open it up a bit more depending on how you feel.

The first village you get to isn't the top, even if there is a "finish line" there. Keep going, then through the short tunnel and over the roundabouts, you'll then see the monument thing on the right hand side of the road where the finish line is.

There are plenty of places to grab a beer at the top, thankfully you wont have the big set up at Dutch Corner to tempt you on the way down but I;d recommend taking it fairly easy. We got stuck in to the beer there last year and two of us had a very hairy, bravado filled first turn after. That brief moment when you realise you don't have enough braking power on your hoods and have to completely release the brakes in order to get on the drops to start grabbing fistfuls of brake will make your arse twitch like a rabbits nose.

When descending, stay on your drops, not your hoods.

Turn 14 (I think, not 100%, it's a right hand turn on the descent) offers a great view across the valley so is a good place to stop have photos on your way down (or up if you like).

If you smoke, buy them in Bourg D'oisans, I got absolutely violated when I bought 20 Marlboro and a lighter from a shop at the top, think it was about 11 or 12 euros.

Jammy sod, enjoy it.