Equipment for the Road Bike Tour du Mont Blanc Holiday
As has already been mentioned, the Tour du Mont Blanc is supported so you only need carry the usual kit that you would take on any large day ride. If you have any equipment on your bike that is unusual and consequently hard to get spare parts for, then by all means please bring out some spares. The support vehicle will have tools with it so most repairs can be undertaken at the evening's accommodation. If you have any dietary requirements then please make sure you purchase any provisions before departure as it may prove very hard to track down items once we are en-route. There is an abundant supply of water along the route so two water bottles will be fine although a small camelbak would not be a bad idea as daytime temperatures can get into the upper 30 degrees Celsius.
Below is a list of kit that you should strongly consider bringing with you:
- A packable quality waterproof, i.e. one that is fully waterproof and breathable. If it rains we will still ride so this is an essential piece of kit.
- Base layers. Essential for layering up if the weather turns bad.
- A gillet. Perfect for the top of the mountain passes where you can soon chill after the exertion of the climb.
- Arm and knee/leg warmers. A great accompaniment to the gillet for fast alpine descents.
- A small camelbak. By no means essential but as well as water it is perfect for carrying a camera, food tools etc.
- Chamois cream. With a lot of saddle to bum interface on the tour this miracle substance can make the world seem a whole lot nicer at the bottom of a big climb.
- A few pairs of shorts. It will be very hard to wash and dry kit each evening so a clean pair of shorts will make your life and that of your co-riders a whole lot better.
- A helmet. Speaks for itself.
- Spare tubes tyres and a small multi tool. With 235 miles and a lot of high speed descending it is inevitable some mechanicals will be experienced.
Fitness
Being as fit as possible is one of the key factors to enjoying the cycling on the tour du Mont Blanc holiday. We have found that by the time the third day of riding is in the bag, people are starting to feel the affect of all the strenuous riding/holidaying and plain old fun that is on offer. The nature of the Tour du Mont Blanc is that there aren't any short-cuts or easy options, and you don't want to miss a day being transported by the support vehicle, so the fitter you are, the less likely you will be to blow a gasket.
The obvious training recommendation is put as many miles and as many hills in before you come. If you live somewhere rather flat, then a weekend of hard riding in mountains of Wales or Scotland will be a great boost. The day's vary in length, but if you are used to just a two hour training blast you should put some much longer rides into your schedule even if they are at a much slower pace. At the very least your backside will want to get in practice for 4-6 hours in the saddle! Don't worry that you will get behind though, this is a guided holiday and we will get everyone together at the tops of climbs and other key points, however strung out we may be.
The actual distance of the days is not the important measurement, altitude gain on the other hand, is key. Get used to spinning up long climbs without having to be getting out of the saddle.
Not only is the geography of the Mont Blanc area a factor so is the climate. Many of our clients from drier climes have found the humidity to be a bit of an issue. This is no problem for our European guests and after a day or so our American clients soon adapt. Mid summer temperatures are usually around 30 degrees Celsius but can drop down to around 10 degrees at the beginning and end of the season and if the weather goes 'wrong'.
