Bourg d’Osians

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Fifelad

Veteran
Location
Carnock,Fife
Can anyone recommend a decent company that does guided tours from Oisans, or has anyone just booked accommodation and done the nearby iconic Cols self guided ? Can’t be that hard with local routes from tourist office or GPX files etc. A guided trip is good also without the hassle of meals, transfers etc and the benefit of local knowledge.
 

Shut Up Legs

Down Under Member
I just booked B&B accommodation when I stayed there in June (probably not the cheapest option, though). Le Bourg-d'Oisans has ample supply of accommodation of various types, and plenty of restaurants also. There's a long list of rides to be done starting/finishing there, with heaps of climbing.

"More Than 21 Bends" is the B&B I stayed at in June, see here:

Google Maps link
B&B web site
 

johnblack

Über Member
We did self supported last year at the Tour, stayed nearer to Allemond which is about 7-8 miles away straight along a bike track by the river, plenty of nice places there too. We stayed in a lodge, called Le Sardonnier owned by an absolutely ace English woman who cooked our breakfast and dinner each day, would highly recommend.
 

IaninSheffield

Veteran
Location
Sheffield, UK
Can anyone recommend a decent company that does guided tours from Oisans, or has anyone just booked accommodation and done the nearby iconic Cols self guided ? Can’t be that hard with local routes from tourist office or GPX files etc. A guided trip is good also without the hassle of meals, transfers etc and the benefit of local knowledge.
Although I can't help with the 'guided tours' option, I was lucky to be invited on my buddy's cycling club trip to Bourg a couple of years ago.
We stayed in the B&B accommodation (Le Vélo Jaune) mentioned in that journal; it's a coupla k outside Bourg, but handy for plenty of renowned and other climbs. Good accommodation, good food, and with a bar next door ... should you need one! The hosts at the time were cyclists and provided plenty of local knowledge; dunno whether they're still there. We did self-guided day outings, sometimes as a whole group, sometimes in smaller groups. I'd recommend it!
 

Big T

Guru
Location
Nottingham
We stayed at the Belledone campsite, near Allemond, at the bottom of the Croix de Fer climb - about 4 miles down the road from Bourg D’Oisans. We actually stayed in a chalet, not a tent. You don’t need a guide or even a GPS file. The local tourist info has a paper guide to the top 30 climbs in the area with maps, which includes all of the iconic ones and a few obscure ones too. There are so few roads that you just ride along the valley, pick your climb and ride up it. Alpe dHuez, Glandon/Croix de Fer, Col D’Ornon, Les 2 Alpes, Lauteret/Galibier all lead off the valley.

PS - my profile picture is taken near the top of the Galibier. This was in mid-June and there was still plenty of snow that high up, though none on the road itself.The pass doesn’t open until early May each year, due to snow blockage.
 
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Shut Up Legs

Down Under Member
Although I can't help with the 'guided tours' option, I was lucky to be invited on my buddy's cycling club trip to Bourg a couple of years ago.
We stayed in the B&B accommodation (Le Vélo Jaune) mentioned in that journal; it's a coupla k outside Bourg, but handy for plenty of renowned and other climbs. Good accommodation, good food, and with a bar next door ... should you need one! The hosts at the time were cyclists and provided plenty of local knowledge; dunno whether they're still there. We did self-guided day outings, sometimes as a whole group, sometimes in smaller groups. I'd recommend it!
I think Le Vélo Jaune is still running: I enquired in December about accommodation there, but I'd left it too late and they were full during my target trip period.
 
OP
OP
Fifelad

Fifelad

Veteran
Location
Carnock,Fife
I just booked B&B accommodation when I stayed there in June (probably not the cheapest option, though). Le Bourg-d'Oisans has ample supply of accommodation of various types, and plenty of restaurants also. There's a long list of rides to be done starting/finishing there, with heaps of climbing.

"More Than 21 Bends" is the B&B I stayed at in June, see here:

Google Maps link
B&B web site
What did you do about transfers from the airport ?
 

Shut Up Legs

Down Under Member
What did you do about transfers from the airport ?
Helen, the B&B owner and manager, picked me up at Grenoble train station and drove me to the B&B, but for an additional price. You can also take public transport from Grenoble or Lyon (there was information at the B&B, and on their web site, about this). Detailed instructions on getting there yourself are here: https://www.morethan21bends.com/howtogettobourgdoisans.aspx

Regards,

--- Victor.
 
OP
OP
Fifelad

Fifelad

Veteran
Location
Carnock,Fife
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