Cycling in the Alps - which bike?

[Fab Foodie]

As others have stated, it’s not about the bike or brakes. As long as all are in good working order you’re a competent rider, all will be fine...
Enjoy.

 

[Rickshaw Phil]

Mod Note:

Well, that went wrong surprisingly easily. I've cleaned up the disagreement and offer apologies to anyone whose valid points may have had to go along with the macho posturing.

The OP is looking for advice on what bike to use in the Alps. Can we get back to helpful suggestions from here on.

Thanks.

 

[Blue Hills]

my report on reservations on cantis/but not Vs seems to have gone.

I don't think there's any great problem with rim brakes as long as you are sensible.

Which includes using sensible rims and not "new improved" things with fag paper depth.

Folks (of all ages and genders) have been using them for a long time on hills.

 

[contadino]

Thankfully brake blocks and calipers have improved over the years.

 

[Rusty Nails]

Thankfully brake blocks and calipers have improved over the years.

And the hills have got less steep. At least the ones I ride have.

 

[Racing roadkill]

I don't even know what granny braking is.

its’s pulling the brakes on unnecessarily on a descent.

What I do know is that on long, steep descents, if you let your speed get too high and you have poor 80s brakes, you're out of control.

Get better brakes.

 

[Sunny Portrush]

Any views on best bike for road cycling in the Alps - staying in Le Bourg d'Oisans and doing Alpe d'Huez, Galibier etc. I'm a leisure road cyclist and ride a Trek Alpha at home (aluminium frame, carbon fork, Tiagra), so not looking to break any records!!

Key questions:
- There's a Giant for hire that sounds similar - views on these?
- Is upgrade to carbon worth it?
- Disc brakes or rim brakes - I've never used discs on a road bike and heard horror stories about both on the long descents!!

Thanks, Paul.

Just out of interest, where are you staying in Bourg? We had rather, er, rustic accommodation which wasn`t exactly cheap either!

 

[Brandane]

Any views on best bike for road cycling in the Alps - staying in Le Bourg d'Oisans and doing Alpe d'Huez, Galibier etc. I'm a leisure road cyclist and ride a Trek Alpha at home (aluminium frame, carbon fork, Tiagra), so not looking to break any records!!

Key questions:
- There's a Giant for hire that sounds similar - views on these?
- Is upgrade to carbon worth it?
- Disc brakes or rim brakes - I've never used discs on a road bike and heard horror stories about both on the long descents!!

Thanks, Paul.

Maybe it's just me, but I would be wary of hiring something all singing and dancing for a holiday trip. I would stick to hiring a bike similar in spec to your Trek Alpha, or you risk coming home and finding that you don't quite see your own bike in the same light. There follows an expensive trip to your favourite bike shop...

 

[DiddlyDodds]

One with the right gears and lots of them.

Two is enough, one for up the mountain and one for back down

 

[HLaB]

its’s pulling the brakes on unnecessarily on a descent.

I am guilty of that but touchwood I had no problems when descending the mountains in the Marmotte