The film follows top British sportive rider Michael Cotty on the course of the 18th L’Etape du Tour from the start town of Pau and into the Pyrenees crossing the Col de Marie Blanc and the Col du Soulor before finishing on the leg-breaking Col du Tourmalet after 4,000 metres of climbing and 174 kilometres.

The climb of the Tourmalet was first used in the Tour de France in 1910, “assassins” was the word spat at the organisers of the Tour by French rider Octave Lapize as he crossed the summit of the Pyrenean giant.

Our rider, Michael, describes the flat start route from the race track of Pau through the vineyards and small villages towards the first big obstacle of the Col Du Marie Blanc at 1035 metres altitude. Top tips on the road surfaces and conditions to Escot for the base of the climb, conserve energy and take drinks on board before the battle of the mountain.

Mountain action

The Marie Blanc starts off fairly gently (2%) on narrow roads before rearing up to nearly 13% for the last kilometres to the summit. Michael takes us through how you should tackle this early climb with valuable advice on pacing your effort and the possible gearing you would need to undertake a ride of these dimensions.

With the first climb out of the way, the descent is shown at exaggerated speed from behind the rider and on board, but with some more good advice on riding on a twist, shadowy drop into the treeless valley with its cattle grids.

L'Etape profile

More advice on rehydration as the course hits a short sharp climb, when to eat and how to find out what your body needs is very important, Michael tries his best to get this over to us before he hits the next mountain of the Col du Soulor at just over the half way point.

The Soulor starts gradually with a low gradient until it hits the 20 kilometre to go sign and then the climbing proper kicks in. As Michael tackles the 1,000 metres of climbing he stresses the importance of riding within yourself and working with others to save precious energy along with caring for your body with sun block, useful knowledge for all rides not just L’Etape.

How to climb efficiently is a skill we all need and Michael gives us many pointers to finding the style to suit you as he attacks the Soulor (1470m) with its stunning views over its gradient of between 7% and 9% with the Pyrenees in the back ground.

The Hard road ahead!

The monster climb of the Col du Tourmalet crests at 2114 metres above sea level, here you need to listen the Michaels advice on gearing and pace to handle the daunting ascent. For those of you who are riding this year’s L’Etape du Tour then this part of the film will be priceless. We see the fullness of the mountain road, the gradients, the bends and where the elements could make all the difference with rain or wind taking its toll.

The Tourmalet has varying degrees of gradients of around 8% to 10% and the last 5 kilometres are a very dangerous place to be when the distance starts to be felt in the legs. The beautiful mountain is one of the highest in the Pyrenees and is a legend of the Tour de France, so even if you are going for a personal ride or L’Etape forewarned is forearmed!

Start of the Tourmalet

The ride over its time to recap on the course, Michael Cotty is aided with local knowledge from Chris Balfour of Pyractif who lives in the area, lots of advice, not just on L’Etape but on long rides in general, if you are up for a Grand Fondo you need to see this DVD for loads of tips, advice and necessary knowledge, do it!

Michael Cotty & Team

July 18th 2010, don’t dream it; do it!

Liz Hatch-Come ride with me.

Liz Hatch

Very interesting look at the inside line of a Professional athlete at her work, the Californian sights are well worth seeing and Ms. Hatch is also kind on the eye! (And the music is very cool!)

Liz in action

Check out Cyclefilms web-site.

The current season in Europe is almost ended; this just means that La Vuelta (The Tour of Spain) is back. Alastair and me were at the stage 6 in Xativa (Valencia). Exactly 40Km away from the BCR office. So we wanted to show our readers some interior views about one of the big grand tours in the World. This is just the introduction on what will happen within the upcoming articles. I hope you enjoy the first pixs of these series….

]]> http://www.bikecyclingreviews.com/lavuelta09.html/feed 3 http://www.bikecyclingreviews.com/DVD_Etape_Du_Tour.html http://www.bikecyclingreviews.com/DVD_Etape_Du_Tour.html#comments Wed, 15 Jul 2009 09:38:34 +0000 sam http://www.bikecyclingreviews.com/?p=3751 Last year we looked at the DVD from Cyclefilms of the three BIG Grand Fondo’s, (The Trilogy) now the same production company have released “The Road to Mt. Ventoux” which takes an inch by inch look at this year’s L’Etape Du Tour that finishes up the monster “Giant of Provence” the Mont Ventoux. Follow in the footsteps of the Pro peloton and ride the Giant!

The L’Etape Du Tour has followed one of the great stages of the Tour de France every year for 17 years, and this year it’s stage 20. There could be over 8,000 other cyclists taking the challenge of the 172 kilometres from the home of Nougat, Montelimar, to the lunar landscape finish of the Mont Ventoux, with 3,000 meters of climbing this is a ride of epic proportions.

“The Road to Mt. Ventoux” DVD doesn’t just show you the route, it explains all you need to know about riding a big sportive and much more. We start the reconnaissance with tips on what equipment you need, this covers everything from the bike set-up, spares selection to clothing and what nourishment you need to carry, there are feed stations on the route on the day of the ride, but you still need to look after yourself and taking what your body needs is very important. Your equipment could make the difference between finishing or not, so this section could give you the edge.

Our guide, Michael Cotty, takes us sight-seeing in the start town of Montelimar which will be very useful for finding all the necessities for the ride, and then he goes on a tour of one of the Nougat manufacturers, explaining how it can be used as excellent ride food. This section is very helpful if you plan on doing the ride at another time either solo or with a group friends, where the hotels, restaurants and other amenities are situated will set you up for a great start.

Michael Cotty is one of the best Sportive riders on the circuit and he passes on his expertise on the route from the tricky start through and out of the town and into the Provence countryside. Before we hit the Mont Ventoux there are five other climbs to cross, from the start you are climbing towards the Cote de Citelle, which is not so steep, Michael gives some great advice on road conditions and what the weather may do, the sort of info you can only get from an experienced L’Etape rider.

Next we are taken over the Col d’Ey, the Col de Fontaube, Sault and the 996 meter Col de Notre-Dame des Abeilles and we still have the Mont Ventoux at 1912 meters to tackle and there is so much information on the course and how to ride a mammoth like this. The DVD is tiring, let alone doing the ride! You can appreciate the toughness as it unfolds on the screen.

Fast forward to the Mt.Vontoux, this mountain is a legend, there has been many a battle over this climb in the past, this is where the great British cyclist; Tom Simpson pedalled his last as he died on these slopes. Lance Armstrong is quoted as saying; “it’s a tough mountain, a really stiff challenge, probably the most difficult climb in France.” So that’s the history and it’s not a mountain to take lightly. Michael gives us the low-down on the climb and he sets off on the 22 kilometre climb from the line in the town of Bedoin.

We can see the top from the town and it looks like it has snow on it, but this is because it is bare lime stone rock, but the camera shows us first how pretty the area is and then you see how domineering this mountain is on the surrounding countryside. As the climb kicks upwards it passes through forest and then as the trees thin out at 6 kilometres to go, you can see why a 34 tooth chain ring is a necessity. The Tom Simpson memorial is set in the middle of this lunar landscape with only 2 kilometres to the top and the finish in sight, this is where you need to be fit to finish the L’Etape du Tour. With the help of this DVD you would have a better chance of succeeding than going without all the inside information that can be gleaned from what is a very interesting, beautifully filmed and above all a very informative film.

If you are serious about riding this year’s L’Etape Du Tour this DVD is a must and if you want to aspire to this kind of riding then the DVD gives so much information not just on this ride, but many great tips on any long ride, organised or solo.

Our Vote: 9.9/10, a great watch if you are riding the L’Etape or not.

As Cyclefilm say; “Don’t dream it, do it!” www.cyclefilm.com

Sportive’s are the new racing or if you prefer, they are the new marathon mass entry events. Yes, a Sportive is like a road race for the riders at the front, but for the others it’s a race against their team mates or it’s a personal battle against themselves, the distance and the mountains.

These DVD’s show you what to expect from some of the most challenging roads in Europe, this series give you the low-down on the whole “shebang”, if you are thinking of riding these, or any other big event, then this box set will get you in the mood for riding.

Top Sportive specialist, Michael Cotty covers all three routes for the camera, describing each event in detail, these are the best and the hardest Sportive’s on offer, let’s take a close look at each one hour DVD:

The Trilogy-Vol. 1: Maratona dles Dolomites

Some say Italy is the home of the bike maybe the Italians didn’t invent it and maybe it isn’t the home of the biggest race, but there is no passion for cycling any where in the world like there is in Italy and the Mountains of the Dolomites have seen many bike battles over the years in many road races.

You can relive those battles with this Sportive, Michael takes us over the seven mountain passes in this fairly short Sportive, measuring in at 138 kilometers, but it’s very hard to ride all these mountain passes in one day, as many professional Giro d’Italia riders will attest.

Dolomites

If you are considering riding a Sportive in Italy it has to be the Maratona dles Dolomites, it has so much to offer, those mountain passes are a must and think of the Italian food and ambiance.

On this DVD there are extra Special Features including uncut “Bullet Cam” sequences and Part 1 of the “Sportive Survival Guide” which covers tips on different techniques, such as climbing, descending and group riding.

Dolomites

The Trilogy-Vol. 2: Quebrantahuesos

The Quebrantahuesos is a Spanish Sportive, but this Pyrenean challenge with 3,500 meters of climbing goes over the border in to France and conquers the Somport, Marie Blanque and Portalet. This is a long ride of 205 punishing kilometers and on the day of filming our guide Michael Cotty had snow storms, headwinds and torrential rain storms to contend with. A “hardmans” day that see’s him struggle to make the end of the ride before darkness fell. This has to be one of the hardest Sportive’s on the calendar and this film takes you through every grueling inch.

Quebrantahuesos Profile

Special Features on this DVD are Part 2 of “Sportive Survival Guide” tips, this time a look at bike set-up and packing your bike for the trip and there are more uncut “Bullet Cam” sequences.

Quebrantahuesos

The Trilogy-Vol. 3: La Marmotte

L’Alpe d’Huez is one of the most famous climbs in cycling history and it’s the one everyone wants to conquer, at least once in their life! La Marmotte has climbing and then more climbing, topping 5,000 meters of it over the 174 kilometers of tough French roads. Before you can tackle the 21 hair pin bends of L’Alpe d’Huez you have to climb the Col du Glandon and the enormous Col du Galibier, these are monuments in the world of cycling and can not be taken lightly. This DVD has punch by punch descriptions of these energy sapping mountain passes, if you are thinking of attempting La Marmotte this is the guide you need to succeed.

Marmotte

Part 3 of the “Sportive Survival Guide” goes into nutritional issues to help you get though your big ride and more uncut “Bullet Cam” sequences.

Marmotte

What do we think?

This box set is a must if you are thinking of riding any of these Sportive’s, or for that matter any long hard ride in company or solo. You don’t need to be in Italy, Spain or France to find these DVD’s helpful and interesting and you never know they may get you off your ass and out on your bike! There is lots of information on the particular rides, even if you are planning to do them on a different day from the organized rides or over a longer time scale then the DVD’s take you by the hand the whole way round the routes.

Each of The Trilogy DVD’s are 14.99 GBP and the complete box set is 39.99 GBP. The neatest thing is that this includes worldwide delivery and the price is the same for everyone at the present day currency conversion, they are also Zone Free, so they will play anywhere on the globe.

Checkout the Cyclefilm web-site www.cyclefilm.com for more DVD’s and lots of other information and to make your purchases.

Our Vote-10/10, well filmed and very informative, nice!

At the Tour de France in 2004 yellow wristbands started to appear on the riders, at first no one knew what they were all about. It was then revealed that these were LIVESTRONG wristbands and are part of the Lance Armstrong fund, which is for cancer relief and was set up by champion cyclist and cancer survivor Lance Armstrong.

Millions All Over The World

Approximately 55 million people around the world wear a LIVESTRONG wristband, each one cost $1 and the money raised goes towards the work that LAF (Lance Armstrong Fund) carry out. The charity is based in Austin, Texas and was founded in 1997 by Lance, his courage and sporting prowess inspires and empowers people with cancer to battle on against the disease.

How It All Started

Lance Armstrong was 25 years old when he was diagnosed with testicular cancer, if caught early he would have been given a 90% chance of survival, but because he ignored the symptoms the cancer spread to other parts of his body and his survival was not given much chance. Lance fought the cancer and survived, he then went on to win the hardest bike race in the world, the Tour de France seven times and set up the LAF to help other cancer sufferers.

This is what you receive

The Bands
The wristbands themselves are made of a rubbery material (synthetic silicone) and has “LIVESTRONG” embossed into the material. Nike had them made and sold them through their outlets, but many people bought them from the LAF web site. The sad thing for the charity is that the wristbands became so popular that there wasn’t enough of them to meet the demand and people were selling them on e-bay at much higher prices and then of course the bands were being forged and so the charity made nothing.

Copied By Many

The wristbands were such a success that many other charities have done there own versions, pink, black, white, red, blue, green and two different twisted together colours have been seen, but none as popular as the LIVESTRONG presidents, sportsmen, actors and many famous people have been spotted wearing them, they are an unbelievable success!

After our article on smooth or hairy legs we noticed that Italian company Elite (who are famous for nice carbon bits for your bike, like bottle cages and also training rollers) have a subsidiary company called Ozone who makes massage oils and also a Depil Mousse which is made especially for sportsmen. I say sportsmen because, Ozone say, the Mousse has to be stronger to burn off men’s coarse hair. I am glad to read the reasons they give for hair removal being necessary to facilitate massage, avoid complications following cuts and abrasions, help wearing particularly tight garments and enhance muscle tone definition, so there are some good excuses for when people ask you why?

Where do we Start

You can use the Mousse on arms, legs, underarms and probably any other part of the body, but with anything that works like this, read the instructions first before you start spreading it on any delicate parts of your body. Ozone suggest you try the Mousse on a small part before doing the whole of your legs, they say a test of 8 to 10 minutes should do, but if that isn’t enough leave for another 2 minutes this being a maximum of 12 minutes altogether, also they say there will be no irritation or smell, this is not what I found.

How did I get on

First thing, wait until your family are out of the house and not coming back for a few hours, this stuff has a strong smell, you need to apply the Mousse either in the bath or in the shower and you need to leave the door and a window open for fresh air, when your family come home they (female members) will know what you’ve been doing. I tried a small area to see what would happen, nothing much after 10 minutes, so I left it for 15 minutes and that seemed to do it. Next I did one whole leg, you spray the Mousse directly on the leg and leave it, they assure you there is no irritation, well I had a very warm leg, I’d even say on fire, after 10 minutes nothing much had happened, 12 minutes and not much, 15 minutes and I had to wash it off, most of the hair had disappeared, but not all and there was patches where the hair was still there.

The Other Leg

OK, I can’t leave one leg smooth and the other hairy, so here we go with the other leg. Same as the first, spray the stuff all over your leg and wait, over 15 minutes of hot leg, this is not what they advise but I had to do it so see what would happen. Wash the stuff off and I had a smooth leg, so it does work, it had missed bits and I needed to tidy things up a bit with a wet razor, but they looked OK.

What Do We Think

It works, it smells and possibly it irritates, its not cheap and takes time, I also found my legs stubbly after only a week, personally I don’t think I’ll buy it again and will go back to the electric razor to shift the long hairs and then the wet razor to keep the stubble down. It will be the winter here soon so I will be wearing long training tights and I wont bother with shaving until the sun comes back in the spring. Give it a try, maybe I have very strong leg hairs, Ozone Elite also make some very good massage creams and oils, these we will try to review soon.

5/10 Its OK