We like bikes here at PROMPT– no surprises there I guess. We also like the poetry and the views that the mountains inspire in us and offer up to us on each ride. Today, after bend 9 on the Alpe, our home town of Bourg d’Oisans was shrouded in the cloud that we had climbed through. The valley was as breathtaking as ever. We also like the technology and the endless debate about the benefits of this or that product, brand and design concept. For instance I love my beautiful hand made Cielo bike. But I also know that the PROMPT bikes ‘out-perform’ it in every possible way around here. They are simply more efficient- up, down and across. Perhaps the most frequent conversation concerns gear ratios and we basically opt for a ‘compact’ and 27/28 rear or a triple up front. There is no doubt that ‘spinning’ up these hills works best for most of our customers. There is also no doubt that the best ‘gear’ available to all of us is our own fitness. If you put the two together some amazing things start to happen in these mountains.
Icing sugar above Col d’Ornon
1 SepThe weather changed direction yesterday after weeks of glorious sunshine. The darker skies and rain signalled a very noticeable cooling off and, sure enough, once the mountain mist cleared there was a dusting of snow on the higher peaks. It magically changes the whole atmosphere of the mountains as well as the clothing that you need to use when riding. I didn’t quite get it right today as I enjoyed the fresh air riding up the Col d’Ornon but suffered a deep chill descending. The PROMPT is a great ‘point and shoot’ frame and that means fast descending and considerable windchill. Next time I will take a full wind jacket!
Alpe d’Huez first timers
30 Aug
Everyone thinks that they have to be super fit and super fanatical to ride Alpe d’Huez but maybe you just have to be keen and prepared to sweat a bit! Two PROMPT customers took the plunge yesterday and achieved much more than they anticipated. Steve surprised himself with a steady and very controlled climb up the mountain and young Sam, at fourteen, realised that all that time on the BMX bike had prepared him better than he thought and by the top he was beginning to have the look of an experienced cyclist as he kept up a good rhythm to the finishing line. Steve and Sam both completed the climb in under two hours and proudly bought themselves celebratory jerseys at the top. Their PROMPT bikes, fitted with triple chain sets and low gears, helped them achieve their first ascent of the Alp. They will definitely be back for more!
the d211 does box hill
10 AugOne of the proud owners of a D211 sent this picture in after completing the olympic box hill climb
Aaa
2 PROMPTS complete the Route des Grandes Alpes
6 AugMore Than 21 Bends have just completed their Route des Grandes Alpes Tour. They had 2 PROMPT D211 on the tour and both successfully completed the 10 day tour. The bikes are taken to the start of the tour and returned at the end of the tour and is the easiest way to get bike hire for the tour
Is blue better than yellow?
12 JulAs a certain British rider begins to take a firm hold on yellow there is another colour ruling the roads in the French Alps this week. Monsieur le PROMPT bleu has been spinning to the Col summits with sublime ease against his Californian buddies- so much so that there are various plots and ruses beginning to play out over the beers in the evening. I counted a full 15 minute advantage on La Morte today. As we await the real yellow jersey today at Le Col de la Croix de Fer it will be interesting to see what other points calculations have been taken into consideration. Chapeau Monsieur le PROMPT bleu.
Is it about the bike?
6 JulHere at station PROMPT we get to ride with a different set of fantastic people every week. People come because of the mountains and they come here because of the bikes. Add a person in between these two things and you have a life changing experience. Think that is hyperbole- you should read our feedback sheets! Anyway it means we get to see a lot of bikes- usually bikes from the expensive end of the spectrum from all the big brands. All of them sporting that years shape or technology or design cue and all of them brilliant machines. In our two day Marmotte tour last week one of the eight riders was on a PROMPT that he hired from us. We rode the Telegraphe first. The PROMPT was first up. Then the tough side of the Galibier. First up again. Finally the 21 bends of Alpe d’Huez. You guessed it. Is it about the bike?
Le jeaune fille de PROMPT
6 JulEvery so often we carve out a few hours of sunshine to ride our bikes on our own between guests here in Bourg d’Oisans. Sometimes we ride up some of the lesser known climbs and valleys- places that the Tour has barely touched- but nonetheless magical and tough. Sometimes we are lucky enough to have company. Phil’s daughter Ella fits a 49cm PROMPT these days and last week we cruised down the valley into Allemond for a coffee shop and family time. We went up over the dam and up over the hill. Ella brought a serene effort to the ride, pedalling easily and impressed on the way down as we advised her to ‘blip blip’ the brakes. She had it dialled immediately. Another successful PROMPT ride
Gravel and descending
3 JulThe Telegraph was lush today, a classic James Joyce ‘verdant’. The Irish members of the group might appreciate the literary reference! We parked at the top and unloaded and pumped, stretched and smiled. First you go down then you go up. The sound of the ‘humming bee’ as the Chris King wheels spun their perfect mechanical rhythm on the tarmac. Crouching over the bars the bends and trees and the road edge disappeared for a couple of kilometres. But the cloud had not cleared and it created a fog of limited visibility. Limited visibility and freshly laid gravel- curious a few days before the Marmotte. Gravel and fog changed the noise of the bike and suddenly there was very little grip either. Concentrating a bit harder it was another reason to get familiar with the inflection of the PROMPT. With everything whirring nicely we descended into saint michel de maurienne and turned around to climb the Telegraphe. When you know that the Galibier is coming up next it can be easy to ignore the Telegraphe. It is not as exposed or as steep as other climbs but it is the Telegraphe- a place of legend and pain, success and glory. Today it settled our nerves and the group ascended steadily carrying the quiet excitement of anticipation for the Galibier to come.
Christmas comes early to Bourg d’Oisans
22 JunChristmas is not here yet. It gets cold in Bourg d’Oisans, home station for PROMPT, at Christmas; everyone tells you that when you are moving here. Cold enough to take your breath away. But today Christmas came early as our latest batch of frames arrived. Candy colours have come to PROMPT!
Two frames in grey with a hint of green, another in glossy black and our real eye opener – blue with red lettering. Rock and roll this one!
I don’t know how old you feel but it seems to me that riding bikes is age defying in every way. Many of our riders scoot up Alpe d’Huez like 60 year old children. It is not necessarily how quickly they do it but it is that grin of achievement and stressless pleasure at the top. It is a return to more innocent times and reminds us all that our inner child is not that far away. It just got a little buried along the way. Riding is about movement and fresh air, physicality and smiles. We fidget with happiness on our bikes like children with popcorn.
A few minutes ago a French kid hammered past the shop on his bike – late for dinner. You can only do that on a bike. Bike riding is like an endless Christmas morning.
53cm and 58 cm Shimano Ultegra Triple Hire Bikes for Alpe d’Huez now in stock
21 JunWe have taken delivery of some of our new Shimano Ultegra triple chainset PROMPT D211 carbon hire bikes for rental. These can now be booked directly online here.
Two bikes leaning against a wall
20 JunThere are many ways to experience the pleasure of a bike and it is often the unexpected or rather, unanticipated, ones that signify the day. Today it is a simple photo of two PROMPT bikes leant up against an old French wall. As I tuned gears and cleaned chains last night I enjoyed turning the simple pleasure that this image was giving me over in my head. Round and round you might say.
The linear composition of the image works courtesy of a new super compact camera that allows me to make panoramic images. And it fits perfectly in a jersey pocket. I am not sure that’ two bikes leaning against a wall’ was the panorama that was envisaged by the Samsung technicians. Of course, wall textures always make interesting images as they convey a sense of weather and history, culture and labour.
Perhaps it is this culture and history that I am imposing onto my enjoyment of the image- as two of only a handful of PROMPT bikes currently in existence makes a little interjection into this millennia. The fact that my brother and I are making our contribution to the cycling community by creating this micro brand is a nice expression of our lifetimes of bike enthusiasm. Like many things you make yourself- it seems so obvious once it exists.
Although you can’t see it in the image you also know that the bikes are leaning against a wall mid ride. They are waiting for the coffee to be drunk and the ride to continue. Hot mountain weather in St Christophe and the Berarde. The always perfect effort of climbing up against an emerging view and the sound of the returning descent.
Five PROMPT D211 on Day 1 of the Marmotte Big Col Tour
17 JunMore Than 21 Bends had 5 Prompt D211 bikes out today on their trip to La Berarde as part of the Marmotte Big Col Tour.
This photo was taken at a coffee stop in St Chrisophe en Oisans
PROMPT D211 HIRE BIKES With Triple Chainsets for Alpe d’Huez
22 MayWe are pleased to announce that from the end of July 2012 we are going to have a selection of Carbon D211 road hire bikes with full Shimano Ultegra Triple groupset. For more information on availabilty and to book online click here
A Peloton of Prompts in Italy
15 MayA group of PROMPT bikes will now be known as a Peloton of PROMPTS. Here are 4 taken recently at the bottom of the Colle di Sestriere in Italy. Look carefully one is reflected in the shop window.
New PROMPT Cycle Hire Pick up point
23 AprThe new PROMPT cycle hire pick up point in Bourg d’Oisans is now open. The shop is also selling Alpe d’Huez Jerseys, energy bars gels and bottels as well as carbon bottle cages
PROMPT D211 in White
24 FebThe great thing about the D211 is that you can choose any colour for your frame and it will not cost you anymore.
Simple order your frame through our website and pop us an email with the colours that you want.
The D902 on Alpe d’Huez in December.
13 DecI took a break from renovating our new shop in Bourg d’Oisans to take the D902 up Alpe d’Huez. For the record this is the 41st consectutive month that I have ridden the great climb.
Alpe d’Huez Jersey
26 NovWe have just had delivery of our 2012 Alpe d’Huez Jersey. This year we have gone for a simple design with our alpe d’huez badge on one of the sleeves. Also as an extra incentive we are offering 20% discount on one of these jerseys if you order it when you hire your bike online.
Cycling Alpe d’Huez in November
12 NovI completed Alpe d’Huez for the 40th consecutive month this week in glorious early winter sunshine. The purpose of the ride – to get my winter ski pass. The D211 performed faultlessly as I cruised up in 65 minutes despite having to stop for traffic lights on the last bend. There is not much snow about up top as the picture belows shows.
After the climb I road over to Oz en Oisans and took this photo overlooking Lake Verney where the Alpe d’Huez Triathlon Swim takes place.
We will be busy renovating our new pickup point in Bourg d’Oisans over the winter but will be available for pre booked bike hire until the end of November and starting again in February 2012.
PROMPT D902 tackles the D902
7 OctTook the retro PROMPT D902 up the Col du Galibier (road name D902) today. Great ride in perfect autumn sunshine and apartfrom our More Than 21 Bends Cycling group not a soul on the summit of the Col du Galibier
PROMPT D902 Retro
4 OctI have been busily builing up an old 1988 columbus steel road frame in PROMPT colours over the summer months. It got its maiden ride today up the D211 better known as Alpe d’Huez. Thursday will see me try it up the D902 better known as the Col du Galibier. The frame is a one off and will be used to promote our business in Bourg d’Oisans.
Australian National Champ Victoria Veitch rides a PROMPT D211
4 SepAustralian national champ Victoria Veitch stayed on More Than 21 Bends Alpe d’Huez to Italy tour and hired a PROMPT D211 from us for the week. For the record she recorded an excellent 54,27 seconds up Alpe d’Huez
New PROMPT D211 Hire bikes delivered
17 AugWe have just had some new hire bikes delivered from our factory. Some 55cm and 53cm frames. They are available to hire now. Full Shimano Ultegra groupset with compact chainsets. Stay on any of Tour d’Oisans cycling tours for the remainder of 2011 and get a 20% discount on the bike hire (one week hire only)
D211 Photoshoot – behind the scenes
19 JulWe have been busy getting some professional shots of the PROMPT D211. You will have to wait until the autumn to see them but here is a sneak preview
Cycle Hire Col d’Izoard
17 JulOne of our cycle hire customers provided us with this photo on the Col d’Izoard.
Cycle Hire for La Marmotte
13 JulAll our PROMPT.CC hire bikes have been successfully hired and finished the La Marmotte sportive and also the Etape du Tour Act 1 2011 sportive. Most of the bikes were hired as part of the La Marmotte week.
D211 on Mont Ventoux
30 MaySome of our bikes were on hire in Ventoux last week as part of Enjoy Oisans More Than 21 Bends Alpe d’Huez and Mont Ventoux week. They caused quite a fuss at the top of Ventoux with quite a lot of questions being asked about the bikes.
PROMPT CYCLE CULTURE 