Le jeaune fille de PROMPT

6 Jul

Every 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

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Gravel and descending

3 Jul

The 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.

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Christmas comes early to Bourg d’Oisans

22 Jun

Christmas 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.

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53cm and 58 cm Shimano Ultegra Triple Hire Bikes for Alpe d’Huez now in stock

21 Jun

We 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.

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Two bikes leaning against a wall

20 Jun

There 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.

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Five PROMPT D211 on Day 1 of the Marmotte Big Col Tour

17 Jun

More 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

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PROMPT D211 HIRE BIKES With Triple Chainsets for Alpe d’Huez

22 May

We 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

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A Peloton of Prompts in Italy

15 May

A 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.

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New PROMPT Cycle Hire Pick up point

23 Apr

The 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

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La Marmotte Sportive Cycle Hire 2012

2 Apr

We are now down to our last 3 bikes for the 2012 La Marmotte Sportive.

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PROMPT D211 in White

24 Feb

The 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.

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The D902 on Alpe d’Huez in December.

13 Dec

I 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.

 

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Alpe d’Huez Jersey

26 Nov

We 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.

 

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Cycling Alpe d’Huez in November

12 Nov

I 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.

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PROMPT D902 tackles the D902

7 Oct

Took 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

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PROMPT D902 Retro

4 Oct

I 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.

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Australian National Champ Victoria Veitch rides a PROMPT D211

4 Sep

Australian 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

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New PROMPT D211 Hire bikes delivered

17 Aug

We 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)

 

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D211 Photoshoot – behind the scenes

19 Jul

We 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

 

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Cycle Hire Col d’Izoard

17 Jul

One of our cycle hire customers provided us with this photo on the Col d’Izoard.

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Cycle Hire for La Marmotte

13 Jul

All 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.

 

 

 

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D211 on Mont Ventoux

30 May

Some 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.

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The Col du Galibier is open for summer 2011

23 May

One of our hire bikes on the Col du Galibier today after it opened to cyclist yesterday.

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PROMPT on the rocks

22 May

The D211 on the D526

16 May

One of our guest this week staying on the Tour d’Oisans holiday preorder a new PROMPT D211 with Shimano 105 groupset and PROMPT handlebars, seatpost and bottle cages. It went out on its maiden ride today up the D526 to the Col du Glandon and the Col de la Croix de Fer.

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PROMPT D211 Hire Bikes in Bourg d’Oisans

11 May

We have finally got our PROMPT D211 hire fleet ready and built for 2011. More bikes will be added for 2012 once are existing Felt, Canondale and Be One have finished the season. All have Shimano Ultegra groups sets. We have also just become official Shimano suppliers here in France as well. More to follow on this later.

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PROMPT D211 does the Cotswold Classic

8 May

Competed in the Cotswold Classic while staying in the UK in April. The D211 handled very well over the 166km long distance course. We have just taken delivery of our next batch for our cycle hire in Bourg d’Oisans

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Prompt in Sydney

14 Mar

We recently took a family holiday in Sydney Australia. Here I am wearing one of our PROMPT.CC Alpe d’Huez T-Shirts

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PROMPT D211

11 Feb

First ride this week of the new PROMPT D211 road bike. I took in Les Deux Alpes and Alpe d’Huez. So what can i say about it. Well its seriously light must be close to 7KG – although it is dripping with SRAM RED. Its understated but thats how i like my bikes. More importantly the ride was as good as any other high end carbon frame that I have ridden. It was direct when you put the pedals down hard – helped by the thicker chainstay – it steered very confidiently into the alpine switchback bends of Alpe d’Huez and Les Deux Alpes. The thinner seatstays coupled with the prompt handlebars certainly took a lot of the buzz out of the roads as well. I am looking forward to a summer season of touring on it with our guests here in Alpe d’Huez.

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D211 Prompt frame arrives

26 Jan

I have just had my PROMPT D211 frame arrive today along with carbon bars and carbon seatpost. Exciting times. I have a SRAM RED GROUPSET to install on the bike. Just need some warmer weather now. I will be riding this throughout the summer on our Tour d’Oisans and More Than 21 Bends cycling tours.  The frame name pays homage to the 21 bends of Alpe d’Huez – the official road name is the D211. It has been designed with thin chainstays to add comfort with a larger downtube to add stiffness at the bottom bracket. The forks come with a carbon steerer. We have kept the graphic understated.

Meanwhile on another front the 2nd door is being installed in the shop today and we have just ordered a new window for the front.

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