Due to some cancellations on bike hire for the 2015 Tour de France in the Alpe d’Huez region we have made a few bikes available to rent again.
Minimum hire is 4 days over the weekend of the 25/07/2015
2015 Photo Comp – Eleven – A lifetime ambition fullfilled
26 May
Paul hired a D211 for the day to ride the 21 Bends of Alpe d’Huez and fullfilled a long held ambition. On business from the USA Paul also took advantage of the reduced price Alpe d’huez Jersey when hiring his bike online.
2015 Photo Comp – Ten – PROMPT D211 in a blizzard on Alpe d’Huez in May
21 May
We have had some freaky weather here in the Oisans this May – going from 35 degrees centigrade to this over a space of a couple of days.
This photo was taken near Villard Reculas on the way to Alpe d’Huez by Michael. They certainly made the best of their stay here in Bourg d’Oisans despite the unusual bad weather for May.
2015 Photo Comp – Nine – PROMPT D211 Col du Glandon Cycle Hire
18 MayGerard and friends from the UK booked a More Than 21 Bends Bed and Breakfast with PROMPT.CC Cycle hire package and benefited from a reduced price on his bike hire.
He sent these photos from the Col du Glandon that was not officially open !!
2015 Photo Comp – Eight – PROMPT D211 and back to Liege Bastogne Liege Cycle Hire
11 MayMore photos from Liege Bastogne Liege sent in by Kevin
“Thanks for the bike! I couldn’t have done the Liege-Bastogne-Liege without you guys! ”
2015 Photo Comp – Seven – PROMPT D211 Ronde Van Vlaanderen Cycle Hire
29 AprMore photos from the Ronde Van Vlaanderen Cycle Hire.
Simon traveled from Australia to compete in the event (amongst doing a few other family things!)
2015 Photo Comp – Six – PROMPT D211 Liege Bastogne Liege Challenge Cycle Hire
29 AprA few more photos from this time from the Liege Bastogne Liege Challenge.
Here is GianPaolo from Italy tackling the (wet) roads
2015 Photo Comp – Five – PROMPT D211 Ronde Van Vlaanderen Cycle Hire
19 AprHere is Mark climbing on the wet cobbles during the Ronde Van Vlaanderen event.
A picture of concentration !
2015 Photo Comp – Four – PROMPT D211 do the Paris Roubaix Challenge Carrefour de L’Arbre
16 AprAlthough the cobbles in this photo look fairly smooth this could not be further from the truth. The section of the Carrefour de l’Arbre is classed as a 5 star section – the toughest there is in the Paris Roubaix Challenge. What the photo does not show is the fact that Alfonso is also tackling a fierce headwind that battered most of the challenge.
2015 Photo Comp – Three – PROMPT D211 do the Paris Roubaix Challenge
15 AprSome photos from Xavier and his brother in law who hired some bikes from us for this years Paris Roubaix Challenge
2015 Photo Comp – Two – PROMPT D211 do the Ronde Van Vlaanderan Sportive
9 AprA couple of a cold looking Dirk who rode the Flanders Sportive on one of our hire bikes over the weekend
Ronde Van Vlaanderan Sportive Experience
7 AprIn between proving a cycle hire service for the Ronde Van Vlaanderan/ Tour of Flanders I managed to get out and ride the middle distance 130km event.
The race starts and finishes in a business park on the outskirts of the rather delightful town of Oudenaarde in Belgium. Oudenaarde really is worth a visit in itself while you are there. It also features the Flanders Cycling Museum which is worth a couple of hours of your time.
The event itself was well organised with 15000 rides and the general consensus was that the 130km event took in all the major cobbled climbs, such as Koppenberg and the Paterberg, and was the one to tackle. There were certainly some tired faces at the end of the longest event with most people spending at least 11 hours in the saddle
All the road junctions were well marshaled by the Police and volunteers and the feed stations were well stocked with food and energy drink plus loads of toilets !
The event was only spoiled really by the cold rain in the morning which obviously was not the organisers fault !
The great thing about doing this event is that on the next day you can get to watch the Professional Race
2015 Photo Comp – One – Winter Riding on Alpe d’Huez
6 AprStarting off the 2015 Photo Comp with 4 sets of photos from our Alpe d’Huez Winter Cycle Hire
Alpe d’Huez Cycle Hire from January 10th
Alpe d’Huez Cycle Hire from January 23rd
Alpe d’Huez Cycle Hire from February 18th
and our first supported Day Rides of the year in March
Brooklyn Retro Cycling Cap
21 Mar
The first of our new retro cap selection have been added. The brooklyn cycling cap is now available in black, pink and blue
Tour of Flanders Cycle Hire 2015
18 MarWe are now down to our last bike for the Tour of Flanders Sportive
Paris Roubaix Sportive 2016 Cycle Hire
9 MarOur bikes sold out in record time for the 2015 Paris Roubaix Cycle Hire.
Be the first to hear in the late summer when we release our 2016 Paris Roubaix Cycle Hire
Free Cycle Hire on the More Than 21 Bends Giro d’Italia Tour
9 Mar
27th May – 1st June 2015
HIGHLIGHTS
- Watch the penultimate and probably the most decisive stage of the 2015 Giro d′Italia as it finishes on the Colle di Sestriere
- Ride the Colle di Fenestrelle the day before the pros
- Three nights stay in Cesana Italy at the bottom of Sestriere
- Two nights stay in Bourg d′Oisans at the bottom of Alpe d′Huez
- Luggage transfers between Bourg d′Oisans and Cesana
SCHEDULE
- Wednesday 27th May 2015 – Arrive in Bourg d′Oisans build bikes or collect your free PROMPT.CC hire bike ready for Thursday
- Thursday 28th May 2015 – Cycle from Bourg d′Oisans to Cesana over the Col du Lautaret and Col du Montgenevre – 85KM with 2750m of climbing.
- Friday 29th May 2015 – Circular loop over the Colle di Fenestrelle – 100km loop with 3000m of climbing. Some of the climbing will be on a rough gravel track.
- Saturday 30th May 2015 – Cycle the 11km climb to the summit of the Colle di Sestriere to watch the finale of stage 20 of the 2015 Giro d′Italia.
- Sunday 31st May 2015 – Depart Cesana and return back to Bourg d′Oisans via the Col du Montgenvre, Col du Lautaret and Alpe d′Huez – 105km with 3000m of climbing
- Monday 1st June 2015 -Depart Bourg d′Oisans by 10AM
PRICE INCLUDES
- Breakfast
- Rooms are on a shared room basis (limited single supplement rooms are available)
- Luggage transfers between Bourg d′Oisans and Cesana
- Guided rides on 4 days.
- Optional free bike hire.
FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO BOOK WITH MORE THAN 21 BENDS PLEASE CLICK HERE >>
2014 Photo Competition Winner
28 JanOur 2014 PROMPT D211 Photo competition.
Helen and I have deliberated, discussed and debated and have chosen this great photo from the 2014 Etape du Tour. A rare moment when it was not raining.
Mark please get in touch with us so we can send you out a Col du Galibier Jersey.
Mark please get in touch with us so we can send you out a Col du Galibier Jersey.
Alpe d’Huez Winter Cycle Hire
9 JanWe have been busy since Christmas shuttling customers dowm Alpe d’Huez from their skiing holiday to tackle the climb back up on one of our bikes. Yesterday we had the first person go under the hour mark climbing Alpe d’Huez in 55 minutes. An impressive time in the summer let alone in the cold winter months
New Years Sale
27 DecAll this snow has meant we have got the New Year Sale up and running a few days earlier.
The PROMPT.CC New Year sale has now started. Pop along to PROMPT website for lots of bargains including Alpe d’Huez, Cafe du Cycliste, Galibier , Ride Journal and lots of other stuff. Hurry though the sale ends 14th January 2015
and then it snowed….
27 DecWe have had over 30cm of snow overnight here in Bourg d’Oisans. Winter Cycling is off for a few days 😦
Not much snow here so far this winter
25 DecWhich has meant disappointed skiers have been looking for alternatives.
We have been busier than normal with more bike hire.
We offer a winter pick up service from Alpe d’Huez and have pedals/ shoes and helmets to hire
20% discount on all 2015 cycle hire
24 DecWe are offering a 20% discount on all new cycle hire bookings until the end of the year.
If you need cycle hire for the spring classics such as Ronde van Vlaanderen Paris Roubaix Cycle Hire or Liege Bastogne Liege. The summer events of La Marmotte or The Etape du Tour or just general Cycle Hire for Alpe d’Huez for Alpe d’Huez / Galibier or the Croix de Fer then take advantage of the discount until 31st December 2014.
Please note discount applies to new booking only and no other discounts are applicable on top of the 20%
L’Etape du Tour 2015 Cycle Hire
19 DecWe have the following two options for your 2015 Etape du Tour Cycle Hire.
Option 1 – Bikes can be picked up from our store in Bourg d’Oisans as normal.
The location of the shop is here. You are responsible for transferring your bike to and from the event.
Option 2 – La Chambre (12km from St Jean de Maurienne) – We are going mobile !
PICK UP TIMES – 2PM – 6PM Saturday 18th July 2015
DROP OFF TIMES 9AM – 12PM Monday 20th July 2015
We will be parked in the public car park opposite the Hôtel l’Eterlou in La Chambre
The address of the hotel is
Hôtel l’Eterlou
405 Grande Rue
73130
La Chambre
France
Google Map Location
Other options
For those also interested in riding Alpe d’Huez while they are in the area then please read
It is possible to pick the bike up in La Chambre (options 2) and return to Bourg d’Oisans (option 1) at a later date maybe after the Tour de France stage
It is also possible to pick the bike up earlier in Bourg d’Oisans (option 1) and return to La Chambre (option 2) on the Monday morning.
Bicycle Specification
Full carbon PROMPT D211 frameset with Shimano Ultegra 10 or 11 speed compact groupsets. Designed to be ridden in the mountains. 20% discount if booked before 31st December 2014
To make a reservation please visit our website >>
Paris Roubaix Cycling Jersey
7 DecWe have reduced our last few remaining Paris Roubaix Cycling Jerseys to clear at 40 Euros a jersey – a reduction of 20 Euros.
Our L’Enfer du Nord (French for Hell of the North) design features two chest stripes and the More Than 21 Bends logo
Last 2 hire bikes available for Paris Roubaix Sportive 2015
29 NovAt time of writing we now only have a couple of bikes left for Paris Roubaix 2015
We will be based at the velodrome for the pick up and drop off of your hire bike
Tour de France Cycle Hire for Alpe d’Huez 2015
24 NovAt time of writing we now only have 4 bikes left for hire.
Minimum hire for the Tour de France is 5 days.
Check up to the minute availability online here
Cape to Cape 2014 Stage 4
11 NovWe awoke on Day 4 knowing that this was the last big effort before some well earned beers in the evening (and the afternoon as it happened – but that’s another story that did not end too well for me !)
Day 4 started at the Colonial Brewery and again talk on the line was that apart from the two singletrack sections – Middle Earth and the final section at the golf course just before the finish line at Dunsborough most of it was either fire track or road. The plan at the startline was to get into a group and work together on the long sections. This proved to be the best course of action and so I spent 2hrs and 40 minutes of balls out on the rivet bike riding – think criterium inner city road race interspersed with singletrack sections all on a mountain bike.
After 10km or so of this I soon realised that I was never going to get away from the group of 10 that I had hooked up with so I spent the whole time hanging on for dear life on the flats and cruising and dropping every one on the climbs – only to be caught up again to find myself hanging off the back. After a few sessions like this I decided to take it easier on the climbs and this made it easier to stay in the group for the remainder of the 65km stage.
Middle Earth Singletrack
The 6km of man made singletrack snaked through the forest and was just technical enough to make it interesting with little jumps / logs drops and berms. There were alse sections of singletrack climbs making it hard to get into a rhythm. I was in a pretty fast group trying to stay with the guy in front and trying to defend my position from behind. It certainly challenged me because of the speed at which I was hitting it.
Golf course Section
The last section of singletrack was over a 4 km section and was tightly packed into a very small area. There were riders all around you but you could never tell how far ahead or behind they were. This section of singletrack – again man made – was beautifully built but because of the terrain had sharper rocks , pea gravel and bigger drops. By this time with only a kilometer of so to go I became very aware that I had nearly finished so took it a little more steady.
Andy came in about an hour down. His legs had finally gone at the 30km mark. Not being a mountain biker he had done extremely well to complete the 4 days.
It was a great 4 days of laid back Australian mountain biking and I would highly recommend it but make sure you are as fit as you can be.
Cape to Cape 2014 Stage 3
4 NovThis was the best stage of the event. At the start line at the Xanadu Winery near Margaret River all the talk was on the singletrack section known as the Pines and how much fun it would be.
The 57km stage started with an 8km neutralised section through the town of Margaret River where we were greeted by a large crowd of supporters before darting into the Pines section where we then tackled 16 km of sweet flowing singletrack at full race pace. All the trails had Star Wars themes so we tackled The Phantom Menace, Return of the Jedi and Jedi Uphill to name but a few.
The Pines Singletrack from my Strava file
Once through the singletrack section we progressed on a mixture of fire roads / roads and through some extremely smelly creeks to the finish line at Colonial Brewery. The weather on day 3 turned for the worse and the last 15km were completed in the rain. I also had my only mechanical of the race when one of the bolts from my cleat came loose and finally fell out. I completed the last 10KM with only once clipped in foot and it made the ride a little more difficult but I still managed to stay in roughly the same position at the finish line.
Colonial Brewery
No visit to the Colonial Brewery would be complete without a beer so our post ride carb loading consisted of a few !
PROMPT CYCLE CULTURE 