The Alps and high altitude - Cycling Mob: Road Cycling, Mountain Biking and More

02-22-2005, 04:25 PM

I'm planning a trip to the Alps in early August. The current plan is to
first spend four nights in Austria, then three in Slovenia and finally
eight in Italy. Right now it looks like the third day of riding will
already introduce a serious mountain day, as the route includes riding
the Grossglocknerstrasse from Zell am See down to Heiligenblut.

Later on, perhaps inspired by Jobst Brandt's reports and photographs, I
also intend to ride the Stelvio, Gavia, Mortirolo and Bernina.
We're staying the final four nights in Livigno, so these will be easily
covered from there. As some of you undoubtedly know, many of these
roads go higher than 2500 metres above sea level.

I'm a healthy young man and being both lightweight and reasonably strong
as a cyclist, so I'm not worried about the long distances or the climbs
itself. I have done the physics and with reasonable gearing I should be
fine. I've also seen most of these mountain passes from the backseat of
a car as a kid, before I picked up cycling, so I know what to expect.

However, living at sea level, I have absolutely no experience with
riding at high altitudes. Is there any reason to expect any trouble, if
do these rides at a fairly easy pace, not trying to break mine or
anybody else's climbing records? Except for the final four nights in
Livigno, we're mostly going to stay at lower altitudes.

-as