Route des Grandes Alpes® more accessible thanks to VAE
The use of the Vélo à Assistance Électrique radically transforms the experience of mountain bike touring, particularly on the most demanding routes. Thanks to the VAE, Route des Grandes Alpes ® opens up to a greater number of cyclists.
The great Alpine passes suddenly become accessible
The Route des Grandes Alpes itinerary crosses some of the Tour de France's most legendary passes: Galibier, Iseran, Izoard, Bonnette, etc. with gradients often in excess of 8% and climbs of several dozen kilometers.
The VAE makes it possible to:
- Reduce physical effort by compensating for the difficulty of the gradients thanks to the motor.
- Extend the distances covered without becoming exhausted, making stages of 80 to 120 km possible even for less trained cyclists.
- Enjoy the scenery without being in constant pain, a not inconsiderable advantage on such spectacular roads.
The experience is more inclusive, the VAE enables a wider range of cyclists to enjoy these routes:
- Less trained cyclists: those without years of intensive practice can climb passes without being put off by the difficulty.
- Groups of friends, couples, families: it's easier to balance levels and ride together, even if some are stronger than others.
- Older cyclists: electric assistance compensates for the age-related drop in power and means you can continue to enjoy the big passes without strain.
The effort/pleasure balance is modified
- Less fatigue = more pleasure. Cyclists can better regulate their effort and avoid exhaustion by managing assistance according to their needs.
- Save your strength for several days: the Route des Grandes Alpes is an itinerary that is often ridden over several days. With a VAE, you can link stages together without being exhausted from the first climb.
- More freedom on the route: the autonomy offered by modern batteries (often between 80 and 150 km) makes it easier to manage long stages and significant gradients.
More stress thanks to the multiplication of recharging points and services
- Recharging stations in certain communes and refuges. Bosch has been a pioneer in this field. See the map of BOSCH VAE terminals
- VAE rental and repair, particularly in departure towns such as Thonon-les-Bains or Nice, as well as in many intermediate towns and stations.
- "Accueil Vélo" accommodation offering dedicated services for cyclists, including recharging solutions.
All this with a reduced ecological impact
The VAE engages people in an exceptional adventure who, for some of them, would have resorted to the car to discover landscapes, villages, heritage and Alpine specialties. By making it possible to cover long distances in the mountains without a car, VAE helps reduce the environmental impact of tourism. It becomes a greener alternative for exploring the Alps while limiting the carbon footprint.
Thanks to VAE, Route des Grandes Alpes ® becomes an adventure accessible to a wider public. It paves the way for a new way of approaching the mountains by bike: smoother, more enjoyable and more inclusive, while retaining the spirit of roaming and personal challenge. Beware though, even on a VAE the sporting effort is very real; personal management, both physical and mental, is an obligation; the care given to equipment, particularly battery recharging, requires constant concentration!