temperature in the Alps, Sept

[Wushuplayer]

Hi guys,

I'm a novice tourer looking to do the French Alps tour next week, as per the ride magazine route, riding through the Morvan, Auvergene, Tarn gorges, Cévennes, Provençe, Jura and Vosges as well as the Alps.

Do you think I'll need heated gear for the higher passes?

Cheers in advance!

 

[wessie]

No. I tour in September and will be doing so again on 26 Sept. Last year in the Pyrenees I saw 28C in Potes and 5C a few minutes later at the top of the San Glorio pass. You are not at 2000m for long. I have had similar in the Alps. I take a fleece jacket to wear in the evenings when the temperature drops and it serves as a layer under my Rukka Goretex jacket if I get a cold spell. My bike has heated grips which I've used rather than stopping to change to the autumn gloves.

 

[er-minio]

Do you think I'll need heated gear for the higher passes?

Most probably not heated gear, but bring a layer or two for when you go up in case it gets wet or covered. Weather up the alps is, of course, fairly unpredictable.
I got stuck over the years, a couple of times, going towards 5/0 degrees while wet, and it's not fun. You can always ride down to the valleys, but better pack something.

 

[Arsey]

14.6 degs c


Sent from my Nokia 3310 using Thetwatcantalk

 

[Barnoe]

I recently did the Grossglockner (different country i know) it was 26 degrees as i started my accent and only 4 degrees at the top and very misty... the kind of mist that gets you soaking wet!
Weather in the mountains changes quickly and is unpredictable, take clothes for all eventualities just to be safe.

 

[Steve398]

Weather in the mountains changes quickly and is unpredictable, take clothes for all eventualities just to be safe.

I did the Route Napoleon in late Sept in 2007..
Day 1 was brilliant sunshine, people in the roadside cafes in shirtsleeves,
Day 2, after an overnight stay in Gap it was a bit chilly when I left the hotel at 7.30am, and as I climbed into the mountains it steadily became colder. At one point I changed gloves and put an oversuit on, set off again and then saw a car coming towards me covered in snow. I muttered ‘Shit’ and checked to see if there was anywhere close to stay.. of course not, but I promised myself the next village I’m stopping. Riding over the next brow and I’m in freezing fog, visibility about 20 metres at very best. I’m also aware I’ve got rocks to my right and a free flying lesson on my left, and the only way I know where the bends are going is courtesy of my sat-nav.
I continue on for the next 2.5 hours at almost walking pace, with the visor freezing over and then, because I had to raise it to see, my eyes almost freezing too. I couldn’t feel my feet or hands either but that was the least of my worries at that point.
Eventually I get off the mountain and spent another 2 hours in a cafe drinking soup and coffee to defrost.
I did the Route again a few years later… in June!

 

[Wapping]

What do you mean by ‘heated gear’?

An electric waistcoat?

An electric jacket liner?

Electric gloves, socks, trouser liners?

All the above or only a bit of it? If so, which bit?

 

[Wushuplayer]

thanks for all the advice guys.

I have a Warm'n'safe long sleeve base layer and gloves but rather not bring them if I don't have to.

 

[Wapping]

I always take a spare pair of gloves on a jaunt. If the electric gloves are your only spare gloves, take them. If not, any three season gloves as a spare will do you.

If the long sleeved base layer is your only form of layering, take it. Even if it isn’t, you could take it if it doesn’t take up too much room.

As to what the weather will be like? One week out you’ll get a vaguely accurate clue. In short, nobody really knows, not least as your jaunt covers a huge area. They can and do get tremendous thunderstorms in Provence, with high winds and stinging hail in September. 40 minutes later they are all over and it’s hot again. That is not high up.

Expect the best, but be ready for the worst. That’s the best and only advice.





Both on one day in mid-September. 26 degrees in the valley, minus one in the shade at the top. A day earlier, the road was temporarily shut.

 

[Wapping]

12th September 2012 mid-morning.



A day earlier or a week later? Bright sunshine and dark glasses.

 

[G&T]

I just cacked myself looking at that ice.

 

[EVskiy]

Hi guys,

I'm a novice tourer looking to do the French Alps tour next week, as per the ride magazine route, riding through the Morvan, Auvergene, Tarn gorges, Cévennes, Provençe, Jura and Vosges as well as the Alps.

Do you think I'll need heated gear for the higher passes?

Cheers in advance!

Last Sunday morning I rode to Guilford, It was fairly chilly and misty early morning start. I wore this Scott jacket over the top of my Rukka mesh jacket, with just a cotton T-shirt underneath. I was amazed at how insulated I was.

If I was in the Alps like you'll be, then just in case I'd get a bit chilly, I would then pull out my Tog24 Down Jacket to wear under my Rukka Gortex Jacket. It is compact when packed into its own pocket, weights hardly anything, doubles up as a casual wear to potter around town in the evening when temps do trop. You can buy it a bit cheaper from outlet stores.

Alternately Uniqlo do a similar thing for allot less money.

 

[Decompressing]

Make it easy for yourself. Together with my puncture repair stuff, waterproofs, I always have an heated jacket in one of my panniers. Rolled up small, it takes so little room, it just stays there all year round. Never get caught out!

 

[Wushuplayer]

Thanks guys. I'll see how much space I have to spare but won't get too stressed out about it if not. I will survive!.. hopefully

 

[Borowno]

Last Sunday morning I rode to Guilford, It was fairly chilly and misty early morning start. I wore this Scott jacket over the top of my Rukka mesh jacket, with just a cotton T-shirt underneath. I was amazed at how insulated I was.

If I was in the Alps like you'll be, then just in case I'd get a bit chilly, I would then pull out my Tog24 Down Jacket to wear under my Rukka Gortex Jacket. It is compact when packed into its own pocket, weights hardly anything, doubles up as a casual wear to potter around town in the evening when temps do trop. You can buy it a bit cheaper from outlet stores.

Alternately Uniqlo do a similar thing for allot less money.

Great recommendations for the Scott and Tog24 Down Jackets. I have just bought both of them for my impending Euro tour. Many thanks.

 

[EVskiy]

Great recommendations for the Scott and Tog24 Down Jackets. I have just bought both of them for my impending Euro tour. Many thanks.

Happy to recommend them. Enjoy your trip.

 

[Wapping]

Perhaps the OP would be kind enough to give us a daily report (morning, midday and evening) on the weather, along with his precise location. It will be an invaluable reference point for future travellers.

Have a good time and enjoy your first trip abroad.

 

[Wapping]

Last Sunday morning I rode to Guilford, It was fairly chilly and misty early morning start. I wore this Scott jacket over the top of my Rukka mesh jacket, with just a cotton T-shirt underneath. I was amazed at how insulated I was.

If I was in the Alps like you'll be, then just in case I'd get a bit chilly, I would then pull out my Tog24 Down Jacket to wear under my Rukka Gortex Jacket. It is compact when packed into its own pocket, weights hardly anything, doubles up as a casual wear to potter around town in the evening when temps do trop. You can buy it a bit cheaper from outlet stores.

Alternately Uniqlo do a similar thing for allot less money.

A choice of clothing, based simply on what one reasonably expects the majority of weather to be like on a jaunt, is pretty good advice. In other words, if you expect it to be warm to hot for the majority of a trip, take and wear a mesh jacket. On another jaunt, when it’s reasonable to expect that it won’t be warm or hot, a Gore-Tex jacket is the way to go.

Back the choice up with layers, preferably those that double up, as clothing to wear on or off the bike. Likewise, if you take the mesh kit, take a waterproof cover, even if you don’t think it will be raining or chilly…. Or get wet and possibly cold. The choice, as always, is yours.

It’s very simple, really.

 

[glenn2926]

My lad lives in Chamonix. Speaking to him yesterday and it’s 30C there just now. We’re going to be there around Wednesday next week. He thought it will be about the same weather wise.

 

[Rasher]

Hi guys,

I'm a novice tourer looking to do the French Alps tour next week, as per the ride magazine route, riding through the Morvan, Auvergene, Tarn gorges, Cévennes, Provençe, Jura and Vosges as well as the Alps.

Do you think I'll need heated gear for the higher passes?

Cheers in advance!

Wow,

I have been to the Alps 9 times, through the Morvan 3-4 on the way there, and also ridden the Tarn Gorge & Cevennes, its a lot to do in a week!

I have not seen these Ride Routes, but (IMHO) they often miss a lot of good stuff and stick to main roads a lot more than I would, this sounds like a whistlestop tour.

in 2019 we went down to the Millau bridge to pickup the Tarn Gorge, entering it on Day 3, and reaching the edge of the Alps on day 4 after taking in Mont Ventoux and the Gorge du Verdon. (FYI: the Tarm Gorge runs through Cevennes - an area worth a few extra days to properly explore)

We then had a 3 night stop to take in the passes around Barcelonnete (Allos, Cayole, Bonnette, Larch & Sampeyre all sit in a line, if riding up RDGA you can only ride one of them) another 2 night stop at Bourg St Maurice (Seez) to do the 7 pass loop around Mont Blanc.

Day 9 saw us getting out of the alps and into the Doubs, then home via the Vosges, Luxembourg and Ardennes, 12 days IIRC.

I would be temped to either make this a 10-12 day trip, or split it onto 2 seperate trips - YMMV.


As for temps, I have had freezing temps and snow in August, as well as 35c+ in valleys, sometimes on the same day.

A good textile suit with a light micro-fleece works for me, with liners in and fleece I can go to 5-6c without needing heated clothing, with them out I am comfortable until past 25c, typically even when cold it tends to be towards top of higher passes, and often I don't bother changing gear as by the time I feel a bit chilly I am over the top heading to warmer altitudes.

And when its hot the reverse, as you start to boil in the valleys you soon cool off as you go up the mountains, I therefore pick my stops based on this, if hot I stop at the tops for food / drinks, if cold I stop at the bottom, if really cold veerywhere I find a heated building to stop at!

Enjoy!