If you've got some time, here's an average road bikers (350 miles a year) narrative, with pictures of his, riding up the Alpe D' Huez, in 1998. He documents his attempt. I found his site last year, and still go back and read it, for the pictures, every TDF, its one of my favorite personal narrative sites

http://www.gsoto.easynet.co.uk/fr_ride1.htm