Last year Le Cycle magazine called Mont du Chat possibly the toughest climb in France …. for me it’s far too short for that honour, but it’s hard work.

PS - cyclists should check before every ride that their tires are in good condition.

It was riding through the vineyards and quiet countryside west of Geneva that first got me passionate about cycling a few years back (long before it ever occurred to me to cycle up an Alp).

I had never done the east side of Col de la Croix de Fer, in part because the route includes 4 tunnels in the middle - and I hate tunnels.

Another great climb up to an Alpine hydro-electric dam/lake.

26.6 kilometres and 1680 metres (5500 feet) of ascent - this is a gigantic and beautiful ride well worth the visit.

Doreen just gets better with age!

Today she ran the Geneva half marathon, shattering her time from two years ago.

Wow - this is a big climb.

There is a little known, much harder, alternate north route up Col de la Colombière via Romme.

The sign at the top said Combe Blanche. My book says Col de Puthod and Michelin maps says Col de la Vattay.

Regardless it’s a fantsatic, steep, deserted climb in the Jura mountains.

The Chamonix tourist office gave me a map with several signed mountain bike routes on it.

I chose the “difficult” red route to Le Tour with a plan to then climb towards Col de Balme as high as possible.

After seeing the photos of my cycle up above Lac d’Emosson last week, Doreen was eager to visit.

So we drove to the main dam with the aim of hiking up high and finding the 150 million year old dinosaur tracks.

I received a nice comment from Colin recently.

He mentioned a road up to Col de la Frasse that I had never heard of - so i got the maps out and made a plan.