Cycling Challenge» Cycling the French Alps http://www.cycling-challenge.com Cycling in the Alps Sat, 04 Sep 2010 21:18:20 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 en hourly 1 Vallée Verte 3 Cols with the Boys http://www.cycling-challenge.com/vallee-verte-3-cols-with-the-boys/ http://www.cycling-challenge.com/vallee-verte-3-cols-with-the-boys/#comments Sun, 12 Apr 2009 19:03:15 +0000 Will http://www.cycling-challenge.com/?p=1483

Vallée Verte 3 Cols with the Boys

]]> Col de Saxel Col de Terramont Col de Terramont Col de Cou

It’s that time of year where cyclists all over the world break out their silly cycling kit. Today, I had my full Marmotte outfit (fuzzy red Alpine rodents all over my clothes). My wife hates it ;(.

A pretty lively 90+ kilometre ride from Geneva into the Vallée Verte with Martin, Barry, and Eric, including Col de Saxel, Col de Terramont, and Col de Cou.

After climbing and descending Col de Saxel, we had a minor disagreement on whether to detour to Col de Terramont. I succesfully arbitrated by finding a café across the road for Bazza to have a drink while the rest of us added this small climb. :)

Below, Barry’s video while climbing Col de Saxel:

I get mocked a lot for getting a “chain” tattoo on my leg every ride. Strangely they didn’t mock me about my full Marmotte kit. It’s good to see Barry breathing so heavily for a change. And Eric, of course, is somewhere miles ahead of us.

On the way home, we came to a fork in the road and Barry and I went one way and Eric and Martin the other. There were only two choices and I quickly tracked down Eric and Martin. Somehow Barry disappeared taking neither option – magic.

Several phone calls later we tracked him down, a necessary task especially because he was kindly hosting us afterwards to watch Paris-Roubaix. ;)


Bike route 150196 – powered by Bikemap 



Vallée Verte 3 Cols with the Boys

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]]> http://www.cycling-challenge.com/vallee-verte-3-cols-with-the-boys/feed/ 4 Vallée Verte Five Col Loop http://www.cycling-challenge.com/vallee-verte-five-col-loop/ http://www.cycling-challenge.com/vallee-verte-five-col-loop/#comments Fri, 08 Feb 2008 16:18:09 +0000 Will http://www.cycling-challenge.com/vallee-verte-five-col-loop/

Vallée Verte Five Col Loop

]]> Col des Arces Col de Jambaz Col des Moises Col des Arces Col de Cou

No matter how much you cycle in the Alps, there are always new climbs to explore. Today’s ride took me past 5 Cols, only one of which i knew (and four that were not in my cycling bible).

earth view

Today was a good example of a ride I couldn’t have done without a GPS. I mapped out a confusing track through the beautiful Vallée Verte (Green Valley) region due south of Lake Geneva trying to hit all 5 Cols – uploaded the route onto my GPS – and Voilà, had an easy to follow trail.

5 Cols

Looking at the elevation chart, there were two main climbs. Col des Moises was the first and biggest climb of the day. A fantastic route along a quiet road through the woods.

The other was Col des Arces – along a tiny little road with views of the nearby ski station. The route also climbs parts of Col de Terramont and Col du Cou (which I knew), and also went by Col de Jambaz – where i doubled back and searched in Vain for a good sign. As the satellite photo shows, the descent home had great views of Lake geneva

This is a fantastic route worth repeating.

The roads were mainly clear, but there were lots of ice patches so I was glad I left the road bike at home.

Col de Terramont


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Vallée Verte Five Col Loop

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