Author: Will

Today was a bit warmer and much sunnier. I decided to climb Col de la Croix again — starting at Villars – but using mountain bike paths as much as possible. There is nothing like the Swiss Alps when the sun is shining. The first half of my route was on a beautiful, tiny, steep path. I think I somehow missed a turn (snow on the road maybe, and found myself biking across an alpine field to a little farming community below the glacier. To get to the col I had to join the main road for the last three …

A Riddle: When you are cycling up a 10% slope, its freezing, and it starts to snow, why are hairpin turns good? Answer: At least some of the time the 25 km wind will be at your back. Col de la Croix is high above but links Villars and Diablerets Ski resorts in the Swiss Vaudoise Alps. It’s an absolutley beautiful route especially up high, although lower down there is a bit of traffic. Despite being a fairly high col it is dwarfed by extremely high peaks. You can ski at over 3,000 metres (10,000 feet) here. It’s steep at…

It’s been cold and threatening for several days. So if I wanted to ride I was going to have to brave it. The Col de Solaison is only 35 kms from home – near the more famous Col de la Colombiere. My French Cycling Climbs book says:"…. Col de la Colombiere links Cluses and Clusaz while Col de Solaison seems only to be there for the pleasure of tourists, and amateur cycling climbers in particular."The climb is steep immediately – the first five kilometres AVERAGE 10%. And the road – especially the lower parts are crazy narrow and cliff hanging.…

Chamrousse is a ski resort high above Grenoble. It last featured in the Tour de France in 2001 as a Time Trial won by Armstrong. The routes starts in the attractive Spa town of Uriage-Les-Bains.The climb reminded me a bit of Les Arcs. Big wide sweeping roads with great views of the valley below and the big snow covered Alps to the south. Its steep for the first 10 kilometres but "only" about 6% average for the last ten. Up top the clouds and mist appeared so I have no idea if it élooks like good skiing. Not bad considering…

Cycle Route 874637 – via Bikemap.net – Open Route in Bikemap App My first time cycling in the Chartreuse region of the Alps (surrounding Grenoble). Grenoble may be at the bottom of more major climbs than any other city. Today’s route passed 4 mountain cols and THEN the hard part started. The first 10 Kilometres were pretty hard along beautiful quiet roads. I passed 4 riders at the Col de Clemenciere which helped my spirits. At the Col de Vence I rejoined a slightly busier road – I later learned there was a quieter option … but no big deal. …

Col des Saisies will be in the 2006 Tour de France on the last huge mountain day – ending in Morzine. The ride starts in Beaufort (famous for its cheese). This little valley is hard to get to … even the main road is a narrow winding affair. Beaufort is a cycling mecca — and is at the base of at least six great cols and endless variations. My climb bible had six ways up Col des Saisies alone. Although 3 of the big climbs are still closed due to snow. For my route I chose the classic route up…

Col de la Ramaz last featured in the 2003 Tour de France. French hero Richard Virenque won the stage and you can still see his name faintly written along the road.This steady climb really becomes steep and alpine after about 8 kilometres with a narrow stretch along the edge of a cliff that — without a barrier — would be almost too frightening to ride. The views get better as the altitude increases and there is a great waterfall off to the right. At Sommant a new valley opens up . Part of Le Praz de Lys ski station. Still…

After a week of rain (and snow at altitude) the sun finally appeared. For the 3rd time in the last 3 years i decided to climb the Col de la Croix Fry (featured in Tour de France a couple of years back. I parked in Thones and the real climb starts about a km from town. An uneven 12 kms climb averaging 7 % but with easy parts and very steep parts. With fresh snow up high and the lush green lower down the views were stunning. I am clearly still a bit away from fitness as I find parts…

Col de l’Arpettaz – 16.5 kms with 1,200 metres vertical climb A beautiful route on a tiny farm road with hairpin after hairpin. Today was significantly warmer than the last few weeks and I was seriously sweating. At 6 kms I saw a sign saying the road was closed and happily continued in car free bliss. The only living things I saw after this sign were two deer racing across the road – scaring me more than I scared them. It’s a fairly hard route averaging a little under 8%. It starts out a little easier and finishes a little harder. …

Col des Glières is a climbs at the very start of the French Alps. Starting from Le Plot, the first 10 kilometres average only about 2% so there is a chance to warm the legs up. And it’s worth warming up as the next 7 kilometres average 9%. Once the steep part starts there is a fantastic waterfall on the left that stays in view for much of the climb.I wasn’t quite in fit form yet and could have used one gear easier for much of the ride. But I worked hard and made it to the snowy top. At…