Author: Will

Grosse Scheidegg (1962 metres) is a mountain pass in central Switzerland linking Grindelwald and Meiringen. Located in the Berner Oberland, the climb is dominated by some of the highest mountains in Europe including the Wetterhorn directly above, and the renowned Eiger north face. A 3D route video: The top part of the road on both sides is “theoretically” closed to car traffic, but regular Post Buses do come flying up and down every now and then – as do some cars. I’ve written about Grosse Scheidegg quite a few times. I think it is one of the most beautiful high…

Saturday I rode the Highway to the Sky time trail up Sustenpass in central Switzerland. There were just over 400 people signed up with riders leaving every 20 seconds. The road was also open for any other cyclists. It was a well attended, well run event with a great ambience. Sustenpass (2260m) is one of a group of gigantic climbs in the central Swiss Alps. One can make all sorts of loops combining Grimselpass (2164m), Furkapass (2429m), Nufenenpass (2478m), Gotthardpass (2106m), Oberalppass (2044m), and Lukmanierpass (1915m) in some way or another. Sustenpass is rarely too steep, but it’s 27.5 kilometres…

Today I rode La Coppandy du Salève, a local VTT (mtb) event. There were 4 courses. Unfortunately, due to rain and a treacherous/slippery route, only 3 people did the long mountain route. But the feed station mid-route was staffed and had a fire and wine! And at the finish, very clean rested people cheered me and started buying me beers. I assume for arriving so late and muddy. A 3D video of the route: It was challenging – the route ranged from wide gravel roads to tight narrow trails. At times the route was muddy, rocky, slippery, flooded, etc. Often…

The Bauges is the Alps Massif roughly in the triangle formed by Annecy, Chambéry, and Albertville. The majority of this scenic, forested, hilly, cow-filled, sparsely populated region is part of the Parc naturel régional du massif des Bauges. This is not the high Alps (but it’s still the Alps: the highest peak is roughly 2200 metres). The best known road-bike cycling climbs are Mont Revard (see here), and Le Semnoz (see here). This ride explores the south part of the massif via 3 medium-altitude cols. A peaceful 71 kilometre loop with 1700 metres of ascent. I started at the base…

Le Grand Colombier is a gigantic, quiet, scenic climb in the French Jura mountains (Don’t confuse Grand Colombier with its Alps neighbour Col de la Colombière). Grand Colombier first appeared in the Tour de France in 2012 (climbing the culoz side), after often being the feature climb in the Tour de l’Ain. Since it’s also appeared in the 2016 and 2017 Tour. I’ve written many times about this fun and challenging mountain: Details of all four sides – here. Night ride to see the sunrise from summit – here. Two tough, great loops that include Col de la Biche -…

There are endless signed mountain bike (VTT) routes in France but often it’s tough to find information about them. The Fédération Française de Cyclisme has an incomplete but good collection – see here. But often official local tourist sites are an unexpected gold mine of information/maps/etc. The routes for this ride I found at the Haut Bugey (Jura mountains) Tourisme web site. Cycle Route 4382019 – via Bikemap.net I had visited Lac Genin on road bike years ago and was intrigued by the little brochure on the web site describing 3 signed mountain bike routes. It has this hand-drawn map.…

The Plateau des Bornes is the hilly region between Mont Salève and the north edge of the French Alps (massif des Bornes). It’s sparsely populated with lots of scenic, quiet roads. The first easy 15 kilometres of my route mapped below is the least interesting as I snuck into Switzerland briefly and rounded Mont Salève. But after Etrembières it gets quieter and more enjoyable. I designed the route to hit four cols, all labelled on the map below: Col d’Evires (810m), Le Pas de Cheval (923m), Col Le Parc (915m), and finally leaving the plateau I crossed Mont Salève via…

I am not the most social person on Strava.com – I use it mainly as a log book. But over the last couple of years, I have tried to curate who I follow to mainly include friends or adventurous people that live relatively near me that can provide ride ideas/inspiration. So I was excited to see someone on Strava had cycled to La Dôle even though it was officially still closed for winter. I love this route. Usually deserted, I find it far more interesting than the nearby, better known, but lower and (much) busier Col de la Faucille. I…

Many of the most famous climbs in the Alps have days when they are closed to motor traffic, reserved for cyclists. Excellent. Here is a 2018 list of more than fifty “Cols Reservés,” car-free days. I’d be grateful for any comments indicating other car-free events. Edit: Note, the French Pyrénées are also included below. Excellent. Let’s be clear about these special days: 1) They are NOT cyclosportives or races. 2) For most, there is no need to register, and they are free. Show up, start whenever you want. 3) There is a mix of cyclists of all levels, ages, sizes.…

A recent annual tradition: Cycle up the classic (Samoëns) side of Col de Joux Plane and then rent cross-country skis at the summit. It’s surprising that this famous north-Alps col is often open in winter. But when the cross-country ski trails down low close, due to lack of snow, they clear the route to the summit. The road signs still say it is closed, but don’t believe everything you read. And there was absolutely no snow down low. In the photo below, I am half way up. You can see a snow-free valley far below: NOTE: the Morzine side of…