Author: Will

The goal was to do some unpaved Jura mountain climbing and find a WW2 monument at the top of a mountain forest. I started in Nantua, the capital of Haut-Bugey region of the Juras. The town is nestled below mountains and not far from downtown there is a little, unpaved path that immediately heads up. The climb is to Monts d’Ain (spelled correctly). It’s perhaps 5 kilometres averaging a little more than 10%. First a good quality gravel road but ever rougher and narrower as it gets higher. Completely deserted, lots of hairpins. I’d seen this on some maps but…

Across the Rhône river immediately east of Grand Colombier is a great little massif with very few roads, but several cols just under 1000 metres. Super-quiet and scenic: perfect cycling. Are these Alps or Juras? Tough question! The short answer: Geologically they are Juras, but geographically they are Alps (east of Rhône). Did that help? (map at bottom of post). This loop visits four cols and includes my first ride through the Gorges du Val de Fier. First, a 3D tour of the route: I started in Rumilly staying on the quieter west side of the Fier (proud) river for…

The Maurienne valley is home to perhaps half of the top 10 climbs in France. Cycling heaven. Col de la Croix de Fer (and Col du Mont Cenis) are usually the first of the highest to open – (Glandon, Madeleine, Galibier, Iseran, etc. are all still closed). See here for details of 15 Maurienne Valley climbs. In the 3d video, just try and count all the hairpins in the final descent (detailed map at bottom). There are five ways up to Croix de Fer. I describe them all here (plus a bonus 6th option). Today, I chose the quietest of…

Yes, I can enjoy flat routes too. 🙂 The ViaRhôna is an 850-kilometre bike route from Lac Léman (Lake Geneva) to the Mediterranean Sea that runs along the Rhône river. The official website is here. The route is a combination of quiet roads, busier roads, and an ever increasing amount of voies-vertes (dedicated bike-only paths). Doreen and I decided to ride 60 kms there/back on a 30 kilometre stretch that I knew was primarily voie-verte – see map below. In mountain terms: the route was between Grand Colombier and Mont du Chat. The cycling infrastructure here is truly brilliant. Even…

The Vercors massif just west of Grenoble is one of the most interesting places I know to cycle. It’s relatively modest altitude, by alpine standards, means many cyclotourists mistakenly give it a pass. But there is plenty of impressive climbing here (both profiles at left have more than 1000 metres of ascent). And some of the cliff/gorges roads cut into the cliff are just astonishing. A 3D video of today’s ride. I started in the scenic old village of Pont-en-Royans cut into the rocks on the edge of the Vercors. This can also be the start point for another great…

Many of the most famous climbs in the Alps have days where they are closed to motor traffic, reserved for cyclists. Excellent. Here is a 2017 list of “Cols reservés,” car-free days. I’d be grateful for any comments indicating other car-free events. But first, 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. Most riding leisurely. 4) The ambiance is great. Everyone is in…

Stage 9 of the 2017 Tour de France will be the toughest Jura mountain stage ever. Easily. And along with Mont du Chat and Grand Colombier, it will introduce Col de la Biche to the lycra-clad masses. Today I rode the middle two climbs: Col de la Biche, and Grand Colombier as the Tour will climb them. This will be the first Tour appearance for Biche. It’s the third for the Jura giant Grand Colombier, but the first time from the steepest side (all 4 sides are steep). A 3D video of the ride: In February I cycled a beautiful…

Col de Pierre Carrée (1844 metres) is the highest paved pass open year-round in the north French Alps (Haute Savoie & Savoie). It is the gateway to Flaine ski station 4 kilometres down the far side. While not very well known, it’s a big climb, comparable in length with more famous French climbs – if a little less steep. The Tour de France has never climbed this mountain, although in 2009 it managed the first seven kilometres (Côte d’Arêches). The first half of the climb can have a little bit of traffic, but it’s interesting enough. But above Les Carroz…

Doreen and I spent the Easter weekend visiting Munich for the first time. While the weather was occasionally wet and cold, we managed a very fun 50-kilometre bike ride on Saturday. We had planned to use the bike-share program – but walking Friday evening we never saw a single station. I downloaded an app for their “nextbike” program and the nearest place with bikes was several kilometres away. Disappointing. But we found an excellent rental store in the hauptbahnhof (Main Train Station) beside track 33. For just € 14,50 each, we rented hybrids for the entire day. More comfortable than…

I am back home after a fabulous week+ cycling in Flanders with good friends from Podium Cafe. Below is a map with several of my rides that visit many of the most famous cobbled helligens (or bergs) of West Flanders. The routes were designed by my Flemish friend Bram and take care to use quiet, interesting roads as much as possible. Fantastic local knowledge! Last week I rode four of the five routes and thoroughly enjoyed them all (I didn’t manage the blue route). For more Flanders route ideas see: The Tour of Flanders Cyclosportive (141 kms) – challenging. The…