Author: Will

Very fun and challenging mountain bike climb from Fruitigen to Gemmipass (without taking a cable car). Map, photos, route details.

This huge climb (2278 metres) has been on my to do list forever. So despite waking up to a less than stellar weather forecast, I decided to stick with my plan. Starting near Oey, the ride heads up into a typically lovely little Swiss valley — the Diemtigtal — in central Switzerland: A well paved, tiny road, with mountains and cows everywhere. Local signs all said Otternpass, but I have also seen Otterepass in a few places. After several nice enough kilometres on a quiet “main” road beside a babbling river, the route turns left and up at Grimmialp. From…

Mont Lachat (2050 metres) is the high point, with 360 degree views, of Le Grand Bornand ski station. This route does a mountain bike loop around Mont Lachat, with a quick visit up the easier side of Col de la Colombière. Cycle Route 2767215 – via Bikemap.net Starting from Le Grand Bornand, it took a while to get through town: Thursday is market day! Once I dodged the crowds, the road turned up. Initially it is paved, until the Restaurant de la Croix, then the road is primarily gravel. Unfortunately, it was a cloudy say, but this is a beautiful…

A very, very difficult mountain bike climb up to a magical view of Mont Blanc. Worth the effort.

Many cyclists have heard of the Club des Cinglés (Crackpots) du Ventoux. The basic idea is to cycle all three sides in a single day. Difficult! Recently, the idea has been extended to include a fourth “forest” route. I did once somehow manage to climb all three sides in a day – details here. But my favourite Ventoux adventure: seeing the sunrise at the summit – details here. However, this 4th Forest route suggested by the Club shares 13 kilometres of the paved road – wimps! I had a similar but more remote option in mind that wouldn’t join the…

Colle della Lombarda is a high Maritime Alps pass on the French/Italian border. The Italian side is an unbelievably beautiful route, and can include a small detour to the Santuario di Sant’Anna – the highest Santuario in Europe. The French side is somewhat less interesting, climbing through the ski station of Isola 2000. Surprisingly, as best I can tell, Colle della Lombarda has never been in the Giro Italia, but the Tour de France did climb the Italian side in 2008.

Looking for a tougher 3-side climbing challenge than the Club des Cingles du Ventoux? Then try cycling all three sides of Colle Fauniera in a single day. Because unlike Ventoux, Fauniera doesn’t have an “easy” way up.

A rare (admittedly minor) positive legacy from war: the great network of old, high, unpaved military roads in the Alps on the Italian/French border. The route to Col du Fréjus starts from Modane in the Maurienne valley. It runs above the famous Fréjus tunnel that links Savoie (France) to Piedmont (Italy). The road to the Col (2,541 metres), was built in the 1890’s at the behest of the French Général-Baron Berge. Throughout the ride are old military ruins of barracks, forts, fortifications, etc, with the occasional information sign or historic plaque. There were minor skirmishes between Italian and French troops…

What is more beautiful than cycling in the high Alps? Cycling in the Alps up to an alpine lake!