Browsing: Cycling

A great ride up the mountain behind my house.

How imposing is le Saleve? It was mentioned in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein:

” I thought of pursuing the devil; but it would have been in vain, for another flash discovered him to me hanging among the rocks of the nearly perpendicular ascent of Mont Saleve “

Nov 25 – Today, on a crisp, cold sunny day, I completed my 2007 challenge.

For over a thousand years Pilgrims from all over Europe have been following the various trails of the Chemin de St Jacques. Near me it’s also a great mountain bike route.

Two Wheel Blogs has a simple and interesting analysis of how altitude affects Power output.

At left, I am sucking air near the top of Galibier, now I know why!

I knew the top was just about at the current snow line, so wearing four layers and with a balaclava for the descent I set off.

This should be one of the best stages in the 2008 Tour.

COLD! I am really pushing this late season climbing thing. But I had plenty of layers and my balaclava. So the descent wasn’t too horrible. Another great Jura mountain climb route without seeing a single car.

Every year local cyclists shake their heads at cowardly Tour de France organizers that run the Tour right by this Jura giant, but refuse to climb it. It’s just too steep!

Another beautiful day. The Fall colors are out in full force. Barry and I rode from Switzerland into France to the Juras near Thoiry up a quiet road to Le Tiocan – a scenic lookout point overlooking Geneva and the Lake.

It’s cold and winter is approaching but I am getting pretty close to my target of 160,000 metres of vertical ascent for 2007. I rode less in October than I have for months and the extra rest days made me feel stronger.