Cycling in the high mountains. Alps, Dolomites, Pyrenees etc

Allow me to remember, I took the KOM of Tao on that climb, I'm sure he was just warming up for better things however.

Binned it twice on the descent into Sestriere on the Assietta. Once was being distracted by enduro motorbikes coming up and the second was totally my fault. I'd really enjoyed the climb to the Finestre, as slow as I was (there was also a gran fondo coming up with me which was fun to watch from inside it). The two crashes took me a while mentally to get over tho, knocked my confidence on dirt for a little bit.

TBH, you're probably right; it just looks long on a map given it's not a long ride overall.

Has anyone been to Parc naturel régional des Volcans d'Auvergne or Auvergne in general?

Has anyone here done Club Des Cingles?
If so do you have any advice/stories/warnings to not even attempt it?

A guy I know did it a few years ago. His summary was "a bit tough at times, but not bad, could have done the gravel climb as well if I'd brought a suitable bike".

Pretty sure he's a lot stronger rider than me tho

Thanks for the info.

I was pretty decent at riding a bike up mountains up until around 2016 when I started my own business. Have gradually gotten fatter and older and ridden less and less since then. I really want to set myself a hardish goal this year to try and regain some of my former love of climbing. CdC seems like a good optionz. I think I’ll aim for early/mid September.

Will probably try and squeeze in a week in the Pyrenees in July to ease myself in.

A long time ago, yes.

We were there in September and it was deserted, kilometre after kilometre of empty roads.

AMAZING! Where were you based or did you move bases? Can you recommend routes/climbs.

We went to Vercors on your order, was amazing

I went there a few years ago but no bikes only hikes :(
We stayed in Clermont-Ferrand and had a car to move around. I have some friends there, i'll ask them for nice routes

My friend from warsaw is from and lives there. fell free to "reach out". i have never cycled there but Col du Béal is a good pass apparently
Also in July :
https://www.cyclolescopains.fr/epreuves/ultrarverne/

I also went there a long time ago in mid summer and it was very quiet. I'm not sure about routes but the locals I spoke to seemed to value style and panache more than anything so luckily I fitted right in.

1 Attachment

wow pixels on film, you were ahead of your time

xoxo

It's fun, I hated the Bedoin climb because there were eff all views to distract you from the gradients. Just start early as possible if you are doing it in summer, because it gets hot.
@amey that's Puy Mary area isn't it? My first tour as an adult was around there. Stunning.

Never been to the Auvergne except passing through but it looks lovely. Vercors are obviously great, would also recommend the Vosges if anyone is looking for good riding. I've ridden there quite a few times and other than real peak season at weekends, it's pretty quiet in terms of cars and riders and can be reached from the UK by train even.

I hear good things about the Jura but I've only driven through.

Anyone ridden to the Col de la Madeleine via the Lacets du Montvernier? The most common loop seems to go up the Lacets and then across to the main road but there's a route that seems to go up past some ski fields which would be better so I don't need to cover the same bit of road twice for most of the climbing and less main road to ride up. Anyone been that way as I assume there must be a reason it's not that popular.

Edit - nm... the junctions to the main road suggest it's gravel

we / @pastry_bot looked into this

it is possible if you dont mind some hike a bike and gravel, when we went there was some sportive and they had closed Lacets, @pastry_bot rode up and down it while I sat near a boulangerie and had a pizza slice

this is VERY helpful!

Thanks so on the road bike, sounds like the cut across to the main road is the thing. I could throw the gravel bike in the car, but then that opens up riding up to the Col du Granon the back way up which might be more fun than a mostly-road climb with a bit of gravel.

The food in Lyon is also incredible

Has anyone here done Club Des Cingles?

Yes, a few years ago.

If so do you have any advice/stories/warnings to not even attempt it?

Leave early and take lights. Unless you're a very quick climber it's a long day. It's a good day out though.

Probably just outside Auvergne, but Rocamadeur and Conques were two towns that stand out from that trip.
Puy de Dome and Puy Mary and the Stone Arse col.
Lac Pavin, the youngest volcano in mainland France.

Anyone been that way as I assume there must be a reason it's not that popular.

?