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

Heatmaps indicate everyone cuts across. As @amey said, it's gravel which explains it as I expect there aren't loads of people doing that sort of ride on gravel bikes.

it is very much possible: https://www.cycling-challenge.com/col-de-la-madeleine-via-col-du-chaussy-2/

basically this I think: https://www.komoot.com/smarttour/20808317?tour_origin=smart_tour_search

The gravel route is doable on 23mm and is at least as good scenery as the road (and probably less climbing)

Using 28mm... might give it a bash then. Cheers both

you're welcome, just nick the climbs, it's likely to be the best and remote stuff.
my friend is planning to do it with his cargo this year

One more alpine question. Col de Vars worth a look? It’s on the way so could stop for a ride. Otherwise it’s the Izoard (done before on a loaded gravel bike) or Galibier (which is a longer ride from Briançon).

I’d take the Izoard or the Galibier over the Col du Vars any day of the week.

this, vars is boring

galibier from briancon with 3% 20k lautaret is lovely, as good as from telegraph side

Planning on riding from Lyon to Turin and back this summer. Any mountains I shouldn't miss?

Oh yes, but I've done it already

looking for guidance - should I head north to the massif then through the Vanoise, or south towards Grenoble and écrins?

Vercors are a must; Realised this is too south.

Avoid Semnoz. Its boring.

Narrow road up Plateau des Glières is nice, steep. Both Colombière (descent into Le Grand-Bornand) and Grand Colombière are great.

I missed Bilignin but took a taxi from Culoz.

How long do you have? Do you want scenery, or tough climbs, famous cols or something else?

No it isn’t wtf

Yes I rode it back in 2018 as a celebration for a good mates 50th birthday as part of a group of 15 riders. My mate arranged for us all to have matching kit which I felt could have been a bit cheesy but was a really great motivation on the day. It also helped the multiple photographers on the top section to recognise us and cheer us on during the second and third ascents.

We did the standard Bedoin, Malaucene and Sault ascents in that order and I would suggest sticking with that. Another mate who is a much better climber than me attempted it with the Malaucene attempt last and found it really tough going.

Choose your day wisely. We were fortunate with the weather even in late June. Start early (circa 7:30) and we were at the top by 9:30. I took arm warmers and a gilet for the descents as even though it was a warm day we were wet through from sweat and the descents could give you a chill as it was still relatively early in the day.

Coffee and croissant at the foot of the first descent and then another 2 hour climb to the top. Fortunately there was cloud cover to keep the temperature down. Somebody had a hip flask which we all shared (pre-COVID days) before the descent.

It was really hot, low 30s by now and we were feeling it in our legs and that’s why it was useful the last ascent from Sault is the most straightforward. A stop at Chalet Reynard for some supplies and then we crested the final tim before heading back down to Bedoin for celebratory beers.

I said pick your day carefully. I returned in 2019 taking another mate and we tackled the Bedoin ascent. This happened to coincide with the hottest temperature ever recorded in France at 45 degrees c at Carpentras which is where we had started the ride. The BBC were in Bedoin reporting back and bike shops were refusing to hire bikes as it was so dangerous and the climb took us something like five hours as it was simply exhausting. It was all we could do at the top to roll back downhill which was like descending into a furnace and head home. There was no way a dongles was happening on that day.

Top tips, as already mentioned start early and pace yourself. I never ever ride to heart rate but I chose a number I felt comfortable with and stuck at that all day. In fact it was due to this that I realised I was bonking on the final climb (I just couldn’t raise my HR to the level I had set and was slipping out the back door of the group) and had to stop at a feed station for a group from Belgium who were doing one of the climbs.

I am lucky enough to have a very understanding wife and have had some awesome cycling experiences over the last 30 years in may different countries and this is definitely the number one so do it, you won’t regret it.

Finally, make a weekend of it and do the Gorges de la Nesque the nest day as a recovery ride. It’s a beautiful ride and very different to Ventoux.

Here’s a video of the day.

https://www.pinkbike.com/video/488976/

from Annecy*

I've ridden through twice on different routes, while riding across France. Both times it was the highlight. Lovely climbs, deserted roads, pretty villages, but very quiet in between.

Both times were in May so there were loads of Spring flowers, like more than I have ever seen - fields of primroses or daffodils almost as far as I could see!

You've confused me now user amey. But yeah, Briancon to Galibier is shit EXCEPT for the campsite at Le Monetier les bains.... something like €4 a night and with a great big common room

Edit: the climby bit from Lautaret up Galibier is good

I'm biased because I live there, but if you head south then I think it would be more fun going from Valence than Lyon. The 'terre froide' bit between Lyon and Grenoble is a bit dull. Lyon to Valence is only 1hr on the regional (TER) train, or there are occasional TGV trains Lyon St Exupery to Valence that take 35 mins. From Valence Ville or Valence TGV you can cross the Vercors to Grenoble.

Thank you.

I disagree. Head due east from Lyon and you quickly hit the southern end of the Jura, and can ride climbs like the Grand Colombier, Mont du Chat and Mont Revard, all of which are interesting and scenic cols.

If you want to head south from there to Grenoble (and the Vercors) then you can go over the three classic cols of the Chartreuse, the Granier, the Cucheron and the Porte.

Valence Corps Vars Bonette Tende Fauniera Elva Sampeyre?

Disagree? And without using capitals?
I agree with you, east to the Jura looks good, it was just that if he was heading south / south-east from Lyon, then that big flat area is a bit boring.

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