Strasbourg to Nice

[Cathryn]

Monday 18th

40 miles from La Terrasse to Villard de Lans up on the Vercors plateau. 20 easy miles to and through Grenoble and then 12 miles of climbing up into the Vercors. Kind of loved it! Just as well as we have this much climbing every day now until Nice! We came through the Vercors 16 years ago on a grey May day. In the August sunshine, it’s glorious!

 

[BrumJim]

Monday 18th

40 miles from La Terrasse to Villard de Lans up on the Vercors plateau. 20 easy miles to and through Grenoble and then 12 miles of climbing up into the Vercors. Kind of loved it! Just as well as we have this much cloning every day now until Nice! We came through the Vercors 16 years ago on a grey May day. In the August sunshine, it’s glorious!

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Was there 13 years ago (I know the exact year because my wife was pregnant with a cyclist). A gorgeous part of France, and congratulations for getting up that climb.

 

[roubaixtuesday]

Monday 18th

40 miles from La Terrasse to Villard de Lans up on the Vercors plateau. 20 easy miles to and through Grenoble and then 12 miles of climbing up into the Vercors. Kind of loved it! Just as well as we have this much cloning every day now until Nice! We came through the Vercors 16 years ago on a grey May day. In the August sunshine, it’s glorious!

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The Vercors is amazing. I think you said you were staying in Die?

If you can raise the energy, a significant diversion going via Combe Laval would be a strong recommendation - it's probably the most amazing road I've ever ridden.

 

[Cathryn]

The Vercors is amazing. I think you said you were staying in Die?

If you can raise the energy, a significant diversion going via Combe Laval would be a strong recommendation - it's probably the most amazing road I've ever ridden.

There are so many roads I want to ride round here but I have to be realistic about what we can do as a family. We are heading straight to Die (and the ice cream shop). Tomorrow is already 3500 feet and for us, that’s a LOT! I feel the need to spend an entire week here!

 

[Cathryn]

Was there 13 years ago (I know the exact year because my wife was pregnant with a cyclist). A gorgeous part of France, and congratulations for getting up that climb.

Thank you! My husband and I cycled down it 16 years ago and still talk about it! His face dropped when I said we had to ride up it! But it was pretty good…not steep, just long and hot!

 

[Legs]

My parents were in the Vercors at the start of July - they went there specifically to find tiny and rare ghost orchids (Epipogium aphyllum). I don’t think that they’re out in flower for very long.

 

[Cathryn]

My parents were in the Vercors at the start of July - they went there specifically to find tiny and rare ghost orchids (Epipogium aphyllum). I don’t think that they’re out in flower for very long.
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Wow!!!!

 

[Cathryn]

Tuesday 19th

A genuinely epic day! We started with the descent of the Gorge de la Bourne which I was NOT expecting. It was genuinely spectacular and the photos do it no justice! We then climbed the Col de Rousset which I really enjoyed and then the descent… no words! Incredible, even at my VERY slow speed! Missed @briantrumpet in Die and the flipping ice cream shop was closed but we honestly had the best best day!

 

[briantrumpet]

Tuesday 19th

A genuinely epic day! We started with the descent of the Gorge de la Bourne which I was NOT expecting. It was genuinely spectacular and the photos do it no justice! We then climbed the Col de Rousset which I really enjoyed and then the descent… no words! Incredible, even at my VERY slow speed! Missed @briantrumpet in Die and the flipping ice cream shop was closed but we honestly had the best best day!

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Ha, glad you had such a great day and that the weather was better than some forecasts said. Sorry to have missed you in Die (it's a busy day for me with five guests leaving and four arriving needing feeding), but I'm glad that my playground pressed the right buttons for you!!

 

[briantrumpet]

The Vercors is amazing. I think you said you were staying in Die?

If you can raise the energy, a significant diversion going via Combe Laval would be a strong recommendation - it's probably the most amazing road I've ever ridden.

It is indeed stunning! (The video is still on the link!)

View: https://www.facebook.com/unanglaisendiois/videos/440054911746265

 

[Pat "5mph"]

@briantrumpet no way I could ride that road: my terrified of heights!

 

[Webbo2]

When I was riding in the Alps this summer and I started thinking what would happen if I punctured, swerved to avoid something or similar and then pitched over the edge. I had to sort of quickly get my brain to go somewhere else. A bit like when you are on a ferry and what if or you are on a plane and what if.
Is this just a me thing.

 

[briantrumpet]

@briantrumpet no way I could ride that road: my terrified of heights!

It's actually less scary on a bike than driving a car.

FWIW, the video was done holding the camera with the right hand with just the left hand on the handlebars. At least they've raised the wall on the end bit now so it's the same height as the rest of it, so not quite a scary as it used to be.

 

[Dogtrousers]

It's actually less scary on a bike than driving a car.

FWIW, the video was done holding the camera with the right hand with just the left hand on the handlebars. At least they've raised the wall on the end bit now so it's the same height as the rest of it, so not quite a scary as it used to be.

Great video @briantrumpet

And spare a thought for the people who maintain that infrastructure!

 

[briantrumpet]

Great video @briantrumpet

And spare a thought for the people who maintain that infrastructure!

It comes with the territory round here.