Your bike in front of a col sign

[briantrumpet]

Three today, but col de Prémol I've done already.

 

[briantrumpet]

And a seven-col day today, though col de la Portette is a dubious one, and another (Alexis, which I've already posted) is cheaty (it's a real col, but you don't even realise you've been over it). Both col de la Chau and col de la Bataille are ones where you ride laterally across the saddle of the col, then carry on ascending.

80 miles and 8,500ft, and I don't mind the odd cheaty col.

 

[Vertego]

Brian, the more I look at your posts, the more jealous I get. You really do have some spectacular riding opportunities on your doorstep.

 

[briantrumpet]

Brian, the more I look at your posts, the more jealous I get. You really do have some spectacular riding opportunities on your doorstep.

I do understand why people go to Ventoux or the High Alps, but I'd argue that the better riding is here. It's got more varied roads, and more varied scenery, in its way just as spectacular. And amazingly few cyclists. I reckon I'll have had 46 weeks here by the end of this stay, and I still get the same pleasure as my first time.

 

[briantrumpet]

Three today, including the lowest signed one I know in these parts.

Are there really so few CCer col-grabbers?

 

[Donger]

OK then .... rising to the challenge:

1. The Rhigos, South Wales

2. Col du Marais, Haute Savoie

3. Col de la Forclaz (de Montmin), Haute Savoie


4. Col de Tamie, Haute Savoie
5. Col de l'Epine, Haute Savoie
6. Le Combe d'Ire, Chevaline, Haute Savoie
7. Peyrepertuse, Languedoc
8. The Tumble, South Wales
9. Bealach na Ba, Applecross, Scotland

 

[briantrumpet]

OK then .... rising to the challenge:

1. The Rhigos, South Wales View attachment 369998

2. Col du Marais, Haute Savoie View attachment 369999

3. Col de la Forclaz (de Montmin), Haute Savoie View attachment 369997


4. Col de Tamie, Haute Savoie View attachment 370000
5. Col de l'Epine, Haute Savoie View attachment 370005
6. Le Combe d'Ire, Chevaline, Haute Savoie View attachment 370004
7. Peyrepertuse, Languedoc View attachment 370002
8. The Tumble, South Wales View attachment 370008
9. Bealach na Ba, Applecross, Scotland View attachment 370010

That's more like it!

 

[Shut Up Legs]

Here's one I did last year. It was a memorable day. The group I was in started in Luz-Saint-Sauveur, rode over Col du Tourmalet, on to Col d'Aspin, then on to Col de Peyresourde, before descending down to Bagneres-de-Luchon.

 

[briantrumpet]

Nine cols en route today, three repeated on the return, four you've deen already, so here are the two new ones:

 

[briantrumpet]

Right last one from me for ages... probably not doing any more big cols till Easter next yesr, at least. Oh well, mustn't complain. Three for you today, all within sight (pretty much) of Mont Aiguille:

I'll be amazed if anyone else has been to col des Deux - on one of the most stunning back roads I've ever seen.

 

[Shut Up Legs]

Another one for me, from last year's France tour:

This one below is from the same tour, and one of my favourites. The ride up to it was so quiet that I didn't see a single motor vehicle or cyclist the entire way up.

 

[briantrumpet]

Another one for me, from last year's France tour:
View attachment 370708

This one below is from the same tour, and one of my favourites. The ride up to it was so quiet that I didn't see a single motor vehicle or cyclist the entire way up.
View attachment 370710

There's something lovely about having a road all to yourself - one of the advantages of riding less well-known cols... and many of them just as splendid as the famous ones.

 

[ianrauk]

 

[briantrumpet]

View attachment 373120

I think you get the prize for longest col sign pole.

 

[Shut Up Legs]

I think you get the prize for longest col sign pole.

At least it solves the problem of "how do we prevent those bloody tourists putting stickers all over the sign to the point where it becomes unreadable?". Yes, Mont Ventoux sign, I'm thinking of you!