Latest Blog Posts
Day 1 - Easy Spin to Bourg d'Oisans
Posted on: July 23rd, 2019
Today we assembled our bikes and took an easy spin to the town of Bourg d'Oisans, about 10 miles away....
Long Travel Day . . . but worth it!
Posted on: July 19th, 2019
We arrived in stunning Venosc (in the French Alps) after a very long travel day....
Last Training Ride Before France 2019
Posted on: July 15th, 2019
This past Saturday Val and I rode the infamous Triple Bypass, nearly 120 miles and 11,000 vertical feet of climbing from Evergreen to Avon, CO. Since it's only 5 days before we leave for France it will be our last hard training ride before we leave....
Video of Descent from the Pont d'Espagne to Cauterets
Posted on: August 7th, 2018
Here's video of the descent from Pont d'Espange to the thermal springs just above Cauterets, France, where we stopped for coffee....
Video of Descent from Hautacam (Col de Tramassel)
Posted on: August 6th, 2018
Here's video of the descent from the Col de Tramassel, just above the Hautacam ski station and the finish of the Hautacam climb in the Tour de France....
Videos of Descents from Lac de Cap de Long & Col d'Aspin
Posted on: August 5th, 2018
Here's video of the descent from the Lac de Cap de Long, deep in the Pyrenees National Park as well as video of the descent from the Col d'Aspin (from 2016)....
Video of Descent from the Col du Tourmalet
Posted on: August 5th, 2018
Here's video of the descent down the eastern side of the Col du Tourmalet, having just climbed it from the west. The Col du Tourmalet is the highest paved pass in the Pyrenees and it is absolutely beautiful!...
Videos of Descent from the Col d'Aspin
Posted on: August 5th, 2018
Here is video of the descent from the Col d'Aspin (from 2016)....
Video of Descent from Our Village (Viscos, France)
Posted on: August 4th, 2018
We joked about the "driveway" to our rental house in Viscos, France. It's actually the D149, which climbs 751 feet in only 1.5 miles, averaging 9%. Let's just say that the climb up to Viscos was a very tough way to finish the day . . ....
Final Tally . . .
Posted on: July 28th, 2018
Not counting the super easy day that we watched Le Tour, in six days we rode 265 miles and climbed just under 40,000 vertical feet! We rode some of the most famous Pyrenees climbs of the Tour de France including the Col du Tourmalet, the Col d'Aubisque, the Col d'Aspin, and more....
Tour de France Day in the Pyrenees
Posted on: July 27th, 2018
Friday we watched the tour de France go by the base of the road to our gite, as they descended off of the Col du Tourmalet....
Col des Borderes, Col du Solour and Col d'Abisque
Posted on: July 26th, 2018
Thursday we rode much of Friday's Tour de France stage, up to the beautiful Col d'Aubisque. ...
Cauteret & The Spanish Bridge
Posted on: July 25th, 2018
Wednesday we rode up to the beautiful ski town of Cauteret and beyond to the Spanish Bridge, so named because it was part of the trade route with Spain....
Cirque de Gavarnie - a beautiful setting
Posted on: July 25th, 2018
After our difficult day Monday Tuesday was a relatively easy day with a ride over the Cirque de Gavarnie, a large vertical semi-circle that houses Europe's largest waterfall....
Epic Day of Cycling
Posted on: July 23rd, 2018
Monday we ambitiously tackled the Col du Tourmalet, the Col d'Aspin, and the Route de Lacs up to the Lac de Cap-de-Long deep in the Pyrenean National Park....
Hautacam . . . a very difficult climb
Posted on: July 21st, 2018
Sunday we rode from our gite (rental house) in Viscos over to and up Hautacam, a road also made famous by the Tour de France. In only 13.5 km (8.4 miles) we climbed 3,839 feet, at an average grade of 8%....
Luz Ardiden - From our rental house in Viscos
Posted on: July 21st, 2018
We started our France cycling adventure today with a ride up to the ski area of Luz Ardiden, a road made famous by the Tour de France. This road happens to be on the same side of the steep mountainside as the little village where we are staying, Viscos, in the High Pyrenees....
Final Training Ride for France - the Triple Bypass!
Posted on: July 15th, 2018
Saturday was our final training ride for France, and it was a doozy . . . the Triple Bypass, a 118 mile ride from Evergreen to Avon, CO with 10,500+ vertical feet of climbing....
Guanella Pass . . . Both Sides!
Posted on: July 4th, 2018
Today we tackled the beautiful Guanella Pass from both sides, starting in the little town of Grant and going up and over the pass to Georgetown and back....
Training for France . . .
Posted on: June 30th, 2018
This weekend we rode both the east and west ascents of Independence Pass. At 12,095, it is one of the most beautiful passes in the U.S....
Final Tally
Posted on: August 14th, 2016
In eight days we rode 320 miles and climbed more than 45,000 vertical feet . . . and saw some of the most beautiful sights on the planet. It was truly an amazing trip!...
The Infamous Alpe d'Huez
Posted on: August 10th, 2016
Today we climbed Alpe d'Huez and the balcony road to Auris, followed by a climb back to our B&B in Venosc. It was a beautiful last ride in the Alps and France....
Alpine Paradise
Posted on: August 9th, 2016
Today we drove from Mt. Ventoux to the quaint artist village of Venosc, in the Ecrin National Park in the Alps. This may be one of the nicest villages in France, and our view is spectacular....
The Giant of Provence - Part 2
Posted on: August 8th, 2016
Today we decided to ascend Mt. Ventoux from a different direction, starting in the town of Malaucene. To get to Malaucene we rode to Bedoin and then up and over a beautiful pass, the Col de Madeliene, that gained approx. 1000 vertical feet. ...
The Giant of Provence - Part 1
Posted on: August 7th, 2016
Mt. Ventoux is affectionately known as the giant of Provence, because you can see it from 100 miles away. We're staying in Mazan, about 10 miles from the base, in a chateau that was the summer residence of the Marquis de Sade....
Shorter Day Than Planned
Posted on: August 4th, 2016
Today Mike and I planned to ride the Col D'Aspin and then we would meet the ladies to ride to the Lac du Cap de Long, a beautiful lake high in the Pyrenees National Park....
Beautiful Cirque de Gavarnie . . . on MY bike!
Posted on: August 3rd, 2016
Last night my bike finally arrived, so I assembled it after dinner in anticipation of today's ride to the beautiful Cirque de Gavarnie....
The Spectacular Col d'Aubisque
Posted on: August 2nd, 2016
The Col d'Aubisque is another famous climb from the Tour de France, but it is also the prettiest mountain pass I have ever seen....
Markets, Food and Cycling . . . does it get any better?
Posted on: August 1st, 2016
Today started with a visit to the market at Luz Saint Sauveur and finished with a beautiful ride up to the Ski station of Luz Ardiden....
First ride . . . the infamous Col du Tourmalet
Posted on: July 31st, 2016
The most frequently climbed mountain in the Tour de France is the Col du Tourmalet in the Pyrenees, just south of Lourdes, France. ...
Planes, Trains and automobiles . . . but no bike!
Posted on: July 31st, 2016
We arrived safely after a long flight to Paris and a short flight to Toulouse, where we rented a car and drove to the village of Viscos, our base for the next week in the Pyrenees....
Let the countdown begin . . .
Posted on: July 22nd, 2016
We leave for France Friday and can't wait to get back to the Pyrenees!...
Last Day in France: Planes, Trains and Automobiles
Posted on: August 10th, 2015
Our last day in France was quite an adventure, culminating in a visit to the beautiful old city of Lyon....
Video of Lacets de Montvernier Descent
Posted on: August 7th, 2015
Here's video of the descent of the Lacets de Montvernier, 18 switchbacks that descend nearly 1,250 feet in only 2 miles....
Video of Col du Galbier Descent (Part 1)
Posted on: August 7th, 2015
Here's video of the descent of the stunning Col du Galibier. This is one of the prettiest places in the Alps!...
Video of the Balcony of Auris Descent
Posted on: August 6th, 2015
Here's video of our descent on the Balcony of Auris, a narrow road that is carved into the steep cliff high above the Romanche Valley floor. ...
Day 8: Epic Climbs of the Col du Telegraphe and Col du Galibier
Posted on: August 6th, 2015
Today we climbed the infamous Cols du Telegraphe and Galibier. We had hoped to do a big loop that included both cols (or pass in French), but an avalanche closed the only road that would complete the loop, so we had to do these climbs as an out and back....
Video of La Berarde Descent (Part 1)
Posted on: August 5th, 2015
Here is video of the descent from La Berarde to St. Christophe, deep in the Ecrin National Park. The tiny village of La Berarde is situated at the back of a very steep glacier-carved canyon, and is surrounded by high mountains....
Video of La Berarde Descent (Part 2)
Posted on: August 5th, 2015
Here's Part 2 of the video of the descent from La Berarde, starting in the town of St. Christophe in the Ecrin National Park. Also stunning!...
Day 6: The Giant of Provence
Posted on: August 4th, 2015
Today we rode Mt. Ventoux (Windy Mountain), which is affectionately known as the Giant of Provence because of how it dominates the landscape....
Video of Col de Sarenne Descent (Part 1)
Posted on: August 3rd, 2015
Here's video of the descent from of the spectacular Col de Sarenne (above Alpe d'Huez)....
Day 4: Let the Epic Cycling Begin
Posted on: August 2nd, 2015
With our warm-up ride rained out yesterday, we "took it easy" today by climbing the mythical Alpe d'Huez, followed by the Col de la Sarrene, and then the Balcon d'Auris (Balcony of the Auris)....
Day 3: Morning in Provence, Afternoon in the Alps
Posted on: July 31st, 2015
Today we traveled from Provence to the Alps - with a side trip to the airport in Lyon - and were welcomed in the Alps by pouring rain. ...
Training For Cycling in France
Posted on: June 24th, 2015
Here's video and ride data from a recent training ride up Mt. Baldy Road....
Col de Aravis Descent
Posted on: July 29th, 2013
Here's video of the descent off the beautiful Col de Aravis...
Col de la Madeleine Descent
Posted on: July 29th, 2013
Here's video of the 21-mile Col de la Madeleine descent...
Col de la Forclaz Descent
Posted on: July 14th, 2013
Here's video of the Col de la Forclaz descent...
Video of Col du Galibier Descent
Posted on: July 12th, 2013
Here's video of the descent off the second highest paved pass in France...
Video of Col du Glandon Descent
Posted on: July 12th, 2013
If you're wondering what a 55+ mph on a bike looks like...
Day 8: Lac d'Annecy and Ugine
Posted on: July 8th, 2013
Our last day of cycling in France...
Day 7: Col de la Madeleine
Posted on: July 8th, 2013
Today we tackled the infamous Col de la Madeleine...
Day 6: Col de la Forclaz Reprise
Posted on: July 6th, 2013
Today was supposed to be an easier day on the bike...
Day 5: Col de l'Arpettaz and Col d'Aravis
Posted on: July 5th, 2013
Another beautiful day for cycling in the French Alps...
Day 4: Mt. Revard, Col des Pres, Col de Leschaux
Posted on: July 4th, 2013
Another epic day cycling near Annecy...
Day 3: Unscheduled Rest Day
Posted on: July 3rd, 2013
After 8 1/2 hours in the saddle yesterday we took today off...
Day 2: La Marmotte Route
Posted on: July 2nd, 2013
Today we tackled one of the most difficult routes in France...
Day 1: Col de la Forclaz & Col de Leschaux
Posted on: July 1st, 2013
Today was supposed to be an easier day...
Arrived in Annecy - Ready to Ride
Posted on: June 30th, 2013
After nearly 20 hours of travel we arrived safely - but tired - in Annecy, France....
Final preparations under way
Posted on: June 28th, 2013
Leaving tomorrow morning for 10 days of cycling in the French Alps . . . can't wait!...