Rocky Point 2 Orient

Ride to Orient.

Devil's Kitchen (ToC stage 2) pre-ride

One more day Catskills riding :) Dieter's Devil's Kitchen (ToC) pre-ride.



Super fun group, perfect mix of strong riders.



Even everyone knew the right way, this was confusing, but we fixed it.Local kids having fun?



 

Windham Greene / Catskills Classics

Greene/Catskills Classics.

Malaucene to Veynes (Vx4)

Day 4, the return. Monday morning getting up and ready for breakfast at our hotel "Le Blueberry" in Malaucene. What this morning turned out even more sparse than the last day -- pretty much a coffee 'o le and a piece of baguette with butter and little jelly...
Putting the few items back into the pack and ready to go -- need to love that minimal stuff travel, so easy.

Heavy legged slow start, with that insufficient dinner and tiny breakfast and just little left over snacks and one bottle of fuel to get started -- hoping to make it -- seeking for the urgently next super market soon... However we started out this time on D242 winding in most scenic long waved rolling up and downs through a beautiful valley of the Provence eventually connecting to D40, D41, D72 and finally finding a little bigger cool old town with some castle like looking buildings: Montrun les Bains, around km 40. Getting some bananas, milk, yogurt, oj and fruits to charge up/make up for some recovery. Feeling better already :)
From there heading up a climb via D542 towards "Col de I'Homme Mort" (we did not went there all the way on D63, but turned left staying on D542) -- just missed to take a photo of that sign, some what scary and some what matching my feelings that moment about it.
But made it and a rewarding nice long gradual descent on D942 to make up some distance with ease followed -- winding roads, some little nice canyon like scenery -- before we finally hit a little bigger road D1074 for the final gradual slight uphill miles towards the car. Lunch in Serres then back to Veynes on D994.

And the last visual of the most scenic parts of the return journey:


 Final words and credits to my friend Ben for picking this year's destinations and organizing the our night stays ahead of time this year! Nothing beats 4 days of freedom on two wheels in a very bike friendly and welcome region, luck with great weather, exceptional warm already, very welcome after a few too chilly previous days in Northern Germany. A few historical (or current??) iconic cycling climbs -- just good times. Thank you -- what regions may we see in future?

Totals: a evening ride and 3 1/2 days (from that 2 days with pack), 580km, 15'000m climbing. 

Mont Ventoux x3 (Vx4)

Day 3. So now what, it's Sunday and we got the mountain right there and it seams the best and most classic way to see it all is to climb and descent on all three possible sides or roads, where the upper part on the Bedoin/Sault side is in common.

There we go....



Sit back and watch how our day went -- a perfect day for a at times unfriendly big mountain:


And if you are curious about the full length on one of those descents (or climbs), follow me here in a uncut all the way down video:

Veynes to Malaucene (Vx4)

Day 2. After a nigh stay in hotel in Gap driving to Veynes and parking the car for the next few days we will leave the car there and will go one way with a light pack to stay at Malaucene.



[D994 ... randonee rider sitting in ... rally traffic ... scenic steep detour ... awe descents on narrow roads ... lunch in Sault .. Ventoux, lightening, thunder, hail but just about missed, wet descent into Malaucene]

 
Here follow us on our journey:

Chambery via Col des Pres to Anncey and return via Semnoz (Vx4)

Py calls this day 1: riding some tough roads and climbs on a hot day from Chambery and on the some TDF tracks and climbs.

After a night stay in Chambery in a small convenient place with late night automated check-in, failed too early (closed) shopping attempt -- but got some pasties from a bakery, breakfast at the hotel. Parking at some big lot and heading on the road. Starting pretty much right away with some good steeps on D206 "Col des Pres" making the way via very scenic terrain and more climbs to Annecy. Lunch time.

Continuing towards the famous Montee du Semnoz climb. A long continuous climb with slight gradient variations -- and climbing on a few miles of annoying road work with freshly sanded pavement.

From then a great descent and just a little more uphill before rolling back into Chambery. Great start!



Driving to Gap, dinner on the way.

Part Two -- Switzerland, Bern to France, Provence (Vx4)

Kleine Abendrunde from Bern, Switzerland after arriving and meeting his friend Ben. Bike assembly, check and a quick evening ride -- OK.

Rolling quicky out of town on a nice small road converted into a bike path!

Here a few views from around Bern:


Before heading back, dinner and packing up for the evening drive to France.