Gastrobiking

Presles

Very happy today.  The weather was fantastic but I went to work as planned, did 6 hours of teaching and still managed to get out for a three hour ride.  It didn't leave much time for anything else but it was worth all the running around to get out for a ride like this.  

We did our standard Presles - Gorges du Nan route.  It was the first spring / summer wardrobe day of the year and I had mine laid out and all ready to jump into but at the last minute I chickened out and opted for my tights.  I paid for it on the climb but up at 1200m it is still wonderfully white and I was able to cool down.  As always, Phil took some great pictures.

 
    

   

Sun, snow and icicles

You'd think we'd behave more like local cyclists by now and wait for things to warm up a little in the Vercors before heading up there at every opportunity.  But when the sun's out, it's hard to resist, even with a biting cold northerly and a 30 km descent.  The worst that can happen is that we get cold and it's not like we are unprepared. We both carried rucksacks up full of clothes for the descent today.  We needed them.  It was snowing when we got to Saint Nizier and the top part of the Bourne was glacial.  Phil had a thick downy type jacket with him that he decided he didn't need so I wore that under another jacket over the numerous layers I was already wearing which felt like I was descending in a sleeping bag, leaving me to sit back and enjoy the fantastic snowy landscapes.  It was another really fun day out.  Here are a few pictures:

Cycle track to Grenoble; so far so good.

 

The bottom part of the climb from Grenoble to St Nizier; overheating a bit here, jacket undone and ski gloves off and attached to handlebars.

At the top, getting ready for the bank heist; I was so eager to getaway that I didn't have my tarte aux myrtilles at the café there.  Will have to go back soon.  I can't go past that café without succumbing to the power of the blueberry tart. 

The descent down the Bourne.  It really is stunning in winter but only for 'les costauds'

  

 

  

Back to Die

Today's ride down to Die and back would be considered by some to be quite ambitious at this time of year. Depending on the route you take, it's anywhere between 140 and 170kms, unless you want to add on the Col de Penne, like Michael last year, to take it over 200 kms or do an epic 250 km Tour of the Vercors like Josh a couple of years ago.  

Our trip today measured in at 160 kms and we think is a great ride for this time of year as it doesn't go too high (the Col de Rousset is at 1254m so I guess it's high enough), the roads are well cleared of snow and all the climbing is at a gentle gradient.  It's just long. However, when Phil called into the bakery in St Jean for his customary sustenance this morning, the owner, who is also a cyclist, had some words of advice for riding back over the snowy Col de Rousset, concerned that we were adequately equipped.  'I am now I have my 'pain aux raisins', Phil assured him. On the way up to Leoncel, a fellow cyclist on his way down, stopped in his tracks and called out to me, concerned that I was heading up to a 'Route Barré' sign.  This evening Dom was flabbergasted when Phil called in for his customary post ride pizza and told him how he'd earned it.

Their concern was well meaning but unnecessary; it was a fantastic day for taking on such a ride.  The trees have no leaf cover so the views are more visible in winter.  The snow at the top adds a contrast to the first signs of spring in the valley. The hardest thing about a ride like today is how to manage the extreme differences in temperature.  It was sunbathing weather in the salon de thé in Die for our coffee and cake stop whereas the top part of the descent down to Vassieux-en-Vercors, where we happened upon the sledging dogs packing up for the day, was pretty shivery.  But a few moments of discomfort did nothing to spoil the immense enjoyment of the day.