We can do this the hard way or the easy way

Mont Noir with Martin

MOM HERE

and she brought tortillas from Picante!

Climbing outside

For the first time this year -- crazy.  I guess we've been too busy.  No endurance at all.

They were roasting pigs in le Fontanil for some reason

Gua+extra bits

watching sports/recovery day

I watched le mans and the end of what has been an amazing Dauphine... some of the most exciting racing I have seen in years

Col de la Madeleine

Via montgellafrey.  Beautiful, but very difficult!

Later, there was a party for our Japanese/Italian neighbors.  It was really sad to realize that they will be going to soon.

 

Dauphine

The Dauphiné passed right by work today

Then we drove to Lyon to get passports for the kids (and ice cream)

Solude

I had been telling Hank for a while about the road up to Solude and the unbelievable gravel traverse over to Villard Reymond ever since I rode it last year.  It is spectacular, and a hidden gem among the famous climbs of the area like Alpe d'huez, Glandon etc.  It was a suitable last ride to what had been an amazing set of rides with Hank and Mat, and I was glad to be able to show Hank something he had not seen before.  It was another fantastic ride, and we stopped at the excellent cafe in Villard Reymond for beers. The beer turned out to be Luc Alphand beer, which I can highly recommend.  The cafe also has an unbelievable view of the surrounding mountains.  They sell Genepi from plants grown just above the village.  I could not resist buying some home made raspberry jam.  The descent was a blast: fast and technical.  For once Hank was not waiting for me!

Quick Gua run

Les Lacets

Any cyclist who has driven through the Maurienne valley will know what I am talking about: a group of steeply rising switch backs on the North side of the valley, so close to eachother that there is no separation on maps.  These are the Lacets de Montvernier and I have been dying to ride them since the first time I saw them, which was ages ago.  today I was finally able to ride them, and with Mat and Hank!  Another thoroughly enjoyable ride up the lacets, over an obscure and beautiful col, then down to the Madeleine road, where we raced a friggin dump drunk down to the valley. Nuts!

Good morning to you, too Bento