February 2004 Diary
February 14th - The first Col of the year
The weather over the Alps had been cold and dry for around two and a half weeks, and the ski resorts were in need of some much needed snow. This meant that it was relatively safe to climb on the roads, and I'd had a winter riding on the flat roads and small hills. My first race was only three weeks away, I'd shaved my legs that morning and I needed to cycle my first mountain.
I was joined by Bernard, a cycling friend from HP, and we left my house in Vif and turned onto the road to the Col de l'Arzelier. The first two kilometres are relatively flat with a cycle lane, so we were able to spin the legs and talk before the gradients ramped up.
The climb really starts in the little village of La Gua, situated at 375 metres in altitude. For the next five kilometres, the road follows the contours of the hillside at gradients between seven and eight percent. There are a couple of bends on the road where it does get steeper, but it doesn't last long. We were chatting and enjoying our first mountain of the year.
The French from the region were on holiday and the road was quiet with traffic. The road became even quieter after we turned right in St Barthelemy for the final eight kilometres. It was a hazy day, and the mountain views weren't too clear but we could see more than in the warmer months as the trees were still without their leaves.
Snow started to appear next to the road at around 700 metres in altitude, and once we had ridden through Prenlenfry, we cycled into pine forest. The air was certainly cooler here and there was still plenty of snow next to the road. The seven percent gradient had eased to around four and our speed felt faster. With a kilometre left to climb, we left the shade of the trees and could see the Col. The view was lovely with the mountains towering above the road in the haze, and the fields covered in snow.
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Climbing through the forest above Prenlenfrey |
Cycling
under the Two Sisters on the Col de l'Arzelier, 500 metres to the Col |
The 1154 metre Col de l'Arzelier was relatively busy, mostly with families. The main ski runs were closed, but there were a couple of tiny runs open that allowed the youngsters to get some enjoyment.
The descent from the Col wasn't as cold as it should have been, and in the appropriately hamlet of Chateau Bernard, the road levelled off and Bernard and I followed the contours of the mountain at around 900 metres.
;) |
| Riding
underneath the Vercors near St Andeol |
We didn't continue all the way to the village of St Andeol, but instead turned left and joined a road that neither of us had ridden before. The road descended for a few kilometres towards the hamlet of St Guillaume. We were riding in the shadows, and had been all day so we descended slowly, both worried about the possibility of ice.
;) |
| Bernard
rides up the hairpins near Miribel with mountains in the distance |
The final climb to Miribel-Lanchatre started as we crossed the river Gresse at 650 metres in altitude, and it was only four and a half kilometres of uphill. It's a section of road I like a lot as there are great mountain views to the east across rolling countryside, with the high Alps providing the backdrop. There are a few hairpins for accelerations, and after the climb, it's a great descent all the way to my front door in Vif.
The final run back home took us back through St Barthelemy, and the fast downhill sprint to the town sign. The tour was only 44 kilometres, but I was happy to have ridden my first col of 2004.
