9/5 Non-Ride

After my ride up and down and up and down and up and down and up and down Grand Colombier on Friday 9/4 my original plan was to ride the above route, which was a variation of a Tour de France stage from 2013,  I adapted it to start and end at our hotel, Les Tilleuls.  Because of the late start on Friday, and because I'd climbed over 15,000 feet on Friday, and because we didn't get back to the hotel in St. Jorioz until late Friday night--close to 10:00, I was just too wiped out to wake up on Saturday morning to do another 85 miles and nearly 12,000 more feet of climbing.

In hindsight, I might say I regret not sucking it up, getting out of bed and taking off.  In reality, I was just plain tired.  The legs were sore, thought not as bad as I'd feared they would be.  I wish I could have been in a little bit better shape, whatever.  It was just too much to ask so early in the trip.

It would have been a great ride.  I always think that.  Whenever I see a road I think about how it would be to ride it.  How satisfying it would be.  I used to do the same thing when I was still running. 

Rather than drive the entire 85 mile route, Linda and I backtracked in the car and drove to the summit of Semnoz, which would have been the last climb of the day if I'd ridden it, to take a look around. Once we got to the summit of Semnoz, I was kind of glad I'd skipped the ride.  It was a little chilly.  I could have gotten around that, though.  Lot's of riders out on the roads. 

Here's a look back down towards Lac d'Annecy from the top of Semnoz.  

Linda liked this cutout at the top of Semnoz--we had to wait about 10 minutes while two cyclists who were ruining the picture finally finished eating their "fuel" and got out of the way.  That's our Renault Kangoo, with Linda sitting in it, in the background to the left.  

If I'd ridden, I would have been on this road. . . .  I miss riding those roads.  There is something about riding along the roads, through the anonymous and numerous small hamlets and villages that can't be compared to anything else I do, or have done.  It is a unique way to experience the countries we visit.  The vacation and tourist hotspots?  Who needs 'em.

A selfie from the top of Semnoz with Lac d'Annecy in the background.

 Just a shot from the car window as we descended back towards town. After we got back down to lake level we found a nice little lakeside cafe and had some hamburgers, fries, and a Coke.  It was a good day. 

Sunday, September 6, I got in another ride and Linda got in another long day behind the wheel.