Just like every other city on this trip I rounded a corner and boom, the city ended. I’ve been thinking about this a lot. Cities are exciting and interesting but they also carry a lot of stress. I see people all over cities looking like they need a break. Hop on a bike, pedal (15 minutes in this case) and all of a sudden you’re in a farm field and everything is calm. 

I’d woken up in Geneva with legs itching to ride after sitting around on trains for a couple days. So I pedaled out of the city, crossed over into France, and found a “small” mountain to climb. I went up the Col del la Croisette which is a “local’s favorite” out of Geneva according to the internet. About 7km/ 4.4 miles long and a steep 10% gradient. This is just a tiny appetizer for the big Alps that are off in the distance but it made a big meal for my legs conditioned on the flats of the Netherlands.

There was a section where I had to ride in my Eagle gear which is a 44t in the front and a 50t in the back. I felt like I could barely turn the cranks over. I eventually found a rhythm and got my breathing in sync with my pedaling. Being used to miles kilometers usually fly by, but on this hill 1km seemed to take forever. It felt good in the hard-to-explain-way that climbing does. I was happy that despite the challenge my legs were able to find the strength to claw my way to the top.

Over the top there was a long descent back into Geneva. I’m not sure how such a short climb could have such a long descent but that was fun too. After all the windy roads on my route to the climb the return route was pretty straight and along a more major roadway. That meant shifting into a big gear and racing along with cars at 35+ mph. 

40 miles/ 64km in total. My lungs feel clear after the ride and now I am searching for pizza.