I had two options, an easy one along Lake Geneva that was going to be filled with traffic or a more unknown one up into the mountains. I didn’t want to get caught in another freezing mountain storm and I had no idea what the roads would be like up there. I walked to the grocery store to stock up on some snacks (nuts, apples and some “Spicy Hot” Pringles) and could see the road along the coast snarled with traffic. Also it felt warm even this early in the morning so I decided to try the mountain route. 

It was one of the most beautiful rides I’ve ever been on. There was some traffic in the beginning but as I pedaled out of Evian each little turn I would make seemed to half the traffic. The mountains are so steep there isn’t really that many road options but the one I was making for followed a river weaving its way around the biggest peaks. It still had some climbing and getting away from the edge of Lake Geneva meant a steep challenge for the first time I’d touched the pedals in a few days. 

After a while the gradient mellowed out and I was in the mountains. They jutted up on both sides of me and I was frustrated I could not get my phone’s pictures to do them justice. It looks “storybook” out here. Green pastures running right into huge cliff faces. Mountains leaning over each other’s shoulders to get a view of the valley below. The river gurgled along beside me. 

I followed the river up higher and higher and felt like I was climbing the entire day. I stopped once or twice to snack and lounge around in the scenery. I understand climbing on a bike might sound unappealing to some people but I was loving it. I wasn’t training or trying to coax the best out of myself, I was just spinning the cranks along, looking around and breathing. I like the way these big climbs reduce all the noise in my head to breathing and pedaling with the occasional moment of awe. 

Eventually I reached the top of Morgins pass… maybe that is what it was called? From there things started going downhill immediately. I could go faster than the cars and the slow turns on the road made that feel not scary. It had been a little cooler in the mountains but as I crossed over this pass warm air was blowing up from the valley below. I kept my legs pedaling on the way down not for speed but because it made my knees tingle to feel the warm air hitting them. 

Things got a lot steeper when I hit the switchbacks and I had to stay very alert. There was nothing dangerous specifically but a mistake here at 45 mph meant a 2 foot tall guardrail might not stop you before the 100’s of feet tall cliff. It was a lot of fun but I had to keep reminding myself to not look at how amazing the view was. I did stop a few times and take photos which again don’t seem to do it all justice. 

On the valley floor things were calm and flat. I made my way over to the Rhone river that runs through the middle and followed that towards Aigle. There is a bike trail running along the river and I’ve ridden this section before a few years ago on the Fairdale Over the Alps tour. It is also extraordinarily beautiful! 

Right on the bike trail is the UCI headquarters. From the trail you can see the BMX track, pump track and the cool looking building that houses a Velodrome and all kinds of bike people. I was stopping by to visit some friends who were in town for a BMX event. I’ll pick that part up tomorrow.