Greetings, again from Italy!

Hello loyal readers, well, I'm in Italy and I would love to blog about it but the photo uploads take so long at this lovely Bormio Hotel that I really can't get it done without staying up all night.

We have a big day riding tomorrow so that is not going to happen.  I will try to catch up on this when I have more time and a better internet connection.

The riding is phenomenal, the gelato is better than the gelato in Boulder, and I am having fun.  Best to all, Chris

Italy

Just a quick note to let everyone know I have arrived safely in Italy.  I am in Pallanza tonight.  Flew in today, built up my bike, and did a 25 mile warm-up ride along lake Magiorre.  Tomorrow my Italian trip begins in earnest.  We will see what I have left in the tank after France.

Happy 4th, of July!

Les Lacets de Monvernier / Le Col du Chaussy / Le Col de la Madeleine

Yesterday was for Hank.  Last June on the next to the last riding day we had in France, Hank and I tried to find and then ride what we (or I) had heard described as the Lacets (laces) of the Col du Chaussy.  Our attempt was unsuccessful because we went up the main route up the col - D77.  We missed the lacets because they are on a side route - D77B - that joins the main route in a meadow just above the Lacets.  Hank and I were very close to the Lacets, but we missed.

The other day Hank sent me a text over Facebook asking me if I was going to try and ride the Lacets this year.  I wrote to him I would, and yesterday was my last chance, so I rented a van and drove over the Col du Glandon to Pontamafrey in the Maurienne Valley.  It took me a while to find them, but I finally did.

The Lacets are in the center of the photo

I parked the van and started what is actually a fairly mellow climb up the stacked laces.  I will let the pictures speak for themselves. 

The Road to Oulles

Yesterday I decided to take it easy before doing a big ride today.  So I rode down the Col d'Ornan into Bourg d'Oisans to have some lunch and mail some postcards.  But by the time I got into town the post office had closed - lots of businesses close in France from about noon until 2:00.  So I just had lunch and headed back up the Col d'Ornan.  About two kilometers up the col there is a side road off to the right that I pass every day.  It's the road to Olles.

I had heard it was a pretty, quiet side road and a steep, but short climb at seven kilometers, and on the spur of the moment I decided to ride up it.  I figured I could ride to Oulles, then drop back down into Bourg d'Oisans to mail my postcards, then ride back up the Col d'Ornan to the King of the Mountains Lodge and call it a day.

I started the climb and a beautiful waterfall came into view.

There was also an excellent view of the I ride I do just about every day that I am here - the road up the Col d'Ornan.

The Oulles road itself started out with several layered switchbacks

After the switchbacks the road became a climbing shelf road.

As I came into Oulles, I found a new creative use for old skis.

Oulles itself is a tiny hamlet with nothing but a very nice water fountain.  One of the nice things about riding in France is the number of public potable water fountains.  Every hamlet seems to have one.

Oulles

After Oulles it was a rocket downhill run back into Bourg d'Oisans to mail my postcards and then a mellow spin back up the Col d'Ornan for a bit of a rest day: 27 miles of riding, 4,300 feet of climbing.