One Weekend – Two Pinnacle Rides

This weekend I know of two challenging rides that I could do. The first is a 140km ride with 2000m of climbing, eventually getting to the top of the Salève. The second is a 153km walk with 2500m of climbing to the Col Du Grand St Bernard.

Col Du Grand St Bernard

With the ride to the Col Du Grand St Bernard I suspect that I would be okay with riding from Nyon to Martigny. It’s when the climbing starts that I have doubts. It’s a one thousand meter leap. My biggest climb in a day of cycling was 1600m in total. With 2500m of climbing this is 900m than I have done before. I am not comfortable with making such a big leap, especially after one of the longest distances I have ever cycled.

Geneva

With the second ride I am not too worried about the first seventy kilometres. I expect the pace to be fast, and to have to work to keep up, and fuel up regularly but I think I can cope. It’s with the climb of the Salève that I have a small doubt.

There are thirty five kilomtetres of climbing to get to the top of the Salève but the gradiant is reasonable. This is not La Baudichonne or the climb to La Barillette. It is doable.

And Finally

Usually by this evening or tomorrow morning I will know what other opportunities are available for group rides. That is when I will make my decision. I will rest on Friday and Sunday, so I can push myself on Saturday. I think that cycling to Martigny would be a good first step, and then I can try cycling from Nyon to the Col. I think that to do both challenges at once is bound to fail.

With the salève climb I believe that the probability of success is high, if I remember to cool myself at fountains and avoid sprinting on downhill sections. Ideally if one or two people are at my level that would be pleasant. I am the Lanterne Rouge regularly enough on rides that involve climbing.