Mont Noir (Chartreuse)

[maxn]

Like Velotel, I rode on Saturday. Unlike velotel, I did not have any strategy for wind evasion, but after no long rides for what seemed like ages, I wasn't going to waste the blue skies and warm weather. The route took me and a coworker out along the bike path to Cognin-les-Gorges, then up most of the way to the Mont Noir, but was turned away by snow (!). Rerouting was then necessary through Presles
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/46877757/mnoir/15.jpg
and past the very famous climbing area of the same name
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/46877757/mnoir/16.jpg
then down to the valley
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/46877757/mnoir/17.jpg
and thats when the headwind really kicked in in earnest, and of course on the uphill. By the end of the various gorges
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/46877757/mnoir/18.jpg
I was cooked, but just as I rounded the last corned to Lans-en-Vercors, the wind was at my back and it was smooth sailing down past Engins to the valley. A difficult but beautiful ride!

no ride video because a buddy was borrowing the camera

[Louis]

Very impressive scenery. But I think I would be a bit worried about falling rocks.

[maxn]

Thanks. Also, I must be really tired because no part of that ride was in the chartreuse... All in the vercors. Rockfall can indeed be a problem. Just don't look up :)

[velotel]

Up the gorge against the wind! No fun at all. Would have thought the wind would have been on your back. Bummer. And snow on Mt Noir! Surprised but shouldn't be; it's pretty high. I like that climb up from Cognin-les-Gorges through those cliffs and then the hills above. Always hard to decide which direction to do Mt Noir in. Bet you were wishing you were on a rope on the cliffs instead of on the bike.

[thinpin]

Bet you were wishing you were on a rope on the cliffs instead of on the bike.
If there is one thing worse than riding in a gale it's climbing in one.

Nice stories and pics again gentlemen.

[Liv2RideHard]

Amazing scenery mate. Thanks for making me jealous. Thanks for sharing.

[maxn]

.
If there is one thing worse than riding in a gale it's climbing in one.

100% agreed on that one. I'd say it's a lot more dangerous on the rock too.

If not for the wind though, yeah. I haven't climbed there in ages but it's pretty nice, particularly the orange blocky stuff and the overhanging tufas.

velotel, re Mont noir: I think the snow was just from the past week since I know that people rode up and over it as recently as the week before. The snow started pretty soon after the sign (i.e. several k to the top still) or I might have walked it.