Col de la Charmette

[maxn]

A hidden gem (not hidden to velotel, of course!). It's right in my backyard, but a tough climb -- roughly 1000 meters of climbing at 9% average. The payoff is the North side of it which is closed to cars, and rarely ridden by bikes -- MTB or road. There are some tunnels, one of which has metals doors on either side, with short passageways that climb a few meters up into the rock and then dead end in alcoves. The last shot is some brave soul cycling up the last mini col on my ride with a trailer and a kid!

[572cv]

Very nice, Maxn. I'm always amazed by these tunnels up high, and the effort that went into their making.

[maxn]

thanks. Some of those tunnels are pretty cool. You might be interested in this site, which lists most (all?) the tunnels in france, sorted by length :)

http://lestunnels.free.fr/tunnels_tous_long_jcadres.htm

I'm sure you can find some others that you have rolled through. My least favorite is the Saint Gervais Ecouges tunnel -- 490 meters of pitch black with a bend in the middle. Luckily you can ride around it.

The tunnel in the photos is Tunnel des Agneaux, 280 meters long, built in 1876.

[choke]

Thanks Max....I never get tired of seeing those skinny French roads.

No video? I miss those from you.

[cnighbor1]

http://www.aukadia.net/alps/nfa.htm

http://www.cycling-challenge.com/the-secret-road-to-col-de-la-charmette-chartreuse-alps/

http://jeanpba.free.fr/Charmette_EN.html

http://www.bikemap.net/en/route/2176341-chartreuse-alps-via-col-de-la-charmette/#/z10/45.21183,5.98983/terrain

anyone find it
thanks
CN

[maxn]

Choke -- been having disk issues and too many other things to fix them for now so have been working off a laptop, where editing is painful. Hopefully will start shooting video again soon. Glad you like them.

Mr. Nighbor -- looks like you already found it. It's not well known. Velotel has written about it : http://velotel-touring.com/charmette.htm

and I am happy to give any info for anyone that is interested