velotel
01-10-2017, 05:17 AM
The last ride in Part I was in Italy, a loop featuring part of the Strada dell’Assietta. For that one I rode up a fabulous double-track road to Colle Blegier, one of around 8 cols along the Strada dell’Assietta. The hard man approach for riding Strada dell’Assietta is up from Susa to Colle delle Finestre. And since it has, on the north side, not the south, a long section of dirt, 8 K worth, it gets the fourth slot here, actually the fifth spot since I left the first blank since that kind of changes from day to day, depending on mood and moon phase.
Colle delle Finestre, 44 switchbacks, including 27 stackbacks (my word for switchbacks when they’re stacked up one above the next), grades that never drop below 8%, or only for a few pedal strokes, double-digits frequent, summit elevation 2178 (7145 ft). Impressive stats but vastly more impressive from the saddle. The lower part is crazy fun, a beautiful one-laner zigging up through a thick forest. Beautiful road surface, at least when I did it. The stackbacks are stunning with all these beautifully laid rock support walls. There’s one place where you can look left up through an arched stream tunnel under the traverse angling left above you and beyond you can see the base of the rock wall and another arched tunnel under the next traverse angling up to the right! Always in this forest of silence, sometimes the sounds of water splashing over rocks, the air rich in soft greens with rays of sunlight striking off rocks and trunks. I was literally in awe the entire time up. So much so that I pretty much forgot to notice how damn steep and unrelenting the grades are!
Until the dirt. I definitely noticed the grades there. The last 8 K of the climb are dirt and I’ve heard that by the end of the summer they can get some fierce washboards from traffic. Probably best to do it in June before it gets slammed by cars. For me it was smooth as silk, well, maybe not quite but smooth enough. This was two days before the Giro did it and the road was still closed because they didn’t want cars screwing up the surface the road department had prepared. Some friggin fierce ramps in the dirt section, especially in the final switchbacks. Huge views too as the road clears the trees and works its way up through the summit basin. A wonderful climb and a beautiful summit, even equipped with a fountain of spring water. I haven’t done the south side yet, up or down, but it looks exquisite, and paved right to the col. A loop is possible but it’s a long one. Down the south side, up and over Colle del Sestriere, down to Susa, loop closed. Or, for those with the form, down a couple of K then right onto the Strada della Assieta for a killer loop.
The Big Loop, 3 cols, Cormet d’Arêches, Cormet de Roselend, Col de Pré, around 100 K with 3200 vertical meters (62 miles/10,500 ft), one I hesitated to do for a long time. Always afraid my form wasn’t good enough. Finally decided my form probably wasn’t going to get any better while I was definitely getting older so just go while it’s still a reasonable possibility. Seemed like another good ride with which to celebrate having turned 70 in the spring. It was as hard as I’d thought it would be. Pretty much tapped out at the end. And as much as I loved it, I’m not sure I’ll ever do it again. A major stretch for me. But the first climb of the day, to Cormet d’Arêches, that I’ll do again, and again. I’d already done it twice before I did the full loop. One of my favourite climbs, right there with Colle delle Finestre. In fact now that I think about it maybe it’s even better! As good as any road I’ve ever done for alpine scenery. The last 4 K to the col are dirt, kind of steep, with views so huge they take your mind off the climbing. The first 4 K down the other side are dirt too, steeper I think, followed by a speed run down a tight strip of blacktop. If someone’d told me I hit over 100 kph on that section, I’d have asked is that all! Then a contouring ramble across the base of the mountains to Bourg St Maurice then the road to Cormet de Roselend. Long climb on a tight two-laner, a favourite of motorcyclists on weekends. Better during the week. We were there on a weekend. By the time we got to the col everyone was ready to start shooting motorcyclists! Last, Col de Pré, a short climb but with sections verging on brutal. Or felt that way after all we’d ridden to that point. From Cormet de Roselend down to the Roselend reservoir, across the dam, then up to Col de Pré is about as beautiful as you’re going to find. After that a fast, wild descent off Pré on a tight, twisting, zigging, steep road with blind turns that can hide cars taking up the roadway. A blast of a plunge. Hell of a good climb too. Then back to Beaufort. A loop I’ll never forget.
Not finished yet, couple more on the list
Colle delle Finestre, 44 switchbacks, including 27 stackbacks (my word for switchbacks when they’re stacked up one above the next), grades that never drop below 8%, or only for a few pedal strokes, double-digits frequent, summit elevation 2178 (7145 ft). Impressive stats but vastly more impressive from the saddle. The lower part is crazy fun, a beautiful one-laner zigging up through a thick forest. Beautiful road surface, at least when I did it. The stackbacks are stunning with all these beautifully laid rock support walls. There’s one place where you can look left up through an arched stream tunnel under the traverse angling left above you and beyond you can see the base of the rock wall and another arched tunnel under the next traverse angling up to the right! Always in this forest of silence, sometimes the sounds of water splashing over rocks, the air rich in soft greens with rays of sunlight striking off rocks and trunks. I was literally in awe the entire time up. So much so that I pretty much forgot to notice how damn steep and unrelenting the grades are!
Until the dirt. I definitely noticed the grades there. The last 8 K of the climb are dirt and I’ve heard that by the end of the summer they can get some fierce washboards from traffic. Probably best to do it in June before it gets slammed by cars. For me it was smooth as silk, well, maybe not quite but smooth enough. This was two days before the Giro did it and the road was still closed because they didn’t want cars screwing up the surface the road department had prepared. Some friggin fierce ramps in the dirt section, especially in the final switchbacks. Huge views too as the road clears the trees and works its way up through the summit basin. A wonderful climb and a beautiful summit, even equipped with a fountain of spring water. I haven’t done the south side yet, up or down, but it looks exquisite, and paved right to the col. A loop is possible but it’s a long one. Down the south side, up and over Colle del Sestriere, down to Susa, loop closed. Or, for those with the form, down a couple of K then right onto the Strada della Assieta for a killer loop.
The Big Loop, 3 cols, Cormet d’Arêches, Cormet de Roselend, Col de Pré, around 100 K with 3200 vertical meters (62 miles/10,500 ft), one I hesitated to do for a long time. Always afraid my form wasn’t good enough. Finally decided my form probably wasn’t going to get any better while I was definitely getting older so just go while it’s still a reasonable possibility. Seemed like another good ride with which to celebrate having turned 70 in the spring. It was as hard as I’d thought it would be. Pretty much tapped out at the end. And as much as I loved it, I’m not sure I’ll ever do it again. A major stretch for me. But the first climb of the day, to Cormet d’Arêches, that I’ll do again, and again. I’d already done it twice before I did the full loop. One of my favourite climbs, right there with Colle delle Finestre. In fact now that I think about it maybe it’s even better! As good as any road I’ve ever done for alpine scenery. The last 4 K to the col are dirt, kind of steep, with views so huge they take your mind off the climbing. The first 4 K down the other side are dirt too, steeper I think, followed by a speed run down a tight strip of blacktop. If someone’d told me I hit over 100 kph on that section, I’d have asked is that all! Then a contouring ramble across the base of the mountains to Bourg St Maurice then the road to Cormet de Roselend. Long climb on a tight two-laner, a favourite of motorcyclists on weekends. Better during the week. We were there on a weekend. By the time we got to the col everyone was ready to start shooting motorcyclists! Last, Col de Pré, a short climb but with sections verging on brutal. Or felt that way after all we’d ridden to that point. From Cormet de Roselend down to the Roselend reservoir, across the dam, then up to Col de Pré is about as beautiful as you’re going to find. After that a fast, wild descent off Pré on a tight, twisting, zigging, steep road with blind turns that can hide cars taking up the roadway. A blast of a plunge. Hell of a good climb too. Then back to Beaufort. A loop I’ll never forget.
Not finished yet, couple more on the list