Distance: 39.2 miles. Elevation: 4679 ft.
Col du Sentier | Golet Brandeu
The weather today didn’t look as good as tomorrow so I have saved my longer ride to Viaduc de Cize Bolozon until then, and planned a shorter route via Col du Sentier for today. Quick blog, this one. I used my gravel bike because there are some forest tracks. I left quite late, at 13:15 hoping the weather would clear later. First report from Lac Genin.
15:47 Lac Genin There is no signal here so having to type my report. Arm warmers were a good idea. Air was chilly. But luckily I was immediately into a climb, over to Bellignat. That road was busier than expected for a back road. Maybe a car every minute or more. There were odd spots of rain.
Down to Bellignat, then onto the forest track. It’s actually a tarmacked road for the most part. These ‘voies forestieres’ are not public roads but often allow usage ‘at your own peril’. So they are not maintained to the same extent as public roads, but in the main are in better condition than most proper roads in the UK!
There was steady spitting rain. I decided to put my rain jacket on. The rain became more persistent for a few minutes. I got quite damp but not too bad. But I was cold because my rain jacket and my arms were wet. Eventually it stopped. I didn’t stop on the climb. It seemed to go on for ages. Not a single vehicle, cyclist or walker. Just the chaffinches and cuckoos to keep me company.
Not too bad a surface except near the top where it got a bit muddy where they’d been clearing.
Then came the descent but the surface got really bad. Very happy I’m on my gravel bike. I saw a dog walker so I knew I was nearly back to civilization.
Down to the village of Apremont and straight into another climb. I reached the col du Sentier.
Then the descent to the lake.
There were heavy clouds over the hills earlier but they seemed to have cleared now I’m by the lake. I ate my sandwich sitting by the lake. The sun is out now so I’m feeling much happier. The air isn’t that warm.
The lake is beautiful. It’s private, but the owner allows considerate usage (walking).
Final report I don’t know how many chaffinches there are in the world but I always seem to be within earshot of them, especially on this ride.
After the lake it was back into the forest. Then a wonderful 4-mile descent to Oyonnax. It was quite busy through that town during the Friday rush hour. Leaving Oyonnax I had an energy gel and took my rain jacket off.. it had started to warm up.
Even though I’d spent a bit of time planning this route beforehand, it’s still surprising when things turn out to be other than what you had imagined. I thought I must have some more climbing to do to get back over those hills I had climbed over at the start. But there really wasn’t that much left to do. It had warmed up to the point where I was warm enough on the descents without my rain jacket on.
Fuel was just a PRB, an HDM sandwich and one energy gel. And less than a bidon of water
So that’s it. Just a short post today, of another great ride in the Jura, ticking off another two cols. And the weather turned out okay in the end. It’s said that being in the forest is good for your mental health – well, after today’s ride I should be deliriously happy!
