I feel like I’m training a lot, probably because I’m driving a lot to find hills. When you end up spending a full day devoted to cycling, the time allotted to boulanger stops, highway driving and late lunchtime can trick you easily into thinking you’re doing more than you are.
Above is a local road in the Vaunage valley where I tried to get some elevation by doing Clarensac and St Come repeats. In my immediate area I can access quite a few climbs of 2km to 3km long with a max elevation gain of 120m. This will seem ridiculously small to some and amazingly long to others. For me it’s just a little tiresome when I want to get 1500m of climbing in.
It’s for that reason that I jump in the car and, at least in the early season, drive to the Cévennes. I had the best intentions of climbing the mountain you see in the distance yesterday (Mont Lozère), but was thwarted by a bridge being fixed up at the exit of the village of Chamborigaud. Suddenly I was doing hill repeats again, but at least this time I had a 7km climb to do them on. The Col du Prè de la Dame (15km) will have to wait till I find an alternative route to the start.
I keep thinking that I should be hitting bigger mountains, but then I realize it’s still only March. The south side of Ventoux opens up on April 15th, so I suppose it’s game on then, whether I’m ready or not.
And speaking of Ventoux, there she is with my guide, Spencer, sporting 44|5 Cycling Tours’ 2024 jersey in the foreground.
The weight continues to hold firmly (well, not really ‘firm’…) at 71.5kg and I have a trip to Italy planned next week which will not help. I’m bringing the bike, so this should stave off a massive increase at least.
The Vicious Cycle 
Gerry, this is a great report. Thanks. I do wonder a little about what you’re doing in Italy and hope that there’s at least one glass of red in your future! The snow is predicted to melt in here in MN next week…….finally we might be able to hit the road. Keep up the reports!
A friend in NYC has been ‘weathered in’ lately, too, although I realize that NYC winter is not to be compared to MN…hope your snow melts soon!
I’ll be sure and write an article on our trip to Tuscany when we get back. There will be red wine and there will be bike riding, all paid for by 44|5!