Back to Annecy and the French Alps

I just booked my October cycling trip: Annecy and the French Alps. For those of you who are regular readers of this blog, first, thanks, I appreciate it. And second, you may remember that I was in Annecy (as well as nearby Cluses) in 2022 and climbed a bunch of cols from these two towns.

So, why are you going back so soon? Well …

I knew from the start this was a two-part trip. I’d fly to Paris, take the train somewhere and cycle. Then, back to Paris, meet Susan, stay in Paris a couple nights then head to Quiberon on the Brittany coast and then take the ferry to Belle-Ile. It’s a little island that looks amazing and that I’ve always wanted to visit. We’ll do some hiking and maybe I’ll be able to squeeze in a ride.

So, where can I cycle on the first leg of my trip?

I was looking for a new region to explore. This is getting harder as I’ve visited and cycled in so many different parts of France. But still, there are several places I haven’t yet ridden through that are on my list. I quickly decided I wanted to take the train from Paris to one, and hopefully only one, city/town and do all my riding from there. As I get older and then even older, I’ve become less and less of a fan of the logistics of traveling and like my trips to be as simple as possible. I don’t handle the anxiety of trains, buses and travel as well as I did in my 20s and 30s. It’s exhausting.

The Pyrenees: I definitely want to cycle here. I want to ride up the Col d’Aubisque, Col du Tourmalet and Col d’Aspin. But alas (yes, alas), the logistics of cycling the high mountains of the Pyranees are complicated. I’d have to take the train to Bordeuax, most likely rent a bike there, then take the train to Lourdes and then either rent a car or take the bus to my base towns of Argeles-Gazost and Bagneres. Too complicated, too many logistics. Plus, when I do cycle the Pyrenees I’d like to spend two weeks here … and I only have eight days and seven rides on this trip.

Colmar and Alsace Lorraine: Yes! This sounds perfect. I rode through here years ago, south from Strasbourg to Mulhouse, all in one day, zipping my way through the famous wine route. There’s so much more to see. But alas (yes, a double alas in one story), I can’t find a good bike rental place in all of Alsace Lorraine. Only eBikes and hybrids. Oh well, maybe some time in the next few years. When we move to France and I have my own bike.

Gorges du Tarn: This gorge and the surrounding region is high on my list of new places to ride. But again, logistics. It would involve multiple trains and most likely a car rental. Oh well, maybe some time in the next few years.

Annecy and the French Alps: I’m not sure where the spark of this idea came from, perhaps from my subconscious, which really enjoyed cycling in this area.

“But come on, Steve, you were just there,” my conscious mind told my subconscious.”

But, the more I thought about it, the more it made sense. Annecy is an easy train ride from Paris, I can rent a nice road bike there and I didn’t have time to climb all the cols I wanted to climb back in 2022. There’s still the Col de Arpettaz, Col de la Croix-Fry and Col des Arvais. Plus, I can take the train to Aix les Bains in the morning and ride back to Annecy. This looks like a spectacular ride. And, I can take the train to Cluses one morning and ride up the Col de la Colombiere and back to Annecy. That would be an epic kind of ride.

And so … it’s settled: Annecy. I’m excited.