Millions of years ago, colliding tectonic plates created the Alps. A few million years ago, powerful, shifting glaciers carved out a lake and a wide, beautiful valley between Annecy and Albertville. A couple decades ago, the bike lovers of this region created a bike path connecting the two towns. Merci! Today, I followed millions of … Continue reading The Famous Mountain Camels of the Alps … And An Incident “Set” in Concrete
Author: Steve Wartenberg
A Crazy Climb Up the Montee de Semnoz
“Is this fun?” I asked myself this all-important question as I cycled up the Montee de Semnoz (also called the Cret de Chatillon) and came upon the sign (above) indicated the next kilometer was yet another 10-percent grade. 10 percent is steep! Think of it this way: Each percent, after about six, is like strapping … Continue reading A Crazy Climb Up the Montee de Semnoz
The First Col is the Steepest (Or Maybe Not!)
I admit it: I was a little apprehensive about this trip to the French Alps to climb the collection of cols. It’s not like I’m getting any younger, and it’s hard to practice climbing mountains in pancake-flat Central Ohio, where I live and train. But, what are you gonna do? Not go? Of course not. … Continue reading The First Col is the Steepest (Or Maybe Not!)
More 1890s Bicycle Jokes: The Crash Edition
There's nothing especially funny about a cycling crash, especially if you've been in one. Nevertheless, bike-crash jokes were quite popular back in the 1890s because, well, there were a lot of bicycle crashes: bike v. bike; bike v. horse, bike v. trolley car, bike v. horse-drawn wagon or carriage. I bet most of these jokes … Continue reading More 1890s Bicycle Jokes: The Crash Edition
Social Media Was Invented for Planning Bike Trips
It’s 1990, and my first major French bike trip: Paris to Nice. In preparation, I leafed through a Let’s Go France book and bought a couple Michelin maps. It’s 2022, and my first French bike trip since 2019: the Haute Savoie portion of the Alps, from bases in Annecy and Cluses (I depart on September … Continue reading Social Media Was Invented for Planning Bike Trips
The Biking France Blog 