I wanted to do a Grand Col but have tendonitis so this is the nearest thing within easy reach of the house.

First longish ride of the year, over 2 hours anyway. I benefited from a tail wind, which was nice and took in some lakes on the ride back.

Bizarrely the motor race that blocked me last time I tried to ride the Signal de St Andre was on again this weekend. Luckily they were elsewhere on Friday but I was concerned I would be stopped again.

Some stats to illustrate how much slower I am than last yearCol de la Poya 44m15 (39m06 last year)Marie de la Combe 25m31s (22m34 last year)Over 10% down. VAM around 750m/h at the moment.

A bit of drone filming on the climb. VAM of 735m/h including a short stop was not bad. First time on this climb for 2024.

Quite a hard ride as I've cycled every day. The climb to St Mury from Lancey was at a VAM of 710m. 452 meters at 8%. The second half, 24 minutes were in zone 3 with the VAM at 734.

Quite a long afternoon in the saddle with a ride from the lac du Bourget / Aix les Bains to Crolles in the Isere. I took a detour via the Curienne climb.

It has been raining all week, on and off, so this was a last gasp to get out and do a bit of cycling. Didn't go far from home as I had to be back by 11am.

Last year I was dissapointed to have climbed in 58 minutes. This year, almost the same time to the second and I'm quite pleased with a VAM of 784m.

Commute via St Mury this morning. Slightly less climbing but a bit longer. Climb was good. 3 minutes quicker than June and just 48s off my PR set last year.