This route has a couple of interesting pointsA lot of it is on cycle paths and relatively quiet roadsIt has a couple of fun climbs, fast descents mixed with a nice amount of flatThe section from Lyon

With fantastic autumn weather, I couldn't resist another big pass. This time the “half” Col du Joly. Half because, like the Sabot two weeks ago, it's only surfaced on one side.

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.

Sunday afternoon ride after a pub lunch. I thought I was going quite well but 2m30 slower on the course a cote (Limonest zig zags) compared to my PR.

Route Description The Col du Sabot - at 2100 m - is the highest of the Isère passes and the only one over 2000 meters. Its near neighbor - the Col de la Croix de Fer at 2064 m - is in the Savoie.

I wanted to retry this route but in the direction I originally planned via the Col de la Croix de Ban -> Col de Luere -> Col de Malval -> Col de Pars -> Châteauvieux.

I should have done the tour in the reverse direction but following my GPS I had trouble finding my way in the mean streets of West Lyon.

The Crêt de l'oeillon is a bit like le Mont Ventoux for the Lyonnais. A mythic summit that you can see in the distance from downtown Lyon. The climate this autumn hadn't been bike friendly.

Very fast tour today. I profited a bit from sheltering behind cyclists where possible. Average speed was 23.9 km/h which is quite good given the climb and complex nature of the semi urban roads.

Trying some new roads. I went along the Saône to a spot called Hawaii - people surf here on the waves.