Late afternoon ride out into the Monts d'Or above Lyon, rolling out just after 17:00 in warm, almost perfect conditions.

I set out with a simple plan: climb up and drop into Yzeron via Saint-Laurent-de-Vaux, then link the small cols before heading back toward Lyon.

It felt ambitious for early season—just over 100 km on the bike but the route had a certain logic to it: two halves of roughly 50 km, stitched together by a single, steady climb of more than 1,000 met

Yesterday I went out for a ride in the Monts du Lyonnais, an area I know fairly well, but I have never actually ridden the famous lacets de Courzieu which have a certain reputation among local riders

Although I cycle every day I'd not been out for a longer ride for a month due to skiing but the weather was spring like today so I decided to get in a short tour after doing some admin chores.

No snow for cross country so a little cycle ride to blow out the work cob webs.

I currently have a my winter bike - an 8 sp Giant, a bit heavy at 14kg. I don't really understand how it is so heavy really. Clearly aluminium frames are not that light.

The snow all melted during the week (in the Jura/Massif Central) so back to bike.

A very cold ride to run in my change of tires from some commuter stuff to Michelin Lithion 4s.

I left a little late, but I wanted to try out the new bike path between Crolles and Tencin.