Late morning climb to the Lauteret pass. Not too hot yet but the heat was coming.

Today’s objective was the old anthracite mine workings above Saint-Mury-Monteymond, reached via Lancey and the steep roads climbing into the lower slopes of Belledonne.I started at around 9.

I wanted to tick off Strava’s Gran Fondo 100 km challenge early in the month.

I had a little over an hour before lunch, so I headed out for a short ride in the Grésivaudan, starting with the new cycle path from Brignoud towards Tencin.

This was a two day cycling adventure linking three well known cycle routes: the ViaRhôna, the Dolce Via and the Via Fluvia.

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.

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.