Reverse of my previous trip. This time climbing by the easier route but with the poor road surface. It really is much easier this way with just a couple of short ramps to conquer.

A day of flatter riding with a classic tour of lake Orta from Pettenasco with a little detour to check out the fish ponds of Laghetti di Nonnio. The road up to the ponds has a few steep ramps.

a bit of exploration. Took a "short cut" Gozzano - through "mirkwood" - an unpaved forest road.

I've cycled around the lake of Orta before, in both directions. In my opinion the climb out of Omegna is the easiest even if it is sun exposed as the gradient is never severe.

First time out on my rebuilt Spitfire where I didn't get a puncture but at the same time I didn't ride on any gravel.

I've filed this under mountain biking but I was on a road bike with 28mm tires. A bit of gravel in the valley then a longish climb on gravel. This was more or less ok.

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.

DescriptionFrom Omegna there is 420 meters of climbing over 6km giving an average grade of 7%. However the section from Germagno to the Alpe Colle is steeper, an average of 11% with ramps around 15%.

Geraldine woke at 6.30; we’d planned to get up an hour earlier. After a cool shower we were on our way at 7.15. Not a moment too soon. It was already warm and humid.

A commute via St Mury. It took  a bit of discipline to get up and go at 6.45 given the damp and gray skies. VAM of 817 for the climb. A bit slower than last year when I was riding around 880.