Gentle Spin around the Lake

After yesterday's exertions, today was planned to be rather gentle. An early morning thunderstorm with heavy rain confirmed the plan. After a leisurely breakfast, I caught up with the blog entry for the Marmotte. During this, we finally carried out the 'degustation' we'd been planning for a few days.

Some time ago, I'd asked Shawn whether fig rolls were available in France. He didn't think so, but a couple of days later turned up with the nearest thing he could find. The bake was similar, but the filling was nuts and chocolate, rather than figs. We'd determined that we should have a tasting to compare the two products.

It turns out they are not at all similar. The French 'noisettes' are a really delicious, rich treat. They have lots of calories, which is good for bike food, but are so rich that I wouldn't be able to use them as an all-day fuel source. For the latter purpose, we agreed that fig rolls win hands down. It's a good job I brought plenty with me!

I went out for some retail therapy at lunchtime. There were a few things I needed to pick up. I decided to have a nose around the bike shops in town. I found a short-sleeved Lautaret/Telegraph/Galibier jersey in Cycles et Sport, and bought it, together with the Alpe d'Huez cap I'd looked at earlier. I really need two caps, so one can be in the wash. Then in Prompt, a relatively new shop in town, I found a tee shirt with the local climbs set out as a London Underground map. Genius! I had to have one, despite there being a spelling mistake which I spotted straight away. Apparently, I'm the first person to have seen it. It will be corrected in the batch for next summer, which means mine might be somewhat special! The error? The town of Mizoen, above Lac Chambon, is printed as Mizeon. Whoops!

I picked up a few things in Casino too, and got another fistful of paper as a receipt! I actually bumped into Shawn while I was in there. He was able to tell me where to find some of the stuff I needed, which was really handy.

After returning to Le Velo Jaune and unloading, I decided to set off for a gentle ride. One of the easiest rides in the valley is the loop around Lac Verney. What little climbing there is is concentrated around Lac Verney. The new cycleway, which runs alongside La Romanches, the main river, means that it's possible to get to Allemont and still avoid the busy D1091 for much of the way. Built earlier this year, the cycleway provides a quiet alternative.

The cycleway completed earlier this year

The cycleway emerges onto the road into Allemont just outside the town. From there the ride follows the route up to the Col du Glandon, up the barrage, across Lac Verney and round behind the hydro electric power station at Grand Maison. Thankfully the really steep part of the climb lasts only for a kilometre or so before the turning back to Allemont. The road runs above Lac Verney, through woods and past a house or two before reaching the town.

Typical rural house just outside Allemont

This part of Allemont is very different from the part on the main road. Down in the valley is the tourist part, with hotels, cafes and restaurants. Up here is more peaceful and rural. There are some massive, alpine-style houses too.

Lac Verney from Allemont

The town hall is up in this part of town too. I hadn't spotted it when we were here last year. It's a fine building.

The town hall in Allemont

So far the weather had been fine. It was overcast, and cool which was a blessing after yesterday. Then the first few drops of rain fell, and the thunder started. Within a few minutes it was raining quite hard. I took refuge in a public loo, which offered a bit of cover outside, until the worst passed. I headed on down to the valley and started to ride hard for Le Velo Jaune.

I was never going to outrun the storm, though. As I reached Rochetaille, the heavens opened, and I got properly soaked. At this point there was no point in looking for cover. I couldn't get any wetter. So with rain pouring down, thunder echoing around the mountains, and heavy traffic with headlights on, I put my head down and rode as hard as I could the remaining 10 kilometres or so back to Le Velo Jaune. I was properly soaking when I got back, but not particularly cold, which was a blessing. I put the bike away quickly, and then got inside and had a shower. Mercifully, most bike kit these days dries out pretty quickly. I did fill my shoes with tissues to get them dry though.

I meant to go into Bourg d'Oisans to get dinner, but it was raining so hard that I decided to wait rather than get soaked again. I started to write this blog entry, but almost fell asleep over it, so decided to get my head down for a bit. When I woke up, it was gone 10pm. I never did get to La Muzelle again.