Rocinante fought her way valiantly to the top of Col du Berthiand this afternoon, swinging through the switchbacks and hairpin bends at about 15mph while we climbed to a giddy 780m.
The gradient was around 7% on the way up (10% on the descent) and she managed it, but it did give me pause for thought again about the crossing of Great Stuff Bernard's Pass in a few days time. It'll be the hardest part of the trip for my poor little bike. The climb is around 5%, but it goes on for over 40km while climbing to around 2,470m. It's not going to be easy.
Still, I'm more or less committed at this point, unless I backtrack over the Juras and head south for the coast road. We're going to push on and give it a go.
Made me giggle, Chris. The first view, before we click on your blog, is the top of your head ... And together with today's choice of title ... Something about "the highest point"? Enjoying your posts and vicariously travelling with you on your adventure. Mine today was a school trip to British Ironworks ... Amazing sculptures, but not ideal for the little fella with me who was more interested in the grass and the gravel.
ReplyDeleteAnd while Col du Berthiand reached 780m, that shiny bald dome almost made it to 782m. High point indeed! 😂
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