Cycling up Mont Vinaigre

As you may have noticed, if you follow this blog, I've gone all crazy and started doing some sport. Amongst other things, mountain biking. This particular weekend, my colleagues Daniel, Gilbert and Philippe where kind enough to invite me along for their bike ride in the beautiful Massif d'Esterel.

So, I got up bright and early on this particular sunny Sunday (it was a bit tough going since the clocks were advanced by one hour just this day). Picking up my bike at work (which I'd left their, ambitiously planning to take it on regular rides into the nearby Valmasque part - futile optimism as they say - this was my second ride this year I believe...), I headed down the A8 to Les Adrets, where I had my rendez-vous with Philippe.

We headed off at Col du Testanier, located at an altitude of 311 meters. From there we pedalled down to the picteresque Lac d'Avellan. I barely had time to take in the pretty view (and take the mandatory photo), before it was time to pedal on for our final destination - Mont Vinaigre.

Mont Vinaigre is the highest peak in the Massif d'Esterel, rising up to a respectable altitude of 618 meters. The going was steady, starting on a dirt track, which transformed into a paved road after a while (which made it a bit easier). It was pretty hard going - a bit tougher than the relatively flat stings I've done so far in the Valmasque. But I'm happy to report I made it - well as far as you can on a bike anyway (the final ascent needs to be done on foot). My GPS reported an altitude of 540 meters.

After pausing for a while to take in the stunning panorama covering the ochre-coloured Massif d'Esterel as well as the coastline all the way from Saint-Tropez to Cannes (I'm sure Daniel is happy to see me put it down in writing for all to see ;-), we made our way back to the cars. Apparently we'd accumulated a total ascent of 454 meters in total - something I was rather proud of! Next time I suppose I'll have to do the same on foot, to make it all the way to the top!