Off to the mountains 3

The reason I cycle during the bad weather is so that when the weather is better in the summer I can get on a train and go for an adventure. I had planned 3 "Off to the mountains" days in the BLVF group where I would go out and about and if anyone wanted to join they are welcome.  This ended us with one with a companion (Grosse Scheidegg)and another on my own (Glaubenberg). The third one was again planned with a companion but, given that we are useless with train times..... we missed each other at the connection and I ended up through the tunnel and she couldn't get to through for another 1.5hrs, so it was me on my own again. 

Col de la Croix de Coeur from Riddes was the plan. Starting from Sion (via train to Visp) a fast warmup for nearly an hour to the pre climb toilet and food stop :) at a playground in Saillon. All refreshed, I set off to Riddes and the climb. The first half was direct to La Tzoumaz through 4 tunnels and a gallery tunnel. The tunnel that had collapsed in February this year (causing many route planning websites to decide it was impassible) had been repaired and the only hindrance getting to La Tzoumaz was the gradient. Jings its steep. See the tunnel collapse video here https://www.srf.ch/news/schweiz/tunnel-in-iserables-gesperrt-teil-eines-strassentunnels-im-wallis-eingestuerzt

Some trains do have empty bike storage after all

Just about to start climbing

The first of many hairpin bends

The road was a normal size and the tunnels are narrower so that its a bit scary on the long one. I always have lights but am still very apprehensive. All was well though and I reached the village safely. Now out of the shade of the trees and the sun higher in the sky, it was getting hot. I stopped here for toilets and water and for a "sit down".

The area seems to be open later in the day so I had it practically to myself. There is also water fountain here so everything was refilled at this point.

Now with 1 bottle with sugar and 1 with only water for pouring over myself, I set off again.

I was now slower than normal as the heat was getting to me. I plodded along, hairpin after hairpin getting less and less shade as I climbed.

I stopped a few times more to cool down in some shade at the side of the road. There was very little traffic from about 2km out of La Tzoumaz all the way to the top. A few cyclists passed me, mostly e-mountain bikes, the owners chatting to themselves. I could only concentrate on breathing and turning the pedals. The temperature when i got to the top was about 32Deg.

The climb is pretty steady and steep all the way up.

The bottom climb and hairpins.

The top climb, slightly less steep, more exposed, I cooked.

I finally reached the top, had cola and ice-cream in the cafe before the long long hairpinny descent and on to the main road to Martiny and the train. I had originally planned to also climb Col de Lein and go back down to Riddes and on to Sion, but I was cooked.

Home for a rest and a sleep. Here is me sporting my Club des Cent Cols club shirt - so now I have another reason for collecting climbs. The club has great resources to find climbs - which is how I found my next adventure. A BLVF sticker was attached to the pole - of course.

Distance: 82 km

Ave Speed: 15 kph

Climbing: 1942m

Litres of sweat - millions