Images of training around the Aravis Valley

Cycling is wonderful here, in Summer and some of Spring and Autumn anyway. Great fairly quiet roads with respectful drivers (very different to riding in Sydney!) stunning mountain passes in every direction from home and some good flat speed work around Lac Annecy or near Thones.

Some of my favorite rides so far include;

• Home from Italy: Petit St Bernard to Bourg St Maurice, up Cormet de Rosilend, to Beauford, up Col de Saisses and down to Flumet, up Col de Aravis and home. 5:45hrs, 140kms
• A very local TdF Classic: St JdS (St Jean de Sixt) to Col de Colombiere down to Reposoir, Up to Col de Romme, down to Clusas and return the same way via Romme then Colombiere. 3:45hrs, 80kms
• Lets Gets Morzine! St JdS up Col de Colombiere down to Clusas, cross the valley and up to Taninges, then onwards, upwards to the ski resort of Les Gets before a short descent into Morzine. Coffee in the main square and then had home the same way or chose to take on one additional climb up the beautiful Col de la Joux Plane with its steep rough descent into Samoens. Back to Cluses and then directly over Colombiere which is a steady 17k ascent or take a further minor detour up Col de Romme (steep 9k ascent) then descend into Reposiore and last 7k of the climb up Colombiere. Lovely open descent into Grand Bornand to get home. 6hrs, 125k home to Morzine return incl Romme, or 143k if add Col de la Joux Plane but no Romme.
• Dinner in Cham: St JdS to Chamonix via Col de Aravis, Megeve, St Gervais les Bains, Servoz. Les Houches and on to Cham for dinner. 

Here is a great site with some of the major cols detailed by distance, grade etc.
http://www.climbbybike.com/cycling.asp?Region=Rhone-Alpes&RegionID=267