Psst…Don’t Tell My Doctor!

Riding around the roads and paths to Albertville and Grenoble was getting me in better cycling condition, definitely. I was feeling pretty good and it was now approaching the 3 month mark since I had experienced the inflammation of my heart. My doctor said that was how long I had to take it easy for a full recovery. So, I am going to try a small pass (Col) to ride. Don’t tell my doctor!

Having ridden out past Aix-les-Bains and out toward the Parc des Bauges in the past, I know there is a route that goes up to the Col de Plainpalais and makes it round trip back to Chambéry. This I would now try. From Aix-les-Bains, you ride up a pleasant tree-lined road to the village of Cusy, then down a slight grade to the next village of Le Pont. From there, the road starts going upward through a short series of switchbacks that I had ridden before to the village of Lescheraines. Then a simple 11 Kilometers to the Col de Plainpalais. It is not a very steep climb, but the first I have attempted for the entire time I have been in France (Doctor’s orders, remember?). You ride through a series of 4 switchbacks before the final straightaway to the Col.

After the summit, it is a moderately steep descent down to Chambéry for 15 Kilometers, but with some nice scenery along the way. This turned out to be a nice route to ride. If I had to say one negative thing about it, it was that there are no bike paths along this route, but the roads are lightly traveled. There are probably more cyclists than vehicles along the way past Lescheraines.

So that went pretty well, all in all. No heart attacks or even discomfort. I am taking that as a good thing and that I am basically fully recovered from my cardiac event! WooHoo! But still, don’t tell my Doctor!