Signal de Bisanne

This climb to Signal de Bisanne, or Mont Bisanne, is another one that’s been on my list for a few years. Today it got ticked-off. This blog post is in the form of brief notes I made during and after the ride.

Weather forecasts all predicted various amounts of rain. One said dryer in PM. So I left later. I was trying to leave at 1pm but it ended up being 1:20 due to not being able to get my route loaded onto the Wahoo – frustrating!

Before leaving, I pumped my tyres up and made a note of what they were before inflating. They were 30psi front and 26 at rear ! That explains why they were behaving weirdly on the last descent I did on this bike.

It was cool, but warmer than yesterday. Wore long-sleeved base layer, long-sleeved jersey, long-fingered gloves, cap and snood. Was going to fit ass-saver but couldn’t tighten it on the bike – gave up.

Took a back pack + 1 bidon of energy drink, half bidon of water. Half a meat pie + half baguette sandwich Only ate the pie at Signal.

Started off without rain jacket but put it on about 2 minutes into the ride. Air was cool and a headwind to the turn off. Overcast with dark clouds over the mountains. Four miles of gentle descent to the turn off for the climb at Villard-sur-Doron.

Fairly shortly into the climb, once I had warmed up, I took off my jacket and gloves and bunged them in my backsack. I had an energy gel. Started off in mainly second gear, only using 1st for steep bits.

Very quiet. No traffic, no other cyclists. But I could hear crickets today, indicating that the temperature was warmer than yesterday. Even though the air was cold, my hands were warm.

Every now and again was a view all the way down to Beaufort, getting smaller each time

Mainly through forest but plenty of open views across the valley.  Signs were always between 8 and 10%.

Decided to have one energy gel at 8km to go and the remaining one at 4km to go. Had a pain killer with second one. Pain in my lower back, and my right knee was hurting slightly.

It was a slog but I just kept at it and never felt too bad. I was impressed with myself considering yesterday’s hilly ride.

Cowbells were often in earshot.

The last bit from the turn off was the steepest, but I did it without stopping, I got the final km borne photo on the way down.

Wind was blowing on that exposed part before the top.

I was the only one up there. I had seen a couple of riders descending past me earlier.

I put my rain jacket on. Had a look round, got some photos. Ate my half a meat pie thing.

Started the descent. Was glad to have disc brakes.

I pulled my snood up over my nose. It wasn’t too cold on the descent so I enjoyed it more. In fact my mood was high, having just completed that tough climb.

I descended to Saisies and followed the turn-off to where the col should be, according to maps (see yesterday’s ride), but I couldn’t see any sign. I asked a guy and he said it’s on the main road (where I’d been yesterday but hadn’t seen it). I asked if there was a sign there. He said yes. So I rode back to that area again and still couldn’t see any col sign. I was just about to give up when I noticed it on the other side of the road, disguised as a lump of rusty metal! More of a sculpture than a sign. Got col photo.

Really enjoyed the descent down the road I had climbed yesterday – to Hauteluce, from where I cut across the valley and did the rest of the descent to Beaufort on the same road I had taken back from Col du Joly last year.

My spirits were lifted further over the course of the descent. It’s a shame the sun wasn’t out, although this ride would have been a real challenge on a hot day.

So the climb from Villard-sur-Doron to Signal de Bisanne had taken two hours  of riding and seven minutes stopped for photos, energy gels, etc. Nine miles at 8.8% avg, but 10% for last couple of miles.

This was another Beaufortain ride ticked-off my list, and I’m really pleased to add it to my collection, but like so many other times (Col de Saisies, Mont Vial, Le Grand Ballon, Cime de la Bonette, etc), the weather had denied me the spectacular panoramic view that would have been had on a clear day. So these summits are still, in a way, pending; to be done again under blue skies.

More Info

• Signal de Bisanne – Wikipedia (right-click to translate)
• The Tour de France has featured the climb a couple of times but only as high as the turn-off in photo above – never to the top – the path is too narrow.

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