Into the Hills of the Rhône and Lyon
Updated: 6 hours ago
Day 24. Friday, October 2. Roanne to Lyon, France.
We woke to the city of Roanne sitting in a cloud, but soon the sun burned through and we had the weather we were looking for for our big ride into the France's second largest city: Lyon. It was going to be a tougher ride: 54 miles, with 3,000 feet of climbing, including our first pass since Wales. We were both excited for it!
Depite the steep climbs out of the Loire Valley to the east, the air was fresh from yesterday's rain and we were feeling strong. Soon, we found ourselves high in the hills that separate the Loire Valley from the Saône Valley with great views. We were definitely in a new landscape, with steeper, deeper hills.
We stopped for a bracing cup of french coffee in the town of Amplepuis at the base of our pass climb and it most certainly helped power us up the incline! It was a magnificent climb and once we reached the summit, the ride down into the Saone Valley was one incredible long downhill!
As we approached within 20 miles of the city of Lyon, we noticed a marked increase in signs of a more suburban environment and traffic had dramatically increased. Fortunately, as we approached the city, we learned that the city planners had been most thoughtful around their planning for the movement of cyclists as well as vehicles. We had designated bikeways all the way into the city, including through a mile-long tunnel that underpasses the confluence of the Saône and Rhône Rivers. Voila! We were in Lyon!
We are staying here for a few days to rest up and take in the sights and amazing food scene of this incredible city. It is for us, a real milestone in our journey, for we really feel we are leaving the northern part of our first European tour behind.
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