Hello everyone, I'm planning a bike trip from Lyon to Geneva this October, after a work trip in Paris. The ViaRhôna route seems beautiful and getting the chance to dip into Switzerland for a bit is a nice bonus!
Since the ViaRhôna is mostly flat, and I’ve never been in the area, I'd love to incorporate more varied terrain and take different routes to/from Geneva. It seems like cycling through Massif des Bauges National Park, climbing Mt. Semnoz (or at least gaining some elevation around there), and visiting Annecy before heading to Lake Geneva would be a good option. From there, I'd potentially bike around Lake Geneva before taking the ViaRhôna back to Lyon.
I have about 8-9 days to tour, and I’d like to spend 2-3 of those days resting/exploring off-bike. I’m aiming for anywhere around 300-350 miles (480-565 km). My bike can handle gravel, but I generally prefer paved paths for multi-day trips. I'll be taking the train with my cased bike from Paris to Lyon.
Does this seem like a good way to explore the area and incorporate climbs? It all looks so beautiful I hardly think I can go wrong but I welcome any suggestions for alternative routes, cities, climbs or places to avoid from those familiar with the region.
Thanks so much!
by Rigbe