Real nice in Nice

My expectations of the south of France were of Monoco, fast cars, massive boats, and high-end fashion. While Monoco is kinda that, the mountains that sit behind the coastal town of Nice are truly charming.

There's no better way to explore a new place, than on a bike. Especially when there are so many mountains to climb in such close vicinity, so heres a list of the top climbs for me and why they are so special.

Mt Chauve
A 700m climb straight behind the city of Nice, a few switchbacks, but mostly two long straights leading to a gravel Plato with a pretty worn out barrier to the top via a gravel road. While this climb might sound a little mundane in the grand scheme of things, this climb is the perfect leg opener to a cycling holiday. With a distance of 15km to the top, it's not going to take all-day, nor is it going to effect you for the following days. When you reach the top you're greeted with a huge fort overlooking the whole of Nice. Thats why it's all worth the climbing, just wished we set off a little later to see the sunset! Something I didn't expect to see was a kid riding a motorcross bike without a helment, in trainers and a t-shirt

Strava segment

Gillete/ Bonson
This ones a little further away, tucked away at the end of a perfectly smooth bike path in the valley, you'll find the quint town/village of Gillete, this place feels very different to the hustle and bustle of the city, very much a locals kinda place, centered around a drinking water fountain in the main square with a local bakery tucked away in the much needed shade. This climbs broken up into two, from the vally to the roundabout is roughtly 300m at 5% gradient. Followed by a 2km 150m climb to Bonson. While you'll realise it's a loop and you could turn around at Gillete and head down, trust me the climb to Bonson is worth it! You'll be greated with views of the French alps in the distance on a clear day! 

Gillete Strava segment
Bonson Strava segment

Aspermont
At 5% for 400m, this climb doesn't seem like a climb worth shouting home about, and maybe you are right. but the climb is worth the 15km decent back in to Nice, the road is mostly long smooth curves that you can coast through aiming to hit every apex perfectly. Well that's what I'm was thinking every time I've been down it. 

Strava segment

Col d'Eze
A climb which takes you through the commune of Eze, they have a saying that says sis Moriendo Renascor (meaning "In death I am Reborn"). This is exactly what this climb can make you feel. A 9.77km with an avg Gradent of 5% for 500m it's relativly short, but the bottom of the climb is on the edge of Nice, so you don't have much time to loosen the legs before you're greeted with 7%, 8%, 9%...12% all in the first kilometer. Don't worry it flatterns out towards the top so you can recover before decending back into Nice or heading towards Monoco. 

Strava Segment

Col de la Madone
This climb has to be the most famous and widly contsted climb in the area, with pro and amatures testing their fitness on this 915m climb at an avg Gradent of 7% over 10km. On a good day you'll be greeted by the famous dummer who sits near the top playing his full size drum kit without anyone to bother, beats looking down at the stem ;) Once you reach the summit, put that Gillet or jacket on as you can decend back into Nice for 20km! 

Strava Segment

While there's pleantly more climbs to note in the area, these are just a few of my favorites, If you've got some others you'd like to share please drop me a DM on Instagram, I'd love to hear why.