Bobbling around between sun drenched valleys and high peaks has been incredible this past few weeks – temperatures have ranged from the low 30s to 2.5c at altitude and “dressing for the occasion” has been a challenge – rain has been a feature but so has laying on my back in alpine meadows watching clouds skit overhead. I have ridden some of the finest mountain roads, come through unlit unused mountain tunnels on the border back roads and squashed snow underfoot only to be half an hour later drinking coffee under the shade of a tree – a series of contrasts linked with just the bike as a constant companion.