In Dijon: The Val Suzon loop

May 21, 2022

Our first shared layover day, and we haven’t discussed yet how we want to spend it. After our difficulty biking into central Dijon yesterday Rachael’s not sure about a day ride and looks at walking possibilities. I’d like to bike anyway since the weather looks favorable so I decide to just come up with a route and broadcast it for takers.

There’s no obvious ride from town other than the route south we entered from and the one we’ll leave on tomorrow, so I check in with Kormoot to see what others recommend. Their top 20 rides are all versions of yesterday and tomorrow though, so I give up on them and take my best shot. I come up with a loop through the empty expanse to the nort that technically looks promising - roughly 40 miles with moderate climbs that are nicely front loaded. It begins with a gradual ride up the Val Suzon and then returns by a long drop back to the Burgundy Canal.

Good enough. I toss it in the water to see if I get any nibbles, and two take the bait. Susan, Rocky and the I gear up for departure out front of the hotel while Suzanne looks on and offers encouraging words. We’re off.

For a ride cobbled together from nothing more than map reading experience and instinct, it’s a rousing success. The ride is brilliant, one of the best of the last two months. It’s obviously one of the best rides around because we see other day riders coming and going all day long - all the locals are well aware of it obviously, even if Kormoot hasn’t got the word yet.

A ride I’d be happy to revisit if we’re back this way, but seeing it now with the poppies in bloom it’s out of this world.