Winter loop ride from Lecco around the massif of the Grigne. The climb to the top of Valsassina is mostly on the old national road: some steep bits, views of the Rock of Medale, a cliff popular with rock climbers. After the Colle Balisio, past the fork for Barzio there are sign on the right for the cycleway of the Valssassina. This follows he river, mostly flat and in the shadow: fresh in summer, but frosty in winter. At Prato San Pietro, I left the cycleway and climbed up to the hamlet of Parlasco. From here a very scenic road climbs further up around the mountain, with fantastic view over the Lake of Como, the surrounding mountains and the big Grigna. Almost no cars at all on a weekday.The downhill to the lake at Varenna is long, but requires concentration for the road is narrow, twisting and with an irregular surface, the last bit is a sequence of hairpins . The ride back to Lecco along the lake is pleasant and with little traffic till Mandello del Lario. Towards the end, approachin Lecco, there are a few km on a two carriages highways very busy with fast traffic and trucks.