The forecast was good and indeed the sun was shining as 6 bikers set off from Everness shortly after 10am. Our BLeader being in the hills, and Mr Drew in Fleurie, I stepped in and put into practice a sketchy sort of ride to 888. This ride gives some strong deinvellation up the Barillette road (well the bottom part), and was chosen in particular to assist Mark and Mervyn in their fitness drive before their Himalayan jaunt next month. Also attending were Ivan with his two-speed Ukrainian machine and Richard Flett and Mike Muller with their e-bikes. I was tasked with keeping the team together, this time.
Setting off passing by the Centre d’Epuration added a bit of spice and we were soon up at the watering place in Grilly. There was some discussion about how to deal with bats in the house, not related to cricket, and the solution seemed to include a tennis racket. Turning right along the bike path gave us an easy ride to Charly’s Pub for an early coffee.
Time for some more serious biking, so we ambled up through la Rippe and Tranchepied to the foot of the Bonmont Hill. I told Ivan that the target was 888 but he somehow forgot and forging ahead in 2nd gear he simply disappeared. Struggling on up the awful gradient my i-watch was telling me that my heart was beating at 143bpm. At the same time Richard and Mike passed by chatting pleasantly and I heard something about the “power levels” each were using. They disappeared ahead too. E-biking certainly has a more sociable side to it (and I would think of getting one except that with role models of Mark and Mervyn five years ahead of me, I really can’t do that, …yet).
Arriving exhausted at last at 888 after those interminable bends in the road I was a bit taken aback to find nobody there. A call to Mike found that he and Richard were waiting higher up the B road, not having seen any sign saying 888, nor finding Ivan. A call to Ivan found him hauling up the road behind us, after waiting 10 minutes at the Bonmont top. I was relieved when the whole team assembled at 888, not only because I had been tasked to not lose anyone, but also because it was now pretty much all downhill.
We wended our way down, passing the Bonmont top, and gently down through Tranchepied, Borex and past God’s Crossing to Founex tennis Club. The weather held fair and the ride had been enjoyable, after 888. (It rained heavily later in the day).
Mervyn skipped lunch and Ivan stayed for a pint only. Four of us enjoyed variously moules-frites, porc, and salads, while enjoying the wide vistas from the terrace in the weak sun. We drank to all absent friends. The ride home for me was 3 minutes.. 🙂
Apologies were received from Stephen, PeterD, Paul and Rudi.
Mark clocked 43km and 600m ascent. I hope that this has helped him and Mervyn a little bit in their fitness programme.
Thanks to all for another nice ride.
