GIN Biking Group – May 29th 2025

Ascension Day Outing

The GIN Bikers are a trusting group. Eight members signed up for the outing on Ascension Day before they knew in detail what was in store, apart from the promise of exercise, convivial company and a reasonable lunch. Those participating were:
A trio of Peters: PeterT, PeterD and e-PeterS
e-Paul
Mervyn
e-Mike
Bill
Stephen (Bleader)

Mervyn was careful to couch his participation with the desire that there wouldn’t be too much ascension (ironic for this particular day!). On learning that the circuit would involve some gravel track, Bill and his finely tuned racing bike decided to join us along the chosen route at the old railway station at Gex and avoid the converted railway track. So seven of us met at the revised starting time of 09.30 in front of the Everness Hotel. PeterT only realised the change in timing as his alarm woke him from a dream of climbing Everest in his slippers and he glanced at his messages from the previous day. The adrenaline kicked in and he was not the last to arrive. It was a perfect day, sunny but not too warm with a clear view of the surrounding mountains.

We set off in the direction of Grilly, stopping at our usual regrouping point of the village fountain. Since our last visit a book exchange cabinet had appeared and Paul, ahead on his e-bike, had time to peruse the selection and pick up a tome. From here we picked up the converted railway track, progressing smoothly in single file towards the meeting point for Bill. (The Bleader commented that we could have diverted via the testing Mourex hill but accepted that this could have caused a mutiny). Bill was duly waiting for us but the café was not operational until 12 noon so we headed into Gex to find a suitable stop for coffee. As it transpired, the centre of Gex is undergoing a renovation and the route was barred. PeterD wasn’t deterred and hoisted his bike and himself across the barriers and into no man’s land. The rest of us turned around and found a different route to a local café, where we were able to sit in the sun watching traffic pass.

Now that’s a coffee stop!

Where’s PeterD?

PeterT announced that this was the 30th anniversary of his arrival in Switzerland and was happy to finance the refreshments. As the coffees and unexpected lemon tarts arrived for this notable Swiss anniversary (albeit celebrated in France) we realised that PeterD was still absent. A phone call located him halfway towards Vesancy thinking that he was behind us. He decided to stay ahead and wait for us opposite our old watering hole in Vesancy, Ô Château (unfortunately now permanently closed). The spare coffee was shared and the spare lemon tart carefully packed so that PeterD could enjoy it once we caught up with him.

Content that for the first time this season there was a timely coffee stop, the peleton set off up the steady incline to Vesancy to regain our wayward colleague and full membership. The ride down from Vesancy is always agreeable after the summit of the town and allows mental preparation for the inevitable Bonmont climb once back into Switzerland by La Rippe. Concerned not to overstep his leadership role, the Bleader offered a democratic vote to only complete the first part of the Bonmont climb and not the final push to the full 727m elevation. Mervyn cast his vote without stopping at the decision junction and the rest of us had to follow up the extra metres. Well, all except Paul, who with the benefit of external power, decided to shoot ahead to the 888m junction and was consequently missing from the traditional photo at 727m. We recovered him subsequently in Gingins looking none the worse for wear after his additional climb.

Where’s Paul?

Our lunch spot was the Trois Tilleuls in Genolier. We all went for the menu du jour of trout pâté, quasi agneau (which we discovered is “rump” although other synonyms were used) with vegetables and fruit salad……all for a very reasonable 28CHF. It was well up to the usual high standard. The final price was somewhat higher after the necessity of liquid refreshments but still good value.

Serious food

Serious eating!

Mike left directly from lunch, his home being close by in Gingins. Paul left us after we descended through Coinsins and Duillier to Prangins to catch the train from Nyon back to Gd. Saconnex. The remaining six, continued down to the Route Suisse and along through Nyon before climbing up past the Nyon tennis club towards Crans and onto God’s Crossing (Evangelical Centre). At this point the party split and made their individual ways home.

All in all it was about 54km on average with individual variations and 670m climb. We all agreed that it was another excellent day on and off the saddle, meeting expectations of exercise, good company and good food with great weather and scenery thrown in.