To ride or not to ride, that was the question…..Meteo Suisse forecast was not looking hopeful for Thursday. After an exchange of emails with the GIN Biker community, some of who were half in, some half out, some taking the mean position and some the median, and some definitely excusing themselves, the Bleader said that a definitive decision would be made at 08.30h on the morning of the outing.
The evening before everything looked pretty gloomy with an over 50% chance of rain but by the following morning PeterT felt compelled to wake up the Bleader at 07.20h with the news that there was a window of possibility. A couple of strong coffees later and after studying in detail the latest reports, Stephen agreed that it did indeed seem as if we had a rain free morning with a storm predicted over lunch and then a chance to get home in the dry. The message went out to the eagerly awaiting Bikers that it was indeed a cycling day. Silence from the ether in way of reply apart from e-Paul who had sensibly (in view of earlier weather reports) organised alternative activities for the day.
So a slighty greater than averagely keen threesome made an appearance at the Everness Hotel at 09.30h: PeterT, Stephen and rather unexpectedly Mark2Ts, who, although he had opted for the mean position on decision whether to cycle or not, had not responded to direct contact attempts an hour earlier. A suggestion to make it a short sharp ride with the famous 3 hill circuit was unceremoniously quashed and replaced with one hill, the Genolier climb, with the motivation of lunch at the auberge in Coinsins.
The Bleader led the poorly populated peloton on a zig-zag course through Celigny, Crans, Eysins, Signy and Grens towards the foot of the Bonmont climb. Excitement and habit got the better of him at this stage and he suggested slipping in an additional hill to the previously agreed plan. Mark2Ts was definitely reassessing his position to participate to the lower quartile whilst Peter compensated by moving to the upper quartile….the mean stayed constant. (What about the median? In fact, what is the median in this context?). A compromise was found where Stephen and Peter completed a short Bonmont (up to the first junction before heading downhill and not completing the full 727m elevation) whilst Mark rode on the relative flat to the boulangerie at Givrins, where we would meet for coffee.
Over the coffee and croissants, kindly supplied by a relaxed looking Mark, an updated weather review took place. The animated forecast showed a 50 minute window to complete the Genolier climb and get to the restaurant before the heavens would open with an almighty storm. Even buoyed by caffeine this seemed too much for Mark, whose resolve to continue slipped to the zero percentile. He left on the quick route home.
A relaxed moment before difficult decision making
Peter and Stephen conquered the Genolier summit and managed to get to Coinsins before the threatened downpour. Two beers, two steak and frites and two coffees later we were still waiting for the storm. A difficult decision was made to make homeward dash for it as the alternative was more beer (and dessert?).
Weathering out the impending storm
We needn’t have worried, we managed the full itinerary via Duillier, Asse, Petit Eysins and the Landi car park crossing, Eysins and back to Arnex in the dry. Peter also made the additional 7kms back home without needing raingear….although he subsequently reported he did need magnesium salts for severe cramp.
The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune were kind to us. Those with less than mean/median weather optimism missed a good ride in the dry of just under 14kms with an elevation difference of either 600m or 1065m depending whose electronic device to believe.
I reckon 54’kms