In the summer time, when the weather is fine, You can reach right up and touch the sky, You’ve got cycling, you’ve got cycling on your mind.
Was it good fortune or the stated good connections of our leader, Peter D., that the sun was shining brightly for a day in the middle of a wet week as we met on May 20th in front of the Everness Hotel in Chavannes de Bogis? Whatever the reason, there was a hum of expectation for the promised relaxed, flat ride towards the Geneva vineyards and a lunch on a warm terrace from the Magnificent Seven of Mark, Mervyn, E-Paul, E-Philip, Peter T., Peter D. and Stephen. E-Paul did his usual warm up ride from Grand Saconnex and arrived looking unexpectedly puffed……perhaps regretting that he could have had an extra 30 minutes in bed and have met us on route.
Fresh as daisies and raring to go…….
We set off through the wooded glades of Versoix with the smell of damp forest and happy banter. Care had to be taken to avoid the copious offerings of many a horse who had passed the same way. We rode through the pleasant countryside around Colley Bossey with the Jura on one side and the Alps on the other before passing into France to cut through the Fernex peninsula before re-emerging into Switzerland at Meyrin. Comments were made about the difference in French drivers at multi-traffic light junctions….we blamed them, they blamed us for unexpected behaviour. Fernex itself was undergoing a facelift which added to a bumpy, devious ride over dug up streets. Once emerged through the industrial estate of Meyrin, we headed towards the delightful wine villages of Choully, Satigny and Pessy with only gentle uphill inclines. Signs offering inviting wine tastings were somehow passed. As we progressed towards our lunchtime destination in La Plaine a difficult decision faced our leader: right uphill, left uphill or straight ahead on an unknown flat track. With much encouragement, the middle path was chosen with a cursory check on the map. 200 metres further on, the track took a sharp right turn and a steep climb beckoned. Well charged e-bikers, charged ahead, in charge of the hills before discharging onto a bench at the top to wait for the well dispersed pedal-power only peloton. Regrouping we gratefully enjoyed the downhill ride to La Plaine.
COVID rules meant that we were seated at 2 tables for lunch. This was indeed a sunny terrace (although mostly protected by large shades) and a welcome change from our last cold lunch. Whilst the one Coke (with “beaucoup, beaucoup, beaucoup de glace”……e-Paul needed cooling) and 2 beer table discussed erudite subjects such as advocacy psychology and the derivation of Pi, the 8 beer table ended up debating the need to keep purchase receipts in order to check monthly financial statements (3 out of 4 in favour…..one accountant didn’t see the need!). The lunch lived up to the promises of Peter D. as evidenced by a full clientele.
If you take a regular polygon of infinite sides it converges to a circular profile….
Another for the road? Peter says there’s only one more hill.
Checking expenditure….no need, I’m an accountant.
“Only one more hill” before we had a flat run for home. What a hill! Legs heavy after a full lunch, we battled up through Cartigny and Aire-la-Ville before descending to Penney and an unpromised second uphill to Satigny. The Magnificent Seven became restless. Paul headed for home, not wanting another long detour to Chavannes. Philip decided to lead a scenic route away from the main road but Mark and Mervyn decided to pursue their own route. Similarly, Stephen sped on, on his own, losing the peloton once back in Switzerland. Stopping for a tyre check on Philip’s bike (just a repump needed…no puncture) allowed our leader to “herd the cats” and regroup for the final push back to our starting point.
Another great day out enjoyed by all and further proof that e-bikes will be with us all shortly.
Ride statistics: 61kms, 3h31m saddle time, 18.6km/h average speed, denivelation 787m (Mark’s optimistic value). Conditions: sunny, pleasantly warm, slightly damp under tyre.
