We had had some seriously heavy rains but today dawned bright and clear with a good forecast. We were lucky, bright sunny with some cloud and not too hot.
With a number of abstentions (and a late one from Mark2ts who had been collecting from the airport at 3am), we were seven gathered at Everness at 10am. Our esteemed BLeader (SL) was still unready to flex his new knee on his road bike.
Bill, Mervyn, Yvan, e-RichardF, PeterD, e-Paul and me PeterT.
My plan was to re-attempt the ride of 30 May, four weeks previously, when rain diverted us into Mike Muller’s café and taxi-hub, when he drove us to Gilly from Gingins for lunch. This time we would aim to take in hills up to Le Vaud and the fine run down to Gilly for a lunch at 1pm. There would be no need to take in Bonmont with legs as untested as ours’ so early in the season.
Passing Arnex without calling in on our BLeader, we rode steadily up through Borex and across Cheserex golf course and then also passed Mike M’s road in the fine sun. This time Paul was offering a coffee at the M bakery at Givrins – he had lived in this village many moons ago.
It was time to engage in the real meat of the day, the hill above Genolier past the Joy Clinique, and happily there was no big heat in the day as we pulled up the hill towards Le Muid and then to a rest on a welcome bench on a ridge overlooking the valley to Bassins. The winding swoop down into the valley of the Ruisseau de la Combe was as fine as the climb back out up the otherside to Bassins was penible. From there it is only 2km to the top out of the day at Le Vaud at 815m.
Here the ride becomes really pleasant with more long swoops down through to Burtigny and then over the Champs de Montagny to Le Molard with wonderful views out over the Lac, over 300m below. A final run down into Gilly is always a pleasure – when you know that a large beer will be waiting on the terrace.
The lunch itself was good too. Some choosing roastbeef and chips, others the slow cooked pork. It was not crowded and the service was good.
All too soon it was time to pay the piper and get back out on the road. Normally the route home is uneventful, not quite so this time.
Just before Dullier as we were saying goodbye to Paul who was heading to Nyon for his train back to Geneva, Mervyn pressed hard on his pedals and one came off the crank.
It was indeed commendable that PD was carrying his bike tool enabling Mervyn to be repaired in quick time by Yvan. Mental note – make sure more of us carry bike repair kits. I always carry a first aid kit, but not often kit for my velo.
Paul duly waved us goodbye, and the main team approached L’Asse, noting much Paleo construction. Here in Mervyn’s own words “I was following someone(?) through L’Asse and missed the right turn”. Richard told me that Mervyn had done this on a previous ride, so I was less than very concerned that perhaps his bike had fallen apart again. In the event Yvan and he got home on their own route, possibly through Nyon.
From my house this was a 61.3km ride and 648m denivellation.
As I lay on the lawn at home with Kobie, my legs began to cramp up. I managed to rehydrate without too much problem, I hope others did too, especially Bill with his supper at the Barillette restaurant.
Next ride 11 July; onwards upwards.
