Category: Biking

Once again the toll of GINjuries, late vacations, grandparental duties, and other miscellaneous excuses withered the participation for this activity to just Mark2Ts and Stephen. However, seeing the need to motivate the b-leader, Mark called in re-enforcements in the shape of a young Ukrainien, Ivan. So as we met at God’s corner, we had a quorum and the average age of the GIN Biking Group had reduced by at least a decade. Mark had “generously” lent his old road bike to Ivan (was it really possible that there was an older transport than Mark’s usual ride, which is already the subject of such derision?). However, Ivan looked at the positives:

1. He had a bike
2. It was of original good quality (bought second hand in 1996)
3. It had 2 tyres, albeit with cracks in each but the air seemed to hold
4. The saddle was low enough that he could use his feet on the ground for forward movement should the gearing mechanism fail.

Stephen had chosen a familiar route for the ride, rising gently from the Plaine, via Céligny, Crans, Signy to Gingins before crossing to Givrins (or was it La Givrine?) for a well-deserved coffee ahead of the real effort up the Genolier hill and onto Bassins. Talking of initiation rites for newcomers; by the time we reached Gingins, Ivan was already starting to feel the inadequacies of his machine. It couldn’t have been the rider as he admitted he was once a 70-100km a day biker, although in the city of Kharkiv and not on the undulating Swiss tracks. Once again, Ivan saw a cup half-full: the air was clean, the scenery beautiful and the bike was light and hadn’t collapsed (yet). The Genolier hill provided a steeper challenge but remarkably he managed to use the limited gearing and his seasoned leg muscles to keep the leader in sight and the back marker of Mark at the back.

From Bassins it was all (mostly) downhill to the promised lunch at the auberge of Duillier. However, during the descent Ivan had a message that his wife required assistance and he would have to detour. Clearly, not yet a fully-fledged GIN Biker. As it turned out his back brake suffered a failure during the final downhill into Gland and, although a temporary fix was achieved, the extra ballast after a full lunch could have been the final straw. So we parted at Vich, Ivan limping slowly onwards and Mark and Stephen heading for their plat du jour of Cajun perch, and vegetables with a small glass of beer to wash it down.

Return from lunch was highlighted by the hazardous main road crossing at the Nyon motorway junction followed by the famous Landi car park short cut and a strong headwind, which Stephen was happy to leave early in Arnex and allow Mark to battle on as he completed his circuit home.

Another enjoyable day’s exercise in good weather conditions (apart from the breeze) and with the added bonus of new company.

Statistics:  ca. 45km, total ascent 650m, moving time 2h22m, average speed 18.6km/h

With the heat of this exceptional summer receding, replaced by a more pleasant temperature in the sunny mornings, a group of 5 GIN Bikers accepted the challenge set by PeterD to complete a familiar circuit from the Everness Hotel through Céligny, Crans, Eysins, Signy, Gingins up to the Bonmont heights and beyond before enjoying the downhill rush leading us to the Vesancy climb and lunch in the courtyard of the château restaurant. After which a gentle return downhill via Gex and the old railway line to Divonne and our respective homes.

But I get ahead of myself. Stephen, recently back from the UK, was not yet “back in the groove” and arrived 30 minutes early at the rendez-vous (better than 30 minutes late!) and so enjoyed a bask in the sunshine whilst the others were still donning their gear and thinking about leaving home. PeterD, PeterT, Mark2Ts and Bill duly arrived and acquaintances were renewed after the summer absences. As usual we agreed the need for a gentle and non-competitive ride with threats of additional ballast for anyone not adhering to these rules.

The initial ride through the villages of the Plaine was indeed pleasant but the intensity geared up as we worked our way towards Gingins. By the time we arrived there 80% of the participants took advantage of a head dip in the village fountain despite the warning sign of “eau non conformé”. PeterD and Bill both previously having had problems in dismount of their vehicles….perhaps a sign of unaccustomed exercise….happily without injury. Refreshed, with no visible ill effects from the potentially dangerous waters, we started the upward climb to the usual Bonmont heights only to be encouraged by our leader to “go the extra mile” (or two) uphill to the next road down.

This small addition meant that the timing to the restaurant was Swiss-perfect and also prepared us for that uphill slog from the campsite Huttopia to the heights of Vesancy. We gratefully parked our bikes and settled into a very enjoyable set lunch with the added discovery of beer from the Grilly brasserie, unknown up to this point.

By the time coffee was served after the excellent meal it was clear that neither minds or legs were going to be encouraged for the final Mourex climb. The alternative slow descent, although longer, gained unanimous approval.

As usual, the diverse lunchtime bantered flowed as freely as the beer. As we left the restaurant, a neighbouring client asked in native English whether we would be fine to continue after such a meal. I reassured him that it was downhill all the way. He commented that it was the same for all of us at our stage in life! Much of the subject matter of the lunchtime discussion is forgotten but one that stuck on the descent was of a fromagerie just off the old railway line at Grilly, which Bill had visited previously. So our return trip took in this stop (although we were 10 minutes early for its afternoon opening time). What a smell as we entered! We keenly purchased samples of various cheeses from their international selection and made a mental note that Fromagerie Michelin also has a restaurant.

We peeled off to our homes and that well-earned siesta.

Statistics (depending upon starting and finishing points): ca. 45 to 55 km, average speed 18.5km/h, 675m elevation gain, estimated sweat loss (according to my Garmin) 5.25 litres ….should have drunk more!

Another hot day forecast, over 30C, so we met early at Everness for a foray out, the first for some while allowing us to take it easy. This was also possible because our B leader was out of town somewhere, so the mice could play.

Apologies were received from Paul and Bill and others, and only four of us were out to play. Peter D, Mervyn, Mark 2tts and myself, slightly the worse for wear after a canicular BBQ the evening before.

Our aim and single goal was to arrive for lunch at Founex tennis club shortly after midday and before the big heat. With that in mind we set off through the forest across the V river to Gilly and up the bike track to Gex, the latter providing welcome shade. The grinding heat up to Vesancy was quenched by a pleasant coffee/beer at the Château – mercy to Mark, also for the photo.

We moved on towards a beckoning Bonmont in fine sun, but it was hot, our BLr was away and with time short and now feeling no need or desire to ascend the B hill, we turned right at La Rippe. PedroD led us down through a new lane towards Vésenex and thence to the bike path to Lac Divonne, then left and eventually to Petit Coudres where Mark left us. He had had Covid positives in his family and did not want to run the risk of infecting the rest of us over lunch, so he dutifully fell on his sword.

PD, Mervyn and I enjoyed some fine beers and lunch courtesy of Ismäel and his crew at Founex Tennis Club restaurant. Carpaccio de thon was excellent with chips allumettes.

Not sure how high or how far, but a nice ride to start the season.

“I want to ride my bicycle, I want to ride my bike……”

Six die-hard cyclists subscribed to the latest outing with a promise of a long slow uphill ride, avoiding the usual Bonmont climb, but substituting the Genolier incline past the clinic up to the heights of Le Vaud. A ca. 55Km round trip from the Everness Hotel with a high elevation of 820m was promised with the lure of lunch at the Auberge Communale in Gilly, PeterD’s favourite hostellerie.  In the event, Bill had to back out due to mechanical failure of his motorised transport on the Italian Autostrada near Verona on the way back from Croatia. PeterD had indicated a prior engagement with the dentist even though we started at 09.30 and not at the dental time of 14.30 (tooth hurty!….for the uninitiated, this is a Taylorism).

So it was Stephen, PeterT, Mark2Ts, Mervyn and e-Paul who accepted the challenge. There seems an increasing desire of the group to rate absentees on the validity of their excuse on a scale of 1-acceptable to 10-fully understandable. e.g. open heart surgery – 10, needing to collect dog from kennel the day before -1. More of this to follow in future blogs, I’m sure.

The weather was set fair and we meandered along the Swiss route 50 cycle track, having picked this up at God’s crossroads (another Taylorism). This took us up familiar trails through Arnex, Borex, Signy, Grens, Gingins and onto Givrins where we decided to postpone our coffee until past the worst of the climb. Such is the keenness of the group that everyone wants to perform at their peak. Indeed,  Peter had had a sleepless night worrying about the Genolier Clinic hill and wanted to get this under his belt before enjoying any stop.

As the gradient increased, the lack of cloud cover made it hard and perspiring work. E-Paul drifted effortlessly from the back to the front, stopping on occasions to marvel at why the peloton didn’t also have e-bikes. We eventually stopped for coffee (or other refreshment) at Le Muids, kindly sponsored by Mark.  He reflected on how much easier it would have been had he moved to Le Muids, as was under consideration a few years back. However, no time for long contemplations as bleader (bike leader) Stephen was aware that lunch was booked and there was still road to go in order to get there on time. A short stop at Bassins, with heads cooled in the local fountain before the less strenuous slope up to Le Vaud, our high point of the day. We recovered our breath before enjoying the long downhill through Burtigny into Gilly, helping us appreciate each of those 620m climbed.

We arrived at the Auberge Communale exactly at the booked hour. Beers were rapidly ordered and 4 of the 5 seated at the table ordered the menu du jour of salad, cheeseburger with frites, followed by an usual but palatable banana soup. Not for the first time. Paul challenged the kitchen to produce “super croquant” frites. The challenge was accepted and the chips on his plate did seem to arrive with a slightly darker colour but judgement was reserved on as to whether they actually fulfilled the brief. In any case, the meal was well up to standard. As usual, conversation drifted widely from politics to opera to TV shows with a new category of notable quotes from famous people such as Winston Churchill, Mark Twain, Oscar Wilde. Typically, more beer was drunk and no conclusions were reached (are the two related?). Absent friends were toasted.

Eventually, we had to accept the inevitable and leave the restaurant. Our legs heavy on the pedals due to absent blood which was currently engaged on digestive duties. Stephen’s plan was to follow the Swiss cycle route 488 from Gilly to Vich, avoiding the main road. Peter volunteered the use of his stylish, if somewhat loose, handlebar mounted smart phone to navigate the way. Unfortunately, the electronic guidance diverged with the road signage, which itself was somewhat sporadic. So we did end up for a while on the very road we tried to avoid. Rerouting was decided at Vich and we headed via Coinsins to L’Asse. At this point, e-Paul realised that his uphill antics had damaged the longevity of his battery support and he opted for a return to Le Grand-Saconnex on the train from Nyon. Schadenfreude for some reason comes to mind. The rest of us continued to battle the headwind on raw muscle power, following the farm tracks through Signy to Arnex and somehow missing the intended crossing of Landi’s car park.  At Arnex more beers were offered chez Stephen but declined as other, more important, tasks had been planned by some for the rest of the day.

A hot day was forecast so Leader Stephen (bike leader or Bleader as he is sometimes called under uphills gasps) arranged for us all to meet earlier than usual at the Everness Hotel (autocorrects as Evenness) at 9 am. Bill in particular was a little sleepy as on arrival he had forgotten that his shoes were clipped into his pedals with the usual result, but not too serious. In all six of us, our Leader, Mark 2ts, Clipped-in Bill from Boulder, E-Paul, Mervyn and PeterT. We had brought along our excuses which ranged from :-

• recovering from Covid
• not done any exercise in weeks
• too much wine last night
• I’m only here for the beer

but our Leader brushed them all aside and after an encouraging and enthusiastic team pep talk and we set off up to Gex via the bike trail. On the way we stopped for a breath at the water tanks in Grilly and met a vivacious lady chilling her dog in the wash tub. She gave us a short history of the watch industry in Geneva (where she was a guide) and other cultural insights, before mentioning that she had heard of GINclub. It seemed our reputation is intact.

All too soon we were off into the shade of the old train track and at Gex via a slick underpass were soon heading up the (supposedly) gentle rise to Vesancy. It was too early for Castle Coffee and without a halt we sped on down and across toward the dreaded Bonmont. Our Leader confirmed that were were to ascend illegally up the down road, and in the event we were consecutively chastised and almost run over by irate descenders by bike and car.

It was getting hotter by the time we arrived at La Givrine (renamed from Givrins by our Leader) for coffee at the excellent bakery. Thanks Paul for your sponsorship. There was much discussion of world affairs, corruption, war, recession, Covid, and inflation but the main thing on our minds (mine at least) seemed to be beer and lunch.

I confirmed our reservation at the Founex Tennis Club with Ismael who is getting to know us, and with time passing we needed to speed off via Genolier, Dullier, Prangins, Nyon Riviera (where the majestic Vevey paddle ship was gliding into the jetty). Up past the Nyon tennis club and across to Celigny and CpC, before our Leader left us five (he to become an airport taxi) to wheel across to our lunch, and large cold beers. The first swig is the most memorable…

We missed our leader and drank his health and that of all other absent bikers. E-Paul girded himself for his 17km ride home while the rest of us pottered home for a shower and a siesta. Another memorable ride, 51km, 600m denivellation. Conditions – hot and sunny. (33C after lunch). And although I got cramp later, my dodgy knees felt better afterwards.. 🙂

21 April 22

The GIN Bikers team assembled for a ride to the GIN lunch organised by Gerry at the Accord Parfait above Divonne.

Well, two of us assembled at the Everness and set off in perfect weather for Crans, Nyon lakeside, Prangins, Trelex, Givrins (coffee stop), Bonmont and Divonne.

Super ride with warm sun for a coffee at our favourite bakery (we could not justify croissants in view of the upcoming feast).

We arrived bang-on midday hungry for the fine lunch.

About 45 km and 555m deniv (from my house).

Attending : Mark 2ts, PeterT

Apologies – many and varied – were received.

The bike team assembled to have a tilt at the run up to the GIN Lunch at Florimont at 960m on the road up to Col de la Faucille.

Sadly Mark2ts called off with respiratory issues but he made the lunch. SO four of us, Peter D (leader for the outing), Stephen, Mervyn and myself, set off in bright blue sky from the Everness at 9.30am. Somehow the early start was chosen because of expected slowness. On reaching Gex up the rail-trail before 10.15 am we realised that we needed to stop for a welcome coffee.

Suitably refreshed (merci PeterD) we set off in higher gear and lesser clothing up the hill through Gex and then directly up. It was a case of just pressing on at one’s own speed. We found a route that avoided all but 300 metres of the main road and emerged all of a sudden at the Florimont at 11.30am, with 30 minutes to bask in the sunshine awaiting the main crew for lunch.

After a very fine lunch (see separate Blog), the bike team set off for the easy part. A run back to Evenness in under 45 minutes, down our up trails, through Gex, the rail-trail, and Chavannes woods.

A really great start to the bike season. Thanks to Peter D for suggesting it and leading us. I recorded 610m deniv, there and back from my house. And about 37 km.

The hard core duo of PeterT and Stephen turned out on a cold, grey November day for the last organised outing of the season. Anticipation of a third participant was thwarted when Mark decided at 01h13 of the day to recover from the late night and catch up on delayed activities. As the duo prepared for the cold, we realised that this was not a bad shout. PeterT was also close to cancelling at the last minute when contact lens malfunction caused more than casual concern.

However, having met at the Chavannes hotel meeting point, we were eager to get moving and generate some blood flow. We agreed on a gentle, non-competitive ride along familiar tracks, taking us via Grilly, the old train track to Divonnes and then onto Crassier, before cycling up through Borex and Tranchepied to the inevitable climb above Bonmont. We even separated temporarily, taking slightly differing routes to the usual high point; Stephen opting for the shorter, steeper ride and Peter for the longer but, on average, gentler slope.

Bonmont man

Bonmont men

At the rest point, we realised that cold was rapidly seeping through the layers and so we hastened via Gingins to Givrins and a welcome coffee and snack inside at the boulangerie. Earlier thoughts to lengthen the challenge were rapidly revised and we decided upon a direct route home. This took us via Duillier and L’Asse, across the busy main feed road to the Nyon motorway, through Petit Eysins  before a last Landi car park crossing for this year.

We parted company outside Stephen’s apartment with the warm glow of satisfaction that we had gone where other GIN bikers had declined and happy that we could soon bask in that feeling in the comfort of our own homes…..for Stephen, some 7 kms earlier that for Peter.

Statistics: Saddle time 2h06m; Distance 42.72 (Chavannes to Chavannes); Average Speed 20.4kmh; Elevation difference 500m.

On a cold, damp, grey autumnal day, many of the usual crowd had decided that an away break after the school vacations was a better way of spending the week. Hence, it was only the stay-at-home duo of Stephen and PeterT who met at the Chavannes Hotel, wrapped up in warm cycling gear and ready to face the elements (and any hills put in the way).

A gentle 3 hills “lite” ride was agreed upon, taking a route across into France at Grilly, along the disued railway track to Gex, up the back road to Vesancy (unfortunately, the Chateau was not open for a rest and a coffee) across to La Rippe before the required attack on the Bonmont hill. Half way up the hill, just as legs unused to such exercise were flagging, Peter spotted a dog walker with 4 Afghan dogs ahead and decided that he should introduce himself and Kobie (remotely by photo, in the latter’s case). The lady in question was somewhat aggressive initially, complaining about dog walkers who let their dogs off the lead and disturbed her troupe. Having reassured her that he would immediately attach Kobie to the lead in the event that they encountered each other, she took on a friendlier tone and became very chatty. At least 10 minutes later and with legs well recovered, the final ride to the top seemed unusually easy.

The wind-chilling descent via Gingins and Signy to Arnex was bracing but rapid and we parted company outside the floral balcony of Stephen’s apartment. We had earlier agreed to forgo the usual lunch in the interests of health and time.

Statistics: ca. 38km Chavannes Hotel to Chavannes Hotel, 1h56 saddle time, 19.9kmh average speed, 499 elevation, 0 beers.

Three men on their bummels set off (again) on a sunny and breezy but not too cool day from Divonne. It was kind for the morning that the wind was from the south as we headed up north towards the hills, half-forgetting that the wind would be in our faces on the return from Gilly. Avoiding the purgatory of Bonmont we instead opted for a ride across to Givrins and our favourite bakery coffee stop. Sadly the oven was being changed and it was closed, but the local cafe was open 50 mtrs away, and it had seating on sunny terrace beating the bakery. Sadly for the same reason there were no croissants (thanks for the coffee Mark).

Having avoided purgatory we faced the hell of the Genolier hill below the Clinique, but because of the tailwind indeed we were blessed with an easier ride. That was needed because we were bound for Bassins and Le Vaud. Leaving my water bottle behind at the Le Vaud water fountain we rolled down to the restaurant at Gilly where they know Peter Drew’s middle name.

The plat de jour was deer and being half vegetarian I managed to be game for it. Good service, beers and company. Warm inside table. We toasted absent bikers.

The ride home was the come-uppence we deserved – into the keen wind and the wind came straight though my helmet onto a bald surface. The next day I had a fine cold that I had been struggling domestically to avoid.

Attending : Peter Drew, Mark Watts, Peter Taylor.

I (PT) logged 58.61 km and 630m deniv. But statistics are windless…