Category: Biking

A small team headed from God’s Crossroads to Bonmont in weak sun, via Nyon, Prangins, Trelex and Gingins. We arrived home before rain and news of Trump’s virus. Very pleasant B179 for me. Thanks Steve for organising.

17 Sept 2020

Yet another beautiful sunny day, albeit with a strong but warm Bise wind. Four of us assembled at Lac de Divonne and set off in the usual direction towards Bonmont, at a leisurely pace untroubled by any possibility of forming a Groupetto behind Steve, who was otherwise occupied. Having dispensed with the formality of Bonmont we sidled down for a coffee in Givrins before swooping down to the Les Aberiaux restaurant by the port at Prangins for well needed beers and al fresco lunch. We toasted absent friends, who had really missed another great and not too challenging day out. A good lunch – beef/octopus and chips and coffees before winding our way back to God’s Crossing. Attending : Mervyn, Mark Watts, Peter D and Peter T.

10am sunny morning and five of us set off from Divonne car park. The peloton (short of Long) ambled up to Bonmont to help me get B165, and thence swooped down and across to Givrins for a coffee on a sunny terrace, avoiding patisseries available as we had a table booked at the Auberge de Gilly at noon. We sped over via Coinsins and Vich in a single breakaway and were soon ensconced around a round table drinking beer and then tucking into the rather fine fare they provide there. Recommended and at a good price. We set off back in warm sun via Trelex and Grens and were soon back at the start. 55 km or so. 300m deniv? A fine day out with time for a siesta, or in my case a powerpoint presentation in Mongolian.

Attending : Peter Drew, Mervyn, Philip, Mark Wtts and me.

A somewhat reduced group from the Lockdown Peleton assembled at the Divonne Lake on Weds 1 July in fine sun. We attempted to explore the fine 2019 bike path from Divonne to Gex, and particularly a new 2020 section on to Ornay (as Richard had told us it went there) – but none of us knew where Ornay was. We reached the very end (Ornay?) after a traversing a small missing piece of track, but although rideable the last part was still officially closed, opening 17th July.

Satisfied we had pushed it to the end, we retreated to Gex and then Vesancy and Bonmont, me with a slow rear puncture. As one of us had just had a Covid19 test and was not yet apprised of the result (eventually negative) we aborted the usual terrace lunch and headed back in the sunshine. Next time.

Attending, Long, Taylor, Watts.

Apologies, Mervyn, Peter D, Philip, Tim.

I wanted to restart the biking group, albeit several of us in CH have been meeting over the restricted period. I will suggest a plan after asking around on the favourite day of the week. Stay safe, Peter

Three intrepid peddlers started out from Divonne, two in shorts. We had a splendid short ride on two hills via Bonmont and Vesancy to Gex where we took the excellent plat du jour at L’Essentiel on the main Street. There remained the fast and excellent bike path back to the start. Cloudy but no rain!

Attending

Peters T and D, Philip J.

Our illustrious leader was unavailable (holiday in Crete) but did send us this

so we were ably led by Peter D: up the hill at Bonmont, over to Gex, then to Echenevex to find a closed restaurant and on to the Maison Blanche golf club for lunch and well earned beers.

After lunch we returned to Gex where we found the old railway line and followed it all the way back into Divonne.

A great bike ride. Thanks to Peter and Steve for waiting for me.

Total of 52 km (a few further for Steve) and 545 m dénivellation

 

Welcome new biker Philip Jenkins🚲🎊🎈🥾

The regular crew sent in their excuses but Philip and I enjoyed a very pleasant ride in warm weather ahead of the storm. Inevitably a Bonmont then via Vesancy to our favorite Belle View Hotel café in Gex. The set menu seems to be pork and tagliatelle on Tuesdays and I can report that it went down well with beer. The route back was downhill, down-storm and down the old rail-track on the great new bike path back to Divonne, starting (not surprisingly) from Gex’s

old station.

Philip and I found we had quite a bit in common mountain-wise, including climbing on Dorset’s dangerous cliffs, Avon, Cornwall, Mt Blanc, Reunion, Stromboli, Etna and many others. Philip is also a devotee of Indonesia and has led many hikes in the pre-Alps with the French Alpine Club.

Gentle tour of the Pays de Gex with nice lunch in Gex. Mervyn kept his shoe together with rubber bands, Mark finessed and Steve cruised it. Dave Gernand joined us for the first part and we look forward to more from him. We did a good turn too – we helped rescue an Italian driver with two front wheels firmly in a ditch. Pleasant biking in pleasant company. P