Category: Biking

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

No Peter T (feeble excuse about being stuck in England due to cancelled flight), so ably led by Steve with Mervyn following and Mark GW bringing up the rear.

Similar route to previous trip: to Genolier, but not by the Abbaye de Bonmont, then onto Coinsins for coffee, then Gilly and Tartegnin for lunch. Slightly more direct route back.

Somewhere around 50 kms, longer for Steve and Mervyn, and about 400 m climbing.

Good cycling despite the severe heat.

Just 4 of us: Peter Taylor (leading), Mervyn Powell, Bill Westermeyer and Mark Watts (lagging behind).

To Vinzel via Abbeye de Bonmont, Peter’s 62nd time up this hill this year (but he’s not counting) and Mark’s 2nd (ever), and Genolier. Lunch at au Coeur de la Côte and back more directly. Perfect weather throughout. Only disappointment was the restaurant had run out of filets de perche.

Total trip just under 50 km with 400 m of climbing.

We had a very pleasant bike ride which included  lunch at Givrins today, sheltering from the storm (OK showers).  Photos came out sideways, as did we…

Team-Blue, bikers reached the top of the Jura at the Col above La Rippe, right next to the French border (sadly no bar/café). We took it gently and stopped at the P’tit Bard for some drink and energy bars on the way up. It was hot lower down. About 1000 m up, and down.

Descending was easier, and faster.

Attending – Steve, Jeremy, Peter and Peter.

It’s tough – but somebody has to..

1. Lunch beers welcome after some big hills. And a 50+ km day. Well done team👍🦔🎸🙏🏻😎

Fine weather saw Steve, Peter D and myself start from Arnex and wend our way up via Borex to Cheserex, Gingins, Givrins, Genolier, Bassins, Le Vaud, Burtigny and up and over to Gimel, returning back down the Routes des Vins : Tartegnin etc. with the essential lunch at Gilly (set menu chf 23) outside in the sunshine on the terrace. Returning via Signy. Wonderful colours, warm with a touch of damp on the higher shaded forest roads. Memorable.

Great ride and lunch. Steve did well, considering his lack of practice. Peter D was uncatchable out front.