Chamonix Zermatt - The Refs Report!!!

Firstly...... THANKS AGAIN PAPY FOR ORGANISING!!
THANKS AGAIN EVERYONE FOR MAKING IT A MEMORABLE WEEK!!

So..... as the organiser for all 8 days was Papy with attendees each getting one point:
Papy gets 1+1 x 8 = 16 points, all riders 1 x 8 = 8 ponts

All other pointage mixed in  with below notes...I took during the week (edited).
Any claims may be ignored.....

Day 1 - Chamonix - Le Tour - Finhault
Best trail ever down to Finhaut!!!
Montee vers Finhaut = merdikly steep
3 decis last up but "premier au bar" +0.5
Balls got a stone with Ribbons !!
Serveuse with decolté +10 points
Oscar got a nail - not his fault so no - points.
Missile provides tech assitance and equipment... +0.25


Day 2 - Finhault Marecottes Martigny Pierre Chez simon
Puncture 3 decis -0.5
Montee interminable -1000 points
Chainette wearing missile +0.5 for the full week of wearing!
Cramps de missile qui fais rigoler les autres...La honte du mechanical de missile -1
Balls lent hex key +0.5
Dopey directing cows +0.5
Papy calling missile and berating him for bothering him. +0.5
Missile saving the extra unnecessary metres climbing +0.5
3 decis arriving before Papy and co +1
Papys cow bells lunch spot - what is that you siad ??!
Bike washing after la foret humide - Papy knew where the car wash was +0.5
La dilgence express....and Donkeys r us
Labrico find us an off parcours "single" in les marecottes +0.5
Dopey directing us to drinks!
Balls donation of power bar for missile cramps +0.5
Missiles Abricotine round +1
Proposal of social points +0.5 Nameless
Labrico's silent but deadly farts during dessert -1

Day 3 - Chez Simon to Esertzes
Balls wearing proper MTB dh shorts for once!! +0.5
Bra strap pulling papy #1 !!
Caroline and camille .......(no comment)
Jean mi loans shock pump to multiple people...+0.25
Nascar takes out the electric fence in style...+1 for fun factor
Papy: "On est a la mogntagne est c'est rnnervent (christophe qui fait du bruit)" +0.5 for classic quote
Fighting over music box!!! Papy and Balls +0.5 for being adolescents
Michels brake fix - missile +0.5
Multiple tech helps on 3 decis brakes....Nascar +0.5
Survival kits - balls dopey missile papy nascar claude +0.5 all others: -0.5
Claude in the niche for sleeping +0.5 for finding a bed a sa taille!!

Day 4 - Essertzs to Evolene to La Sage
Soleils - 3 decis/labrico/papy/julien +0.5 each
Lunch at the lac d'arbey + buvette d'arbeySauce points - no-one brought the sauce (except Labrico!!!)
Descente d'enfer jusqu'au Hauderes yeee haaa
Montée de malade vers la sage !!!! +0.25 Missile/Nascar/Labrico/Nameless/Julien
3 decis fondoo - scraping religieuse for the neighbours +0.5 
and the ensuing qote from Limoncello..."surveille votre bouteille de vin" +0.5

Day 5 La Sage to Zinal
Blood points : nameless +0.5
Claude une croute +0.5 !!! (Il le payera plus tard par contre...Labrico Degueule 0.5
Missile & Nascar croute ordered abd eaten 4 anyone else arrived +0.5 each
3 decis day off !! (Still gets his point)
Limoncello + croute + vin blanc +1
Rear wheel vasse de julien.
3 decis to st luc - brake pads etc. +1
Croute video from Missile...+0.5
Lasagna distribution - nascar +0.5
Missile helps christophe with brake alignment AGAIN! +0.25
Tournée des Ron de 3 decis +1
Limoncello "col de torrent" award  +0.5

Day 6 - Zinal - St Luc - Unterbach
St Luc option - Oscar idea +1
Jean mi - bus de secours localisation +0.5
Labrico - spotting the "fille grosse balles" +0.5 for the enjoyment of all
Oscar - huuuuge OTB. with big grin +1
Nameless donates his coke!! +0.5
Labrico does a beuse competition +2 for continuing despite
Nameless pulls an Oscar - "bounce" +0.5
Limoncello - otb !! +0.5
Limoncello - tech assistance with savonette for Labrico butt +0.5
Missile crawls "a bit" in the bisse !!!! His mates get him thru!!! +0.5 for Dopey, Nameless, Nascar, Papy, Marcel
Joest gets the dh practice equipment. +1 for amusing us throughout the week with vroooooaaaammmmm!
3 decis gives purse to missile
Nameless payed a tournee digestifs +1
Missile major mojoechanical - chain guide explosion -1 for putting such a shite on his bike...

Day 7- Unterbach - Herbriggen
2 "roller" soleil limoncello +0.5 each
Jean mi wheelie drop backwards - blam +0.5
Hopalong nameless for hopping endlessly in "perfect" balance....+0.5
Labrico niqualong zermatt +1 for organising a hump....
Balls soleil = back issues!! +2 for having to drop out as a result...
Missile - derrailleur mech and qr front.-0.5
Verveine:  missile n 3 decis -0.5
Diagnostique du toux de labrico - "poil de chatte!!! Missile and old jo +0.5 each

Day 8 - Herbriggen - Zermatt
Lait dans le train - 3 decis +0.5
...., dans le vide - Nascar +0.5
Chain suck de merde - missile -0.5
Tournée payé par Velorizons +1

And that's all !!!

Off we go for Chamonix-Zermatt August 10 to August 17, 2013

Final count is Nine (9) bikers:
The Missile, LaBrico, Limoncello, 3DC, Nascar, Nameless, Balls, Dopey and Papy.
We shall miss those who had to give up.
11'000 m climbing, about 450 km, many valleys, many passes, many trails, lots of fun ahead.
I trust we are ready and You ? See you all tomorrow 09.00h at my place.

SORRY BUT RIDE IS CANCELLED REPEAT CANCELLED Tuesday Ride July 30, 2013 - Juicy Woods + Herr Mans for Chamonix-Zermatt participants

This invite at Papy's place to discuss Chamonix-Zermatt 2013 logistics & else
But a Tuesday is a Tuesday so we ride first !
Meeting place: Choulex - you know where
Time: 18.00h - sharp - is this worth mentionning
Ride: Jussy Woods and Hermance river banks
Program: Fast ride, no flat, no fall, no break - goal avoid the Mosquitos !!

My Bike Is Ready....and yours ?

So have you been working on your bike yet ? Saturday saw me spending untold hours doing the following....

• New chain rings, cassette, chain
• New chain guide
• New cassette body
• New rear hub bearings
• New pedals
• New derailleur cables
• Overhaul brake master cylinders & brakes bled
• New brake pads
• New grips - wired!
• New suspension bearings
• New bar end cap!
• Wheels trued
• New rear wheel nipples
• New tire and a half!!

Left to do...new tire milk & overhaul to telescopic seat post.

and you ??

CRC Order for Chamonix Zermatt

To help out on parts gathering for Chamonix Zermatt I offer to organise a parts order from CRC.

For those 'new' to this, you create a "wish list" and send it to my email.

CRC website: http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/

I will order on, or about, the 7'th of July - get me your list before then!!

Advantage: 
cheap, huge stock, only pay Swiss TVA, we share shipping (if there is any) and also share the flat rate import duty.

Rools
- Pro Rata Value Share of shipping/duties
- Swiss TVA added at 8.5% anyway
- C.O.D. (Cash On Delivery)
- If it doesn't fit, for whatever reason, too bad - I won't handle your returns - too much admin.
- If it is not in stock at time of order, it wont get ordered.

...let me have your wish lists.

Chamonix Zermatt - Bike Prep and Things to Bring

I have been waiting for someone to post something, so far nothing, so I share my thoughts. Feel free to add your own recommendations below.

Personal Note: I don't care what you all bring to make your holiday comfortable, but I do care if I get asked to fix your bike because you didn't take the time to ensure it's in fine shape from the start. Your bike will get a LOT of abuse during 8 days of riding so you need to ensure it has a fighting chance of lasting and also that you bring with you the necessary equipment to keep it running....

....I have labelled the first two sections "mandatory". Obviously I am not your dad, but....sometimes people need to be told - especially those whose bike maintenance is 'haphazard' or they don't have the skills to do it themselves. You know who you are!!!

Finally, time is running out and if you have vacations planned and your local bike shop does too....you may have trouble getting parts for your bike, if needed. Start preparing now!!

Mandatory Pre-Start Bike Maintenance

• ·         Check frame, fork, parts for cracks ! No, seriously – sh!t happens.
• ·         Recent rear shock and fork service. (< 1 year since last one at max depending)
• ·         Ensure fork seals are new / nearly new: You do NOT want fork oil spewing over your brakes in the descents
• ·         Check for suspension play: bearings and shock mounts - replace as necessary
• ·         Install a seat Quick Release on your seat collar
• ·         Rock Shox Reverb owners ESPECIALLY: Check/service of your Reverb seat post – they ALL lose their air at some point and you don’t want that mid trip!! (See below too…)
• ·         Check wheel bearings for play& replace as necessary
• ·         Check front and rear derailleur alignment/function
• ·         Grease QR's and seat post
• ·         Check pedals
• ·         Replace old gear cables with new gear cable inners and outers: even if they seem good
• ·         Brand new brake pads & freshly purged brake lines
• ·         If your brake discs are old, check the min thickness....if too thin they may crack = disaster
• ·         FRESH stans sealant in both tires
• ·         New chain
• ·         New / nearly new cassette, and chain-rings
• ·         Install NEW-as-can-be tires appropriate for all mountain riding : no weight weenies!!
• ·         Wheels checked and re-tensioned for loose spokes
• ·         Check chain-ring bolts for tightness
• ·         NEW cleats in your riding shoes
• ·         Check grips: replace and wire (if not lock-on type) in case of rain
• ·         Check Bottom bracket for play. Replace as necessary
• ·         All bolts tightened appropriately

Mandatory Bike Gear To Carry With You (You need to be self-sufficient for chain & tire problems)

• ·         A large enough back pack for your clothes, food and tools
• ·         At least one inner-tube (presta!!) + normal tube patches
• ·         1 x new set of brake pads
• ·         Multi tool covering ALL your Imbus requirements & torx, including a knife
• ·         Tire Pump
• ·         1 x Derailleur hanger – make sure it’s the right one !!!
• ·         1 x quick chain link (9 or 10 speed: make sure you have the right one)
• ·         1 x bike derailleur cable
• ·         Misc. bolts and fasteners for your bike including chain ring bolts – small and large
• ·         A small pair of pliers
• ·         1 x spare tubeless valve
• ·         Small selection of Zip ties
• ·         50 cm thin guage wire
• ·         30 cm length of duct tape/grey Tape (folded over itself)
• ·         Space blanket, whistle, small first aid kit, waterproof matches

Non Mandatory but Recommended

• ·         Small bottle of chain oil
• ·         Tubeless repair kit: http://www.jensonusa.com/Patch-kits/Rav-X-Tubeless-Tire-Repair-Kit

Bike Gear To Share Carrying (To Be Discussed)

• ·         Shock pump
• ·         1 x shimano derailleur, 1 x SRAM derailleur
• ·         Larger first aid kit

Additional Bike Gear to have in your Travel bag

• ·         1 x new tire
• ·         3 spokes of each length required (check the length) & spare nipples (brass)
• ·         2 x derailleur cable
• ·         1 x metre length of outer cable
• ·         1 x additional pair of new brake pads
• ·         2 spare inner tube(s) & normal patch kit
• ·         For Rock Shox Reverb owners: spare normal seat post – your Reverb is not repairable in the sticks.
• ·         Your OWN bottle of chain lube & fork spray
• ·         Cleaning rags for your bike

Misc. Other Items to be Discussed Who Brings

• ·         Full range of bike tools – probably need two sets to ensure we don’t fight over
• ·         1 x bike stand (TBC)
• ·         Multi-prise for all chargers
• ·         Bike cleaner  & brushes

Biking Clothing Recommended Minimum

• ·         Minimum 3 sets of short inners, shirts, gloves with long fingers
• ·         Enough outer shorts to make the cut!
• ·         2 x long sleeve jerseys
• ·         Long/Short sleeve undershirts
• ·         Arm and leg warmers
• ·         Liteweight & Heavy Weight Waterproof jacket(s)
• ·         Water proof trousers/shorts
• ·         Bandanas & Helmet
• ·         Riding glasses
• ·         Socks galore!! (No smelly feet please)
• ·         Biking shoes

Optional

• ·         Spare bike shoes (in case of rain)
• ·         Portable mud guards for eventual rainy days

 Must Bring…

• ·         Sleeping bag
• ·         Ear plugs!!!
• Beer money & bonne humeur...

Don’t Forget…..

• · Spare clothes, shoes, sandals
• ·         Quick dry towel (micro fiber)
• ·         Toilet paper
• ·         Lighter
• ·         Bike lock
• ·         GPS & charger with loaded maps / routes
• ·         Cell phone & charger
• ·         Paper map(s) of the area
• ·         Camera
• ·         Sunglasses & Sun Cream
• ·         Reading glasses!!
• ·         Petzl head lamps.
• ·         Biking food and hydration powder
• ·         Hydration bottle(s)
• ·         Medicine cabinet!! (Aspirin etc)
• ·         Beanie & sun hat!!
• ·         Warm jacket for after the ride
• ·         Swim suit
• ·         Hand washing powder/bags
• ·         Sewing kit (just in case your ass is hanging out of your shorts!!)
• ·         Toilet bag and personal pharmacie etc. etc.
• ·         Money

Chamonix Zermatt - Entire Profile

Below is the profile of our trip from Chamonix to Zermatt: 200 km, 11,043 m climbing, 13-ish cols/

If the 1,850m we did last weekend in the Petit and Grand Saléve are any measure of our general fitness, then it will be a struggle even for those who are mostly training hard!!

So...if you aren't training/preparing actively, I recommend that you step it up or you WILL die.....and not necessarily with witnesses ;-)

For those with GPS, Le Père Noel au mollets impressionants will send you the GPX track.