Old Jo says... a new Era to start March 31, 2016 !

36+ years have gone by since I started working for Caterpillar, now the time has come to say good bye to my working life - as I shall retire on March 31, 2016 - and say hello and welcome to my New Life ! 

Let's welcome the 2016 Biking Season and its famous rides and socials.

Cats beware a new Dog is coming with plenty of time to train...and I am ready.

Jean-Mi

JOYEUX NOEL et MEILLEURS VOEUX pour 2016 !

Merry Christmas & Happy, Healthy, Dynamic, Successful New Year 2016 for All.


Let us make it a Superb Biking Season 2016  full of new rides !


Free of accident for some...

2016 Season Preview - Pass Portes du Soleil 24-26 June 2016

For those interested book your agenda for the Pass' Portes du Soleil

24-26 JUNE 2016 - let's aim for the Friday 24th - less people, fresh tracks.

http://www.passportesdusoleil.com/index_passportes.php?Rub=250

The Indian Summer Ride... in Blue...Sunday November 15, 2015

The call for a ride was too strong that Sunday to miss the opportunity - Jura was calling our names.
Four fearless riders met in Tranche-Pied, all flagging the new colors - in blue somebody said it was better - of the Dogs & Cats Patrol.

Fearless were the Missile and the Nascar leading us through the ups, along and finally straight down on some of their favorite trails - AWESOME it was !
Surfing the piled leaves - hiding the nasty rocks - we truly had a blast .
In different styles, Balls cruising nicely and efficiently...Old Jo on the survival mode on the uphill, (4 hours in a Jacuzzi at 40 degrees the night before did not help)

Missile has no flaws - he clims, turns swiftly, races down crazily, and is a perfect guide - apart from the "moustache" !!

Nascar in tow and from time to time ahead of all of us in a quick acceleration. For him, every rock or tree has a name...An over power cornering resulted in an elegant slide....followed by a quick as lighting back on saddle..did he fall ??!!
Thanks for the apéro Nascar by the way, it hit the spot. (no lunch that day)

Balls, all smiles and happiness, repeating a million times, "man that's so nice, we are so lucky to ride today, I love it".
Credit to him his bike was free from rattling/squeaking (I washed my bike...he said)

Finally, Old Jo (an oxymoron) suffering of the noodle legs syndrom, huffing and puffing,
made it to the top. (you made a fourth of the climb..the rest is easy..says Missile, well the last fifth.. stays in memory)
Just in time recovering on the "faux plats" to finally be re-born on the downhill - how nice that was !
Wasn't I victorious in my challenging of Nascar "Grand Prix Miko" sprint ?! ; - ))

All in all, a fantastic day with trusty good friends...wifes were happy to see us again..(short ride we said...only lasted 4 hours - not counting the commute...)

Dogs & Cats New Biking Outfits Have Arrived !

• The Dogs & Cats new biking jerseys "Première"" !!
• Distribution at End of Season Party on Friday November 13, 2015.
• Cost per jersey is CHF 60.- (same for short & long sleeves and gilet)
• Available against cash payment....please prepare exact amount.
• NO change - NO jersey(s) !  

End of the Show - The 2015 season has ended !

Statler:     Wake up you old fool. You slept through the show.

Waldorf:  Who's a fool? You watched it.

Major highlights:
- Passe-Portes du Soleil
- Tour du Mont-Blanc
- Many Tuesday's rides were run - now becoming Wednesday's rides !
- Team and Blog names changes - Dogs and Cats is born.
- A new riding jersey - Dogs & Cats - is in production - to be had in November
- Fondoo Run..only one..! -
- Who will be the 2015 Silver Gobelet winner .. Balls, Limoncello, Old Jo..???

Balls the Farmer ride report

Ride on Jeune Genevois day (posted 9 Sept 2015)

Happy riders: Balls, Old Jo, Limoncello
Play ground: les Voirons
Distance: 37.9 km
Ascent: 787 m
Duration: about 3h30

Highlights:

• Beautiful biking day while les Vaudois étaient au boulot. Perfect temperature, sunny and dry. Fantastic.
• Old Jo keen to show that la fusée verte can go up easy …. and it does indeed.
• Old Jo alias chippendale to wear a greeny jersey somewhat matching his new bike's color, right when a 82 year old lady was hiking with her 86 year old husband (hope any of us will be in that shape reaching their age, although I have serious doubts for some)
• Great great great DH in les Voirons
• Hidden romantic spot (cascade) found as we were trying an unknown track. We managed to keep the Chippendale quite though
• "Joe Bar Team" like turn on the asphalt by Limoncello as he was racing with Old Jo (speed about 60 kph heading to a U-turn).
• Refreshments and snacks in a boulangerie somewhere near Puplinge. Balls met a new friend and now knows everything about the challenges being a farmer in Switzerland, the strategy to set the price of milk, and the tensions between neighboring fire brigades. Marcel's new friend is a perfect candidate for a Wednesday dinner (a reference for those familiar with the French théatre de boulevard).

Points:

• Participants: Balls, Old Jo, Limoncello
• Ride host: Limoncello

Moi, Tarzan!!!

So romantic ….

Courtesy from Joe Bar Team

The Launch of the "FUSEE VERTE"

Old Jo is thanking and praising "ReBorn Rip9" for the fun, trust worthyness and long lasting services provided. But now time has come for Rip9 to rest and retire..
I am pleased to announce its replacement "La  Fusée Verte" !
Hence today the launch of that new riding partner...

Brand: Niner
Model: Jet 9 RDO Carbon
Size: M
Colors: Green & Black
Fork: Fox 32 Talas CTD 100-120 mm
Shock Fox Float CTD Kashima: 110 mm
All other organs: Donor Rip9
Weight: 12.7 kg   ; -) (compared to 14.5kg...)
Legs: Same old ones....
Envy:  Gigantic
Pleasure: Multiplied

Goals:
a) Improve climbing ability - reduce gap with front pack.
b) Maintain downhill skills - even if a tiny bit less suspension travel is conceded.
c) Nurture smooth and flowy single tracks and switchbacks lines.

Supplier:   Hors-Piste Genève
Salesman: Yves (top)
Mechanic: Christophe (re-top)
Wise advises and gimmicks supplies: LaBrico, Boum-Boum, Missile, Oscar.

Delivery:                 Tue August 25, 2015.
Initial adjustments: Tue August 25, Jura.
Climbing test:         Tue August 25, Jura.
Serious long ride:    Sat August 29, Valais/CM.

Let's rub elbows on the tracks and Ride On !

The Fast, Furious & Delicious Ride Report Tuesday August 11, 2015

We blew pistons on that hot summer biking night. Fast was the name of the game. Up, down, around, across and through the Jussy Woods and - grand finale - the Sentier des Douaniers.
The mosquitos were beaten flat...none in sight ! Tracks were dusty and dry, the thorns gripping and bitting only on the Ref. (tender skin that man..)
Many sweet, shapy and bouncy encounters, all ages, enlightened the ride..but ONE special curvy jogging orange short and tanned to perfection  skin definitely retained attention !!

Congrats to Missile who made the trip to the other side of the Wall (read Rhône).
His ride was only hampered by a few events.. what's wrong with him ; - )) here goes the list:
a) The Perfecto Dump b) The Biting Thorn c) The Aborted OTB d) The Too Small Big Ring for a sprint e) The Creaking Handle Bar and finally f) The Out of Air Rear Tire or Lungs...however keeping up.

As dusk was slowly creeping in, we rushed to the Café des Amis, where the charming and smiling waitress greated us with three large cold and well deserved beers.
Treated like Kings, we ate, drank and talked, making noise in the peaceful Choulex's night. Some said that Missile's laugh was overheard miles away..
A generous discussion took place about the future and/or conversion of the name of the Caterpillar MTBiking Team into - Cats & Dogs - as a suggestion, more on subject later.

Participants: The Missile, Limoncello, Old Jo.
Stats: Distance 41 km, Time 2 hours, Elevation 222m, Max Speed/Average Speed....
Pointage:
+ 1 for all
+ 1 Old Jo - track leader/organizer
+ 0.5 Missile for Aborted OTB
+ 0.5 Missile for riding in and out of Choulex.
+ 0.5 Limoncello for Shamelessly wind drafting behind Old Jo...to finally overtake on the last stretch  of the sprint...booo ! (am I not generous..)

Ride On !

OMAR NE M'A PAS TUÉ.....MAIS PAPY/OLD JO L'A FAIT !!!

Limoncello has proven "vaillance" during our Sunday ride that ended with 75.4 km on the counter, (80km for Limoncello - home coming/going to Choulex) a steady 5.05 hrs pedaling  and 667m climb. Rivers banks of Seymaz, Arve, Aïre on the menu, topped by Petit Salève, almost all borders of the canton were visited...Ladies called to know whether we were still alive...Lisa's "Super Bock" supply brought back smiles.
I cannot resist that picture taken after the ride..someone  in hamac...le repos du guerrier !!
No points claimed ; - ))

The Silver Gobelet 2013 has arrived...Thank You Mr Ref.

The Fondue Run was the perfect time to baptize it...and that delicious Petite Arvine the perfect nectar to go along.
Not without the fearless, shouting, screaming, laughing, argumenting Night Riders. Don't we love that Cabane des Electriciens !?