Cancelled for lack of participants ;-( ... Tuesday Ride - Petit Salève

Seems that tomorrow is the best day of the week, and Petit Salève will probably be the driest spot in the area. I'll try to find a trail (down) that BoumBoum showed me last Friday, that he had not ridden for at least 10 years.
Meeting point: Parking de Veyrier
Meeting time: 18:00 ready to go
Dine: Christèle kicked us out this time, so we can have a bite in Veyrier or drive to Gaillard to Mama Rosa if we are in time (the best pizza / pasta)

Ring of Fire Ride Report Tuesday June 23, 2015

For once all of us were On Time ! A beautiful evening was starting.
To warm up..a quick bords de l'Arve and a short "climb the wall" in Etrembiere before we hit le Petit Salève and agreed to Boum-Boum's suggestion for an even more steep of a climb...why ?
It was not easy..all were pleased to reach the top. God's country scenery before we hit the well waited for downhill - and then it was just, just, just, great ! We love Le Petit Salève !
p.s. Even if suffering, Papy "enjoyed" the climb without complaining..
More bords de l'Arve at steady speed in winding skinny paths to reach La Tarentella where Master Ref. hidden in its red cover was waiting for us.
Suffice to say the pasta, pizza, beer, wine, dessert, coffee, limoncello were just perfect and the waiter only trying to cool us down as the noise made was disturbing nearby neighbours...
The same waiter warned us about the spicy sauce...yes he did..we did not trust him..hence the title.

Riders: Boum-Boum, Balls, Limoncello, LaBrico, Papy.
Stats: Distance 36 kms, elevation 555m, f****** steepest side of Petit Salève...but great training !
Pointage:
+1    All riders
+1    Papy invite/lead
+0.5 Missile joining for Dine
- 1    Balls for wrong tracking the group dowhill & lousy i-phone camera..
+1    Boum-Boum for mad uphill skills and fantastic downhill lead and mastery.

Ride invite and Pizza Dine - Tuesday June 23, 2015 - Petit Salève

The sun will shine tomorrow - so let's ride while its dry !

Where: Petit Salève, bords de l'Arve and Bout-du-Monde.
When:  Let's meet in parking du Pont de Sierne at 18.30h departing time !!

Those who prefer to start from stade du Bout-du-Monde (BMX) be there at 18.00h

Dine: Pizza in Chêne-Bourg or elsewhere - take some lights to go home safe.

Ride report: The Balls_Less ride

Riders: Labrico, Papy, Limoncello
Ride stats: 28 km, 494m up, 2h11 on the saddle

That was a back-up ride since poor Marcel is suffering from the back (see his ride attempt post)
Labrico started from the BMX track in stade du bout du monde, and was joined by Papy and Limoncello at the Migros Etrembières.
Dynamic and uninterrupted ascent of the Petit Salève, although we decided to start our way back slightly before the top for Labrico to be on time for Mathis, and we were indeed right on time.
Papy and Limoncello rode back to Chene-Bourg for a well deserved (and very good) pizza, before heading home.

Highlights:
- Papy in an artistic figure while hesitating between two technics on how to manage a technical passage. Kind of a slow motion of an OTB, but still ending on his two feet
- Limoncello being trapped in the net by the paint ball area, Papy patiently waiting behind for this to happen as he had noticed the flying net due to the wind
- Mathis proudly wearing his Cat MTB Tshirt (the 2012 edition???) which use to be too large and is now perfect size for him. This boy has changed / grown up big time lately.
- Very nice colors on the Salève with the sunset

Points:
- Point for all riders
- Point for Limoncello for organizing last minute
- Point for Mathis for wearing his Cat MTB shirt at the BMX track

Thanks Joes, it was a cool ride and evening

The Moussaka ride report - 12 May 2015 ride

Ride: Petit Salève, starting from le stade du bout du monde
Riders: Balls, BoumBoum, Labrico, Missile, Nameless, Zorba, Limoncello (host)
Ride details: 568m up, 32.6 km, 2h17 on the saddle per my GPS (a bit less for some)

Fantastic weather, dry track.
We left around 18h30 from the bout du monde, riding the Arve's right bank, which is a nice little single, yet offering less chances for checking on jogueuses getting out preparing for summer time.
Quite some time waiting for Zorba who got a flat and then missed the trail going up to Monnetier. BoumBoum and Balls as the rescue team, the later bringing back Zorba.
Pause on the way up, Rescue team 2 (Balls) feeding Missile with whatever energy bar was left from years of MTB, probably forgotten in the camel bag since 26" time.
Went up via the escargot way, Missile being inspired by the video posted by Beaujolais a couple of days ago.  Rescue team 3 with Balls helping carry Missile's bike while our dear ref was firmly holding the handrail, followed by a well deserved 5-min recovery time.
Limoncello's joke of the day: "Zorba (quite stressed as well), if you fall there, we'll have to change your name to Jo Moussaka."
As it was a bit late (and some did not have the lights), we did not make it to the top, and started the downhill. Petit Salève is a great play ground !!!!!!
At the bottom, BoumBoum, Missile and Zorba headed to Limoncello's, making sure they could benefit from the limited supply of Bière du Salève (1664 was the other option), while the rest of the crew headed back to get the cars.
A bit late for Nameless to join for dinner, so he missed the spaghetti - carbonara prepared by Christèle.
Balls volunteered as the DJ, and it was a great evening for all with LOLs.
Of course, respect was of essence and no laughs were heard when the ref sudently stood up with a funny face, suffering from a cramp.
All together, a great evening for all.
Pictures: Courtesy of Balls

Points:
Point for all riders
Points for Limoncello (ride host - dinner),  Thanks again Christèle for your help
1 point for Balls alias Mitch Buchannon. Next time bring CJ!

It's cool man!

Cramp, WTF!!!!

Energy bars please

I was a poor lonesome MTB rider

σωτηρία

Sunset on the Salève

Missile: j'ai faim

21 October - 18:30 - Camel Trophy Chez Missile

Un petit tour style "Camel Trophy" depuis chez moi pour terminer la saison!

Depart 18:30 !! Bring your lights.

Pasta Party apres chez moi.

Let me know today if possible

Missile

The Reset Ride - Tuesday October 14, 2014 - Bords du Rhône

32 km of frantic ride in the dark at an average speed of 14 kmh, following blindly guide-master Boum-Boum in the darkness of the Bords du Rhône.
Elevation.. some "coups de cul", downhill only one.. where unfortunately LaBrico tried to  decapitate himself...(hope you are fine mec) Exciting muddy, slippery, twisty single tracking on the menu. Visiting the Geneva wineyards and "Châteaux-Vieux" an experience. A great Ride !
Finally rushed to Brasserie de St Georges - right on time - stuffed our faces with the promised fondue chinoise - with french fries - and mucho Beers - Williamine was invited at the end of the dinner...Waitress lost her mind when she saw us and same for the final bill...honesty was here - bravo !
Can hardly remember all insanities that were said but one was a ride around the Mont-Blanc during summer 2015. (version liberté - no guide, only GPS, Velorizon to book hotels and carry bags)

No mechanical, no flat, ONE OTB graciously  offered by Jo Balls - some scrapes on his pride and body - he will recover - a broken rear brake lever......merde alors.
Nighters: Missile, LaBrico, Balls, Boum-Boum, Limoncello and Papy.
Congrats to:
Missile who  came on his bluet bike from the other side of the wall and back..over 60 km.
Boum-Boum who disappeared in the night returning home instead of car pooling while being offered.
Balls for the return of Jo Balls.
Limoncello for providing a lock for studs.
Papy for struggling along on uphills...only the uphills !

The "Le Lion est mort" ride report

Indeed the Lion (the ref in our case) was dead, actually experiencing what it means to be trailing behind (on the flat and/or against the wind, he was alive going up and down).
3 courageous riders, knowing they were likely to get some rain, but still eager to hit the trails: Labrico, Missile, Limoncello (host)
We left the Stade du Bout du Monde around 18:30, went south under Labrico's guidance, trying to escape the dark clouds, our wheels going from single trails in the woods, to wider trails, to bits of asphalt. We then went up the Salève above Beaumont (really cool single track by a little river, got some rain at this stage), and crossed on the flank of this beautiful mountain to land behind Labrico's house.
The usual magnifique DH towards Veyrier and back to Stade du Bout du Monde.
Drive to Limoncello's: Bière du Salève, BBQ, Ice cream, and ….. Limoncello!

Stats:
46 km (longest Tuesday ride this season)
Up 673m
Time on the bike 2h35

Highlights:
- Missile's day off. Man it was good to have him behind me once in my life, even if not for a good reason. Had we been in Jussy woods, I would have had 1 kg of mosquitos in my teeth
- Missile's excuse book (excerpts) to have a rest: "I need a natural break", "I need to fill in my bottle", "I need more air in the rear wheel", "I stopped for a beer with a group of junkies" … Ref, with all due respect, it is OK to say you're just f….g dead once in your life.
- Labrico's attempt to make us believe he too was talking to the clouds ;-)
- Christèle on Wednesday morning: "where is the meat and vegetable left for Tiphaine's lunch?" …. well, ask starving Missile ;-)

Points:
Participation point: Labrico, Missile, Limoncello
Host and dine points: Limoncello
Bullshit award: Missile -0.5 (see above)
Courage award: Missile 0.5 starving (light if any lunch) and suffering, but … pedal damn it
Leading award: Labrico 0.5 for finding the tracks while escaping (most of) the clouds and rain
Selfish award: Tiphaine -0.5 for drinking all the coke with no notice for the shopping list. Fortunately Labrico had a bottle in his car

Thanks guys for a really nice ride and time together.

Tuesday Ride - June 17 - Salève or Petit Salève

Meeting point and time: Stade du Bout du Monde (parking next to the BMX track), 18h00
Ride: Salève or Petit Salève, whatever, dry tracks, sunset all ride long, wonderful view on Geneva and the Jura
Dine: Da Limoncello
Let me know by Monday pm if possible

The Pace Car ride report - Tuesday May 20, 2014

Once the conflicting ride invites issue was solved and LaBrico found his way to Choulex football field through some unkown itinerary...we all took off in the late afternoon sun, Salève side, for some spinning on Papy's favorite dusty race tracks. Some called it a warm up, some a training ride, some a boring ride (meaning no f......g climbing..) some a beautiful ride, in welcoming forrest, gorgeous sceneries of maturing fields and amazing views over the Mont-Blanc. (soon Swiss territory as soon as our near bankruptcy friendly neighbour will sell..joking..)
Tartarin de Tarascon (Limoncello) could not believe his eyes seeing a rabbit and a faisan...no hunting in Switzerland - in France even hérissons (hedge hogs) are being hunted.
No flat, no mechanical, no otb, no blood (were faster than the mosquitos) Two chain drops !

Participants:
LaBrico, Limoncello, Husky, Zorbas & Papy alias Pace car
Stats:
Distance: 42 km
Duration: 2.05 hours
Average: 18.9 kmh
Elevation: Who is she ?
Difficulty: Easy to some parts difficult....funny how the Pace car went ahead as the roots, bumps, winding turns of the Sentier des Douaniers showed up !!
Dine: Café des Amis filets de perches and perfect evening on a terrasse for those who dared..

Pointage:
Usual points for participants and host.

+ 0.5 Limoncello for a daring speeding uphill - overtaking the Pace car
+ 0.5 Husky for two chains drop, shouts in the wild...
+ 0.5 LaBrico for adapting his invite (I unfortunately did not see it)
-  0.5 LaBrico for being late and lost at every cross road - smile
+ 0.5 Zorbas who played end of train red light but did not get lost this time.
+ 0.5 Papy Pace Car for enduring criticisism but offered a nice evening.

A la prochaine !

Traditional Season Starter!!!! Monday March 31 !!?

I know I know, its not a tuesday, but, GRRR I will be in Sweden on Tuesday 1'st April so...

I propose Monday 31'st March !!

Where: The usual place (if you have to ask you can't come!!)

When: 18:00

Bring Lights: We will still need them

Dinner: The usual place (if you have to ask.......)

So, hopefully I see you at 18:00 at the Stand - de - Tir de St. George for our usual Rhone Ride followed by charbonade in Aire!!!

So....put away your skis and clean off your bike...

The "No Dog" ride report

2 riders only, but 2 Cats for what was probably the last Tuesday ride on the Petit Salève this season. More attendance for the dinner though.

Riders: Weasel, Limoncello

Ride: started from Limoncello's place, warm-up to Veyrier by the Arve river bank (left), back at the foot of the Petit Salève. Then up to the top, and down to Limoncello's for a well deserved dinner.
Up: 690m
Distance: 30 km
Time on the bike: 2h30
Dine: BoumBoum and Papy did not want to miss it.

Highlights:

Warm and dry, sweet ride on the wonderful Salève. Really cool DH in the singles. Great evening out on the bikes. We did miss Balls would could not make it in the end.
Weasel behind Limoncello on the DH (OK, he had a crappy light)
Diots + Crozets + homemade compote de pomme + limoncello (of course) .... thank you Christèle. Miam Miam!

Now, here is the SURPRISE the Jura guys did miss: WE (the guys from the good side of the pond) have our very special beer. Tastes outstanding, very nice label .... sorry for you, you snooze you loose!

Guys, check this out: http://labrasseriedumontsaleve.com/

Points:

Host and Dine points: Limoncello
Ride point: Weasel, Limoncello
Free dinner point: BoumBoum, Papy
Bonus point: Limoncello for Salève beer supply! I still have enough for the next time.
0.5 point to Papy for joining although he knew the cat would be kicked out

Other point suggestions are welcome

Les Amis Horror Tunnel Ride Report Tuesday October 01, 2013

Riders: The Missile, Zorbas, Papy (host)
Distance: 32.87 km
Duration: 1.52 hours
Max. speed: 35.2 kmh
Elevation: 186 m
Track: roots darn slippery...windind and turning, up and down ride, no flat, no spill, no blood, no mechanical.
Weather: just fine warm evening

The Story:
Diesel steady warm up across the Juicy Woods, zoomed across Veigy, hit the Hermance Trail, which turned out to be like a "Tunnel Fantôme" ride because of our lights...Missile to claim - I am hungry - after half hour in the ride....Café des Amis and its charming French waitress welcomed us with some hot "potiron" soup and meaty dishes topped by local red wine. Man that was tasty (the food..)
No dessert...strange..Came back laughing in the night.

Points distribution - anyone to comment, add or else..!
+ Usual pointage for Riders & Host.
+ 1  to Missile who made it from the other side of the pond on his bike and back.
-0.5 to Zorbas who forgot his gloves...(no pity)
+0.5 to Papy for Zorba's missing gloves supply....
+0.5 to Boum-Boum for dine attendance. Nice to have you Mr Musician.
+ 1 to Jo Junior for champagne bucket supply to the Missile...

Nirvana Ride Invite for Tuesday September 24, 2013

 

An anniversary ride....guess who, what ?

When: Tuesday September 24, 2013
Meet: Choulex - Papy's place
Time: 18.00h ready to GO
Track: Surprise
Dine:  With my "little" hands..
Lights: Most advisable !

Confirmation welcome by Tuesday morning latest - thanks !

Les bons comptes font les bons amis

Guys,

Some of us did not re-imburse BoumBoum for the cable car ticket that he provided us with on May 7.

Refer to ride report posted May 9: http://caterpillarmountainbiking.blogspot.fr/2013/05/ride-report-stm-saleve-ride-may-7.html

Riders were BoumBoum, Husky, Balls, Nicolas Thizy, Limoncello

The last sentence of the report was: "PS: Reminder to all: Need to reimburse or give a ticket back to BoumBoum for cable car ride. Minus point for short memory if needed."

Thanks to honore your debt to those who did not yet.

PS: Claude, I owe you the ticket for yesterday's ride

Tuesday Ride in Joicy Forrest and its Logan's Tex-Mex invite !!

Meet:
When:  Tuesday September 03, 2013
Where: Choulex - Papy's place
Time:   18.00h sharp - departure time (light..)
Ride:
Joicy, Juicy, Jussy woods and its sentier des douaniers  +++
Dine:
Logan Special Tex-Mex (you snooze on that one you seriously loose...)
Bring:
Towel for shower, humor and keep dirt out ; - ))

Confirmation by today end afternoon, please - for cook to master the recipe !!

The Rainy ride report

Participants: BoumBoum, Zorba, Limoncello (host)
Climbing: 300m ich
Distance: in the range of 13 km
Riding time: ??? say 1h30

Plan was to do Petit Salève, but the dark clouds and rain drops on that side suggested we use the cable-car and ride South. It all started pretty well along the sentier des bucherons (cleaned from fallen trees). What a nice single! Rain drops caught us as we started the descent de la Thuile, and got heavier and heavier after each switch back. Rain was then pouring as BoumBoum aka Mr Salève took us to the little chapelle just above Beaumont.
Here we found Sandra and Laurent, hikers protecting themselves from the floods of water, who eventually saved us by walking to their car, driving back to the chapelle to pick me up, and dropping me in Veyrier so I could come back to pick up BB and Zorba and the 3 bikes.
We ended up at the Buffalo grill with a pretty good Bison meat … miam!
So a very short ride, probably on par with Missile Vs Shimano fail ride.

BUT …. we did not chicken out and went on the bike, unlike some who dropped out just a couple hours before start time (see points) for some unclear reason.

Points:
1 point riders: BoumBoum, Zorba, Limoncello
1 point host: Limoncello
0.5 point Boumboum who knows everything in the Salève, including where to find the chapelle
0,5 point Zorba, drinking his pastis between starter and main course
-0,5 Papy for chickening out
Extra points for Sandra and Laurent for being so nice!

Ride Report - Les Passerelles du lac de Joux - July 23, 2013

Not easy to get there as Paleo festival was hampering accesses...
Rode along the lake on its famous wooden passerelles (not quite BC but fun) the LaBrico in tow and usual "Grand Prix Miko" spirit. 3DC was there, closing the ride, after 2 weeks sitting on a KTM alternatively his HD....BJL played Indiana Jones on a challenging cliff trail. Now we know how to carry our bikes on a rocky steep climb.. Surprise of the day - a wild unafraid chamois herd we met. A swinging single trail brought us back to the lake shore and to a final jump & swim - how sweet.
Full Moon was with us all the way back home - late...
Participants: LaBrico, BJL, Marco, 3DC, Papy & Xavier
Stats:
24km - ridiculous 135m climb - about 2 hours
Discovery and Fun factor: 10 out of 10
Points:  (bikers please feel free to add/comment)
Usual points for invite, lead and attendance.
+0.5 to 3DC - bloody shin - tumble in cliff
-0.5  to 3DC - late and lost arrivals ...
+0.5 to 3DC - restaurant suggestion - Hotel de la Truite..a treat...
+0.5 to BJL - surpassing climbing skills and trail discovery
+0.5 to Papy - negotiations skills, restaurant's kitchen closes at 9pm..we arrived at 9.30pm..
+0.5 to Marco - improving his french language...listening patiently to us blablying...
+0.5 to LaBrico - for Michael Jackson shoes...have you seen my new shoes !!??

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 !!

Tuesday Ride JULY 23, 2013 - Full Moon in the Vallée de Joux

Full Moon Ride in the Jura !!
Destination: Lac de Joux
Place: Le Rocheray (on left hand side of the lake as you come via St Cergues)
Time: 18.30h - sharp
Ride: All along the lake - apparently a part is similar to BC....wooden passerelles
Dine: Eat at bistrot located next to Le Rocheray beach.