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.

Fondue Fun

Greetings Jo's and friends... All the best for a great year and many awesome rides! Next week I'll be visiting Geneva for a few days and thought it would be a good idea to meet for a fondue and a few sociaaals! As it will be a busy week and everyone has plans already, I thought I would throw an option to the group to see what everyone prefers. Date: Please choose either Tuesday 21st or Thursday 23rd Venue: Vieux-Carouge Time: around 7pm Looking forward to seeing some of the group there and catching-up on all the news.

Zulu on your stoep

Jo's.... The Zulu and his fiance will be enjoying a bit of white powder in France next week and visiting Geneve on the way home. Anyone in town during the weekend of 16th & 17th are invited to enjoy a beer or wine together.... perhaps a few "socials" will be necessary. Let me know your preference and we'll make plans to meet somewhere convenient.

SA Adventure - Baviaanskloof

A taste of what's happening a little bit further south than Finale....

Ride: Baviaanskloof Western Cape

Distance: 200km

Total Ascent: 2300m

Total Descent: 2600m

Time: 4 fantastic days

Result: zero mechanicals, plenty baboon sitings, some wild kudu, big smiles and happy friends!

The group: 8 friends, 4 Jo's and 4 Jozette's

In the gorge riding between the cliffs

Entering the National Park and wildlife area

Zulu and Jo-ntombazane (zulu for girl).... During the 1000m climb up the "mother"!

Tandem team went all the way without problem

Last night stop after 160km and 1800m of ascent

Any takers for next year? Let me know!

Blizzard in Crans-Montana !

The Mini made it on ice and snow covered roads, overtaking stranded many cars, bringing safely Balls and Papy to Swiss heaven Restaurant Le Mayen where they stuffed their faces - getting ready for magical powder skiing day ! More please !

CHOULEX - What Else !

October 18, 2011 Tuesday Night Ride and Papy's Famous Chicken BBQ:
Meet my place in Choulex at 17.30h - departing at 18.00h !!
Please welcome Dan The Fast who is coming for a ride with us. Let's show him a maximum participation and some of our skills ! Beware, he is fit !!
Dress code: Caterpillar biking outfit
Lights: Fully charged
Please confirm your participation
Dopey, thanks again for lending one of your steeds to Dan.
See you all

Kettle Moraine - Wisconsin

Kettle Moraine National Forest

Back Yard Bikes
Really to be recommended - Lots of Niners for rent (Air/AirCarbon/Jet) and they even had an RDO for sale!!! Really friendly and helpful. Park at the store and ride to the trail head (John Muir).
55$ a day for a Niner Jet. 

John Muir Trails:
Only ONE WAY single track!! Pedal fast with the confidence of not running into anybody: awesome. Varying surfaces from flat hardpack, to bumpy rock strewn single track to sandy, a few roller coasters with berms, fast flow, a few small uphills - max 20 30 metres at a time.
Overall really fast!! Well signposted, no way to get lost.
Only small downside is that except for few meadows its all in the forest - but only a small downside.
Longest loop:  12 Miles. Total of 5 Trails

Emma Carlin Trails:
Same as John Muir, but much tighter turns on the whole.
Longest Loop: 5 miles.

Connecter Trail(s):
Much the same but on the southern direction an amazing series of sandy berms through a pine forest! Race time!!!! Also, much more open terrain, partly through fields/meadows.
5 miles each way.

Bottom Line:
If you are in the area, you wont be disappointed

Ride Report - The BBQ ride....!!

Joe's thanks for a fanastic evening BBQ-ing and riding. Here are the statistics and highlights:

• Distance: 36 km
• Meters climbed: 960m
• Train: Stopped in Arzier due to works on the bridge. Logistics chaotic and badly communicated. We expect better from the Swiss...Ride start: Arzier.
• Riding time: 2h30....
• Gone playing and eating: 6h00....
• Shortest ride ever: Newbee Joe pils: 1km, 50m climb....10 minutes pedaling. Then he died!!
• Burgers: eaten: 14, hidden under a rock: 1 and shared: 1.
• Beers: drunk: 8, shared: 4.
• Dessert: more then a normal human can handle after 3 burgers!

Points recommendations:

• Boumboum: making it by feet and beating the bikers: +2
• The South African crowd:....Where shall we start..... :-))))

1. Honeybadger: Started the evening about ZA hunting stories but showed up with a bag-pack the size of a wallet and complained being cold: -1
2. Honeybadger: We highly appreciated new riding buddy's! It's always good to meet people with the same passion and share the trails. Honeybadger has just gotten married but seems not to be able to stop picking up people while in bars. That where he find is new riding buddy's......I guess under the join of a beer the stories get shared and yes, beer stories go everywhere. Honeybadger's new riders input equals that of Nameless.....but unfortunately the quality is shabby. One rider made it through the ride but has never be seen again. The story goes that he couldn't walk for a week.....and the latest new input, called "Joe Pils" for the time being, made it 1k, 50m up into the ride before he and his reflector equipped 29er crashed of the side of the road. He broke a record.....but not one to be proud of.....The question? Will we see him ever again? Advice....check on newbee rider quality in sober state. Honeybadger: -1.
3. Honeybadger: The man from the land of the Braai....the only one with 2 burgers eaten and one hidden: -0.5.
4. Joe Pils:.....what can we say. Did he over estimated himself or was he badly informed? We are happy he got home safe: -1 point....what ever that means.

• The George Everst award: Missile.....still needed to go bushwhacking and trail searching. There must be a way up here...!! Points: -0.25.
• Flipping bitch award: Nascar.....2.75m in the return ride Nascar flipped a stylish bike turning OTB in front of the crowd. What a beauty! +1 point. Did I miss another one ??
• Last minute Missile mayonaise input: A L3Mi....+0.25 points.
• (To) late cancellation: Nameless: -1 point @ a cost of CHF 25.

Quotes of the night:

• I gained 8 kilo's!....Boumboum.
• I feel like a smoked sausage.....Dopey

Thanks all for a good evening. Input and comments welcome!

PS 1. For those that like to ride uphill: La Barillette race this weekend.

PS 2. Advise: confirm when you are sure you can make it. It's so easy to cancel when you are not organizing.

Eating, talking, drinking, laughing, star watching....!

The cream bar. Includeding ZA hot sauce and L3Mi...!



Burgers gone..!!

BBQ ride - Tuesday 23rd

Joe's the weather forecast looks excellent so we are going to have a BBQ ride. For those that want cheese bring it to put on your burger!!

Details:

- Departure 17:59 hours train from L'Asse. Be there in advance so you can carry food and get a ticket.

- Cost: between CHF 20 - 30 bring cash so you can pay!

- Bring:

1. Bagpack big enough for bread, drinks, burgers, sausages, etc.

2. Light for the return

3. Warm clothes for the return

4. Your emergency kit

5. A Smile..... :-)

- I need to know who's in by Tuesday noon for the shopping!

- Ride: La Givrine, Cabane de electriens.....decent to L'Asse.

2011 MTB weekend Crans-Montana.....the pics.

Time for a Down Hilling break....liquids and food on a sunny Crans-Montana afternoon.

Mighty fine Hamburger!!!

After 8.300 meter of down hill riding it was beer time....Nameless you look to fresh!

Guess on who's bike Missile is working.....!

Sitting in the sun, dinking and slowly getting drunk on Panache....or how was it spelled again?

Poooo Haaaaaa!

Working on Namless his bike......will this continue when the new two wheeler arrives...??

.....more work on Namless bike.....!!

.....still working on Nameless bike. Joe's the beers are here!

Here you can rent a smile......or a cast!

Where is that name Dopey coming from.....He found another place to play!

Saturday morning.....a cold start but everybody is there! Uuuuhhhh almost everybody....

Its July.....what is wrong with this picture?

Hello happy Swiss cows!

The first of the six bisses......pedaling and smiling :-)

More water?

A little "hike a bike" is included.

51, 52, 53....how many more?

Nascar.....!!

The stunning but dampy views of the Valais. Nature needs water....!

Zulu negotiating the bridge.....big b's!

The sun is out.....the long awaited lunch!

Happy faces.....and full stomachs.

Party time.....ready to roll again.

Missile smiles......up yours!

Naked show....another jersey gone. Stop sweating man!

The descent from Crist Roi.....was he watching over us?

More Nascar....

....Arthur....our New bee and youngest rider. Good you could join!

Papy.....Old Jo founding member on his red Stumpy! Get that smile of your face...!?

Where is he coming from?

The return of Balls!

What are you "sinking" about?

Where will we go next year?

Thanks everybody for being there, smiling, riding and appreciating the ride and company. I see owe a Brazilian! See you next year.....over to you Ref. for comments and more fun.

RIDE + BBQ......Video! Enjoy.....

Thanks everybody for the fanatstic ride and BBQ.....what a night to celebrate and be out!

The best reason to miss the first ride!!!