Ride in CT

Met up with a mate from school in Cape Town and went for a ride this morning. Beautiful day out. Rode along face of Table Mountain, towards Loins Head, see photo. Points, points, points. Cheers, JB

Cat MTB weekend in Zermatt - final update!

Cat MTB weekend - update -we're almost there!!

Howdy cats & dogs!

One week left to the MTB event of the year, which as you all know will take place in Zermatt.

Thanks to BoumBoum and Balls, we have secured reservation at a MTB-friendly hotel, with a locked place to store the bikes as well as a bike washing station should we need it. Incidentally, Tania has stayed there recently so she coudl give us all some feedback about her stay.

There are reservations made for 10 people, 2 nights, check-in Fri 03.08.2012, check-out sun 05.08.2012. In the end, no-one is staying on Thursday night so we have cancelled that part of the booking.

Hotel details are:

Hotel Alpenstern
Daniel J. Biner
Postfach 425
3920 Zermatt
Tel. 027 966 31 00
www.alpenstern.ch
https://maps.google.ch/maps?hl=fr&safe=off&q=Hotel+Alpenstern+Zermatt&ie=UTF-8

For those of you arriving by car, you'll need to park the car in Tasch, then take the train to Zermatt or ride
5.5km and +160m on your bike to the hotel. As you have already guessed, BoumBoum will take his gear in a backpack so he can bike up to Zermatt.

Many of you will be arriving on the friday, and there are rumours about a ride taking place as of noon or early afternoon. I will not be able to make the ride so I suggest you contact Joest or BoumBoum who will likely have the trail planned out.

The official kick-off rendez-vous will be at 20h30 at restaurant Schäferstübli (recommended by JeanMi, I suggest you come hungry). Details of the restaurant are:

Restaurant Schäferstübli
Riedstrasse 2, CH-3920 Zermatt
Tel. +41 (0)27 966 76 00

There are 2 restaurants in the same place (it's a hotel), the one we're going to is the one with the grill, in the bottom floor.

I'm sorry to say that due to an important event in his life, which is no less than moving in with his girlfriend, BeauJoeLais will not be joining us for the weekend. I still hope he can join us for the saturday ride, but it seems very unlikely. I know what you're thinking...she better be worth it! I'll let BeauJoeLais answer that one...

So we're all set for the weekend. Joest will confirm during next week if we will have a guide with us (a friend of his who knows Zermatt trails like the palm of his hand) or not. We will ride long, we will ride nice, and we will treasure this experience. Bring your cameras!

Friendly reminder...don't forget your emergency kit!

Another reminder...check that your bikes are in top shape! I'm sure Missile will take his toolbox but I doubt he'll let go of the beer jug to start fiddling around with chains and derailleurs...he doesn't need jo technician points so don't count on it.

My cell phone # is 078.944.1174 in case you need to reach me.

Looking forward to a weekend of fun and k's with you all !!


Saluti,


Nameless.

Harley's Good Vibrations

Nothing better than twisting the throttle on that sunny evening in the Voirons. 3DC and Papy were loud on these winding roads to finally pause for best "assiette montagnarde" on top of Col de Cou - we did hesitate for fondue..many kms, lots of altitude !!!

CAT team jersey at the BC Bike Race

Thanks JMi! I was waiting for the sun to wear yellow.

217 with only 4

Tuesday 24 of July the most experimented team counting 217 years of experiences with only 4 members went out on the jura for a 40 km rides for 618m of positive climb.
Plan was to train the husky for the GRC, but plan changed since the Barillette bistro was close on Tuesday.
217 years of experiences have their priorities and good food is the main one.
So plan have changed and we end up on the terrace of the Quai23 in Nyon.
Well done as second  217 years of experience priorities is scenery. All of them have been very please to notice that the fashion for very short shots and transparent shirts is back.
Good food good scenery the 217 years of experience could go back home fully satisfied.
Husky, the bravest
Papy, the wisest
Labrico, the wildest
Troisdecis, the youngest. (it's party time)

Many points deserved to the 217 years of experience.
No flats, no blood, no worries, good time only

Movie time....Toys for Boys

She is not just any lady....MTB connoisseurs know!!

Riding Reserva Naturale Val Alba with the Slovenian boys!

Joe's here a little update from Slovenia and some picture galleries. Some notes:

- I am the only one on a 29er. The rest is on troitinette...! I am special again...First remote village in Italy...where this ride took place. The bike on a parked car: WFO!! :-)
- Here they ride flat pedals...because they don't shy away from steep and exposed and a little hike a bike....+ 1hour!
- The ride posted here was only 28 km but 2.000m up...and down....Vroaaaam!
- 2 more months with this crew and I can nose wheel every switch back...
- I thought I was not fit anymore because I saw all the guy riding +25% ascents...until I discovered they are riding 26ers with 20 - 36 gearing. Cheaters!

Here are the pics....5 galleries because everybody is a paparazzi here :-)

Gallerie 1
Gallerie 2
Gallerie 3
Gallerie 4
Gallerie 5 + blog

Here are some of the best pics...!

See you in Zermatt!

Weasel and the Wallabies, Tue 17th July

We met in Veyrier and set out for the Petit Saleve. It very soon became obvious that none of us had much of a clue how to get onto the right trail. Much good-humoured consulting of smart phones and vague speculation, some asphalt, a few wrong turns, then onto the trail. En fin! Up we went, with Tanya ending up in the hedge with a couple of downhill riders...no, wait, that sounds bad...there was a small skid and a collision OK? Followed by multiple subsequent wrong turns and  U-turns. How we missed our wise and noble elders (the guys with the Garmins and maps). We reached the top eventually, following a rather circuitous loop (see artist's impression below), and in a few short minutes bounced and skidded our way back down.
Riders: Weasel, Steve the Aussie & Tanya (no photos, artist's impression below)
Distance: Short! App 17km
Up: About 600m, based on previous ascent
-1 Weasel for broken chain
+1 Steven for providing link & assistance
+ 0.5 for Tanya for providing decoy for sabre-toothed Saleve mosquitoes (see below) while boys fixed chain
- 0.5 for all for failing to remember the trails
+ 0.5 for all for courageously venturing forth anyway! 

Riding in Jhb

Zulu and Balls hooked up for a ride last Sunday morning. We rode 32km, 450m elevation gain over almost 2hrs. Beautiful winter's day under the African sun. Papy, 1 point for Zulu for breaking in his Reman shirt. Simon, 1 point for me for dragging Zulu out of bed for the ride. Look forward to seeing everyone in Zermatt. Ciao, Balls

Qui est intéressé pour un tour tranquille sur le Salève.

Michel Jenny, Michel Bucher je veux bien faire un tour au rythme de sénateur avec vous !

RDV à 9h00 le samedi 21 juillet  à la douane de Veyrier.

Claude

Gorges de l'Orbe 2nd version

Distance: 35 km
Up: 925 m
Where: Orbe - gorges de l'Orbe - Le Day - pass near Vaulion - gorges du Nozon - Pompaples - Orbe
Guide: BeauJoLais
Riders: Papy, Labrico, Boumboum
Singletracks: a lot and especially that one from Croy to Pompaples, fast & flowy

Points:
+1 for the guide who made it two Tuesdays in a row
+1 for the happy riders
+1 for Fabian who lend his trotinette to BeauJoLais
-1 for Fabian for his bike in questionable condition (chain broke in 5', bottom braquet not turning freely, steering loose, something else?)
-0.25 for Papy flat tire
+0.5 for BeauJoLais for the best Kebab restaurant in downtown Orbe (see pictures)

my thursday morning.....

00:30 - car tire puncture (5cm rip in the sidewall)

01:00 - tire swapped

01:30 - home

01:45 - bed

05:45 - crows wake me up

06:45 - cat wakes me up again......

07:05 - recover iphone from car

07:06 - remember I have a conference at 9:00

07:07 - remember my pc is in the office - ergo MUST get to office by 9:00

07:08 - remember its paleo so need to go by train....

07:09 - shower...

07:30 - pneus vicquerat in l'asse

07:35 - "maybe we can fix it in time" (for my vacation - leaving Saturday am)

07:36 - "and your jante my be f*cked too"

07:36.1 - jante inspection

07:37 - "we'll call BMW for you!!! :-()"

07:49 - train from nyon to Lausanne

07:50 - simon arrives nyon

08:05 - train to Lausanne

08:37 - arrive Lausanne

08:38 - taxi...

08:55 - arrive lutry office

08:56 - coffee

08:58 - switch on computer

09:01 - lead phone conference

.......

Wednesday 18'th - 18:30 Telepherique du Saléve

Option #3 for the week: 


Depart from Telepherique du Saléve at 18:30

Tuesday 17th - Salève

For the one that are too lazy to go to Orbes and for the one that can't wait until thursday, I propose to meet at the douane de Veyrier at 18:00. Then we will decide which tour we take.

Tuesday 17'th Gorges de L'Orbe - Nozon

Pour demain avec  Arthur et Michel on va faire le tour à Orbe.

Le RDV est fixé à  18h00 à la gare d’Orbe.

Claude

Thursday instead of Tuesday? (CANCELLED)

OSCAR HAS TO CANCEL DUE TO PRIOR ENGAGEMENT

Hi all
I haven't seen any proposal for tomorrow, indeed I couldn't come, but, who would be up for a Thursday ride?
I either propose my place or I don't mind coming to the sunny Salève.
Who's in? Where?

Muddy ride

Who made it better today?

A full day collecting mud without cheating ;-)

Scores Updates....

You guys are really keeping me busy.....the 2 team member rule is kicking in with a passion!

We are up to 55 rides (including BC bike race and DH).
Last year, we were only 52 for the full season!!

2011 total kms ridden all season: 7084
2012 total kms ridden so far: 6806 !!!!
Lets go for 10,000 for the season !!!

Anyway....the important news is....I'm winning !!

2 place is becoming a fight between Nascar/Labrico/Dopey
5'th place : a number of contenders - even Papy.....(he has a LOT of bonus points!!)

PS: the more you ride the more points you get!!
Every 5 rides = 1 bonus point (ie ride 5,15,25, 35)
Every 10 Rides = 2 bonus point   (ie ride 10, 20, 30, 40)

PPS Hosting...
1 for leading the ride...

1 for being on your own ride....!!!
1 for providing eats !!

 Keep hosting & riding guys!!!

La Menoge

Imagine the scene...a bronzéd Papy intends to ride with us....but seeing the weather decides... to.........bail!!! -2 Points!!!

Riders: Missile, Labrico Boum Boum
Distance:73 km
Climbing: 870 - 300 !! (see below)

Incidents:
Labrico arrives....not on time... -0.25
Missile thinks he has two left hands....
Boum Boum lends pair of gloves +.025
Missile thinks he can get round without drinking....
Boum lends Missile 2 gourdes....+.25*2
Labrico buries himself in a ditch with a soleil included +0.5
Labrico makes Missile chuckle, He says: I bunny hopped and it took a while to land....(in the ditch)
Labrico flats -0.5
Labrico has no f-ing tube......-0.5
Missile and Boum Boum share mechanic duty +0.25 each
Papy shows his remorse and shows up on his scooter !!
Papy is wearing, 'sandals ??' (See photos)
Papy tows us up the Col De Cou: +3 (one for each bon-homme)
Missile sliiiiiiiiides to a stop on one knee.
Missile Labrico and Boum Boum thread their way through various mudholes, greasy branches, stream crossings, logs, stones, back yards and fields....
Boum Boum makes pasta + provides Schneider-Weisse!!! +0.5 extra on the hosting points
Niiiiice

See you all in Zermatt as I doubt I will be riding this week - Paleo tickets.

Pre-Zermatt training

Gradient, geology, snow, blue skies.... I already can't wait to return for more of this in August!

Monta Rosa hiding around the corner, the trail below Gornergrat station

An atypically smooth stretch of alpine trail. Lovin' it

Rocky, ridgey, steep - great practice!

The poor bikes needed a rest - they've been hard at work

In case anybody thinks I've been bludging (Aussie slang for lying around like a slob)...I'm just back from 5 days of 'altitude training' in Zermatt & Bettmeralp :) Perfect weather, breathtaking scenery, epic trails, good times = Swiss bliss :) See you soon - and massive thanks Oscar for lending his Niner  (points++ pour lui please Ref).

Final ride in Finale (for now)...

Papy and Balls set out in a different direction this morning. We found our way around a few hills, up a few single tracks, and then down many single tracks! Views of the mountains one side and sea the other. Another beautiful day in an awesome area of the world. The combination of MTBing, beach, Italian food and way of life is amazing. Many more holidays to be enjoyed here for certain!!!

Finale Borgo and beyond

Papy & Balls had great ride on Wed morning. 36km loop, 1,200m climbing, great single track downhill. Papy's legs only just got him to the top and then we engaged "happy mode" all the way down! Hey hey hey!!!
We found a beautiful, out of the way, restaurant on the way down and enjoyed the most authentic Penne Arabiata i have ever eaten.
Finale = heaven!!!

Chatel Mountain Style 2012

2012 Chatel Mtn Style Video

23 juin sur le Salève....

Pour la sortie du 23 juin sur le Salève.

+1 Tania, Michel et Claude.

+1 Claude pour organiser le tour et la collation.

-43km, +1150m de dénivelé positif, 3 heures de Bike.

The LabWeaPils Sortie

Pointage:

+1 Claude organiser le tour.

+1 Weasel, Joe Pils et Claude.

+1 Claude pour la médaille de la patience et pour avoir raccompagner ces collègues cuit à Veyrier et ensuite encore remonter chez lui à vélos pour finalement arriver à 10h00 à la maison et après j’ai du aller récupérer Mathis en ville

Pour Weasel et Joe Pils flat 40 km, + 700 m de dénivelé positif 2 heures 40 minutes

Pour Claude 50km, + 1000m de dénivelé, 3 heures 20 minutes de Bike.

Gorges De L'Orbe

Distance: +-30km
Up: 700m
Where: Orbe - Le Days - Vaulion - Nozon - Pampoples - Orbe
Riders: Missile & BeauJoLais
Rain: None !!!
Tunnels: 4
Chauffeuring: 1 x 6km
Single Track: Plenty
Bird bath washes: 2 dirty bikers
Bike Pushing: A bit (that pesky 1x9er is a sometimes a challenge to ride.....!)
Scared Lambs: 1000 lamb chops
Burnt Smells: 1 x beaujolais molet


Monaco: 0.75 litres!! (not me)
Fondoo Chinoise: 500g
Smiles: 2 ear-to-ear


Pointage:
Missile ZERO (no points for the leader for a 2 man ride!!)
Beau Jo Lais: +1
The "Chauffeur in a Renault???!!" Award : +1 to Beaujolais for having pre-positioned the return ride 5 metres from the end of the fabulous single track du nozon!!

DH - week-end 14/15

Saturday morning (9h - 13h), destination: Crozet (Mont Jura, old school DH)
Sunday, (full day), destination: Châtel
For both rides people are coming from Lausanne & Geneva, let me know if you want to join.
Ride level: for intermediate and advanced

Ride report: Les Voirons (Tues 3rd July)

Missle, i copied your version into my post. Gotta love technology!

Actors: Balls, Marco, Missile, BeauJoLais, Labrico, Boum Boum, NEOther (aka Bryan)
Dinner: Zulu
Distance: 30 km
Elevation Gain: 800m

Mud: 15 kg on Missiles bike, about 5 kg on everyone elses.

Points:
The Jet D'eau award: Labrico for keeping Missile fresh at the end of the ride +0.5
Mud Wrestling Points: Missile for 2 x attempting the 'alternative' routes : +0.25 x 2 !!
The Homer Award: Missile -0.5 for NOT learning the first time !!
The Log Award: Missile for clearing 60cm log without getting off his bike or landing face first in the mud +0.5
The Deep Fried Award: Beau Jo Lais and Missile for warp speed on the greasiest descent of the year +0.25 each
The "Beat That" Award: Balls for finding us the stickiest mud of the year (NOT IN THE JURA PLEASE NOTE), along with one of the best Tuesday descents of the year +1
The "Greedy" Award: Missile for asking for bigger plates for food -0.5
The "Most Direct" Award: Missile & BeauJoLais for going STRAIGHT down mountain (and ignoring the track)! +0.5 each

Zulu gets dinner and mileage points!! Come again !!

That's about it.

Missile, please post couple of photos you took. Thanks, JB

Pictures Below - Click for Full Screen and Captions.
Missile

Get Altitude in Finale

You guys know this place is great. It started nicely with Lisa jogging up the chateau trail with us...until LaBrico and Papy decided to get high..and find another trail to that tempting pass...45 km and 1'100m climb later...Four cokes were not enough for our thirst...more please !

After BC Bike Race

We are at Vancouver Island riding some nice trails and for some tourism.
As you have seen in the video Whistler was a lot of fun, dry and fast conditions.
Like during the whole week, no mechanicals neither injuries, only to remark a guy who crashed behind me and made me fall, I wanted to have a little word with him but his tacoed wheel was painful enough and the finish line far enough, have a nice walk!
Anyway, my third BCBR and the first fot Stéphane!
Little party afterwards with the Québec crew...

"Descente de la Menoge" Sunday, July the 15th

This ride is likely to become a top of the area: we have to descend along the river "Menoge" from its source to its confluence with the Arve, near the Annemasse Casino. Here is the program:

- approach to Fessy by dirt roads and small paved roads (24km, 1h10);
- climb to the Col de Cou on the D235 (+500m, 50');
- down the Menoge, mainly on sinuous singletracks (34km, 2h30);
- back by the banks of the Arve (9km, 25').

A total of 75km and 5 hours. Starting in Chêne-Bourg in the morning.

Papy, Balls and Labrico are part of. Who else? Think that it is good practice for the upcoming Chamonix - Genève!

River Gap Chatel

Jason then Kay crossing the river gap at chatel - 8-9 metres

EDIT - the little 'bridge' you can see in the background is NOT under the gap. The gap has a 2-3 hole under it



2 points each I reckon !!

I can do that too......maybe....not!!

EDIT - the little 'bridge' you can see in the background is NOT under the gap. The gap has a 2-3 hole under it

The old timer's ride

Yesterday, Husky, 3DC and 2 other  Patou's classards invited by Husky die the 68km ride from Bogis-Bossey to la Plaine. Nice ride god food (cuisse de grenouille) good drinks (pastis and 1/2 rosé) as well as a good finish in 3DC's spa with 1 bottle of rosé again was part of the succes of the day.
68Km
511m denivlé
Husky 3 DC 1 points
3DS got a 29 ers 1 points
Husky break the douane post with his ribs 2 points (he finished the ride with broken bones)

Tuesday, July 10 at Veyrier

Labrico look forward to seeing you on Tuesday at 6pm at the parking of Veyrier. Surprise ride...

1st ride in Linale Ligure

Good sortie with Papy & Labrico. 30km, 800m positive, technical on both the up and down!!! Nice!

10 points for Nascar! The BC Bike Race day 7 - Whistler

Ten (10x) points for Nascar for almost shredding Dave Norona's (the BCBR movie monkey) head off! You can see the clip of day 7 and watch very careful at 0:53 min. First you see Stephane the roadie passing and then its Nascar sliding his wheel past Dave! I had to look carefully but shoes, shorts and jersey confirm it is our man!

07/07/12 - Weiss Horn combination - Ride report

 Short resume of a long ride:

 6.20 - Start from Lausanne by train

7.45 - Sierre, bikes in the postal bus direction Val d'Anniviers

9.30 - Up from Tignousa cable car above the weiss horn hotel

10.30 - Down to Zinal

12.15 - Break in Sorebois cable car (weiss horn behind the clouds)

12.30 - Up to Col de Sorebois

13.30 - Col de Sorebois 2850msm (top of the ride)

13.45 - Down to Lac de Moiry

14.00 - Lac de Moiry

15.15 - Break in Vissoie

17.00 - Down to Sierre from Tsapé cable car

17.15 Above Illgraben....

...beeing carefull !!!

18.30 Back to Sierre

18.31 Panaché

20.15 Back to Lausanne
20.16 Sleeping

Trail Data:

~1200 m climbing up

~5000m riding down

~50km

Enjoy the pictures and see you soon guys!!

Alpine & Beaujolais