Missile in Zuid Afrika - Hippo Dodging + Mooketsi MTB Challenge

I wasn't idle in South Africa - apart from stroking monkeys (and lion and tiger) I also got two MTB rides in!!! At the time, it was stroke more monkeys or ride.......so I rode.

I contacted the Tzaneen MTB club - the local bike shop loaned me a bike and I got lucky with the location of the first ride - it started 4 km from where I was staying!

Ride 1 - around a citrus/avocado/macadamia farm with crocs and hippos 'here and there'. This was a 2 hour ride on one guys farm!!  41km with an average just about 21km with 250m elevation in a sticky sand/mud combination! Bike....an entry level Felt 3x8 trotinette that was slightly too small.Oh well. I was riding.

A small ride....approx 20 riders showed up! Off...no-one waited for anyone!!! The path was clearly marked with chalk and we just "rode". Thought I was going to get lost at one point as too many vacation beers took their toll and I ended up struggling to keep up with the leading pack(s) - there were also quite a few people behind me too so I felt somewhat satisfied that I wasnt letting the Swiss side down too much.

Saw some hippos....REALLY. But just their ears and nose. I didn't hang around to see if I could spot some crocs - the ride started 4 km from where we were "monkey stroking" and Bob (the owner) had shot a 2 metre croc that had been hanging around the centre the day before we arrived!

I then got invited to a post ride Braai by Nicolaas the local host. This involved pre Braai beers (Carling Black label - havent had that since I lived in England) and (a few bottles of) pre Braai south african wine. Niiiice!! Then 4 kinds of meat, pap and a special peper and onion Braai sauce. I ate my fair share, you can be sure.

They then insisted that I rode with them the next weekend. So I did....

Ride 2 - the mooketsi MTB challenge was a 35km dash around a mountain - 550m elevation gain. Mostly 70% 2 track, 30% single track. I fell off once: someone asked me a confusing question at a water point - "Do you want water"....I proceeded to slam on the brakes, fell sideways and splat.... opened my knee up. (see photo) The most interesting part was the 50 metres pallet pontoon. Some people stayed dry. Somepeople got wet. See photos.

The result...I came 4'th scratch out of 150 contestants doing the 35km ride!!.
I have to say there were some fatties riding.....

http://www.mooketsimtb.co.za/

In 4'th place...I think...

50 metres of floating pallets

almost there...

must...keep...momentum....too...many...beers...

oops....

....these weeds are JUST the right green colour!!

Ride report - 28/10/2012 - Snowy Orbe

Riders: Alpine, Beau-Joe-Lais

~35 km
~500m climbing

Great motivation to leave Lausanne on Sunday morning with snowy roof and "bise noir" all around the city. Every Wallis webcam indicates snow so we finally choose the classical Orbe+Nozon Gorges...and it was totally ridable!!

Points:

+1 each for riding,
+1 each because it was the last we ride of the season,
+1 each to find the motivation in such bad conditions
-1 each for not having post it before

This ride can be a classical ride for this winter. We hope for a CAT expedition soon...and why not by night...

The point season is finished but the winter ride season just start !!!

BJL

Blasting on Dusty trails in Atacama desert

Heading to San Pedro de Atacama, a city lost in desert of same name. 36 degrees under the sun, 144 km of gravel roads, driving mad Max style, "reasonable" 130kmh was the challenge of the day, made it alive ! Heading tomorrow to a pass that sits at 4,850m high...So far 2'600km under the belt...more please. Salut a Tous.

The Aconcagua ride !

Mendoza-Santiago du Chili - 398km, altitude max. 3'533m at the Argentina-Chili border, variation of temperatures min. -4 degrees and max. 24 degrees all the same day.... and even SNOW ! Good start to test our 1200GS ! Un grand salut à tous

La barillette tout seul

Si jamais je me suis fait la barillette tout seul sans passer par la fondue. le 29" et just parfait.

Aller je me met 20 points pour cette performance.

Ride report - 23/10/12 - Last Tuesday ride - 3 gorges by night

Riders: Labrico, Boumboum, Nascar, Beau-Joe-Lais

Points:

+1 each for participating

+1 each because it was the last tuesday ride of the season

+1 Beau-Joe-Lais for guiding

+0.5 Nascar for climbing the 3 first steps

-0.25 Nascar for claiming points for this

+0.5 Nascar for giving a headlamp to Labrico

-0.25 Nascar for claiming points for this

+0.5 Beau-Joe-Lais for climbing the steep part after the railway cross

+0.5 Boumboum and Beau-Joe-Lais for climbing the steep part after the river

-0.25 Boumboum for a flat

+0.25 Boumboum for riding with 1bar in the back tire

+0.25 Boumboun for finding a nice way between Crissier and UNIL

+0.25 Labrico for lying to his boss in order to join us this tuesday

-0.25 Labrico and Nascar for not joining to the dinner

-0.5 Nameless and Alpine for not joining althought it was in Lausanne

+0.5 Alpine because he had a good excuse (baby sitting)

-0.5 Nameless because he had a bad excuse (working)

Last minute info....

Just a remnder - 2 man rides IF you are in the lead do not count for any points for the leader but do for the other rider!
Last ride of thd season is this SUNDAY!!

Regards from Baboonia.

Missile

Le Pizza tour,

37 km 2h00 + 300m positif

Organisateur : Claude + 1

Participant : +1 Tanya, Boumboum, Marcel, Oscar, JM et Claude.

Belle balade sur les singel autour du canton de Genève avec une belle soirée à la Pizzeria.

Sortie du 13.10.2012

La chaine cassée tour.

50 km 3h00 + 900

m positif

Organisateur : Claude + 1

Participant : +1 Marcel, JM et Claude.

+ 1Pour Claude pour transformer le RIP de JM en singel speed (dérailleur cassé)

Juste pour faire plaisir à Simon...

La petite grenouille verte à gagné ces 3 dernières courses.

Simon je n'arrive pas à poster une video en format VLC media player sur le Blog ?

Tuesday 23/10 - Along the Venoge

For Tuesday I propose you a ride along the venoge single trail.
Meeting 18.00 on Préverenges Beach Parking.
Let me know.

18.00 ass on the seat and lamp on the helmet.
-1 points each 10min late !

BJL

Friday's Quizz

Is this the Missile missiling with Nameless in pursuit ? Hint: think ad !

Est-ce que quelqu’un désire rouler le samedi 20 octobre ?

Claude

Monkey Stroking in South Africa

This baby baboon is called Chicken!!

Not so much stroking going on but lots of peeing!!! I am the group alpha male!!! And peeing and showing your ass is a sign if submission. So i am seeing a lot of monkey butt and the others are getting peed on as they are invariably holding one of the 9 baboons when they 'submit'. Exciting times in the bush!!! Missile.

Cheers Missile!!

One day in joburg airport......

Points for BOTH !!!

.

Pour le mardi 16 octobre, RDV à 18h00 au parking de la Tribune 42 rue du stand, après on va souper à la pizzeria la Printaniere ou chez moi.

Désolé Simon...

Mais ils hibernent tous déjà, alors j'organise la prochaine sortie.

Specialized makes it tothe New York Times Crossword

Clue: classic mountain bikes!!!

Answer below!!!

Our sport made the big time!!!!

Ce samedi 13 octobre je vous propose un RDV à 11h00 à la douane de Veyrier,

Yves va me  transmettre la trace de la randonnée des Montailloux du  week-end passé sur le Salève.
On va prendre le téléphérique pour effectuer ces nouveaux single.
Claude

New Scores.....

La Chasse aux BMX

Petite video de la Jungle Family

cool c jeunes

Et voila Simon..

Sortie du 25.07.2012

Sortie Cervelas sur le Petit  Salève.

23 km en 1h40 +700m positif

Organisateur : +1  Claude

Participants : +1 Tanya, Jenny, Bucher, Oscar, JM, Mathis,  Patricia Bucher et Claude

Claude +1 pour la première sortie Grillade 2012.

Mathis +1 pour avoir effectué la descente à fond la caisse de nuit.

Sortie du 6.09.201

Croisette G Salève et news DH

26 km, 2h29, 1000m

Organisateur :+1 Claude

Participants : +1  Boumboum, Claude

Sortie du 6.10.2012

Le non café tour

63 km 3h15 + 180m positif

Organisateur : + 1 Claude

Participant : + 1 Oscar, Boumboum, JM et Claude

Sortie du 9.10.2012

Le presque autant de boue que à Lausanne…

47 km 2h20 + 220m positif

Organisateur : Claude + 1

Participant : +1 Boumboum, JM et Claude.

+ 1Pour JM pour être arrivé  à nous détourner dans les bois de Jussy…

ROADbiking? Worth to see video.

Labrico Aura Mal!!!

ou la laaaa ca va faire mal a labrico....

pour etre un oubli, mais pour oublier, il faut avoir deja entendu ou lu quelque chose.....je sais que je suis le ref, mais pas un oracle....peux pas ajouter les scores pour les rides ou il y a pas de rapport. Et de plus les accusations fausses mérite des points en moins!!!

25.7 il manque le rapport (-1 point for labrico)
4.9 sausage ride c'est déjà dedans (grand et petit salev)= -1 point for labrico
6.9 il manque le rapport (-1 point for labrico)
??? Grand Saleve (Il manque le rapport -1 point pour labrico)
6.10 il manque le rapport (-1 point for labrico meme si il et toujours dans les temps...)

Ouf -5 en une fois......qui dit mieux ??

Mets les rapport sur le blog et je rajoute les points!!!

The Scores....FINALLY

Well the story is that I messed up my excel sheet.....and had to rebuild it. So, now thats done, its a new and improved version and....anyway, you could all care less about how its all done....you just want THE SCORES!!! And here they are .....and also, as of now, no more score updates until end of season!

RR Saturday Oct 6th - Flat & Furious ride

Blue sky, sunny and perfectly brisk...that's the good news...then I battled for over three hours and 60km to stay in contact with LaBrico, BoumBoum and Nascar...imagine! The only thing I wanted was to briefly stop for a coca-cola...no way José ! Flat it was but FAST...La Tribune, Veyrier, Arve (both banks), Veyrier, Troinex, Landecy, l'Aïre..etc and back to La Tribune...exact stats from Claude. Bikers: As above + me. Usual pointage for participation. All went well for experienced riders..! Well, I finally had my Coke...when we arrived ! (ps my mileage 71.87 km)

Pour Mardi 9 septembre RDV à 18h00 au parking de la Tribune de Genève pour un tour à plat autour du canton, après on peu se doucher à la Tribune et aller manger à la Pizzeria la Printaniere .

Ce weekend sous la boue Mathis à terminé 2ème à Neuchatel derrière un francais qui est champion d'Europe,  Mathis 1er Suisse.

The Ride That Nearly Wasnt

Last weekend the Epic ride got rain-cancelled...
...we ended up riding and avoiding the rain somehow...

Nascar, Labrico, Boum Boum, Missile

41km for 635m

Points: the usual but nothing more to write home about...

EXCEPT: MINUS points to 3-decis and Husky for an unadvertised ride being caught red-handed by Labrico and Boum Boum -1 point each!!

Lausanne - Ride report

Points
Stats : 35 km, 605 m D+, 3h00, weather : perfect, sunny and mild, ride conditions : linked too previous days meteo.... Muddy !

Ride : start at Les Croisettes, nice climb to Chalet à Gobet, plateau slightly boring ;-) but with hilarious wild hidden trails (not everybody's taste but for those who love it...they love it, super nice downhill (but ok Papy, even in the downhill, they are some climbs) starting from lost forest and finishing in the very center of the city.
En plus de l'attribution normale :
Papy : +0,5 for being (almost) on time while coming from geneva + extra 0,25 for giving hope and love to lady in the metro
Nascar : +0,5 for paying metro tickets to several poor bikers
Papy and Labrico : -0,25 for bad comments about (swiss!) mud
Labrico : -1,5 for riding with bike out of order, oil leakage, no lock out, putting him in a very bad mood : unacceptable ! , extra 0,25 for giving hope and love to lady in the forest
Missile : -0,25 for lack of technical skills in unsuccesfull attempt to cross the little river and riding all night with wet feet
Missile and Nascar : +0,25 for riding like Indiana Jones even in the wildest trail of Jorat woods
Nameless : thanks for sharing the meal and very good wine with us
Alpine : Thanks for coming guys, it was a pleasure for Valerie and me to have you at home ! And for sure next time, I'll make it shorter on the plateau so we can start eating at a decent time...