Beer at the top of Col du Marchairuz
View of Lake Geneva and The Alps
THE END - love my helmet hair!
Receiving our medals from Fiona and Kirsty, and Hector!
Sunday, 11 August 2013
Day 18 photos
Resting half way up the col du Mollendruz
Lac de Joux
Meetin Iain
The high point of the tour. All downhill from here.
Day 18 - Colombier to Rolle (on lake Geneva)
At 8pm we arrived at Rolle on Lake Geneva (or Lac Leman as the French call it) the end of the ride!!!! We then rode up the last 40 m climb to our friends Cathy and Iain in the village of Peroy where we are to stay for a couple of days holiday.
The day started early leaving at 9.30, now taking the familiar routine of Chris and Paula shopping in the local supermarket while I fix the bikes, in today's case it was Rachel's first gear which did not work on the climb on the previous day.
The first 15k were along rolling roads to the north of Lake Neuchatel before the cycle paths started and continued for 15k to Yverdon at the west end of the lake. We had 2 options from here, either head towards Lausanne and cycle along Lake Geneva to Rolle, or head East and add a couple of good climbs. We obviously went for the second option.
The road from Yverdon to Orbe was good, and it was here that the first climb started. The next 20k was a lovely gentle climb from 500m in Orbe to 1144m at le Pont. It was nothing like yesterday's horror climb. We all managed it very easily with Kate picking up the KoM points, Chris, Sarah and myself close behind, soon followed by Rachel and Paula. I suggested a 4k detour to pick up a Col. Everyone was up for it (am I finally converting them?). So we rode to and from Col du Mollendruz EL.1180 before the short descent to Lac de Joux. This lake is just over 1000m above sea level and there was an amusing sign telling people not to throw rocks at ice skaters.
We stopped for a break by the lake and before pressing on. We had been texting Iain all day as he was keen to bike to us and ride the last part together. At Lac de Joux we agreed to meet him on Col du Marchairuz (1447m) and enjoy the last descent together. However before this we had to climb it from the north side. It was only a 400m climb but the early stages were very steep, not quite as severe as yesterday's, but about 9-12%. It became a bit easier before reaching a false top at 1337 m. It was here that we met Iain which was fantastic. Kate again won the climb. Next time she is having panniers! Rachel refused to let me help her, now her gears were working she had no problem.
The last 100m climb to the Col became a race, Kate trying to beat Iain, who has just ridden a stage of the Tour de France, so it was great to see Kate being put in her place. After Kate was Chris closely followed by Sarah, then myself, Rachel and Paula. We had a drink in the restaurant before one of the highlights of the whole trip, a 24k descent to Lake Geneva with fantastic views of the lake, Mount Blanc and the Alps. We all simply loved it, getting up to 68kph, the roads were smooth wide and no dangerous corners.
So it was with big smiles that we arrived at Rolle beach, Iain took the obligatory photos before we rode up to Peroy where we were presented with medals made by Iain and Cathys girls, Fiona and Kirsty.
It had been a hard but great days ride. We were all very happy to finish and look forward to a couple of days of resting, swimming, eating, drinking and sleeping!
today's stats
Distance 117.1 k
Time 5.52.26
Average speed 19.9kph
Climb 1551m
Total distance 1548k
The day started early leaving at 9.30, now taking the familiar routine of Chris and Paula shopping in the local supermarket while I fix the bikes, in today's case it was Rachel's first gear which did not work on the climb on the previous day.
The first 15k were along rolling roads to the north of Lake Neuchatel before the cycle paths started and continued for 15k to Yverdon at the west end of the lake. We had 2 options from here, either head towards Lausanne and cycle along Lake Geneva to Rolle, or head East and add a couple of good climbs. We obviously went for the second option.
The road from Yverdon to Orbe was good, and it was here that the first climb started. The next 20k was a lovely gentle climb from 500m in Orbe to 1144m at le Pont. It was nothing like yesterday's horror climb. We all managed it very easily with Kate picking up the KoM points, Chris, Sarah and myself close behind, soon followed by Rachel and Paula. I suggested a 4k detour to pick up a Col. Everyone was up for it (am I finally converting them?). So we rode to and from Col du Mollendruz EL.1180 before the short descent to Lac de Joux. This lake is just over 1000m above sea level and there was an amusing sign telling people not to throw rocks at ice skaters.
We stopped for a break by the lake and before pressing on. We had been texting Iain all day as he was keen to bike to us and ride the last part together. At Lac de Joux we agreed to meet him on Col du Marchairuz (1447m) and enjoy the last descent together. However before this we had to climb it from the north side. It was only a 400m climb but the early stages were very steep, not quite as severe as yesterday's, but about 9-12%. It became a bit easier before reaching a false top at 1337 m. It was here that we met Iain which was fantastic. Kate again won the climb. Next time she is having panniers! Rachel refused to let me help her, now her gears were working she had no problem.
The last 100m climb to the Col became a race, Kate trying to beat Iain, who has just ridden a stage of the Tour de France, so it was great to see Kate being put in her place. After Kate was Chris closely followed by Sarah, then myself, Rachel and Paula. We had a drink in the restaurant before one of the highlights of the whole trip, a 24k descent to Lake Geneva with fantastic views of the lake, Mount Blanc and the Alps. We all simply loved it, getting up to 68kph, the roads were smooth wide and no dangerous corners.
So it was with big smiles that we arrived at Rolle beach, Iain took the obligatory photos before we rode up to Peroy where we were presented with medals made by Iain and Cathys girls, Fiona and Kirsty.
It had been a hard but great days ride. We were all very happy to finish and look forward to a couple of days of resting, swimming, eating, drinking and sleeping!
today's stats
Distance 117.1 k
Time 5.52.26
Average speed 19.9kph
Climb 1551m
Total distance 1548k
Day 17 - more photos
Cooling feet in lake Bieler
Jumping in lake Bieler in the pouring rain
Sun setting over lake Neuchatel
Day 17 - Photos
The early part of the climb from Court to Grenchen
Team cuddle at top of the hard part of climb - to keep warm
Paula near the top of the climb
Start of the descent
Day 16 - photos
Typical signpost on a German cycle path, with various route numbers, smaller signs are for walkers
On the longest single span cycle/pedestrian bridge in the world, looking south. The right feet are in Germany, the left feet in France, the buildings over Chris's right shoulder are in Switzerland
The bridge
View of Basel, about to say goodbye to the Rhine
Wet, cold, eating great chips at the end of the ride in Delemont
Day 15 - more photos - THE RESCUE
Chris swimming out to help Sarah as she is getting pulled into the rapids. The first question I was asked was "did you video it?" No, but I did take a photo.
Chris , Sarah , "the small crowd and the skull crushing rocks"
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