This is an experience review, rather than a product review. During yesterday’s group ride I noticed that my rear tyre was feeling flat. I stopped to re-inflate it because the problem seemed minor but I made the mistake of not closing the valve properly before setting off again so the inner tube problem, that might have started as a slow leak became a more serious problem due to the damaged valve....
Posts tagged “group”
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On a Slow Puncture and the Cyclplus AS2 Pro — Apr 3, 2026 -
The Over-Inflated Tyre — Feb 21, 2026Today, for the first time during a bike ride, I had a tyre puncture. I suspect that it wasn’t a tyre puncture but rather that I over-inflated the tyre, and that due to the wet, gravelly conditions of the roads, the inner tube eventually failed.... -
Weather To Be trusted — Feb 17, 2026Last night at around 05:30 the alarm went off and either before or afterwards I heard lightning. I also heard very heavy rain. The question was whether the weather app was to be trusted. I could see that it would rain heavily while I walked from home to the meeting point but that for the duration of the rain it would remain dry.... -
A Sunrise Run — Feb 9, 2026Today I woke early. I set the alarm for 05:30 and again at 05:40 and yet again at 06:00. The reason for so many alarms is that it’s easy to set the first, wake up to turn it off, and then wake too late. It’s also as a backup. Usually the first alarm is enough to wake me.... -
Awake at five thirty — Nov 26, 2025This morning I set the alarm for five thirty, and I recharged my bike lights, head unit and more. I decided that if I felt good, and full of energy I would go for the group ride. I slept through the night and woke up feeling fresh, but I skipped the ride.... -
On Raclette, White Wine, and Group Rides — Nov 10, 2025Sunday bike rides are not as common as Saturday bike rides so when I committed to the Eysins Raclette event I thought it wouldn’t matter. I didn’t count on having a Sunday bike ride.... -
The Unattended Group Ride - Hypothetical — Oct 1, 2025For several days I was the only person signed up for a bike ride. Last night it went up to seven people, and then this morning it was down to three people, including me. I arrived half an hour to fifteen minutes early. During that time I had the opportunity to think “What if no one turns up, would I still ride”. My reaction was “of course”. I was already at the meeting point, ready to cycle.... -
Hitting the Wall After a Long and Steep Climb — Sep 21, 2025Yesterday I expected to be quite comfortable on a ride but I wasn’t. The climb was steep, with bits that were at 17 percent according to others. You pedal, and pedal. You feel the muscles in your legs fatigue. You think, “if only I could stop for a few minutes”, but you don’t. You keep going. You keep pushing. You get to the top.... -
Four Thousand Meters of Cycle Climbing in the Franco-Swiss Jura — Sep 8, 2025Mt Tendre via Rolle... -
A Pleasant Ride to Montricher — Sep 1, 2025On Sunday I rode with the Le Cercle No Pressure Club group ride from Nyon to Montricher via Vich to Begnins, and From there to Gimel and then onto Bière and eventually Montricher.... -
Quick Thoughts on Drafting while Cycling — Aug 6, 2025When you ride alone you face the headwinds, and have to fight them. When you want to speed up you get to a certain speed, and if you want to ride faster you need to fight the wind. On a windy day you might feel sluggish and slow. You might then see a group ride overtake you with ease and think “I wish I was as fast as they are”, or even “I wish I was in that group”.... -
The Nyon LeCercle Ride with Thirty Two Achievements — Jul 17, 2025Yesterday I went with a morning ride with TDC, which felt relaxed, before going for a ride with LeCercle in the evening. This group has a high level with many of the cyclists riding thousands of kilometres per year.... -
Ignoring the 80/20 rule with Group Rides — Jul 11, 2025Yesterday I rode with Group 2 rather than Group 1 with TDC. I believe I could keep up for a second time. I also believe that when you’re cycling hard three times a week it takes a lot of energy.My experience last Saturday showed that I was pushing myself too hard by riding by cyclists stronger than me three times in a week, especially after riding close to my max on Wednesday, Thursday and then Sunday.... -
Cycling and Suspected Heat Exhaustion — Jul 6, 2025Over the last week I have cycled, and climbed over 3000m. Yesterday I climbed 1664 meters over an 89 kilometre ride. It was divided into the first climb, from the Léman towards La Cure, then a flat bit, ridden fast, before getting to the climb to Marchairuz and that is when I ran out of power....
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Waking Early to Cycle — Jun 24, 2025I think that tomorrow I will wake between 05:00-05:30 to be ready at the meeting point to go for a bike ride that starts at 06:30. The start is early because it is meant to be a “ride before work” for this group....
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A TDC Social Ride to La Baudichonne — Jun 20, 2025Yesterday evening I went for a group ride but rather than riding for an hour or so to get to Geneva I rode to the centre of Nyon. I rode to the old garage that was transformed into a café called Tête de Course. This is where the TDC group meet before starting their Thursday evening bike ride. Social Rides...
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The Logistics of a Thonon and Yvoire Bike Ride — Jun 5, 2025There are two bike rides that I would like to do. One is from Geneva to Yvoire and back, and the other is from Thonon for a fifty kilometre loop in the Alps. Both appeal to me, and if it was any other week I would happilly do the Yvoire ride, despite it being challenging tomorrow....
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This Isn't a Recovery Ride — Jun 2, 2025Yesterday’s moderate recovery ride was hard. It was hard because we were riding at up to thirty kilometres per hour for sustained periods of time. We were riding fast from Geneva, to Nyon, and then again from Nyon to Geneva. With a small group you can afford to push like this. Witha large group there is no way....
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A Ride Towards Fort L'Ecluse — May 22, 2025It’s very easy to fall into a routine. Our routines can revolve around cycling, hiking, work, scuba diving and more. It can also revolve around local walks and more.... -
The Saturday Cycling Challenge to Begnins — May 19, 2025On Saturday I went for a ride with Bike Club Switzerland from Geneva. The ride itself was planned on an 80km loop that went from Geneva via Vich up to Begnings and then towards one or two more places before heading back towards la Rippe, across the top, and eventually down to Grilly and Geneva.... -
Hiking From Le Pont to Marchairuz — Apr 13, 2025If you’re ready to use buses and trains opportunities for walks and hikes open up. Yesterday’s hike, for example, was possible because we parked the cars in Marchairuz before catching a bus to Le Pont. That’s where we met another part of the group before hiking from le Pont, to the Col de Mollendruz. From here we saw the defensive Toblerones before heading back down.... -
The Appeal of a Local Walk — Apr 3, 2025It’s easy to look at what people are doing and to travel two hours on a train or in a car. In practice it’s a way of exploring the local area and seeing things that you wouldn’t otherwise see. On the flipside sometimes it is nice to stay local....
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Wake Up and Run Before the Sunrise in Nyon — Sep 13, 2024This morning I got up at 4am to go for a run with strangers in Nyon. The meeting time was 05:10 and the run/jog/walk began at 05:30. Before the run Activ Fitness gave us a warm up workout that I followed half-heartedly. I had already walked 3km so my body was warm. I now needed to remain warm before the run itself.... -
Wake Up and Run Nyon — Sep 12, 2024Yesterday the town of Nyon posted about the Wake Up and Run event that is taking place tomorrow so I felt like signing up until I saw that it costs 38 CHF, and then I changed my mind, temporarily. Eventually I thought “This is in Nyon so it’s local, so I could meet local people”. I also thought "well, if it includes breakfast and a t-shirt then it could be worthwhile after all....
