Category: cycling

Categories
cycling observation Sports Switzerland

Linear Bike Rides and Trains

View of cyclists and the Chateau de Vufflens
View of cyclists and the Chateau de Vufflens
Reading Time: 2 minutes

Yesterday I was watching the Tour De Romandie Morges to Morges stage and I was struck by how much of the route I am familar with. It's not just that I'm familiar with the route that I road with the group, but that I'm familiar with parts of the full tour. Over the years I have ridden between Geneva and Aubonne so many times that I know many of the roads well. I demonstrated this yesterday by recognising most of the roads the women road along.

I took the train to Morges with the bike, to avoid tiring myself out before the ride itself. It worked well. Now that I know this I can look for new options and ideas. I was thinking of riding from Yverdon-les-Bains to Nyon but then I came across another loop. Payerne to Rolle. The route they recommend is split in two stages, Payerne to Echallens and then Echallens to Rolle. The full ride is 86km in length with 1250 meters of climbing and 1300m of descent.

Another route could be the Foot of the Jura ride from Yverdon-les-Bains to Bière, and from Bière to Nyon rather than Geneva. The issue with this route is that some it could be on busy roads, especially on a Saturday.

A third routing option is number five that would go from Yverdon-les-Bains to Lausanne, but when I get near Penthaz I would catch route 63 towards Rolle but I would then want to catch route 488 after detouring by Vufflens le Chateau to see the castle and heading along agricultural roads to Nyon. I think this could be the nicest route. The advantage of stitching together several routes is that you can take the roads that should have less traffic, and less climbing where possible. The other advantage is that if you choose a route that is well sign posted then you do not need to use on-board navigation because road signs will be enough.

And finally, whether I do this will depend on the weather and how tired I feel. I can feel that my legs still want a few days of rest before taking on a new challenge. This would be a long day in the saddle. According to the route I drew the route is around 75.5km with 600m of climbing and 630 of descent and should take three and a half hours to complete. My aim would be to follow the route markers up to the point where I see markers for the next route I want to follow. I have mapped it to work as if I was driving from one place to another. Now I need to wait for good weather.

Categories
cycling social networking Switzerland

The Tour De Romandie Small Reconnaissance Loop

View of cyclists and the Chateau de Vufflens
View of cyclists and the Chateau de Vufflens
Reading Time: 3 minutes

Yesterday 60 people went to Morges to cycle the Tour De Romandie Morges stage ahead of the race today. There were two loops, a 90+ kilometre loop for an average speed of 29km/h on the flat and another loop for an average speed of 25 km/h on the flat and a distance of 57 kilometres.

When I got the GPX for the 90 kilometre loop I considered doing that loop, until I considered that with an average of 30 km/H I would be tired, especially since I rarely cycle 90km loops at the moment.

The Right Choice of a Loop

Choosing the 57 kilometre loop was the right choice for two reasons. The first reason is that I have cycled the distance two or three times recently so I know that I can do the distance. The other reason is that my average speed has been 24.4 or so kilometres per hour over two hours for two or three rides in a row.

Familiar Roads

What I liked about this ride is the route. I know some segments of the path, but not all. I know them from driving and cycling in the region. That is an advantage for fatigue and pacing. If you know what's coming up, then you can budget effort, and you know when efforts will end.

An Unfamiliar Climb

I would say that the more challenging climb was from L'Isle up the Route Du Mollendruz until the turn to the Route De la Traversaille. It's the last steep bit of the loop. I was second for part of the climb but then I dropped a few places. It's not that I slowed down much, but that others sped up, I think. If I do the climb again I will know how long the effort lasts, to push.

We had drinks and snacks in Montrichet before heading back down. The downhill part was easy for the most part. You go down from Montricher towards Ballens, but rather than head into Bière you head down towards Lavigny and then follow the signs for Lavigny and St Prex after that. The road between St Prex and Morges is hellish on a Saturday, on a bike, because of traffic. There is at least one incident of a car overtaking where it shouldn't being flashed by a car coming from the opposite direction.

The End of the Route

The end of the cycle rides was at the Piscine de Morges with crudités and drinks as well as a screen to watch the Tour de Romandie stage end.

About the Groups

From what I overheard the long loop was mainly guys, rather than women. I expected the opposite to be true. With the smaller loop the mix was of a few men and women split into two groups of fifteen to have less of an effect on traffic.

I thought that more young women would join, and by young I mean up to my age. This wasn't really the case. I won't elaborate because it's an impression, rather than knowledge.

Using the Train Rather than the Car to Get to Morges

I experimented with taking the bike from home to Nyon and the train from Nyon to Morges, before riding from the train station to the meeting point. It worked well. I paid the supplement for the bike, as you're meant to.

Morges to Nyon on a Busy Saturday

For the way back I cycled from Morges to Prangins along the lake road. When I got to Prangins I went up via the hospital to avoid the lakeside of Nyon as it would have been busy. Cycling between Morges added another hour and 30 kilometres to my bike ride. My left knee needs a rest now.

And Finally

With the Skoda group from Divonne it feels like I need to push myself to keep up but with this group I felt that I could ride at a comfortable pace, and slow down, or stop pedalling. The only bit where I struggled was above L'Isle, before turning towards Montricher. That's why I felt that I had enough reserves to ride back to Nyon.

I would do something similar again, if the opportunity presented itself. That's why, out of the five activities I had to choose from I chose this one.

Categories
cycling observation Switzerland

A Morning Ride

A pheasant walking along the same path as I am
A pheasant walking along the same path as I am
Reading Time: 2 minutes

This morning I went for a bike ride before taking my daily shower. I rode through Nyon and then turned up towards Duiller and from Duiller I headed for Genolier. When I was in Nyon though I cycled down towards the lake before cycling up one of the steep hills before heading to Duiller and onto Genolier. along the way I considered whether I would go all the way to Arzier and changed my mind, because it would have required a long descent on carbon wheels that I am not yet used to.

I chose this route because when I went for a group ride a few weeks ago I suffered with the climb to Genolier and the part that goes behind La Rippe. It's not that I am unfit but rather that I am not used to cycling. This year I have cycled just 789 kilometres. It's not that I am lazy, because I am not, but rather that I am tired of how dangerous it is to ride bikes regularly. Too often people drive too close and too fast. There is the rule that says that people have to pass 1.5 meters from cyclists but some people don't respect that rule so every ride is a gamble.

The reason I have been cycling more recently is that I have learned of a new routing option that allows me to stay away from cars. If I had a cycling route that did not expose me to any cars then I would cycle every single day. It's because I don't feel safe that I don't.

My plan this morning was just to ride 25 kilometres or so, to complete one of the Garmin cycling challenges. In the end I cycled 33.73 kilometres and climbed 355m. I got a personal record for the ascent to Coinsins and the Genolier climb. That's good. I will struggle less in about three weeks when I do it as a group ride.

Recently I adjusted the bike rack for the car that I use at the moment. This will allow me to range with the bike. I will be able to find new cycling routes further from home, as well as to transport up to three bikes at a time.

I want to ride more but on routes that are dedicated to cyclists rather than cars. Cycling is a pleasant sport, on tertiary farm roads where cars are banned.

I will see how long the weather is good enough to keep cycling.

Categories
cycling observation Switzerland

From Nyon to Yvoire by Bike and Back By Boat

The Entrance to Yvoire, from land
The Entrance to Yvoire, from land
Reading Time: 3 minutes

If you're looking for a cycling project and you live near Nyon then I would suggest taking the bike along the lake road from Nyon through Crans, Coppet, and beyond towards Geneva, and when you get to Geneva following the 46 signalisation for the cycling route. There are moments when it is not as clearly indicated but for the most part it is.

Cycle Path from Nyon to Geneva

The advantage of this route is that from Nyon to Geneva you are nicely seperated from traffic. For the most part the cycling path can also be used by pedestrians. On the weekend the cycle lanes are sometimes full of parked cars and pedestrians. On a weekday though the cycle lanes are free and practicable.

Chaotic Geneva

With the Geneva section it is more chaotic. You take the main road along the tramlines towards Cornavin, before eventually turning left to head towards the lake, and then across the bridge that leads to the Ile Rousseau before turning left and crossing into the park where pedestrians and other cyclists make the experience chaotic. If I was to redo this bike ride, knowing that I was going to take the boat back to Nyon I would take a route via the Grand Genève because they have made the cycling setup chaotic and dangerous.

In Geneva the cycle lane has cyclists, pedestrians and more. You also have trotinettes and people going at various speeds. The person I was riding with was almost collided into by someone not cycling with due care and attention. At another moment the cycle lane is thrown to the opposite side of a busy road without proper signalling. If you miss it you're heading straight into oncoming cyclists, and there is no escape as the road is busy and dangerous. I strongly believe that Geneva could do better.

After Escaping Geneva

After Genève-Plage the riding is slightly less chaotic, except for the moment where traffic leaving Geneva is kicked to the other side of the road with barely any warning. After this it finally gets better with us cycling along secondary roads where there was little to no traffic until Hermance. In Hermance you have a one kilometre climb but part way along it you can join a cycle route and follow it almost until Yvoire.

My recommendation

If I did this ride again I would head down towards the lake when I got to Perle du Lac and try to ride along the cycle lane that goes in front of the Palais Wilson, along the lake front. I would then cross the Pont du Mont Blanc through the Jardin Anglais, but rather than go along the chaotic lake route I would take small streets towards the top of Parc La Grange and head into the countryside that heads towards Hermance and Yvoire.

I drew a hypothetical route but I don't recommend following it too closely. Follow it until you find cycle paths, and follow them, to avoid the centre of Geneva, staying rural as much as possible as you make your way around Geneva. The Pont Butin is good for cyclists and then you can head down towards Geneva, towards Plainpalais. You can then head along Rue De La Croix-Rouge before heading towards Rive but rather than going down to the lake, stay up. There are some nice rural roads through the fields in the outskirts of Geneva that are pleasant to cycle along.

A few years ago I cycled from Geneva to Yvoire and went via the countryside, as much as possible, rather than the lake side and it was a nice experience. I need to find that route again.

The Boat Across

With the half fare the boat costs 8 CHF per person, and eight francs per bike, for a one way trip. This means 16 CHF per person. It's better to ask whether you can take the bike, just to be certain.

And Finally

Although my post may sound negative the experience is a positive one. From Nyon to Geneva the cycling paths are excellent. If you turn towards Perle du Lac and ride along the lake then the experience is more enjoyable than heading down the tram lines towards Cornavin. In theory you could even cycle through the quieter streets of Paquis to avoid the main road, until the Pont Du Mont blanc. When you cross the Jardin Anglais, slow down and enjoy the situation. When you're on the cycle lanes out of Geneva expect it to be a little more chaotic, as slower bikes, and pedestrians may get in the way. Expect to slow down through Geneva, to be safe.

When you're heading towards Collonge-Bellerive look for the 46 sign that tells you to cross the main road. By doing this you will simplify your life. I believe that the route is optimised to be ridden clockwise, rather than anti-clockwise. That's the next ride I should try.

Categories
cycling observation Sports Switzerland

A Metric Century – Nyon to Yvoire

Flyer E-bike Near St Moritz
Flyer E-bike Near St Moritz
Reading Time: 2 minutes

If things go to plan I will be cycling a metric century today. I will be cycling from Nyon to Yvoire via Geneva. It's the first time in a while that I cycle this far but there are advantages to this route. For a large part of Nyon to Geneva I will be on cycling lanes and once I survive the crossing through Geneva I will be on the Via Rhona, the cycling route that goes to Marseilles, if you go in the opposite direction.

Relatively Flat

Usually when I do such long bike rides I go over the top of the Jura, towards the Vallée de Joux and back. This time it should be relatively flat with 400m of climbing over 100km, rather than over a thousand. A possible challenge is the temperature and water. I don't know how many fountains will be running along the way so I don't know whether to go with 2 litres of water or 600ml of water. Rationally I'd rather have too much, than too little. Riding to Geneva and back I have often consumed 1.6 litres or more, so for twice the distance it makes sense to have 2.6 litres. 600ml on the bike, and 2 litres in a bladder.

Empty Fountains

In the past I would have relied on water fountains to refill water bottles but due to increasingly frequent droughts fountains are empty of water. I do not want to be in a situation of no water, The other reason for the camelbak is that I only have space for one water bottle, so the camelbak gives me more flexibility.

My rule is not to hike with two litres of water, because when you're hiking up to 3000m+ with too much water you're exhausting yourself with the altitude but also with the water. I'd rather carry two litres and a water filtration system for when I get to a stream. with cycling weight is critical when going uphill so I may be tempted to have less water than I need but for a flat ride, like today's I think I can afford to have spare water.

Fuel

I plan to have an acceptable lunch, and have a bar or two, and power gums with me. I don't expect to need, them but they're just a luxury to have, in case I suddenly feel the need.

The Previous Longest Ride

The previous maximum distance was 104.85km with 1506m of climbing, so three times more than I will do today. The Geneva part might be a little complicated but after that, and before that could be pleasant.

Looking Forward to It

I am looking forward to this challenge. I was thinking of cycling to St Gingolph and then catching the train back but this should be a fun ride. It could also be my first time around Hermance in years. I used to go every weekend at one time for scuba diving. Yvoire is a nice place, and if the boat schedule is convenient then I would consider catching the boat back.

I think nothing of going for a four hour hike so it makes sense that I would be relaxed about going for a four to five hour bike ride. It might not be ideal to go so close to the solar peak but some parts will be in the shade. If I am tired on the way to Yvoire I can crosss from Yvoire to Nyon, and if I am knackered on the way back I can catch a train with relative ease. This should be a fun bike ride.

Categories
cycling Sports Switzerland tech related

Playing with an E-bike in St Moritz

Flyer E-bike Near St Moritz
Flyer E-bike Near St Moritz
Reading Time: 3 minutes

For a few days I played with an e-bike around St Moritz and in the process learned that riding an e-bike is intuitive. It's on hills and when you're riding into the wind that you feel the advantage of e-bikes.

The trick, with e-bikes is to learn to ride gently. With a road bike and mountain bike you get into the habit of pushing hard. With an e-bike you need to pull back. You need to learn to ride more gently. The more gentle you ride, the less you're pushing against the motor.

## Learning to be Gentler

An e-bike is designed to get you to 25 kilometres per hour and keep you there. This means that once you exceed 25km/h the assistance turns off and you are fighting the motor, and the drag and resistance from the bike. It feels more sluggish and tiring, when you push too far. E-bikes encourage you to cycle at a reasonable speed.

## Good Battery Life

The indicator for the battery told me that I had a range of 60km. As I rode for longer the range kept increasing rather than decreasing. I believe that with this bike, rode conservatively you could ride 120 kilometres or more. In theory you could ride around the Lac de Neuchatel or other smaller lakes with ease.

The steeper the gradient, and the faster you ride, the faster the battery drains. The more gentle your ride, the bigger the range.

I tried going up steep gradients, including on loose dirt and it managed with relative ease. This is a belt driven bike, rather than chain driven so the gears were within the hubs rather than outside. The switching, to some degree is automatic according to how fast you ride, and the terrain. This makes the bike easier and more forgiving to use.

## Stability

The bike is well balanced, with a low center of gravity. It feels strange to have such a high bike when you stand next to it, but fine, when cycling.

## Belt Driven

The bike is belt driven so although you can select five gear settings it also adjusts things behind the scenes so you barely need to think about changing gears. For some this is an advantage.

## Plenty of Possibilities

One of the key advantages of an electric bike is that it's relaxing to ride, compared to a normal bike. You start to pedal and it gets you to the right speed within seconds. After you have reached cruising speed you pedal a little and you're comfortable.

That you make little effort means that altough you burn less energy at once, you ride for longer, so burn energy for longer. The result is that instead of an exhausting 20 minute uphill ride you ride for four or five hours.E-bikes give you the opportunity for "long cardio" rides.

## Dedicated Cycling Paths

One of the key things about cycling in the Engadine region is that there are cycling paths where you can ride, without cars. This gives you the freedom to ride, and feel safe. It proves that my sentiment that there should be a focus on dedicated cycle routes should be expanded. With gravel paths cyclists can go for long bike rides without getting in the way of cars, and vice versa. It's liberating.

## And Finally

E-biking is a nice sport that allows you to explore a landscape without using the car. It's faster than walking, more versatile than rollerblading, and it's easy to rent a bike so you can experiment with bikes, before finding the one that fits your needs.

Categories
cycling France observation Sports Switzerland

Impressions of the Škoda WLC

A fast orang utang cycling with the peloton
A fast orang utang cycling with the peloton
Reading Time: 3 minutes

Most of us will associate Škoda with the Tour De France and vice versa. When my brother got a Škoda that's what I associated it with. Škoda France has a team of people that organise group cycling events to promote the Škoda brand.

## Critical Mass and Others

I have cycled with groups before. I cycled at Critical mass events in london, but also one or two smaller cycling events in Geneva. With critical mass bike rides everyone is dressed in normal clothes, on normal bikes, cycling at a sociable pace through towns and cities.

## Skoda WLC

The Škoda WLC events in France are a little different. Everyone is dressed in cycling clothes, with road bikes. They're also fast cyclists. It's not just that they're fast. They also have endurance. By fast I mean that they're faster than a critical mass event, and a sociable group cycle via another platform. They also have greater endurance.

## About the Ride

The bike ride today was about 50km. This is at the limit of what I would usually cycle because it burns a lot of energy, and requires refuelling along the way. The other challenge is that this year I have just 240 kilometres of cycling under my pedals, but at least 1360 km of walking.

The leader of the group had 7000 kilometres of cycling for this year so far. That's why it was hard for me. That's why I was slower. If I cycled more, then I would find the group ride much easier because my muscles would adapt to cycling. At the moment they're optimised for walking every day for one and a half hours a day, every day of the year.

## You Get Pushed

You can tell that the group ride was hard because I achieved 21 achievements in a single ride. That's why it's good to ride with such a group. If I ride by myself I push myself but on a route that I'm used to. With a group I am pushed where I would take it easier. I could have pushed more but I could feel that my energy was running out.

It ran out so badly that when I cycled from Divonne to home I had no more energy in the tank. I limped home. Usually I sprint up the last two climbs but not today.

## About the Group

From what I see the people in the group are avid cyclists that cycle regularly so they have a good level of cycling fitness. They're also used to riding in a peloton so they don't get as tired as those of us riding on the outside. By participating in more rides I learn to ride safely within a peloton. For now staying within a safe distance is better.

## Hard but Enjoyable

Despite struggling and being slower than many nearer the end the ride was fun and I want to do it again. I learned of a road between La Rippe and Divonne that is at the base of the Jura. I was familiar with another road that has a warning. That one had none. It was a Douanne warning.

### Sheltered Within a Group

One nice aspect of riding with a group is that you're more sheltered than when you ride alone. It's harder for people to overtake you dangerously so they are less likely to. They overtake with plenty of space, especially if you're slotted behind the group on the right, away from traffic.

It's also interesting to see how indications are used to say "get into the side" when cars are coming from opposite, or "move right" for another obstacle.

## A Zwift Feeling

More than once during this ride I got a feeling that it felt like Zwift. You're riding to catch up with a group, or you can wait for another to catch up with you, and then coast behind them. If a hiking group is 10 people or more it feels like a crowd, but when 10 or more people are cycling together it feels good.

## And Finally

By going for this ride it woke my desire to cycle more, to go to the slowup next week. Cycling is a nice sport, and it would be even nicer if there were more routes that are free of traffic. I have wanted to find a group to cycle with for a while, so it's nice to have one at last.

Categories
cycling

From L’Isle to La Sarraz on a Bike via Romainmôtier

La Sarraz Castle
La Sarraz Castle
Reading Time: 2 minutes

Yesterday I cycled around 41 kilometres from L'Isle to Romainmôtier and then down to La Sarraz, to see the castle, and then to cycle back towards L'Isle and Haute-Morges.

For the part from L'Isle to Romainmôtier you are on quiet roads for the most part, but then as you go from Romainmôtier to La Sarraz you need to take busy roads with dangerous cars driving fast and close. I didn't feel the need to criticse any of the drivers, but it doesn't as safe on that bit of road, due to the quantity of traffic.

RomainMôtier is a good place to stop for a coffee, look at the architecture, and enjoy a little shade, on a warm day. You enter through the gate that is closest to Envy, and then you exit by the other gate that heads down to Croy. From there you follow the road down to La Sarraz.

The Road from Pompaples to La Sarraz is a main road, so cars are frequent, and fast. This is a road worth avoiding if possible due to the traffic.

Horse Drawn Cannons

It was amusing to get to La Sarraz, because as we got close to the town we got stuck in traffic. Horse drawn carriages were slowing down the traffic. This was topical. To see horse drawn carriages, as you head towards a castle. It's not every day you get stuck behind cannon transporting horses.

I didn't see much of the interior of the castle but it does have a café for a drink or snack before continuing with the ride.

From La Sarraz you go via Ferreyres, Moiry and then follow the cycle route back to L'Isle, if that's where you want to end your ride, to make it circular.

And Finally

Most of the ride is away from cars, which is good. It's more enjoyable to cycle when there are no, or few cars, to endanger your health and safety.

Categories
cycling

Recovery Day

An old door lock
An old door lock
Reading Time: 3 minutes

We are in a heatwave and despite this I have cycled for four and a half hours and walked for three hours and fourty minutes. For the bike rides I woke at 6am to avoid rush hour traffic, and to do things before the temperatures rose. Yesterday the temperature in Geneva reached 39°c. Just a few decimal places away from 40°c heat.

Despite the weak I still went for my afternoon walks, but it's also because of the heat that I walked with 1.6 litres or more. During hot days I find that I can act normally, but I still try to keep myself hydrated. If I feel that I am overheating I pour water on my hat/helmet to cool down.

Keeping Cool

A nice old wooden door
A nice old wooden door

There are four ways to keep cool. The first is to stay hydrated. Drink a few sips every few minutes. The second is to wear a hat. By wearing a hat your head is not going to cook quite as fast as without. The third solution, which doesn't require drinking water, is to drench your head/hat/hair when you come to a fountain, or when you feel that you're reaching your limit to cope with the heat. I did so during two walks and two bike rides, since Sunday.
The final option is to become a morning person, to do things in the morning, before the sun heats the air and the ground.

Knackered

Yesterday I cycled to RomainMôtier and back. I was already fatigued from walking and cycling in the heat so when I got to Romainmôtier I felt faint, with a mild head ache. Due to the heat and slight change in hydration I thought that it could be heat stroke. I made it back to my car, had some food and I already felt slightl better, but I still felt knackered when I shopped for food so I got the bare minimum, rather than thinking about something more interesting to cook.

When I got home I had a siesta. I felt much better. I don't know whether I became exhausted, of heat struck. Since sleep was enough to feel refreshed I think I had just exhausted myself.

The "peep hole" made from a metal grill
The "peep hole" made from a metal grill

Cycling With E-Bikes

The source of my exhaustion. I believe, is partly to do with the heat, of course, but it also has to do with the amount of energy that we burn when we're cycling on normal bikes with other people on e-bikes. We pace ourselves according to the e-bikes, rather than our own speed.

An Easier Gear

I found that to avoid going too fast, on my bike, I had to change to an easier gear. I would pedal with the usual effort but cover less ground. This works very well, for pacing. I think that it does tire me more than if I was pedalling at a normal effort level and a regular speed. My motivation to use an easier gear, was, in part, to make a different effort, to get a workout, at a lower speed. It seems to have worked. It's the 80/20 rule on a bike. Sort of.

The Ignored Temptation

When I was in RomainMôtier I was tempted to run my head under a fountain to cool myself down. I didn't feel that I was cooking but I did feel a mild headache. Near the very end of the walk I did splash water on my head to cool down.

On warm days I am usually desperate for a coke or an electrolyte drink, and for once I ran out of drinks two nights ago, so I didn't quench my first. I think it affected my endurance the next day.

And Finally

By going for two mid-afternoon walks during the heatwave I challenged my body. I then went for two bike rides where I got up at 0600 before cycling for three or four hours. If I was cycling alone I would have drunk one or two litres on both days. As I wasn't I drank half a litre or less. Between sleeping a different schedule, walking in the mid-day heat, and then cycling two mornings in a row, I pushed myself to the point of exhaustion. Today I'm recovering. I will go for my afternoon walk but at least I will be well hydrated, and I was able to sleep to my natural wake up time, rather than an alarm.

Categories
cycling

A Ride in 35° Heat

Reading Time: 4 minutes

Yesterday I spent time in the sun in the morning, as a result of which I thought I would avoid going out in the heatwave. I changed my mind. Every Sunday a group of pétanque playing alcoholics play pétanque for several hours. They cheer, they laugh, they make noise, for hours in a row. I don't want to hear that sound, especially since the pandemic is not over. People are still falling sick with Long COVID and they're being disabled. It doesn't take long to read posts on social media by people suffering from Long COVID.

Before the Pandemic

Before the pandemic I wouldn't have been home, or if I was home I would already have spent the morning climbing, cycling, diving or hiking. Due to the pandemic I do these things but in solitude. I also have a routine. I normally study in the morning, and do sports in the afternoon. If I flip it around my intellectual capacity is reduced and my studying stalls. Yesterday proved the necessity of my routine.

I Can't Say No

Two years ago I wrote about pandemic solitude. It still hasn't ended. If I am asked to do things I have no valid reason to say no, but it also puts my happiness into turmoil, both to be asked but also to want to study but feel that I should be social instead. The more my morning is broken, the slower I am to reach my goal of feeling employable in a new career. This, in turn delays having the type of life that would make seeing other people fun, rather than an obligation.

Noisy Afternoons

Experience has taught me that the afternoons are noisy, and this noise is the reason I go out for walks, whether it's raining, snowing, windy and cold or a heatwave. I find that my mental health benefits from getting away from people living as if the pandemic was not over. Plenty of data, around the world, shows that the pandemic is not over. That's why cycling is such a great sport.

The Beauty of Cycling

The beauty of cycling, even during a heatwave is that you're usually between villages and towns. You're surrounded by clean air. I have become absurd, because I don't want to be around strangers without a mask, especially around large crowds of strangers, in restaurants and other places.

Sunday is one of the worst days to be in solitude. If you go for a walk you will encounter family groups and groups of friends. You are in solitude, and they are not. You have to pass, you are reminded of what you are missing, and you have to survive the experience.

By being on a bike, especially on the roads between fields you are in solitude. If you choose the right routes you are far from people, from cars, from dogs and more. You are in the moment, watching the landscape change, heading upwards, downwards and across.

35°c

Yesterday it was 35°c according to the weather services, and 37°c according to my watch. Normally on such a ride I would ride much harder. I would try to beat all my speed personal bests. Yesterday I didn't. I rode slower than usual. I wanted to spend time outdoors, keep fit, but without giving myself heatstroke. It's not the heat that worries me. It's the time spend in the sun.

At first I thought this would be a short ride, because I thought the heat would affect me. Since I felt fine I continued. I arrived at a fountain and I refilled both bottles, and I splashed myself. I didn't feel the need to splash myself to cool down, but did it anyway, in anticipation of feeling overheated.

Quiet

I continued through the Bois de Versoix and I hardly saw anyone walking, or even cycling. I did get to a parking, and the parking was filled with cars. Everyone had decided to go to the riverside between the trees to keep cool. What seemed paradoxical is that I couldn't see anyone. I could hear children and see the cars, but nothing more. Riding in such conditions is nice. No population stress.

The Place des Nations Fountains

Before I got to Place Des Nations I refilled my water bottle. I then headed down to the Place Des Nations fountains where children were playing. I put my bike against some seats, and allowed one of the water jets to soak me and my clothing. I then continued my bike ride.

I kept splashing water on my face but didn't really feel the need. I did this as a precaution, rather than out of desperate need. I felt fine, despite the heat

Three or Four Sips at a Time

When riding in the heat there are moments when you feel your thirst grow, so you drink too much, too fast. It's important not to drink too much too fast, or you'll just waste it.

Luckily I didn't.

And Finally

During this ride I made sure to ride more slowly than usual. I made sure not to push myself beyond my ability to cope with the weather. I also made sure to be hydrated at all times. I had one flask filled with water, and the second filled with an electrolyte drink. I topped up both. I calculate that I drank at least two litres, which, over three hours isn't much, but it worked. I felt fine when I got home. I was still thirsty but ate some peanuts and then drank water. I was thirsty for re-mineralisation. I wanted to recover the salt I had lost.

Cycling is a good sport in a heatwave, because you're riding in the breeze that you're creating. My fear of heatstroke was not realised, luckily.