Bonjour, buon giorno, guten morgen. Good morning from Lausanne, Switzerland. Watches, knives, banks, cheese, and chocolate are among many things for which this country is well known. For cyclists, there’s a biggie missing from this list. Let’s get to it.
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The roads in Switzerland are smooth. Silky smooth. Baby’s-bottom smooth. I-can’t-believe-these-roads-aren’t-butter smooth. And smooth roads are a game-changer, especially for San Diego cyclists accustomed to riding through an endless minefield of potholes, mismatched slabs of pavement, and other urban detritus. As good as I have gotten at maneuvering around wrist-rattling surfaces, it’s completely unavoidable in a place where 55% of roads are rated as “poor.”
Not so in Switzerland. Here, the roads are absolutely immaculate – a case study of infrastructure for Transportation Secretary Buttigieg to learn from. Somehow, even at speed, you can’t detect so much as a seam or crack. It almost feels like you’re on a stationary bike. As such, in the (surprisingly interesting) history of pavement, I believe Swiss civil engineers will be remembered as legends.
A most unexpected and delightful consequence of perfect pavement is having the mental energy to think about things other than obstacle avoidance. Things like...what to include in your upcoming newsletter.
Another enormous benefit is that you can go farther and faster with much less fatigue. That’s rather helpful when you’re attempting to bike 112 miles in one go.
Crank It
The Century of the Century
Photo credit: Justin Prugh
Two Group Rides ago, I wrote about a goal I had to one day circumnavigate Lac Léman by bike. Yesterday, I accomplished that goal.
Yesterday turned out not to be the best day of my life (hello, wedding day), but I think it made the top two. I could wax poetic about the whole ride, but for the purposes of this newsletter, here are the highlights:
Weather – The morning was cool and crisp, with just a hint of autumn. A tailwind pushed me gently along from Lausanne to Nyon, then eased up outside of Geneva. The afternoon was mid-70s, endlessly sunny, early September at its best.
Natural beauty – Lac Léman was glassy and clear to the bottom, particularly when I got to the French side near Thonon and Evian. The only ripple in the water came from the kayakers paddling by. Towering mountains relinquished the last of their winter snow in majestic cascades.
Man-made beauty – Nothing beats hopping from one quaint town to the next. From medieval walls to towering churches, the architecture invited me to detour and explore. In the harbors, with nary a gust to speak of, sailboats sat idly by.
Food – For breakfast, I devoured an excellent Nutella crepe in Geneva (so Swiss!). For lunch, I had a chicken, tomato, and mozzarella sandwich, a chocolate eclair, and a baguette (so French!). I couldn’t finish the baguette, so I tucked the remains into my jersey pocket and am now convinced that’s the primary reason baguettes are shaped that way.
Feel – The whole way around, I beamed. My legs, my heart, my lungs – all felt strong. I didn’t suffer the usual aches in my shoulders and wrists that can accompany long rides. My final miles were as fast as my early ones, and as the odometer clicked over 100, I threw in a solid climb near Vevey to celebrate.
In the weeks leading up to this trip, I joked about doing the century ride around the lake twice, once in each direction. Now having gone around counter-clockwise, I’m seriously considering a second tour in reverse. It likely won’t happen this trip as I have other areas of the country I still want to get to, but on a future visit, I’m all in. Care to join me?
Coffee Stop
Eau Positive
Photo credit: Justin Prugh
In the U.S., water fountains are typically industrial mechanisms sandwiched between two stinky bathrooms. When there’s any water at all, it’s either a stream that dribbles with pathetic pressure so you practically have to French kiss the spout or it’s a stream so unnecessarily strong that it nearly squirts you in the face like a Super Soaker. And is it me, or is pressing that button way harder than it needs to be?
By contrast, in Switzerland, water fountains are gorgeous arrangements of flowers placed around a spigot that drains pleasantly into a serene pool. Best of all, they are predictably and reliably located in each town. As I took my lap around the lake, there was never a worry about where or when I’d be able to refill my bottle, nor even the need to bring a second water bottle.
Little touches like that made an already phenomenal day even better.
Jaunt Back
Snap Review: Scott Addict RC Premium Disc
Photo credit: Justin Prugh
So, you already know the century ride was great. The weather cooperated, the water flowed, the rider smiled. Yet we still haven’t touched on a very important variable in the success of my century ride: the bike.
It would have been extremely cool to do this ride on my usual road bike, a 2018 Cannondale Synapse Carbon Disc Ultegra Di2. l know that bike inside and out, I’ve done other centuries on it, and I adore how it feels. However, as much as I love it, the idea of shipping it 11,000 miles seems like an unnecessary headache. Disassembly, packing, lugging among planes and trains and automobiles, risking possible damage or loss, reassembly. And that’s just to get it to Switzerland, never mind getting it back.
Instead, I ventured online and rented a 2019 Scott Addict RC Premium Disc, never having ridden this make or model before. A bit risky, so why chance it? A few reasons. First, it’s a road bike similar to mine – carbon, disc, Ultegra – with comparable geometry. Second, it’s a brand with Swiss headquarters, and if it’s good enough for the Swiss, it’s good enough for me. Finally, it’s the only brand the rental company offered me. Beggars can’t be choosers.
I needn’t have worried at all. The bike performed brilliantly. A confident climber and descender, optimally geared, strong brakes, and carbon wheels that pushed me along at record cruising speeds. If I hadn’t needed to pull over so frequently to capture my extraordinary surroundings, I’m sure I’d have been able to shave off considerable time. In addition to being a mechanical masterpiece, the understated earth tones of the paint, saddle, and tires had me traveling stylishly through the Swiss countryside.
I intend to hold out several more years before getting a new road bike, but when that day comes, I’ll surely be making eyes again at the Addict lineup from Scott.
Cool Down
A Handbag on Wheels
Louis Vuitton
Speaking of traveling in style, the first bike from Louis Vuitton debuted this week, and it’s...fine. Not spectacular, not revolutionary. Very much fashion over function. I guess I expected more from a bike that costs $28,900. Still, it’s undeniably a bicycle, complete with two wheels and pedals, and for that I give LV credit. (Turns out, they also makes skateboards. Go figure.)
Aside from the Louis Vuitton logo-as-design wrapping the seat, frame, and wheels, French bike manufacturer Maison Tamboite seems to have done the heavy lifting for this design collaboration. I’d never heard of Maison Tamboite, so I checked them out. As you’d expect, they’re a super high-end outfit that makes hand-made, custom bikes. They go so far as to call them works of art, and based on the couple bikes I saw on their homepage, I don’t disagree. But photos can make anything look good. How are they up close? How do they actually ride?
Maison Tamboite's bikes are crafted in a highly secluded workshop in Paris with no evident sign on the door, a speakeasy for the cycling elite. Being on the same continent as Paris at the moment, I thought about making a trip to see their limited inventory, but ugh, my private jet is currently getting its upholstery upgraded, and, well, you know how it is.
Fortunately, you can have a taste of LV-level luxury for a fraction of the cost. For example, check out the very handsome and strikingly similar Linus Roadster Sport 3i. At only $679, it’s as good for cruising around town as it is for your wallet.
Peel Off
Giphy
This has been an absolutely magical time in Switzerland. Special thanks to my sister, my bro-in-law, and my niece for hosting me, and to my lovely wife for making my dreams come true in so many ways.
I expect to be falling over with jet lag next week, so be on the lookout for the next Group Ride on September 17. Until then, au revoir!
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Group Ride is a newsletter for the social cyclist. I curate content from bike manufacturers, shops and media sources to bring you information and inspiration to ride more confidently and comfortably.
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