Bike The Lake 2009 will take place on Sunday, 7 June to raise funds  for Re:Cycle, a UK-based charity which distributes bikes to key workers in Africa. The round-the-lake bike tour is seeking to cover the cost of 1,000 bikes, so each participant is urged to raise 350 CHF or 250 Euros. You can make your  own sponsorship arrangements with friends or colleagues, such as 10, 30 or 50 Swiss centimes, or even one CHF per kilometer, The tour is open to anyone, but it helps to be in good physical condition as it is a long haul. But then you will be cycling Europe's largest and perhaps most beautiful lake. And what a better way to discover the Lake Geneva region. The objective, too, is to be in good company and to enjoy yourself.

Leaving the Bains des Paquis in Geneva at 7.30 in the morning, participants can follow one of two routes – with opt-out possibilities along the way. The overall route will go anti-clockwise around the lake with all cyclists following the same itinerary for the sections of the lake circuit they are seeking to cover. The full route – Geneva to Geneva – is roughly 180 km while the mid-option is 115 km going from Geneva to Evian and then the ferry to Lausanne (Ouchy) and finally train or boat to Geneva. The main pack – or peleton as the French call it - expects to return by 1930 in the evening. Please remember that Bike the Lake 2009 is run by a small hanfull of volunteers, so don't expect any special logistics. Please pass on this link to others  - the more the merrier - and if you wish to provide a support vehicle that would be great.  Read more for further details on how to sponsor or take part. Or contact This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it for further information. 

It’s up to you to decide which route you take and whether you wish to do the full monty. You can decide on the day as weather may be a deciding factor. No need to be embarrassed. Any option is fine as the idea is to enjoy yourself and to raise funds at the same time.

Everything starts at the Bains des Paquis in Geneva. For those who are driving, in the past we have parked in the marina, which is car-park free all day on a Sunday. There is other parking close by but give yourself some time. We can have a swim and some dinner when we return around 19-30, or earlier. We haven’t reserved a restaurant as we are not a fixed number so eat and relax as you want. But let us know if you intend to eat to give us an idea.

What You Need!

• Your bike

• Bike spares you want to carry (recommend a spare inner tube and puncture repair kit)

• Some vaseline (for anyone who needs it!)

• Your passport

• Some money for food and ferries

• Water (we recommend energy drinks)

• Portable snacks

• Light pump

• Mobile phone

• Suntan lotion (well, we hope!)

What you don’t need to carry but should bring (we can carry limited amounts of stuff in support cars)

• Change of clothes in a bag

• Spare food and water

• Swimmers, towel

• Anything else you can think of that we can’t What we will have in the support car

• Lots of water

• Energy drinks

• Energy bars

• A few bike spares

• A tool kit

• Spare puncture repair kits

• First Aid kit

• Moral support!

What we organise…… and what we don’t

The cycle ride is organised by just a few people on a voluntary basis so please don’t expect ‘event’ levels of logistical support. Importantly, we don’t arrange special permissions, so any situation with the police or authorities will need to be dealt with by you as an independent cyclist. You’re responsible for your own fitness, safety and health! Carry your own insurance if you think it’s necessary.

There will be two or three support vehicles of friends and family but with spread-out groups this is obviously a limited facility. If you know other people who can add support you or others on the day please invite them.

People will naturally cycle with people they know, or groups going at the same pace. It will be up to you to find your way back. That’s half the fun of it. Generally, keep the lake on your left and you should get there!

The Bike the Lake 2009 Routes

We’re all going anti-clockwise round the lake. (if anyone makes it to Montreux or beyond, and doesn’t want to carry on, or the weather turns bad – there’s the train back to Geneva from plenty of places.)

STAGE 1 (Geneva to Evian via Yvoire) The first bit leaves Geneva and wiggles along the coast road via Hermance and then the top of Yvoire (don’t go down into Yvoire village unless you are getting the ferry to Nyon, and then you keep as much to the lake as you can and join the main Geneva - Thonon road before Thonon.

- Leave Bains des Paquis for the Jardin Anglais - Along the Quai de Collogny - Up the slope to Vesenaz (the left onto D25, don’t miss it) - Route de Hermance (D25) - Hermance - Optional rest stop at the Buvette by the Hermance Plage (by the lake) - Chens le-Pont (cross the border, D25) - Chens sur-Leman - Messery - Across the top of Yvoire - Excenevex (still, on D25) - Sciez (turn left onto the Geneva - Thonon road D1005) - IMPORTANT: after Sciez there is a sharp left turn down to the lake (almost back on yourself, we hope to have someone waving here) – follow down and through the large gates of the Chateau de Coudrée (it’s a hotel, but has a right of way through it) and turn right through the carpark and out along a private residential road which leads you to Sciez Port. (if you miss it follow the next sign to Sciez Port). - At Sciez Port follow the lake road (Route de Renouillieres) - Now, one of the very few rises in the day up to Sechex (its mild) - Follow D33 to Thonon Port - Ripaille (keeping the Chateau de Ripaille on your left) - Vongy - Hit the main road coming out of Thonon to Evian (D1005) - Follow it to Evian - Rest-stop by the CGN ferry terminal on the front at Evian Evian to Lausanne ferries run at 11-45, 13-20 and 14-45 (the crossing is 35 minutes)

STAGE 2 (Evian to Vevey, notably for those doing the complete tour) Much simpler, the D1005 hugs the lake, becoming the 21 before reaching Bouveret where it crosses the border. It doesn’t go anywhere else. There is a cycle path between Bouveret and Villeneuve but our recommendation for road bikes is to fol- low the 21 until Chessel, (keeping the Rhone on your left) and then turn left and on the Route de Scex, immediately crossing the Rhone and passing through Noville (great name!) and then to Villeneuve. - At Villeneuve you follow the lake road – (9) - Cycle through the centre of Montreux - Follow the lake road through Grandchamp - Pass Chateau Chillon - Vernex - Clarens - Lunch in Vevey (rendezvous outside Pizza Tazi, on the edge of the town square by the lake)

STAGE 3 (Vevey to Rolle) - Take the lake road (9) to Lausanne - In Lausanne, keep to the lake until Ouchy - Optional rest-stop at Quai d’Ouchy (café opposite Moon statue) - Keep close to the lake through Parc Bourget until you hit the Route Cantonal (1) which becomes the Route de Geneva (1) and takes you all the way to Geneva. (There are cycle lanes on quite a lot of this section) - Pass through Morges (using the one-way system) - Pass through Saint Prex (go off the main road into the village and there is a quieter, prettier route along the lake which rejoins the main road after a bunch of kilometres) or simply follow the (1) above. - Pass through Allaman - Pass through Plangeon - Rest-stop at Rolle

STAGE 4 (Rolle to Geneva) - Getting very simple. Follow the (1) through Nyon - Leave Nyon by the lake road - Optional rest stop at Rolle - Follow the lake road and follow it all the way home to Geneva!

What to do on the day

Have a large breakfast! Turn up to ready for a 07-30 start Sunday 7th June. 

Contact us if you have any questions prior to the day on email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or Peter on +41 78 739 7830 on Sunday morning.

Contact numbers if you have any problems along the way or to reach the  support vehicles.  Mark Butcher +41 79 598 7409 or Richard Bastow +447939114246

Organising Team Peter +41 78 739 7830, Jon +41 79 500 0130, Glen +41 79 5933217, Jon N +43 664 220 1225, Neil +41 79 29 76459, Jamie +41 794 282 905 2009