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Organizers of this year's charitable Bike the Lake event are looking for participants either to cycle or to provide logistical suport for the 115 km or 180km tours. The event begins on Sunday, June 6, 2010 at 8.30am and expects to finish at 4.30 pm (1630).

You should sign up as soon as possible on the Bike the Lake Facebook so that the organizers know how many to expect in order to prepare supplies and support vehicles. The annual event, which starts at the Bain de Paquis in Geneva, is for cyclists of all abilities. For those who need them, there are training sessions every Sunday morning departing from the car of the Commune de Crassier at 9.00 am. (Swiss-French border bear Divonne). More details on Facebook.

So, inspire yourself. Set your personal challenge for 2010 and join us.

Bike the Lake is a sociable, annual charitable cycle around Lake Geneva for fit cyclists of all abilities. This will be its 3rd year.

The event

As always there will be two different routes. The shorter ride is linked with a ferry.

* full tour: Geneva to Geneva 180km
* mid-tour: Geneva to Evian - Lausanne to Geneva 115km

This year both routes will start on Sunday 6th June at 08-00 at the Bains des Paquis in Geneva. A post event dinner will be arranged close to the Bains des Paquis from 7pm, for those who are hungry after a cooling swim (weather pending!). Families and friends very welcome.

What you need

A good bike ¦we recommend a modern road bike for the full tour, but the mid-tour can be done on any properly geared and comfortable bike. The lighter the better.

A base fitness ¦ depending on your fitness the full-tour will involve 6-9 hours in the saddle and the mid-tour 4-7 hours. Saddle-soreness can be a limiting factor. Plenty of saddle time before the day is the best protection.

We also have lots of stops on the way and we stress that it's a sociable day not a race.

Some time to train ¦ there are regular Sunday morning rides of between 30-70km, normally meeting at 09-00 in the public car-park in Crassier from April. A great way to get out of bed on a Sunday and be back for lunch. Or organise your own bike time. What we organise...... and what we don't

Bike The Lake is organised by just a few of us on a voluntary basis so don't expect ‘event' levels of logistical support. It goes without saying that you participate in the day at your own risk.

There will be several support vehicles. WRS's Mark Butcher runs one of the vehicles and provides plenty of moral support on the day. They will carry water, energy bars, some basic bike spares and first aid. But with spread-out groups this is a limited facility. If you are cycling with a company (please encourage your company and colleagues), or a large group of friends, we recommend that you organise your own support.

Always carry your own puncture kit and a pump and an inner tube too.

We will publish route maps and suggested meeting points and everyone will start at the same time. It will be the full responsibility of each rider to find and fund their way, and to return safely. The only expenses are food and a ferry ticket for those who need it.

This year's charity...

This year we are cycling for an established charity which supports orphans in Nepal, see¦ www.sassnepal.org.np/aboutus

The specific funding goals this year are:

- to support the running of an orphanage in Kathmandu

- supporting health camps in remote areas of Nepal with medical experts from France and Switzerland

- supporting a new project involving EHL Smile, an association of students and lecturer of the Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne (EHL) which will provide vocational training to orphans. This school will open in January 2011.

We encourage everyone to raise a minimum of 350 CHF  but all participants are welcome however much sponsorship is raised and anyone can raise money for their own charity if they choose. Last year we raised over 10,000 CHF with participants from six countries. We want to do even better this year. We will publish sponsorship forms for those that need them and will have an on-line giving facility so that money is easy to collect.

What you need to do next

Just join the BikeTheLake2010 facebook site. It will be the main information point for the event.

There is also a simple website where you can register in English and French. www.bikethelake.ch.

Contact us by email if you have any questions; •This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it• ,'; document.write( '' ); document.write( addy_text22118 ); document.write( '<\/a>' ); //--> •This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it• or just turn up on any Sunday morning at 09-00. But please check the facebook site each week to see where we will be cycling. You'll be very welcome...

Bike the Lake est un tour du Lac Léman en vélo
pour les bons cyclistes de tous niveaux.

Inspire yourself.

Créer ton défis personel pour 2010, et rejoindre nous.

Le 6 juin 2010