Thankfully when I woke up this morning, the forecast I had made a few days ago looked like it would be right!! Yipee- no rain! It was still cool so I wrapped up warm enough and set off to arrive at the meeting point with about 15 minutes to wait. We met up at the back of Sissach Bahnhof as described in the Strava Event - Strava itself allows you to set a meeting point and I put in the station - but the map provided always shows the front with the busses and we are at the back - with the bikes.
No matter, we all arrived on time began our introduction as we had 4! new joiners today. We had the 2 who were with us for the first time last month back for more fun and another bunch of new people. I am really pleased to see the word is getting out and people see what we do and want to come and join the fun. I handed out some business cards and stickers - please stick them to interesting places you go. The QR code brings you to this blog.
One of my companions had invited another person - not signed in to the Strava event - and we would pick them up just as we were leaving Sissach. We set off towards Gelterkinden and as we turned the corner to cross the road and join the veloweg on the pavement, a man on a road bike waved to us. I was confused so stopped. This was where we were going to pick the new invitee - and it turned out to be him! After a brief discussion, we accepted the guest rider for today - he had to promise not to go too fast up hills! Off we set again. It was a quiet Sunday morning, quickly through Gelterkinden then Tecknau before left turn up the hill towards Wenslingen. A short stop at the bottom to remove a layer as it was warming up. We all climbed at our own pace through trees and after the hairpin bend turned left at the edge of the village. I think this will have pleased the few cars that were behind me waiting for a place to pass.
After a brief stop we continued down the other side of the hill to Oltingen and climbed again towards Anwil. We took the side road at the farm to avoid the steep parts and the view at the top is always great.
From Anwil to Kienberg is a good road then the best descent towards Wittnau and the first official and planned stop - toilets at the church. All refreshed, we continued towards Gipf-Oberfrick on the main road. At the end of the village there is a junction and right turn towards Benkerjoch pass. As we approached, a group of cyclist were coming towards us on the veloweg and turned sort of left towards the pass. There was some confusion and cars and one of them did an absolute classic "cant clip out!" panic! crash and landed on his back, legs in the air in the middle of the traffic island. They shouted all was OK, so we left them to sort it out.
Not long after was our second real test, again we settled in to our own pace and regrouped at the top. This is a great little climb, dense trees make is quite dark but its very pretty. At the top we could admire the fruit trees and the local children rushing about on their various wheeled devices - we didnt stop long and were soon turning left down the fast road towards Herznach. Its steep and straight, My top speed was 62kph :). Once in the village a few turns led us on to another backroad/veloweg to Ueken and the artistic village sign. Lets all hope the ladybird is not real.
We stayed on the veloweg all the way back to Frick where we passed the station before another brief stop to prepare for another climb.
I had made marshmallow krispie cakes last week and shared some. There are only so many a person can eat of these.
Next stop - the top! We arrived and I realised that I had been chatting too much and not paid enough attention to the person at the back of the line so went back to pick her up. All good! Short stop and we agreed we would "meet at the toilets at the church in Schupfahrt". On we went in 2 smaller groups, I was at the back and didnt see where group 1 went, we got into the village and I shouted to alert those not paying attention to the route - that we needed to turn left. So in the end two of us managed to find the toilets, the others seemed to have found a ToiToi. That was a surprise as I had no idea it was there.
We found each other again and continued on the nearly last climb. Once in Wegenstetten we said goodbye to one companion then promptly lost 2 more. We turned right and used the farm road, 2 others continued on the main road. We rejoined near the top and I made an executive decision to avoid the main road so we climbed up towards Hemmiken. I tried my best at this point and landed at the top a smidge puffed out - folded over my handlebars.
The view of Farnsburg from here is good - we will go past in on another ride I am certain. Its worth a visit for the view over to the Schwarzwald from the top alone. It has recently been refurbished and looks great.
https://farnsburg.ch/pages/ruine-farnsburg-1
Now on the last leg it wasnt long before we were back in Gelterkinden, through the village and on to Sissach where we said goodbye to another. Our smaller group ended up at the station.
From here, some continued over Hauenstein again to Olten, others took the train and I cycled back to Gelterkinden.
A great day out, thanks to all who joined for your company. A special thanks to our guest rider for not being too fast up the hills. Hope to see you all on another ride.
Distance: 69km
Avg Speed: 19.4km/h
Climbing: 1000m
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