YFC “Road Rules” 2008 Update

Hi everybody,

I’m happy to report that this weekend’s cycling trip around the lake was a big success. We had great weather all through the ride and were only threatened with rain for the cookout at the end. Fortunately, it blew over and everything went off without a hitch.

I didn’t take as many photos this year (I was focused primarily on the biking), but here are a few. I also wanted to let you know that it’s not too late to donate to Voix Libre, the organization our trip supported. For details on how, please read my previous entry. Please let me know by Monday, May 19th if you can donate. All told, I cycled about 140 km over two days this weekend.

Thanks for your support!








Séb getting a bit of sleep in at the rest stop




This is at the campsite. Yes, the Swiss even do gnomes when camping…




A few of the other chaperones enjoy some delicious ice cream having finished our trip around the lake


My pick: chocolate orange






We were divided into teams for various challenges over the course of the weekend. Here’s my team, Something Witty, being photographed by a stranger at the end of our journey as part of a photo scavenger hunt

Help Me Bike For Underprivileged Kids

Dear readers of my blog, (especially my parents’ friends who have money),

As you may recall, around this time last year I helped chaperone a bike trip for high school students around Lake Geneva. I am going to have the same opportunity this year over the weekend of May 10-11, but rather than freeload completely I would like to help participate in their fund-raising project. This year the beneficiary of all funds raised for the 100km (62 mile) ride will go to Voix Libres, a local Geneva organization which works for underprivileged children in Bolivia, many of whom are forced to work in mines and garbage dumps. The unique aspect of this organization is that in order to receive help, the children must then in turn help others. You can read more at their website.

If you would like to sponsor me, you can do so in one of two ways: a pledge per km or a flat pledge for the entire distance. The Swiss Franc is currently at parity with the US dollar, so the easiest way to work this is probably to send checks to my home which my parents will deposit and I can then withdraw here.

If you are able to help me out, please send a check to:

Aaron Maurer
YFC bike trip
11554 Springtree Ct.
Pickerington, OH 43147

Additionally, please e-mail me the following information at yodini [at] yahoo [dot] com:

your name, your address, your phone number, your e-mail address, and your pledge (per km or flat).


If you are interesting in helping, please let me know by Saturday, May 10th. Thank you very much for your support and know that your contributions go to a wonderful cause!

YFC “Road Rules” Bike Tour

Over Memorial Day weekend (or Pentecost weekend here in Geneva) I had the chance to help chaperone a cycling trip for Youth For Christ, an organization that Josh, Laura and Lammert from Shema all work for. Basically, they put on a variety of different types of events for teenagers (from service opportunities to more traditional youth-groupy stuff) not connected to any particular school or church. The bike trip was a 2-day journey with about 20 kids around Lac Léman which ended up totaling about 80 miles.

We started out in Nyon and rode through Morges, Lausanne, Montreux and camped the first night in Villeneuve. On Sunday we headed out through Evian and winded up in Yvorre, a nice little French town. From there we took the boat back across the lake to Coppet where we ended with a delicious cookout, perfect for Memorial Day, even if I was in Switzerland.

The weekend was a lot of fun, especially since I hadn’t been on a bike in at least 10 years and I ended up riding with the lead group. Despite a few minor mishaps (chains falling off, tires blowing out, the support van breaking down), everything went smoothly. The kids were a lot of fun and it made me realize how much I miss that interaction with younger people. Hopefully I’ll have a chance to help out with some more of their programs over the next year.

I was on photo duty for some of the weekend, so I took most of these shots. Here are a few of my favorites, as well as a video montage Josh threw together.