London To Paris Cycle Ride 2008

Well, We Did It!!!!! 334 Miles covered in 23 hours on the saddle, over 4 days.
Average speed of 14.9 mph, with 30000 Calories burnt each.
Here’s how we did it.

Day 1
London to Portsmouth - 84 miles
We started from Tower Bridge just after 10am. The guys from our van sponsor, Home delivery network managed to temporarily block off part of the bridge to allow us to all start together in one group, over the bridge.

Traffic out of London was pretty heavy for the first 20 miles or so.
Photo stop just outside Woking at the Maclaren headquarters was cut short by the security guard shouting at us for walking our bikes on the grass.

Stop at Wetherspoons for a spot of lunch was followed by the final push down to Portsmouth. Jimbo forwent lunch in order to get a good head start, and the next time most of us saw him, was at the ferry port!
A few of us managed to get lost somewhere along the final leg of today’s route – That A3 is bloody busy as it gets down to the A3(M) !! The group strung out a fair bit – something that needed to be worked on over the following days. Roads, pot-holed to hell for a lot of the day!
Arrived at the ferry port with at least 2 hours to spare, so a job well done!

Leader of the Sprint Comp – Rashers / Gareth
Leader of the Overall Comp – RePhil
Punctures - 0

Day 2
St. Malo to Mayenne – 82.2 Miles
Disembarked ferry where our final team member Bandit was waiting for us, ready like a coiled spring!!
We flexed our linguistic muscles on the unsuspecting French by ordering breakfast at a Café, in St Malo, then set off around 11am after Matt had done a spot of water shopping.

Probably the hottest day of the ride saw us following the beautiful coastline for a few miles towards Mont St Michel before heading inland for lunch. Our first casualty today was Rashers coming off – doing a spot of “Where have them lot gone” then realising the kerb was fast approaching – good bit of gravel rash for Rashers!

Lunch at Nancy’s (PB’s Sister) house was legendary! – Beautiful house in the middle of the country-side, food and drink a-plenty and best of all, some friendly faces!! They also helped to refine our route slightly as well which shaved a mile or two off the day. We could have stayed there all day quite easily! Thanks again to John and Nancy for their wonderful hospitality.
The afternoon saw us head further inland, and after a quick puncture fix by Baz, we headed east to Mayenne where we checked into the hotel.

Leader of the Sprint Comp – Rashers
Leader of the Overall Comp – RePhil
Leader of the King Of The Mountains Comp – RePhil / Rashers
Punctures – 1 (Bazzer)

Day 3
Mayenne to Belleme – 66 Miles
Jimbo’s Birthday!!
The shortest day of the ride, before the biggie of day 4 saw our head support driver Matthew take up the challenge. Borrowing Jimbo’s bike, with no training, and in his Newcastle United shirt, he set off with the rest of us at a good pace.

Lunch at Allencon was in a supermarket car-park. Our feast was laid out in front of us using a shopping trolley and some flattened bike boxes for a table top – Ideal!!
We all stayed together pretty well for the rest of the ride, and the terrain was great, nice flat sweeping, smooth roads.

Arrived at a rather posh golf club hotel for the evening where we were treated to 2 talents that our group demonstrated. After very little persuasion from Kibbs, Stuart cleared a space in the club bar, put some music on his mobile, and “threw some shapes and busted some moves” for us and the golf club on-lookers. Proper Breakdancing!!!
Later in the evening, Spooky got on the piano and took requests, everyone had a good old knees up! – The refined residents of the golf club didn’t know what hit em, but they loved it! (Well, most of them did!)

Leader of the Sprint Comp – Rashers
Leader of the Overall Comp – RePhil
Leader of the King Of The Mountains Comp - RePhil
Punctures - 0

Day 4
Belleme to Paris – 101 Miles
We decided that as this was the longest day, we’d better make an early start, so we set off at 7am without a proper breakfast (we’d stop for some after a few miles had been eaten up). It was horrible weather, it had rained in Belleme from just after we had arrived the previous day, and we had left there in the rain this morning.

It was a steady pace though and the miles soon got eaten away.
Once the rain clouds went away, we were left with perfect riding, not too hot, it had dried up and we had beautiful smooth, rolling roads in front of us.
By the time we got to Versailles, the sun had come out and the final racing standings had already been decided, so our final stop was a trundle, all together in the sunshine, before we hit the really busy traffic of the outskirts of Paris.

The adrenalin was flowing and after Baz had fixed his last puncture in the outer suburbs of Paris, we met the Seine and followed it all the way to the Eiffel Tower where our support crew, wives and several bottle of Champagne were waiting for us!!

Winner of the Overall Competition (Yellow Jersey) RePhil (Phil Nicholl)
Winner of the Sprint Competition (Green Jersey) Rashers (Rich Ashley)
Winner of the King Of The Mountains Competition (Polka-Dot Jersey) Spooky (Luke Kemp)
Winner of the Fundraiser Competition (White Jersey) Spooky (Luke Kemp)
Winner of the Lanterne Rouge (Red Jersey) PB (Paul Bryant)
Punctures – 1 (Bazzer)

Matt was navigating in the van with Richie's wife Tove following closely behind in the car. We set off from Tower Bridge, and nearly 3 hours later, pulled into Godalming.

The traffic wasn't too bad and there are cycle lanes on quite a bit of the route.
We had a few "navigational problems" but after a few conversations with Matt, we found our way relatively pain free.

We finished at Waitrose in the centre of Godalming, then went up the road for a Beer and Burger !!

We've made it on to the Prospect Hospice Website:

Click For The Prospect Hospice Website

Points competitions

There are 3 Race Jerseys to compete for and 2 "other" Jerseys up for grabs, all of which will be presented in Paris over a well earned beer or two.

Race Jerseys:
Overall (Yellow Jersey)
Sprinter (Green Jersey)
King Of The Mountains (Polka-Dot Jersey)

This is an optional part of the ride – and in no way to be taken as a serious race, its just a bit of fun to break up the days. – Riders are only going to have a go if it is absolutely safe to do so at the time. We are on open roads here so no bunch sprints, 5 a-breast down the road!!

If there’s any doubt as to where these points are on the road, Matt will be parked up in the exact spot so its basically first past the van. Matt’s decision on close / split decision finishes is final !!

If riding toward the marker and a rider within the racing group suffers any mechanical/puncture problems, (say, more than approx 2 km out) the other riders will observe traditional road etiquette and slow down / wait / not race until we are all together again.

If a mechanical problem is un-fixable without the van’s assistance, i.e. the van has to go back to support the rider, that particular section of the competition won’t count.

In the event of a points tie, the points gained in other competitions will be counted.

If one rider is leading more than one competition at the end, he will win the more prestigious competition only (in the order, Overall, Sprinter, and Climber). The 2nd place rider in the lower order competition will then claim the win. (We will have 3 separate winners in Paris so there’s no point trying to dominate all three competitions!)

Eg:
If the overall standings were:

1 Bazzer 38 points
2 Rashers 32 points
3 Spooky 30 points
4 PB 26 points

And the sprinters standings were:

1 Bazzer 42 points
2 Bandit 38 points
3 PB 36 points
4 Gilly 24 points

Then Bazzer would win the overall competition and Bandit would win the sprinters competition

Overall Competition

The first riders to reach a designated point close to the end of each day’s riding will gain points in the Overall competition
Matt in the van will be the “marker” to aim for at the end of the day’s ride. (Yellow Marker Board on the back of the van)

Day 1 finish – Purbrook

Day 2 finish – Chatillion-sur-Colmont

Day 3 finish – Le Gue-de-la-Chaine

Day 4 finish – Versailles

Points awarded per day:
1st place rider = 10 points
2nd place rider = 8 points
3rd place rider = 6 points
4th place rider = 4 points
5th place rider = 2 points

Climbers Competition (King Of The Mountains)

The two highest summits on every day’s ride will be included in this competition.
Matt in the van will be the “marker” of the summit. (Red and White Polka-Dot Marker Board on the back of the van)

Points awarded per climb:
1st place rider = 10 points
2nd place rider = 8 points
3rd place rider = 6 points
4th place rider = 4 points
5th place rider = 2 points

Day 1 – No Summits counted.

Day 2 Summit 1 – Les Villettes
Day 2 Summit 2 – Landivy

Day 3 Summit 1 – Col de St-Sulpice
Day 3 Summit 2 – Le Gue-de-la-Chaine

Day 4 Summit 1 – Freulemont
Day 4 Summit 2 – Le Tartre Gaudran

Sprinters Competition

2 Villages per day will be chosen as sprinters points earners.
The first riders to reach each chosen village will be awarded sprint points (Matt will be the marker – Green Marker Board on the back of the van)

Points awarded per village entered:
1st place rider = 10 points
2nd place rider = 8 points
3rd place rider = 6 points
4th place rider = 4 points
5th place rider = 2 points

Day 1 Village 1 – Ottershaw
Day 1 Village 2 – Rake

Day 2 Village 1 – Le Vivier-sur-Mer
Day 2 Village 2 – Vieuvy

Day 3 Village 1 – Loupfougeres
Day 3 Village 2 – Neufchatel-en-Saosnois

Day 4 Village 1 – La ferme Neuve
Day 4 Village 2 – St-Leger-en-Yvelines

Other Jerseys:
Fundraiser (White Jersey)
Lanterne Rouge (Red Jersey)

The Fundraisers Jersey will be awarded to the rider who has gained the most sponsorship before we start the ride.

The Lanterne Rouge is awarded to the rider who has been consistently "bringing up the rear" over the four days. The origin of the jerey is from the old tour term which describes the rider who is at the back of the group (red light at the back of a train)

London To Paris 2008 - 519km (321 miles)

We will be arriving in Paris the day before the pros arrive for the final stage of the 2008 Tour de France.
The roads we will be using (on the French side) are allegedly among the best for cycling and has been used previously by other London to Paris cycling events.

Wednesday 23rd July 2008 (Day 1)

Set off from Tower Bridge at 10am sharp (We’ve got a ferry to catch!)
London Tower Bridge to Godalming 65 km (40 Miles) – Morning
Lunch in Godalming
Godalming to Portsmouth 61 km (38 Miles) - Afternoon
Arrive Portsmouth to catch the ovrnight ferry to St Malo.

Day Total = 126km (78 miles)

Thursday 24th July 2008 (Day 2)

The ferry docks at St Malo at 8.30am
Set off from St Malo by 9am -ish
Saint Malo to Nancy's (PB’s Sister’s) House 60km (37 Miles) - Morning
Lunch at Nancy’s
Nancy's to Mayenne 69km (43 Miles) - Afternoon

Day Total = 129km (80 miles)

Friday 25th July 2008 (Day 3)

Mayenne to Alencon 61km (38 Miles) - Morning
Lunch in Alencon
Alencon to Belleme 41km (25 Miles) - Afternoon

Day Total = 102km (63 miles)

Saturday 26th July 2008 (Day 4)

Belleme to Nogent le Roi 87 km (54 Miles) - Morning
Lunch in Nogent le Roi
Nogent le roi - Eiffel Tower 75km (46 miles) - Afternoon
Arrive Eiffel Tower for Champagne, photos and a group hug!!

Day Total = 162km (100 Miles)

11 Riders and Matthew the Driver managed to meet up last Sunday for our introduction ride.

Most of us have been training hard in smaller groups or alone, but this was the first chance for us all to meet up and ride as a group.

The ride started and ended in Bushton and the route took us via Wroughton, Marlborough, Manton, Bishops Cannings and Compton Bassett. Total distance was approximately 55 miles, although many of us did a few more.

We took the opportunity to stop by at the Prospect Hospice to meet Andrew Thompson, the communications officer, along with two of Prospects nurses, where we had the chance to pose in our lycra and new cycling jerseys for a few photos.

There was a reasonable pace set throughout the ride, and the weather stayed fine, contrary to the forecasts. We luckily suffered no punctures, but there were a few clipping in and out problems with some new pedals......few grazed knees!

The first climb of the ride was just out of Bushton (Clyffe Pypard) It was quite a tough climb but there were a few welcome words of encouragement chalked onto the road just like in the Tour de France......!! (Thanks Bazzer!!)

Well done to PB for organising and completing the training ride while unwell.
We hope to sort out another one soon.