Day 4.  We were all up and ready for the last day (except Rich had a dodgy stomach in the night, so was feeling a bit ropey) for an early start.  We left at just after 7am, meandering along the almost deserted roads.  The first 10 miles were lovely, gently rolling and some straight flat roads.  We stopped for a stretch, where James then prepped us for what was about to come – another monster hill, 2 miles at >6% gradient all the way, and what a hill.  Once up from that, we had a great stretch where the roads were fairly flat or gently down, and we picked up our pace, often hitting 17/18+ miles per hour.  We did then have a very busy main road piece for about 10 miles, with dual carriageway, lorries etc.  Once we turned off onto the less busy roads, we meandered through some lovely villages, stopping for a coffee by the river Oise about half way to Paris.  It was now getting hot, and so we set off again, with a long drag up and over a railway line, then starting to reach the outskirts of Paris.  About 18 miles out from our goal, Rich was caught out with a glass puncture.  Dirty fingers and 15 minutes later, we were back on the road.  We stopped again for a break at Sannois, enjoying a Diablo and Coffee.  12 miles to go, and we passed through the Algerian Quarter, then we just kept heading in and in and in.  We made one or two wrong turns near to the Arc de Triomphe, but negotiated that carefully, and headed down Rue D’Elena to the Pont d’Elena over the Seine and arrived to a rapturous reception from our families, with banners, flags, trophies and general cacophonous noise to welcome the intrepid and hot cyclists, who were over the moon to have finished and made it.

280+ miles overall, many many hills, a few beers and glasses of wine, and we have MADE IT!!!!  Hooray, and thanks to all the supporters, and our families, for making this such a memorable and successful journey.

end 

Breakfast at 6.45am french time was just what was needed,  Plenty of calories to start the day,  It was actually quite cold to start with, the mist over the Somme kept it quite cool for the first 5 miles.  Then we had our first hill!  When there were two lanes opening up, we knew it was going to be a long one - 3 miles was a bit much.  Harris was as usual going for it in a "big" way. So Richard and Simon saw him at the top.  We thought it was going to be a lovely day of flat French roads - what a load of "B*********". We must have done the Harley Bank six times over today, and more to boot!  It was up and down like a yoyo.  Our training was certainly not preparing us for this.  Whilst the downhills were fantastic, the uphills were, well, hot and sweaty!  We did manage a few stops on the way, with James again going the extra mile to keep us fed and watered.  The Salon de The in Grandvilliers was excellent - patisserie cakes and top cafe were what was required. It was a hard days ride to Beauvais.  We arrived about 1pm, which was good considering the heat and the hills.  Mark had decided to "go ahead" today, seeing if he could push himself that bit harder. Simon and Richard played the team approach and helped each other up and down the hills.  The hotel Chenal is great, lovely spot in the town. The restaurant is booked for this evening, Richard has gone for an afternoon kip, with the rest of us watching the Brazil/Portugal game in a lovely bar in the town with a glass of red wine (or 6 if your name is Harris!) to pass the time.  

Breakfast at 6.45am french time was just what was needed,  Plenty of calories to start the day,  It was actually quite cold to start with, the mist over the Somme kept it quite cool for the first 5 miles.  Then we had our first hill!  When there were two lanes opening up, we knew it was going to be a long one - 3 miles was a bit much.  Harris was as usual going for it in a "big" way. So Richard and Simon saw him at the top.  We thought it was going to be a lovely day of flat French roads - what a load of "B*********". We must have done the Harley Bank six times over today, and more to boot!  It was up and down like a yoyo.  Our training was certainly not preparing us for this.  Whilst the downhills were fantastic, the uphills were, well, hot and sweaty!  We did manage a few stops on the way, with James again going the extra mile to keep us fed and watered.  The Salon de The in Grandvilliers was excellent - patisserie cakes and top cafe were what was required. It was a hard days ride to Beauvais.  We arrived about 1pm, which was good considering the heat and the hills.  Mark had decided to "go ahead" today, seeing if he could push himself that bit harder. Simon and Richard played the team approach and helped each other up and down the hills.  The hotel Chenal is great, lovely spot in the town. The restaurant is booked for this evening, Richard has gone for an afternoon kip, with the rest of us watching the Brazil/Portugal game in a lovely bar in the town with a glass of red wine (or 6 if your name is Harris!) to pass the time.  

Day 3 Friday June 25, 2010 - 11am and all is going well. Clocked almost 30
miles already this morning but the rolling hills are a pain and taking their
toll.
Next stop Beauvais. Then Day 4 the final ride to Paris . . .

Had a walk around Abbeville.  Lovely town, huge cathedral/church.  Had a welcome drink down by the river Somme.  Decided to eat in the hotel restaurant, as the menu was just what we wanted - 3 courses including steak and chips for under 20€.  We are all pretty whacked out, so will get an early night tonight, but we are aiming to start at 7am tomorrow.   

Day 1, 6am at the Tower of London.  Louise came to see us off.  London was quite a difficult ride out, with many references to the map, a few slight detours, and more than a few hills before we got past the M25, which we did by just after 730am. 

 

The day was harder than any of us expected.  Those ***** hills!  Richard had an accident and hurt his knee, and later on Mark had an accident and scrapped all his right arm, and broke a spoke on his back wheel.  The first aid kit was needed – thank you to Julie.  

 

We also managed to get lost on the way in to Dover, and from 4 miles out, did another 3 miles and were then 5 miles out.  We did find our way, down a very steep hill that no-one was going to ride back up if that was not the right way!  83.5 miles is a very long way, in the heat (26 degrees in the shade, and about 40 in the sun), and with some awesome hills.  But we made it just in time to get the bike mended and to watch the match, the best one so far.

 

The ferry was really smooth, and the red wine too.  We arrived at our hotel quite tired at about 9pm French time, quick shower then round the corner to an Italian restaurant, for what was a feast.  Salmon lasagne was tops, James had a monster pizza, plenty of salad, and a couple of glasses of wine.  Richard was completely whacked, and we all made our way to bed for a deserved few hours kip.

end 

Day 1, 6am at the Tower of London.  Louise came to see us off.  London was quite a difficult ride out, with many references to the map, a few slight detours, and more than a few hills before we got past the M25, which we did by just after 730am. 

 

The day was harder than any of us expected.  Those ***** hills!  Richard had an accident and hurt his knee, and later on Mark had an accident and scrapped all his right arm, and broke a spoke on his back wheel.  The first aid kit was needed – thank you to Julie.  

 

We also managed to get lost on the way in to Dover, and from 4 miles out, did another 3 miles and were then 5 miles out.  We did find our way, down a very steep hill that no-one was going to ride back up if that was not the right way!  83.5 miles is a very long way, in the heat (26 degrees in the shade, and about 40 in the sun), and with some awesome hills.  But we made it just in time to get the bike mended and to watch the match, the best one so far.

 

The ferry was really smooth, and the red wine too.  We arrived at our hotel quite tired at about 9pm French time, quick shower then round the corner to an Italian restaurant, for what was a feast.  Salmon lasagne was tops, James had a monster pizza, plenty of salad, and a couple of glasses of wine.  Richard was completely whacked, and we all made our way to bed for a deserved few hours kip. 

end

Day 2.  Breakfast at 6.45am was just what was needed.  Clear skies, and a fresh wind in our faces, and off we set.  The first few miles (3) were along the beach, lovely and flat.  The lull before the storm!  Next came Col de Blanc – 3 miles of uphill riding.  Nothing prepared us for this one, but the views at the top were brilliant. The ride down was fast, but then came another 3 mile hill climb.  We were cussing and knackered at the top.  It is fair to say that Mark was definitely king of the hills today (as he was yesterday as well). By the time we got round to Boulogne (25 miles), we were ready for a proper break.  James kept us fed and watered.  We found a great spot just outside Etaples, and enjoyed a freshly prepared baguette, cheese, salad, bananas and some long cold drinks. 

 

Boulogne saw us slowed by some French demonstrators, burning tyres, marching Unions etc.  Once out from there, it did get a bit flatter, and once we had mended another puncture for Mark, we enjoyed the French countryside and villages as we passed through all the way to Abbeville.  Hotel here is great, and we are looking forward to our nosh this evening.   

end

Three bikers survived second day . Left at 7am arrived at 2.40 -  81 miles from Calais to Aberville. Very tough, very hilly and very tired at the end of it all. No falls today. No broken spokes. No records either.

The terrain was mountainous - not flat like it looked on the AA map that's for sure. RW said it was absoultely horrendous looking at the hills ahead, one after another. After 15 miles it got flatter and the rest was achievable.

Passed through Bolougne and the French were protesting against spending cuts.  Tyres burning in the roads - not good for bikers at all.

In hotel by 3pm so  time for shower, then a pint and then food. Protein and pasta should do the trick.

Yesterday was a bit of a rush as didn't get to hotel until late

Hot yesterday, hot today. 8 hours is a long time in the saddle.

Good job it's not Germany

 

Three men on three bikes off to tough start from Calais. Stocked up on good food last night so energy levels should last the 80 odd mile trek towards Paris.

Then the worst will be over as only 140 miles left after today! The heat took it out of the bikers yesterday and negotiating traffic, lights and other road hazards in South of England made the job harder than pedaling around their training ground of Shropshire.

Good old Halfords came to the rescue after an incident caused a spoke situation. No prizes for guessing whose spoke it was. What goes on on tour stays on tour. Anyone know of a bike megastore in France ?