London 2 Paris

Slowing down as I get older, means I have to go longer. I say slowing down, nothing to do with lifestyle, more with the speed I can knock out on the bike. So the only choice I have for having a bigger challenge each year is to cycle further. Last year saw me doing the Tour of Wessex (525km), L'etape Anglaise (200km), L'etape(200k), 2 days later did the Ventoux (100km) and 2 days after that the Tourmalet (50km-but 2000m). So 1050km in around 6 weeks.

So how was I going to go one better this year. When the post to cycle London to Paris (L2P) and beyond came up, I jumped at the opportunity. The plan, cycle London to Paris (600km), then 3 days down to the south of France, the 5 days cycling in Italy. So a total of 1350km in just over 3 weeks.

London 2 Paris
Day 1 -Hampton Court to Dover
With bags packed and dropped off the night before and the days supplies loaded up in my courier bag, I took a steady ride to the start at Hampton Court, a mixture of excitement and trepidation taking hold, mulling over of which group to ride in. I decided on group 2 and gathered at the start with 70 others to start the 20km for the day. Lead car, motorbike outriders and a mechanical support vehicle rolled out at 7:15am.Navigating traffic out of London proved tricky during rush hour, but once in the country, the rolling road closures began. Motorbikes whizzing up to a junction or roundabout ahead and stopping cars to allow us to roll through without stopping. Starting to feel like a professional rider. Then the hills arrived and I got shelled out the back of the group – that professional feeling didn’t last too long. Trying desperately to get back on the group, peddling my little legs off, 2 guys came flying past me. Group 1 had got lost and were behind us, those were the lead guys of the race. Impressive.

They started slowing down and when I was close enough they asked if I needed a tow. Does a bicycle wheel go round? I jumped on the back and started peddling like mad, in a few moments another pack came past and we jumped on the back. When I looked up the yellow jersey of the race was in the group. Gunning along at around 45km an hour, I clung on for dear life. Back to feeling like a professional again. Hill looming, I think that professional feeling is about to disappear again.

Reunited with Group 2, we rolling into a lovely vineyard for lunch. Kent, vineyard –yes they do exist and I believe produce some good wines and a bubbly worth trying. Goudhurst and Ashurst were 2 of the climbs which took us into Dover, just in time to miss our ferry. After a dunk in the sea, a shower and comical display of disorganisation from the ferry staff, we finally boarded the ferry to Calais.

My bag proved to be somewhat troublesome at the hotel, it had a magnetic attraction to the ground which prevented me from lifting it up. A kind gent by the name of David managed to overcome this magnetic force and offered to carry my bag into the hotel. In return I rolled his trolley bag in for him, which turned out to be a hardshell, carbonfibre one. The bag not the bike! Naturally I commented on it and David said he was off to the Tour de France the day after L2P. Being a curious cat, I asked what he was doing a the Tour. "Commentating" came the reply.

Oh great, I didn't recognise the guy at all. So figuring honesty is the best policy, I let on that I did not recognise him, to which he replied it was his voice which was more recognisable. "I'm afraid I'm struggling there too", I apologised.

Day 2 - Calais to Amiens
An early start had us up at 5am and off to the start for the biggest day of the ride. The road out of Calais was a narrow, potholed path along the canal. Our group got through incident free, but in group one a chap was overtaking, caught the edge and did a triple salco into the canal. Still attached to his bike. He and the bike were recovered and then on was known as Fish.

The group started riding really well, with a nice comfortable pace, I was sitting on the front when 2 chats sprinted off, I thought they were just burning off a bit of energy but then a few others dashed off too. It was only when one of the ladies came by that I realised it was one of the sprints. So I sprinted off, picking off a few wheels and using their draft to swing me to the next person. I managed to get 5th overall in the sprint and first lady.

After lunch there was meant to be another sprint but we were told it had been called off. So a few of us did our own sprinting towards the end of the day. What a blast, I thought my legs were going to fall off and it did dawn on me that we still had another 200km to do the following day.

After a long hard day in the saddle I got to my hotel only to find they had sent me to the wrong one and I was without a room. Slumped and sweaty I waited in reception for an organiser to assist me. David came to the rescue again and got someone onto my case. I got to share with one of the girls who's room mate was in hospital after coming off her bike. I regaled my story of David and Antonia my roomy said, “Oh you mean David Harmon”. That would be David Harmon who presents the Tour de France on Eurosport.

Day 3 - Amiens to Paris
Some sad news was broken to the peleton, one of the riders had come off his bike and a motorbike outrider had been unable to avoid him and he was in a serious condition. The ride into Paris was great, rolling hills and as the weather had dried up and the wind died down, it was less effort. Just was well as my steady pace riding and constant chatter to get the group riding as one, landed me the job of pacing the group from the front. It turns out we had lost a few riders the day before and they had to go a police station to get directions to the hotel.

The ride was broken up into 4 groups of different abilities, totalling around 350 riders. The groups met up outside of Paris to ride the last 10km together, escorted by all the motorbike outriders and lead cars. We had a rolling road closure all the way, I sat in at the back, watching the group snake it's way into Paris non-stop. The Arc d’Triomphe came up into view and with the whole group ahead, it was an amazing sight. Our journey ended at the Eiffel Tower, an amazing ride that I would highly recommend.

Here are the official pics from the trip: London 2 Paris Pics