London to Paris Day 3 - 9th May 2010

Long day ahead - alarm calls went off at 5.30am, deep joy.

Set off at 7am prompt into chilly, very misty rural northern France. First few km were not that enjoyable - a bit cold and slightly like an out-takes scene from a werewolf movie with swirling mist reducung the viz to maybe 30m or so.

By mid-morning it was getting better - we had a fantastic mid morning stop at a local cafe and lots of expresso to warm us up.

Lunch was not the best - let's leave it there - but from there on the anticipation of Paris was loomimg. On the outer suburbs of Paris we had a bizzare encouter with a young alsatian who chased us for somewhere between 4 to 5 miles. Got to Saint-Germain and crossed the Seine a number of times before mustering at Bois de Bologne about 5km from "La Tour Eiffel".

Rode that final stretch in convoy through to a victorious finish at the Eiffel Tower - even had some tourist taking photos of us !!!

Great 3 days - great organisation and a great group of people - really enjoyed it !

London to Paris Day 2 - 8th May 2010

Shorter distance to cover today so fairly relaxed 10am start. Out of Dieppe into Normandy countryside. Passed through lots of lovely little linear villages and had one of our rest stops at a village conducting their local VE Day commemoration - the French do these things so well!
Lunch stop was excellent - lots of re-fuelling to be done and we weren't let down.
The weather got progressively better through the day. The last stop at a beautiful market square got us quite interested and thinking about waiting around an extra dayjust to see what it was all about(look carefully at the yellow poster on the photos). By the time we had arrived at our final destination of the day the late afternoon sun was fully out and a couple of relaxing beers in the sun were in order !

London to Paris Day 1 - 7th May 2010

Having met a few of the co-riders in the bar the night before I was beginning to regret the 2nd shandy (!) when the alarm went off at 5.30am.

Breakfast was great and then it was off to collect bikes and muster in the car park to be briefed on how the next 3 days were going to work. Basically, the guys from Classic Tours have 2 vehicles and support guys like a mechanic and doctor. The lead vehicle goes ahead and puts direction signs up and the big van acts like a broom wagon (i.e. can collect tired or mechanically challenged riders) and follows behind all the riders and collects the signs ready for the next section.
Each day is broken into manageable sections of 15-25km and there is a fuelling station - fruit, nuts, drinks etc - at each stop except lunch (that would just be greedy).

The first few miles getting from Bexley to open countryside were a bit dull but once in Kent "proper" things really picked up. Passed through Rochester and saw the castle. Some absolutely beautiful scenery along tiny little lanes and quite big hills. Lunch at the "Devils Kneading Trough" was interesting - 18 inch long tuna baguettes and soup. Just what was needed before a big hill(thanks for the warning on that one Gideon!).

Got to Dover around 6pm and shared the ferry experience with around 15,000 French teenagers which was clearly very enjoyable. Eventually got to hotel very late and crashed out.

Training ride #10 Sunday 2nd May 2010

Only 5 daya to go so this is my final "big" training ride before London to Paris.

Got up early and headed off around the Trough of Bowland it was hard going up the A6 as there was a stiff headwind and the weather got more foreboding as I got into the hills. The good news is that having got to the summit it actually felt quite easy so I think the training has paid dividends. Took a slight detour towards Bowland Wild Boar park which gave me a coupel of extra miles - so I reached my target - in the nick of time !

Ride distance 55 miles Cumulative 500 miles
Remaining against 500 mile target: none, target achieved

Training ride #9 - Sunday 25th April

Less than 2 weeks to go now and due to last weeks' travel disruption have not been out for a while.

Colin and I did Waddington Fell - legs felt empty for the last 10 miles or so, although the clibing was ok. Note to self: take more food next time, one little flapjack was clearly insufficient!

Ride distance 45 miles Cumulative 445 miles
Remaining against 500 mile target: 55 miles

20 April 2010 - Update from Prague

I have been stuck in Prague since the volcanic ash eruption (meant to fly back Thurs 15th) so my big training ride planned for Sunday didn't happen.
I did get out for a short run however - outside of that training has involved big hotel breakfasts and great meals out each evening, hmmm.

Exit plan now underway - overland to Belgium, ferry to Hull, hire car back to Manchester airport to pick my car up.

The training will resume this coming weekend - time is now limited to get to my 500 miles!

Training ride #8 Sunday 11th April 2010

Not been out on the bike for 3 weeks due to other commitments and going skiing. Weather looked good so planned for a long one.

I fancied seeing what Waddington Fell looked like without the torrential rain so headed that way and veered off east on the descent towards Yorkshire. I actually cycled into N Yorks (about 20 yards see phot proof of my bike at the boundary) but then turned around and got a welcome cuppa at the Gisburn Forest MTB cafe.
Headed back through Slaidburn (lots of bikers - pedal powered and motorbikes, Dunsop Bridge - which lays claim, along with a couple of other places - to be the geographical centre of the UK. Apparently it depends how you meansure it!
By now on more familiar territory, past a busy Inn at Whitewell and on to Chipping. Stopped for lunch at the Cobbled Corner - bacon & egg barm was tops - the owner now recognises me I guess its becoming a regular refuelling spot!

Ride distance 60 miles (2500 feet of ascent), Cumulative 400 miles
Remaining against 500 mile target: 100 miles

Training ride #7 Saturday 20th March 2010

Colin and I met at 8am in the rain... out into the Ribble Valley and over Waddington Fell. Got very very wet but it was good fun. These miles were hard earned for sure!

Ride distance 45 miles, Cumulative 340 miles
Remaining against 500 mile target: 160 miles

FUNDRAISING UPDATE !

I have just reached my fundraising target of £1300 so a massive thank you to everyone who has donated so far. Maybe I should set a stretch target of £1500 ??

Training ride #6 - Sunday 14th March 2010

Rich and I did the 80 mile Jodrell Bank Sportive around the leafy lanes and commuter villages of Cheshire. It was ok weather although a bit windy and we did it in a respectable 5.5 hours. Didn't even feel too tired afterwards (honestly).
I'm also adding the 5 miles I did with my daughter yesterday around and about local woods - every little helps!

Ride distance 85 miles, Cumulative 295 miles
Remaining against 500 mile target: 205 miles

Training Ride #5 - Sunday 7th March 2010

Rich and I are doing an 80 mile sportive in Cheshire next weekend:

http://forums.cyclingweekly.co.uk/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/78316/an/0/page/0

so we'd tentatively arranged a warm-up for this weekend which after my exertions yesterday I was hoping he'd dip out. Anyway, his text came in last night as I was well into my second large glass of red wine asking where our meet up time / place was!

Below zero when we set off - did the Trough again as Rich hasn't ridden it before - boy did my legs feel it ! Got round again it was hard and also had patches of ice on the high elevation roads despite it getting really sunny towards mid-morning. Had to recharge at the Cobbled Corner cafe in Chipping. Took a sneaky slightly shorter route back home so 5 miles less than yesterday.

Ride distance 45 miles, Cumulative 210 miles
Remaining against 500 mile target: 290 miles

Training Ride #4 - Saturday 6th March 2010

Colin and I tackled the Trough of Bowland. Met at 8.15am (yes it does exist on Saturdays) and hit the hills. I had a comedy fall after about 5 miles and landed hard on the tarmac exactly where my grazes and bruises from last week are - ouch !

Really great ride, the hills are getting a bit easier. I may be out agian tomorrow, see how I feel.

Ride distance 50 miles, Cumulative 165 miles
Remaining against 500 mile target: 335 miles

3rd March 2010

Just been out for a short jog - just checking that the legs still work after the heavy fall on the weekend. All was ok ! Bring on the weekend and a big bike ride!!

MTB Weekend in Quantocks

Just returned from a "boys weekend" in the Quantock Hills near Minehead. Really, really wet making riding pretty challenging but great fun! I think the miles covered (only 20 but mainly offroad on very muddy trails) should count double but as I'm honest I will just count them as actual miles ridden towards my target.

Took a pretty spectacular tumble towards the end of the ride and had to be checked over to make sure nothing was broken. Walking with a limp at present and I have various lacerations down my right arm and leg! Nice.

Ride distance 20 miles, Cumulative 115 miles
Remaining against 500 mile target: 385 miles

Doha #2

Went to gym again yesterday and have been swimming but feeling decidedly less fit than a week ago due to excess consuption of rich food and drink !
The detox regime will start on Monday !

Doha

On holiday in Doha, Qatar but I did manage to get to the gym today did a bit of cycling and running. Not sure the 30 mins in the gym outweighs the fine eating and dining we have been having for the last few days :-)

Training ride #3 - Saturday 6th February

On my own today. Out to open country via Haighton for a change. Stopped to say hello to the Alpaccas. Uphill all the way through Longridge up Jeffrey Hill. Very misty - visibility at the top around 5m, meaning a scary descent. Looped through Chipping and back via Parsons Lane to Barton.

Ride distance 30 miles, Cumulative 95 miles
Remaining against 500 mile target: 405 miles

Training Ride #2 - Saturday January 31st

First ride out with Colin, my co-rider in the L2P event.

Took it fairly easy out to Beacon Fell - by which time the sun was out and the views were stunning. Looped back over the A6 at the Roebuck towards Honeywells and Plough at Eaves, Catforth, Woody and home!

Need to take in more hills next time.

Ride distance 27 miles, Cumulative 65 miles
Remaining against 500 mile target: 435 miles

Training ride #1. Sunday 17th January

Sub-zero when I left the house at 9am. The other 3 were running a few minutes late so challenging to keep warm at the meeting point.

Having just dusted off my bike and pumped the tyres up I realised that it was the first outing since September 2009 - this could be painful!

Mark, Ian and Darren turned up and we headed off towards the trough of Bowland - to Chipping then looped back & up through Oakenclough (I struggled on anything remotely hilly). The guys know a great private farm road which was 3 or 4 miles and absolutely stunning scenery.

Scorton cafe was a welcome relief (teacake and tea) then a steady ride back home.

Ride #1: 38 miles, cumulative 38 miles
Remaining against 500 mile target: 462 miles

Training Plan

So, how to get fit enough in 3 months to do this?

My co-rider Colin and I have established that Saturday mornings could work for us both so that's what we are aiming to do: clock up a few miles each weekend if possible. I'm going to aim at a total of 500 miles before we "big ride".

Is this achievable or not ? I don't really know but having a target is a good thing I think.

Introduction

From May 7th - May 10th, I will ride 300km in just three days from London to Paris to raise money for Computer Aid International.

Computer Aid International acquires computers and laptops, refurbishing them and sending them to not-for-profit organisations in the developing world, for use in agriculture, health and education. Their service has had an incredible impact on the progress of developing nations.
This is a great cause and a huge personal challenge so I hope you can support me !