People have asked how it is I am getting back from Paris. I could take the Eurostar which takes just over 2 hours but at £120 it is an expensive option. I could take a coach -at £20, it is quite inexpensive. I suppose I could even fly back. But quite frankly, with a perfectly good piece of transportation under me, why would I want to come back any other way than on the bike that got me there in the first place. The route is no longer coming back than going - hence the name of the blog 'London2Paris&Back'. I expect to get a lot of grief about this decision but it is now made, subject to change depending on where the pressure comes from (and how much of it haha). So here is the plan:
Sunday Sept 16th -55 miles to ride
10:30am - Serivce at St. Augustine
12 noon - (or as soon after) Leave the gates for New Haven
6pm - Ferry leaves New Haven for Dieppe
11pm - Arrive Dieppe (they are 1 hour ahead of us) Head to the Ibis hotel which is close by
Monday Sept 17th - 112 miles to ride
5:30am - Get on the Road
?:?? - Arrive Arc de Triomphe in Paris; Head to Hotel
Tuesday 18 Sept - 0 miles to ride
All Day - Relax and rest, drink coffee at cafes and watch the people
Or finish the ride first and then relax and rest
Wednesday 19 Sept - 112 miles to ride
Very early - Get on the Road
?:?? Arrive Dieppe and head to hotel
Thursday 20 Sept - 55 miles to ride
8:00 am - Ferry leaves Dieppe for New Haven
11:00 am - Arrive New Haven
5:00 pm - Arrive Home
I invite your prayers for safety, strength, energy, and perseverence. Oh yes, and good weather. Lots of rain could hamper the schedule. But if it does rain, it just means I will take a little more time
Saturday, 11 August 2007
Real Preparations - Less than 40 Days to Go
It is a lovely Saturday and I have just completed 4 hours of pick and shovel work in the garden. I would rather be on the bike but seeing as how my arms felt quite strained on the Shepeton Mallett trip, this training and toning will come in handy. There isn't much more I can do about the numbness in the heals of my hands. The handle bars are padded and I am wearing gel gloves. I did find after 10 hours riding the hands get used to it the strain. I will just have to get used to it. Many other people have the same problem.
Friday, 10 August 2007
Training Tales
In preparation I have done a couple of rides with a destination in mind. The first was to West Malling in mid July for a Deanery Chapter day. It was just 30 miles but the climbs were quite steep along the A20. It took about two and a quarter hours and I was pretty tired by the end. I had hoped to cycle back as well but time committments for the evening meant I had to take the train back. It gave me a good idea of what I would have to do though.
The second trip was more ambitious. I decided to to go the New Wine conference near Shepton Mallett the first few days of August. The distance was 130 miles and I thought I would see how far I could go in a day. I started on July 31st at 5:30 am, map in my pocket and bag on the bike rack.
I set off from home and hit the South Circular but decided to go right through town so I eventually went through Kennington and over the Vauxhall Bridge. From there I started heading west through the various communities of the west end of London.
I reached Camberley by 9am - 40 miles - and I was feeling just fine and took a short refreshment break. The ride through London had been just fine and mostly flat. Very little traffic that early in the morning as well. As I got onto the A30 the traffic stepped up in speed as well as volume. Part of this section was dual carriageway just after Staines but I felt safe enough.
Click Here to view a map of my route from my home in South East London to Evercreech near Shepton Mallett.
After Camberley I carried on to Basingstoke - 55 miles - and took a very short watering break. I was feeling great and anticipating a good trip. It was only about 11am with the whole day ahead of me. I stopped at Whitchurch for a snack and drink - 66 miles - and decided to carry on a little further before stopping for lunch. I went right through Andover but my map was not detailed enough for the best route and it took a little more time to find my way out but did and headed toward Ludgershall. My progress was slower over this section of the route. I obviously left it too late to eat lunch and was depleted of my resources. I found a nice pub on the road; 'The Bell' (I think), and went in for a BLT and took an hours break. It was around 1:30 when I stopped and got on the road again about 2:30 contnuing to Ludgershall. The distance travelled at that point was 82 miles. My calculations told me I had just 48 miles to go. I really had to wait for the muscles to be refortified. It took quite a while but eventually I began to feel better. I won't allow that to happen again!
From Ludgershall I thought I had taken the wrong road so doubled back 5 miles only to find out I was on the right road and went back again. That was an extra 10 miles added at that point. A second miscalculation just after Tidworth put on an additional 5 miles. I was now behind by about an hour and a half and the hills were getting higher, longer, and more and more frequent but I knew I would be able to finish. From there it was through Tidworth, Durrington, Shrewton, and Chitterne. I stopped for another 20 minutes in the middle of one very long hill just before Chitterne, found a shady spot and laid down on a wonderful log and stretched out my back and gazed at the sky. My thoughts were beginning to dwell a little on the fact that I was getting tired and still had some ways to go. This part of the ride had been the longest and it did not seem that a great deal of distance had been covered. At Heytesbury, I got onto the A36. The other roads had been quiet but now the traffic was quite active. I decided to change my route and get onto some back ways. Starting to get tired might make me a bit wobbly and I would rather be on a road alone. So off I went from my planned route to take some quieter back roads. And quiet they were.....
On one downhill just before North Brewton, I actually acheived a speed of 37.2mph (without peddling!). It brought me back to life. There was only one casualty on that downhill. I lost my map! Fortunately, when I stopped to get my bearings and realized my loss, another couple just happened to be coming along along on bikes. I hadn't seen anyone in the last hour and a half, not even a car. I asked the direction for Batcombe and they produced a very detailed map that I was able to imprint into my brain to finish the last 6 or 7 miles
Overall, the last 20 miles were very hard.and it was getting dark. I actually had to partially walk up a few hills but after a missed turn (with just 2 miles to the finish which added another 6 miles!), I finally reached The Bell Inn at Evercreech where I had a room waiting for me and a nice cold pint of ale. I was elated. My odometer read 148.3 miles. So I cycled an extra 20 or so miles. I got in at 10pm. It was a long day but I now have an idea of what I might be able to do in a day.
The next day I was feeling quite fine and got on the bike to ride the 1 mile to the Royal Bath and West Showgrounds to take in a day at New Wine. The following day I took the train from Castle Cary back to London Paddington from where I cycled home again. It was a great trip!
The second trip was more ambitious. I decided to to go the New Wine conference near Shepton Mallett the first few days of August. The distance was 130 miles and I thought I would see how far I could go in a day. I started on July 31st at 5:30 am, map in my pocket and bag on the bike rack.
I set off from home and hit the South Circular but decided to go right through town so I eventually went through Kennington and over the Vauxhall Bridge. From there I started heading west through the various communities of the west end of London.
I reached Camberley by 9am - 40 miles - and I was feeling just fine and took a short refreshment break. The ride through London had been just fine and mostly flat. Very little traffic that early in the morning as well. As I got onto the A30 the traffic stepped up in speed as well as volume. Part of this section was dual carriageway just after Staines but I felt safe enough.
Click Here to view a map of my route from my home in South East London to Evercreech near Shepton Mallett.
After Camberley I carried on to Basingstoke - 55 miles - and took a very short watering break. I was feeling great and anticipating a good trip. It was only about 11am with the whole day ahead of me. I stopped at Whitchurch for a snack and drink - 66 miles - and decided to carry on a little further before stopping for lunch. I went right through Andover but my map was not detailed enough for the best route and it took a little more time to find my way out but did and headed toward Ludgershall. My progress was slower over this section of the route. I obviously left it too late to eat lunch and was depleted of my resources. I found a nice pub on the road; 'The Bell' (I think), and went in for a BLT and took an hours break. It was around 1:30 when I stopped and got on the road again about 2:30 contnuing to Ludgershall. The distance travelled at that point was 82 miles. My calculations told me I had just 48 miles to go. I really had to wait for the muscles to be refortified. It took quite a while but eventually I began to feel better. I won't allow that to happen again!
From Ludgershall I thought I had taken the wrong road so doubled back 5 miles only to find out I was on the right road and went back again. That was an extra 10 miles added at that point. A second miscalculation just after Tidworth put on an additional 5 miles. I was now behind by about an hour and a half and the hills were getting higher, longer, and more and more frequent but I knew I would be able to finish. From there it was through Tidworth, Durrington, Shrewton, and Chitterne. I stopped for another 20 minutes in the middle of one very long hill just before Chitterne, found a shady spot and laid down on a wonderful log and stretched out my back and gazed at the sky. My thoughts were beginning to dwell a little on the fact that I was getting tired and still had some ways to go. This part of the ride had been the longest and it did not seem that a great deal of distance had been covered. At Heytesbury, I got onto the A36. The other roads had been quiet but now the traffic was quite active. I decided to change my route and get onto some back ways. Starting to get tired might make me a bit wobbly and I would rather be on a road alone. So off I went from my planned route to take some quieter back roads. And quiet they were.....
On one downhill just before North Brewton, I actually acheived a speed of 37.2mph (without peddling!). It brought me back to life. There was only one casualty on that downhill. I lost my map! Fortunately, when I stopped to get my bearings and realized my loss, another couple just happened to be coming along along on bikes. I hadn't seen anyone in the last hour and a half, not even a car. I asked the direction for Batcombe and they produced a very detailed map that I was able to imprint into my brain to finish the last 6 or 7 miles
Overall, the last 20 miles were very hard.and it was getting dark. I actually had to partially walk up a few hills but after a missed turn (with just 2 miles to the finish which added another 6 miles!), I finally reached The Bell Inn at Evercreech where I had a room waiting for me and a nice cold pint of ale. I was elated. My odometer read 148.3 miles. So I cycled an extra 20 or so miles. I got in at 10pm. It was a long day but I now have an idea of what I might be able to do in a day.
The next day I was feeling quite fine and got on the bike to ride the 1 mile to the Royal Bath and West Showgrounds to take in a day at New Wine. The following day I took the train from Castle Cary back to London Paddington from where I cycled home again. It was a great trip!
Which Route? - 41 Days to Go
So which route to take...I have been considering two main routes. The obvious one to me was London to Dover, cross the channel to Calais and then on to Paris for a total of around 260 miles. With 75 miles to Dover it seems possible to get to Calais on the Sunday evening ready for an early start on Monday morning and do the cycling over the two following days. That would mean about 90 miles on each of those two days. A bit ambitious perhaps but I would allow a third day in case of poor weather, breakdown, or just plain tiredness. I have told myself you're not on holiday, get the work done and get back home. My plan is to return to London by train on the Eurostar
I began to explore a second route after I had already decided (or rather assumed) the first route was the only way. Then, a friend said, 'well, of course you will be going through Brighton'. Birghton? I took a look at an online map and found out that it is only about 54 miles to the ferry in New Haven. The terrain is more of a downhill slope and a much more friendly than the route to Dover. It is a four hour crossing to Dieppe, and then just 112 miles to the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. Total distance is around 167 miles. Sounds simple, I know, but there will still be a good number of hills.
I have to remember that my objective is Paris not the route itself. Of course it makes so much sense to take the shortest route. Who wouldn't? But having planned with the first route for so long, it has been hard to just give it up. So now after a few days of consideration of the routes I have decided that I will take the London to Brighton/Dieppe to Paris route. I have even gone so far as to book the ferry crossing and the hotels for each night. So the route is now definite.
Click Here to link to a map of my London to Brighton route.
Click Here to link to a map of my Dieppe to Paris route.
The maps are interactive and you can change/resize the scale. You can also move around the route by clicking and dragging on the map. The left panel also allows you to see the elevation at each mile along the route.
I began to explore a second route after I had already decided (or rather assumed) the first route was the only way. Then, a friend said, 'well, of course you will be going through Brighton'. Birghton? I took a look at an online map and found out that it is only about 54 miles to the ferry in New Haven. The terrain is more of a downhill slope and a much more friendly than the route to Dover. It is a four hour crossing to Dieppe, and then just 112 miles to the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. Total distance is around 167 miles. Sounds simple, I know, but there will still be a good number of hills.
I have to remember that my objective is Paris not the route itself. Of course it makes so much sense to take the shortest route. Who wouldn't? But having planned with the first route for so long, it has been hard to just give it up. So now after a few days of consideration of the routes I have decided that I will take the London to Brighton/Dieppe to Paris route. I have even gone so far as to book the ferry crossing and the hotels for each night. So the route is now definite.
Click Here to link to a map of my London to Brighton route.
Click Here to link to a map of my Dieppe to Paris route.
The maps are interactive and you can change/resize the scale. You can also move around the route by clicking and dragging on the map. The left panel also allows you to see the elevation at each mile along the route.
Training - 41 Days to Go....
I have had the bike for about 3 months now and the riding is going well. I have created a number of circuitous routes from home so that I can go on a ride according to the amount of time I have available. The early morning rides are the best as there is very little traffic and I feel like I have the whole lane to myself. The longest circuit I have mapped out is 25 miles out through Catford, Lewisham, Eltham, Sidcup, Foots Cray Road and out to Orpington back to Bromley finishing home in Sydenham/Forest Hill. I also have shorter 5mile and 10mile circuits which just stretch the legs enough to remind me what is ahead.
I do a lot of thinking on these rides and as there will not be a phone ringing or other interruptions, I am able to give the process some good time to develop a thought for a sermon, a newsletter, or simply to let things run through the mind. It is also a wonderful opportunity to pray, especially when approaching the roundabouts! It clears the cobwebs from the night and when I get home and showered I am ready to hit the day full on.
My training includes running. I run about 3-4 times a week and each run will be anywhere from 5-7 miles. I run at Crystal Palace Park which has some lovely even paths so there is little chance of being injured by turning a foot over. It is easy to vary the route to include some hills just to get you breathing a little harder. I have found running to be just as enjoyable as cycling. I started running 8 months ago - very slowly at first but now fast enough and long enough in time and distance to feel like I am getting somewhere, even if it is just a circit. I am absolutely amazed at how the human body can adapt to a new regime even if it has been at a standstill for 26 years. It has been quite forgiving when I have pushed it too hard but it does remind me now and again that I am not as young as I once was!
I do a lot of thinking on these rides and as there will not be a phone ringing or other interruptions, I am able to give the process some good time to develop a thought for a sermon, a newsletter, or simply to let things run through the mind. It is also a wonderful opportunity to pray, especially when approaching the roundabouts! It clears the cobwebs from the night and when I get home and showered I am ready to hit the day full on.
My training includes running. I run about 3-4 times a week and each run will be anywhere from 5-7 miles. I run at Crystal Palace Park which has some lovely even paths so there is little chance of being injured by turning a foot over. It is easy to vary the route to include some hills just to get you breathing a little harder. I have found running to be just as enjoyable as cycling. I started running 8 months ago - very slowly at first but now fast enough and long enough in time and distance to feel like I am getting somewhere, even if it is just a circit. I am absolutely amazed at how the human body can adapt to a new regime even if it has been at a standstill for 26 years. It has been quite forgiving when I have pushed it too hard but it does remind me now and again that I am not as young as I once was!
Thursday, 9 August 2007
2Wheels2Paris
Well here I am getting on a bike. I feel like a kid with a new toy! The thought of cycling after hanging up my pedals more than 25 years ago is a bit exciting. It is something that I thought was past but as I cycle different distances most every day it has come to be quite enjoyable and I am so glad that I have taken it up again. Of course, it could all be a simple desire to recapture my youth!
The catalyst that got me on the wheels again was the thought I might be able to do a ride as a fundraiser in aid of curing the subsidence problems at St. Augustine. Of course, an idea like this, once it is in my head, that's it. I want to get on with it so before even getting on a bike I choose the date of leaving: September 16, after the Sunday service. Of course telling my wife about the idea has been the worst. I often have whacky ideas for things to do or places to go. This is just another on a long list (which I hope will get even longer).
To begin I had to buy a bike and I literally looked (both physically and virtually) at about 75 makes and models available from racers, to tourers to hybrids and in the end decided upon a Trek Pilot 1.0. I got a great deal on last years model but when I consider what I spent which included things like a back rack, a lock etc. the total has come to three and a half times the cost of my first car here in the UK. It is also just under half of what I paid for my current car. But that says more about the kind of cars I drive than the cost of the bike. My wife has shared her thoughts on the matter. Suffice to say I better put on 500 miles or more on the bike each month for many years to come! I am glad to say that she is very supportive and encouraging as I prepare for the Paris trip. Now if the London traffic would be just as supportive and let me live long enough to make the trip...
The catalyst that got me on the wheels again was the thought I might be able to do a ride as a fundraiser in aid of curing the subsidence problems at St. Augustine. Of course, an idea like this, once it is in my head, that's it. I want to get on with it so before even getting on a bike I choose the date of leaving: September 16, after the Sunday service. Of course telling my wife about the idea has been the worst. I often have whacky ideas for things to do or places to go. This is just another on a long list (which I hope will get even longer).
To begin I had to buy a bike and I literally looked (both physically and virtually) at about 75 makes and models available from racers, to tourers to hybrids and in the end decided upon a Trek Pilot 1.0. I got a great deal on last years model but when I consider what I spent which included things like a back rack, a lock etc. the total has come to three and a half times the cost of my first car here in the UK. It is also just under half of what I paid for my current car. But that says more about the kind of cars I drive than the cost of the bike. My wife has shared her thoughts on the matter. Suffice to say I better put on 500 miles or more on the bike each month for many years to come! I am glad to say that she is very supportive and encouraging as I prepare for the Paris trip. Now if the London traffic would be just as supportive and let me live long enough to make the trip...
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