Am I mad? I'm cycling to Switzerland!

Am I mad? I'm cycling to Switzerland!

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Original Poster:

725 posts

254 months

Wednesday 23rd August 2006
quotequote all
Have just booked a ferry crossing for next month. I am going to ride from Somerset to Portsmouth in two days, catching a night boat to St Malo then go by backroads and cyclepaths/towpaths to the Swiss border. I am hoping to do the French leg in a fortnight - stopping in Youth Hostels, B & B's etc (saves carrying camping kit), I hope to average 50 - 60 miles per day - some days more, but no doubt when it gets lumpy it will be less! May pay homage to the Mulsanne Straight (no danger of getting pulled by the flics this time!)
So what's the collective view on this - am I certifiable? any tips of places to go or cycle paths to use? This is my first serious cycle ride - I reckon it will be 600+ miles. My steed will be a mid-range Raleigh tourer (Venture GT) that should be suited. Training has gone reasonably well since buying the bike in Feb.