This friday I'm riding London to Paris. In 24hours.

[TonyHetherington]

After a week of beer and non-descript meat in bread at LeMans. Bloomin' stupid idea, but it was agreed over a beer at a wedding 2 months ago, and it's happening this friday

Me and 3 friends (one a GP - this could be useful) are doing it this coming weekend. Plan is to leave Big Ben at 4pm on Friday, down to Newhaven to get the 11pm Ferry (should make it with loads of time to spare). 4 hour ferry, we have a small sleep then it's 129miles from Dieppe to Paris. We hope to be in Paris before 4pm on the Saturday. One of the chap's girlfriends is meeting us at the Eiffel tower with clothes, we're staying the night to celebrate, the Eurostar home on Sunday.

This is the route we are taking (an excellent, helpful website);
http://www.donaldhirsch.com/dieppeparis.html

One of our number is getting sponsorship, but the rest of us doing it for the sheer hell of it.

And right now, I feel astonishingly unfit! Blame LeMans But we'll get there, and it will be an experience I'm sure.

I'm just writing my packing list now.

I'm unsure which jersey to wear, but highly possible it shall end up being my PH one

So I shall update this thread while doing it if time and data allows, and be sure to let you all know how I get on and what a stupid idea it was

[louismchuge]

Did this route a couple of weeks ago on my single speed! Best of luck to you mate, it's some challenge!

We got to Paris at 6pm, started 11am the day before - had lots of time for beers and dinner in Newhaven which was nice

[anonymous-user]

Good work if you make it within the time cut off!

A mate did this last year, as part of an organised ride. It sounded grim. Through the small hours they got a group working together, which was fine, until someone punctured, or fell off the pace, or crashed. When they did, they were left for dead. No remorse, no pulling together, just get on with it. The time lost waiting would have been too costly.

He made it - just. I think a ridiculously small proportion of the starting field made it inside the cut off.

ETA: report here (scroll down) http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=40...

[TonyHetherington]

Ah they went via Dover > Calais, we are doing Newhaven > Dieppe which is shorter both sides of the channel (200 miles ish total though)

[Marcellus]

Can't one to the teams girlfriend act as a support driver carrying spare wheels, clothing, food and drinks?

Think it would make it far more doable if they did.

[MiseryStreak]

Good luck Tony, sounds like it'll be a hoot, you will have earned your beer when you get to Paris.

I'm cycling to Bruges, into The Netherlands to Lille, then back to Calais this weekend, although over three days so only 100 odd km a day.

[TonyHetherington]

It was an option, but in the end we realised it's actually not that bad.

It's a 58 miles ride, and a 129 mile ride. Both distances that many people do of a Sunday morning every week. So we'll be taking as many spares as possible, but otherwise remaining fairly upbeat.

[itsnotarace]

Best of luck, take loads of pics. I'd love to have a go at some point

[Marcellus]

TonyHetherington said:

It was an option, but in the end we realised it's actually not that bad.

It's a 58 miles ride, and a 129 mile ride. Both distances that many people do of a Sunday morning every week. So we'll be taking as many spares as possible, but otherwise remaining fairly upbeat.

yep.... that's what I thought the 1st time I did it Bon courage mon amis

[Podie]

Unless the challenge involves something like this, you're selling us all short.

[okgo]

Good luck.

I did London - Pompey by bike, Ferry to Caaen, ride to Deippe (110 miles) and then Ferry back to Newhaven, ride to Brighton, train home.

Only difference being we stopped at a pub in Pompey before the first ferry and sank 8 pints, got on the ferry and had another 4, then had 4 hours sleep, then had to do 130 miles in November northern France weather. It was brutal haha!!

http://app.strava.com/activities/26784797

http://app.strava.com/activities/26784809

http://app.strava.com/activities/26784777

[BPC7]

Sounds like a good weekend out on the bike with your mates. Wish you all the best for it and will be keeping an eye on the thread for updates

[Dizeee]

Good luck, looks like a great ride. What route are you taking down to Newhaven?

[Allblackdup]

Very best of luck Tony! I'm doing it over 3 days next year for Charity and your effort is making me feel quite inept but very best wishes!

[TSCfree]

Sounds fantastic, safe journey and good luck Tony.

[anonymous-user]

any cheeky climbs?

[TonyHetherington]

Thanks all Yes indeedy, it should be an experience, that's for sure.

Day 2 looks like about 6.5k ft of climbing. More than I thought it would have. Hopefully the climbs aren't THAT 'cheeky'

[robpearson]

best of luck, I'm rather jealous. perhaps next year...

[louismchuge]

I'm afraid there are a couple of them! Much more rolling countryside than I expected. Enjoy that cycle path for the first 35ish miles, it's a godsend that early in the morning

[TonyHetherington]

As it draws nearer, I must admit I'm really beginning to question my sanity in doing it. And a little nervous. Well it's all go now, I guess