DONE IT!

Finished the ride on Saturday. I had a fantastic time, a really good laugh. Managed to avoid any major incidents, although I did have a cleat unclipping "incident" which lead to me falling off my bike outside the last hotel! (the celebratory Champagne may have had an influence).

There's a slideshow of the whole thing available here -

http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/leicesterwards/LondonToParis#

We cycled 310 miles altogether (includes a few wrong turns) and my GPS says we used over 16000 calories and climbed over 5000 metres!

Bottom Care

When I tell people about the London to Paris ride, most of them express concern about the likely state of my nether regions after 300 miles in the saddle. I thought, therefore, that I would reveal the secret of a perfectly maintained derriere.

1. THE SADDLE



as you can see it has a hole in the middle. This stops pressure on a bit that could really do without it. All your weight goes through your sit bones (the two nobbly bits you sit on). Before buying the saddle I had to go into a bike shop and ask them to measure my bottom to ensure I got the right size. This would have been more embarassing if I had gone into the butchers by mistake.

2. THE CYCLING SHORTS



That alarming gusset is a life-saver containing stretchy padding. (I hasten to add they are inside out). If you've ever done a long distance ride wearing normal shorts, you will understand why cyclists always wear the lycra ones.

3. THE BOTTOM CREAM



or to give it its official title "Chamois Creme" - this is not the top of the milk from an alpine goat, it's lovely soothing cream that you put on before your bum before a ride. It stops saddle sores and easily beats the old fashioned remedy of putting a raw steak in your shorts before a ride.

Twitter

I've figured out how to post updates from the ride by text via twitter (it's all a bit Lance Armstrong) - you can follow my progress at http://twitter.com/pedaltoparis or via the toolbar to the right.

Day 4 - Compiegne to Paris

66 miles finish up the Champs d'Elysee


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Day 3 Arras to Compiegne

73 miles and finishes at the start of Paris Roubaix


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The Route of Day 2

En France - Calais to Arras - 78 miles


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The Route of Day 1

Here's the route we will be following on Day 1. It's about 67 miles of cycling, with about 30 miles of swimming at the end.

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194 in last 2 weeks!

Getting lots of practice in! About 91 miles was on the Pork Pies and Potholes sportive in Melton. It includes some off road sections, hence the potholes (not a pork pie to be seen though!). Very windy and tiring - it was supposed to be about 107 miles, but Dave and I took a sneaky short cut (local knowledge can be useful). Ended up coming in with the leading groups (who eyed us suspiciously) and had our photos taken by Cycling Weekly.

Not quite the same as taking EPO - but the principles are the same.

http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/activity/8638716

Quite a lot of miles done, not sure how many!

Done quite a bit on the bike, including a 50 miler with Paul last week, but the GPS is at the repairers and I don't know exactly how many I've done. Just that it was a lot, and my legs ached afterwards. Got the route briefing from Christian Aid and it does seem to be further and hiller than I thought, so more practice required.