Tweats

I did keep a Twitter account whilst on the ride via my mobile - it seems to have disappeared from the link on the right, so here are all my updates - gives you a flavour of the ride. Read them in reverse order.

bit of a come down being back at work, missing the cycling already. Still, off on holiday again on Friday! (this time without the bike)9:39 PM Jul 28th from web

Back in Leicester at 2am, at work 8am :-( Still buzzing from the whole thing. Calves are aching this morning -310 miles does that to you9:10 AM Jul 27th from web

Driving back to Leicester after the Eurostar which was fab. Great day in Paris, saw Lance & Cav race by & on the podium, great atmosphere10:57 PM Jul 26th from txt

Hangover7:27 AM Jul 26th from txt

IN PARIS! Miles completed : 309. Number of falls : 1, number of falls unrelated to celebratory alcohol - 0, injuries - 0 :-)6:15 PM Jul 25th from txt

I can see the Eiffel Tower!12:42 PM Jul 25th from txt

... Legs-6, bum-7, this hotel-15! On to Paris!5:20 AM Jul 25th from txt

...fortunately the hotel is fab, with the best food of the trip & unlimited wine! Don't feel like getting up...5:18 AM Jul 25th from txt

Due to problems finding mechanic and tyre, took 90mins to get going after puncture. Then got rained on & lost on way to hotel...5:13 AM Jul 25th from txt

Finished day 3. 230 miles done, 12655calories burned, time to put some of them back6:29 PM Jul 24th from txt

Puncture and split tyre, awaiting mechanic, storm approaching :-(1:53 PM Jul 24th from txt

Another early start. Arras was a surprisingly nice place, best night's sleep yet. 79 miles today.6:26 AM Jul 24th from txt

Nous sommes arrives en Arras. 150 miles done, legs 8, bum 8, Arras hotel 10, French drivers 8. Vin Rouge - oui!3:42 PM Jul 23rd from txt

Lovely big lunch at top of less lovely big hill. Cycling in France better than England11:28 AM Jul 23rd from txt

First food stop. Pretty village at top of looong hill8:55 AM Jul 23rd from txt

Day 2, Calais to Arras. The route is well signposted, which is good, because I don't know my Arras from my elbow6:27 AM Jul 23rd from txt

1 day done. Scores: state of legs-9, bum-10, team mates-7, french hotel-5, english drivers-3, cold beer-117:39 PM Jul 22nd from txt

Au revoir Angleterre!4:40 PM Jul 22nd from txt

That's lunch! Two thirds of the day done, windy on all counts11:09 AM Jul 22nd from txt

1st 20 miles done, warm and sunny. Good atmosphere, v relaxed8:57 AM Jul 22nd from txt

It's sunny in London, time to get ready6:10 AM Jul 22nd from txt

5.45am. Full English breakfast, better just have a continental as well...6:08 AM Jul 22nd from txt

Arrived in London, all very organised, name tags and everything. Feel a bit like Paddington7:40 PM Jul 21st from txt

finished work! just getting ready to travel to London. The weather's clearing, can't wait to get going now

Unused Bikes

YouGov research commissioned by Sky has found:
• 38% of the GB population own a bike, equating to over 17.5 million bikes.
• Of these bike owners, 42% haven’t used their bikes so far in 2009, equating to 7.4 million unused bikes.
• 7% of these owners have not used their bikes for over 5 years, equating to 1.3 million unused bikes.
• Nearly a quarter of those riding saw cycling as “a social activity with friends” [22%] with twice as many taking the chance to “exercise by myself” [43%].
• The main benefit of cycling was seen as exercise [77%] with over half of riders saying that they feel fitter through cycling [52%] and just under half saying that cycling is one of the best ways to enjoy the sunshine [45%].

Godwyn's Blog

Godwyn - one of the other cyclists on the ride - also kept a blog. Read it here www.godwyns.wordpress.com but be aware he did part of the ride in a pink tutu and stripey stockings!

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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