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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