London to Paris BIke Ride 2009

Hi Team,

Hope you are all well and looking forward to the London to Paris Bike Ride?

It's FANTASTIC that you have logged onto the forum, this is a great way to get to know your fellow team mates and seeing how you will be with them for four days, it's the ideal opportunity to introduce yourself, ask any questions that you may have regarding the event or even answer any questions that your fellow participants may have.

Last year's forum was extremly popular and some participants who lived near each other met up for training rides, so that may be a possibility this year too.

Keep an eye out on here as I will be posting bits of information as we approach the big day regarding information about the tour guides, timings for the first day and other useful bits of information.

Finally if you have any questions, please feel free to email me or give me a call.

Happy messaging

Bhav,

Thanks for the info I received in the post today.

Thought I'd log on and introduce myself. I'm Alison, known as Ally. I'm 36 and have only been cycling for about a year. I decided to start it up as a hobby after I went downhill mountain biking in Whistler, BC. Have pretty much stuck to road cycling since, and am starting with my local cycling club in Wiltshire this weekend.

I'm cycling about 3 times a week if I can, and am up to about 30 miles ...but not every trip!

Would love to hear how everyone else is getting on, if only to make me panic and spur myself on to find more time for cycling!

Good luck everyone and see you in September!

Ally

Hello all... 

I have just returned from off holiday and I have also received the bike information through the post.

Thought I would also introduce myself too.. my name is Matt, I'm 32 and live in a beautiful part of Devon near to the coast.

This is the very first time I have done anything like this before. so it is all new to me and I'm quite anxious about it too!

I am in the middle of training for the ride. I go to the gym and also go on as many cycle routes as I find the time too. I am no professional, so hopefully I will not be the only one in the group who will be in the same boat as me!!

I am doing this for my Mum who had a very bad stroke fours years ago and is now in a nursing home as she is paralysed. She was only 58 when she had the stroke. Now I want to raise as much money as poss to help other people in the same situation as my Mum.

I have just filled in my form to stay at St. Mary's Uni College in Twickenham on the Wednesday, so hopefully I can chill out for a bit before the big day!!

Would be great to hear from anyone else who will be doing the ride.

Thanks, Matt

Hi Everyone

My name is Chris I am really looking forward to the cycle never done anything like this before. My other half is doing it as well she is Georgina and will probably on the forum in the next few days. We live in Leicester and both commute on our bikes everyday but this is abit of a step up from that :)

We are both training and getting used to being in the saddle for a long time. We have done a few long rides which were ok abit of aching the next day but generally ok. Fundraising is going ok trying to keep asking people without nagging to much. Got car boot and raffle coming up so hopefully get a few quid from that to help.

 Looking forward to seeing you all in Sept

Chris

Hello everyone

My name is Mel, I'm 31 and I am totally terrified about this marathon cycle and I haven't managed to find the time to do much training.  I'm generally fit and do lots of sport but I think this is going to be a huge challenge for me!  I've managed to raise the money but I'm going to have a hog roast and raffle in September after the big event to try and raise as much as I can as my father had a stroke two years ago leaving him paralysed and unable to speak which has been very tough to deal with.  Mum has had loads of support from the Stroke Association so I just want to give something back.  

Really looking forward to meeting you all in September and any offers of a tow greatly received.  

Mel

It's great to hear from other people who are doing the bike ride and know they are also looking forward to it. I'm sure with each other's determination it will be a lot of fun and a great atmosphere for us all.

I'm hoping to meet some new friends and even though it's important for us not to forget why we are doing the ride, that we enjoy it - I'm keeping my finger's crossed that the rain will finally stop by then!!!

I will be travelling from Devon. Is there anyone else staying at the Uni the night before the big day?

Matt

Hi All,

My name's Judi and I'm also signed up, trying to squeeze in some training and hoping that the rest of my friends and colleagues will cough up to help me reach my fundraising target. I got into cycling a couple of years ago when I joined a bunch of friends on a cycling pub crawl every Friday night. Having survived the perils of Devon's pot-holed lanes in the pitch dark I have started cycling more often in the daylight!

I'm cycling for the Stroke Association as I am a physio working with acute stroke patients, so I see on a daily basis how much the SA can do to support stroke victims and their families.

In reply to Sian's post above....have you tried Corinne Dennis for cycling gear? She sells probably the most comfortable (and the most flattering) cycle shorts in the business. They're lycra, but non-shiny, so much more subtle that most other types.

Really look forward to meeting you all in September.

Keep those pedals turning!

Judi x

Hello, great to read all your messages - it's made me really excited about meeting you all & trying to do this ride!  

My name is Victoria, I'm 32 & I live in Hurstpierpoint with my husband & our 2 children.  I decided to do this ride because my grandad had lots of strokes, over many years, which took a little bit of him away each time - like so many of you, I thought this ride is a brilliant way to give my support to this great charity.  But also like Matt said, I'm just hoping it's going to be fun!  I haven't been cycling very long - I only got my own 'proper' bike at the start of May & although I've been trying to build up the distances slowly, I'm still terrified - especially in busy traffic - & feeling desperately under prepared! I'm getting there (or so I tell myself!), but I should find the time to go out more often, especially on longer rides.  I'm hoping the group spirit will carry me through though!  Having said all that, I've awarded myself a day off the bike today - we had a party for our daughters 2nd birthday yesterday, and there may have been some wine....

I'd be really happy to go out for a pedal with anyone in the area before we head off & I'm looking forward to meeting you all, Vic x  

Judi - thanks for the Corrinne Dennis tip - I have ordered some very nice looking 3/4 length leggings.

Is anyone riding on a hybrid bike? I am not sure whether to use mine or to persevere with my road bike which is possibly more sensible for the distance but less robust and very uncomfortable on rougher roads.

Victoria - don't worry - I too am hoping for group spirit to see me through!! 

Sian,

I am hoping to use my town and trail road bike due to the distance.

Hello everyone,

Thought I’d log on and say hello.  I‘m David, I’m 44 and live near Dorking in Surrey. I’ve done the London Brighton ride for the last 3 years and rather foolishly thought I'd take on a bigger challenge this year! Seems pretty daunting at the moment, but I’m really looking forward to it. Training is going OK, although the current summer weather isn’t helping.

A friend from work (Steve) is also doing the ride. We’re doing the ride for Brian, a work colleague, who died following a massive stroke last year, just before he was due to retire. Hopefully the funds we raise will help the Stroke Assoc to build on the fantastic work they do.

Whilst I live fairly close to the start, I’ve booked a room at the Uni.

Anyone that fancies a training ride around the Surrey/Sussex area, let me know.

Looking forward to meeting you all soon. I’m sure we’ll all have a great time. Already thinking of a cold beer in Paris!

David

Hi, I'm Rose and I've probably taken over the veteran spot on this site!  I'm doing the ride with a friend of mine and we live in the north west and the training is happening between showers - bit slow sometimes (for me at least)! Anyway the trip looks loads of fun but very daunting

The reason I'm doing it - well I had a stroke myself 4 years ago and the Stroke Association was really helpful.  In one fleeting moment I managed to talk my friend into it and she's well up for it now!

Haven't seen anyone else from up north yet??

Rose x

Hi,

It's great reading your stories and also slightly relieved you're not all olympic-level cyclists!

I am really glad I joined my local cycling club a couple of weeks back, much more fun than training on my own. Survived 30 and 55 mile hikes last weekend and we have access to Castle Combe racing circuit on Tuesday nights so managed 42 miles in the driving wind and rain last night...oh joy!

Please let it stop raining sometime soon..

..I'm intending to stay at the uni too on the Wednesday. I wondered if anyone else is leaving their car in London whilst we're away? Parking at St Pancras is £25 a day.. anyone got any cheaper ideas?!

Looking forward to meeting you all and good luck with your training

Ally

Hi,

I'm Garry and I live just to the south of Cambridge and have never done such a long cycle ride but I'm looking forward to it - I'm no expert and regard myself as a plodder but I'll get to Paris in the end (I'll have to as the family are all coming over to cheer us all on at the finish!). I've just turned 49 and have been mostly training on my own so if anyone fancies a training session around here then let me know - you would be most welcome. The training is coming along okay but need to get some longer rides in this weekend so here's to puncture free rides. Look forward to meeting you all in September - it looks like I'll have to arrive on the day, rather than being able to stay over the night before.

Garry

I'm Les and live in Milton Keynes(MK) - just managed to get sorted on this blog after weeks of internet problems. Great to read everyone's thoughts so far and it sounds like it should be a great event.

I'm pretty worried on the training front as I "did my knee in" a month ago and it has pretty much hard work getting back into serious training, but getting there slowly. I think the hills / gradients are going to be my biggest challenge as there are few hills in and around MK and hopefully the knees will keep going on the real trip! I will be doing the event with my mate Pete - we did the Oxford to Cambridge last year and in a mad moment he suggested we did this one - I may forgive him.  My wife's mum died of multiple strokes and my mum also suffered from strokes - so this is for them...........

Hope to blog more later - If anyone has any suggestions on working on hills - I would appreciate it!! look forward to seeing you all - Les

Hi - hope everyone is okay. 

Just wondering if anyone got a training guide/anything similar from The Stroke Association?  At this stage I have no idea how this information will help, but panicking, I just thought I'd ask. 

The knee sounds really painful Les, although I am quite jealous of all the flatness in MK - & your access to the race track Ally, how good is that?!  Guess a weights workouts might help build up strength in the legs in the absence of lots of hilly rides - not that I've tried that of course - I've spent a lot of time gazing up at The Downs & not enough time cycling up them!

Happy biking, Victoria x

Hi everyone

Victoria - I have a training plan, and I did have it electronically. I'll try and find it tomorrow and PM it over to you. If all else fails I'll scan in my hard copy and get it to you somehow.

I hope everyone is getting on ok. I seem to be doing very well at avoiding hills at present too, so getting nervous about the first day and surviving the Downs. If I get to Portsmouth I know I'll be able to get to Paris!

The weeks seem to be passing at worrying speed!

Happy biking!

Ally

Decided I am using my hybrid bike - it has 26" wheels but it is comfier than my road bike, I will just have to pedal hard to keep up I promise!! I have been training at weekends and quite enjoying it. I caught the train to Stratford on Avon last Saturday and cycled the 80 miles or so home and then got back on my bike for 20 miles next morning so I have a little bit more confidence now than I did. This weekend I caught the train to Reading and cycled back to Oxford which was shorter but a bit hillier. The National Cycle Network routes are really useful - they are well signed and avoid busy roads - go to www.sustrans.org.uk to see the routes. I have been pedalling up and down NCN route 5 - a really great experience.

Top Tip: my Mum cycled round the entire coast of England, Wales, Ireland and a bit of Scotland last year and I asked her for tips - she has only one - "pack sudocrem" .

Well done Sian - 100 miles in a weekend is a serious achievement. I've not done such a long run yet but am starting to get there and looking forward to this weekend when I'll get a chance to do some more. I'm commuting to work 3 or 4 days a week which is 28 miles a day if I do the shortest route each way or double that if I do the long route both ways, plus a longish ride at the weekend (but not as much as 80 yet!).

Sorry to hear about your knees Les; there aren't many hills around Cambridge either but I go into north Essex which is much more rolling to get more of a feel for the ride over the Downs on the first day (which I feel will be the real test as well - mind you northern France isn't all flat either). A much fitter and more able cyclist than I suggests keeping long cycle trousers on when the air is cool and dropping your saddle a small amount to make things possibly a little more comfortable - might be worth a try?

All the best everybody, Garry