20th July L2P Day 1 Chessington to Portsmouth 75m PUNCTURE CARNAGE!!

THE SHACK at Shackleford!
HERE WE GO!
We travelled down the night before & stayed in Leatherhead Travelodge - as we checked out the start point there was monsoon conditions!
In the morning we congregated on the car park, with a general sense of anticipation as we got our bikes ready & put the bags in the correct van. First Olly (from AMR & cycling with us) then 'Tiny' (boss of 14 from discoveradventure) gave us a pep talk and we were on our way in groups of 30. In our group we had 134 cyclists with a grand total og >500 across the 5 routes!!
In cool grey conditions we slipped out of the suburbs and over the M25. Initially the roads were good but as the day progressed and the rain fell again the deterioration was dramatic. With old pot holes and copious fresh mud, grit and other debris these were some of the worst & most prolonged roads I have ever cycled.
In the mid section there was pucture carnage with bikes stopped every 50-100yds. Luke was first with a flat front, then Andy & I simultaneously had rear flats somewhere past Guildford.
There was time to chat & get to know some of our fellow riders. A slightly (generally) overweight 'coca-cola team stood out in their garish outfits.
Soon we were facing a long steep hill but once at the top could looks down onto Portsmouth, the Solent, and the Isle of Wight beyond. For once on the descent we could let go of the brakes & shoot down into town, meeting up at a park not far from the ferry terminal.
A few of us doubled back for a rewarding & satisfying Guinness!
Soonwe were checking onto the boat, enjoying a couple more beers as we steamed out of the terminal. A steak & chips supper was devoured and we retired to the shoe box sized but comfortable cabin. The shower was excellent and cleared alot of grime off our muddy legs

21st July L2P Day 2 St Malo to Mayenne 85 miles

We awoke to the throbbing of the ferry and Luke & I went off for breakfast at 0630 whilst Graham & Albert packed up. A sensible idea in the tiny shoe box cabin. We then watched as we pulled into to a rather dreary drizzly StMalo. Once the traffic was off the boat we could wheel our bikes off, have a quick briefing about the route (keep following the orange arrows) we climbed up remembering to keep on the right.
This early part was fairly flat and we sped along enjoying the freedom and clean road surfaces after the muddy gritty shitty roads from the day before.
The drink stop was next to a large asterix & Obelix menhir rock! Our DA leader 'Tiny' set off asking us to wait a bit before following....which we did and came down & around...to where we'd been before!! so we carried on, as indicated on the garmin, and rejoined the orange arrow trail again. Through the rolling countryside we went as the weather brightened up a bit getting to lunch in good time.
After lunch we all stopped en masse in the lovely town of Fouges with it's castle & moat. Andy Luke & I enjoyed a long cold beer before pressing on. The next section became very rural

Fri 23rd July L2P Day 3 Mayenne to Chartres 118 miles! ...it'd be rude not to...

Monster day - started with alarm call at 0530 (0430 GMT) and set off @ 0700 (0600 GMT!)
We set off one by one in drizzle, all aprehensive about the long day ahead. I stopped to get cash then missed one of the little orange arrows....having to turn back after nearly a mile cursing my stupidity....with more than 110 miles ahead I bleeding get lost and add distance!!!
Soon the weather brightened and the first drink stop at XXX was a beautiful spot by a river in a pretty little village. A few locals waved from the windows "nous avons à Paris!!!" "Paris!!! Bon chance crazy Anglais etc" On we went, passing along a 15 mile 'roman road' stretch the latter part seeming to have the original roman surface!! Having lunch at Marners after 50 miles we were all feeling knackered but still with 68 much hillier miles ahead..... The sun was out and we sped on into the arable rich landscape (maize/barley/wheat/sunflowers - fields that seemed to stretch forever) Slowly the land became more lumpy and the climb into Belleme ('bell-end') was rewarded with a great large lager which certainly hit the spot.
Along through Noce, Fretigny, the next 30-40 miles up until a Water stop at Magny were some of the hardest hills encountered. On one steep hill Ed was ahead of me and 'CRACK!!' his chain snapped. A while ago I had dreamt that this would happen to me & have been carrying the link and tool to prepare the two ends - in a jiffy it was on but without pliers it was not possible to close the link properly - a call to Phil the multi-talented techo and I carried on my way. Ed was soon back on the road again and I finally got to the drink stop in bright sunshine and out of water. Suitably fuelled up we then tackled a few monster hills. Going up one Luke had his head down and ran off the road into the verge & a plastic piller!! No damage done we decided to try & find a bar - all through France so far we were all wondering where the French actually were - villages & roads all very quiet & not an open Bar for miles.
My sticky right cleet caught me out as I gently toppled to the right at the top of a particularily nasty hill...again no injury ensued but a laugh at my expense was had!
As we rode into Chartes the road became flatter & straighter and after 110 miles I gained some energy from somewhere as we sped into town.
As usual the Hotel was down then up through to the other side of town.
Tonight all 134 of us were together for a rather disappointing (after last nights meal) pasta & pork offering! We decided it might be rude not to have another beer and then off to bed, satisfied on a great days riding, with most of the route to Paris having been conquered.]
118m in 8h46m @14mph total so far

Sat 24th JULY L2P Day 4 Chartres to Paris 56 miles

We were slightly disappointe to hear of a 0630 alarm call today - but relieved that this was to allow a staggered start so thet we 134 could meet up with the other 400 riders from the other 4 routes! That said we decided to get up for breaky at 0730 & got underway about 0815...
Conditions were perfect....in fact better than perfect...cycling just doesn't get better than this! Slight breeze from the left with long gentle roads with a great surface we sped along 'prairie' type country as we shot through Coltainville & Gallardon at a great speed - a small group with young (Dr) Jonathon in his 'Cavendish" HTC kit, Andy(Bianci-man), Andrew, Luke & myself powering along passing small groups who had set out earlier.
Soon we were through Rambouillet and sweeping down some majestic hills to the water stop in some woods. Soon re-fuelled we carried on and stopped en-masses in Lapierre(?) for a coffee in delightful surroundings and sunshine!
On to lunch we all carefully dodged the tricky tramlines set at an angle to trap unwary cyclists.
Here we regrouped & re 'carbed' on fine local beer ready for the run into town.
From now on the countryside was left behind us and the stop-start pattern for the rest of the day began. Unfortunately after gorgeous weather, dark clouds loomed and as we passed the Palace of Versaille the heavens opened, and I mean opened - so we cowered on bus shelters & under trees until the rain subsided a bit, then stoically carried on.
The run in was a tricky slippy dangerous technical ride but we all took care & safely arrived at XXX to re-group and wait for the time to rendezvous with the rest of the AMR cyclists!

STOPPING THE ARC We all grouped together then -moved out en masse under the arc de triomphe stopping the trqffic Great cheers qnd horn blowing ensued with arm waves qnd other celebratory gestures!!!! Then under police escort the 500 riders 2-300 yds long peleton paraded through to the Eiffel tower with great cheers and waves passing through red lights as we enjoyed our achievement!!!
Then more pictures and bubbly before going on to our Hotel Pullman. Our room at the front with views of the Eiffel Tower only 200yds away!
Later a celebratory meal with the photographers pictures beamed up onto a huge screen.
Thanks were given and we all applauded when we were told about the estimated amount raised (800,000+!!!) and some info on where the money will be spent...
After dinner we appreciated the atmosphere of a floodlit Tower at around midnight with plenty of people still about. Met an Aussie who was happy that barring a fall Cadel Evans (surely hes Welsh!!!) will win the Tour tomorrow.......we ll be watching in the crowd.
So off to bed with stiff legs , and we all have that strange shuffling gait!

sorry limited internet and my fone not France enabled...looks clear day we'll watch out for Sat traffic!

Sat stiff tired ready for final run in. Eiffel Tower @ 1530 all being well. terrible news from Oslo all shocked

both finished VERY tired but strong as we headed for twin spire cathedral good dinner few beers feel better

fri 22nd monster 118 mile day mayenne to chartres safeky in will put detelails later

up early 0530 start 109 m to chartres good team spirit here great mutual support and piss taking!!

all well luke king of the hills! less wet today.more when i can....

safe in mayenne hopeless connection no fone all well

19th July ...here we go...

All packed up - bikes loaded up - bags all packed.
Off down to Leatherhead.
Meet & register at Chessington Holiday Inn ready for a 0900 start!
No riding for 8 days...our legs are ready to start!
Hopefully can update here - or go to twitter.com
search for septic77 and my tweets will be there!

10th July 2011 THE WILD ONE!

This was the Peterborough CC organised Sportive.
Despite storms in other parts of the UK the morning was absolutely perfect! Blue skies and only a light wind. We left Southwick soon (after a wasp sting to my head) at Harringworth, then Liddington, around the beautiful Eve =brrok Resevoir and after a fast stretch scrounged a cup of tea off Tim in Medbourne. Then up the steep Nevill Holt Hill and a run through past Goadby and onto the B6-47 through the Langtons. A second stop at the Rockingham Wheelers base in Middleton and we were ready for the three major hills home Cottingham.Rockingham and Harrington. Pretty weary we came home in good spirits...nice pint of SHACKLEBUSH Ale(!) eassed them aching legs.
Well thats the major training all done - MANY THANKS to ALL who have sposored us - we now feel fit & ready for the 'off' in 10 days....
90m 5h57m @15.3mph 4100ft climb

4th July - here we go

Time constraints/work commitments this week have meant that the daily rides may not be long, but will be pushed along at a good pace!

MON 4th Desbro/Harrington 20.9m 1h17m @ 16.2mph
TUE 5th - Harrington loop 16.5m 1h55s @ 16.5mpg
WED 6th - harrington/pychley 14.3m 1h37s @ 14.3mph - very wet!
THU 7th - Luke-harrington/lamport ~24m Clive Harrington loop 16.5m 55m48s @ 17.8mph
FRI 8th - 28m Grafton/geddington/desbro/rothwell @16mph
SAT 9th - rest up
SUN 10th - THE WILD ROUTE

13/6-3/7/11 various rides short & long

quite a few local rides - and a few days off on golf tour!
Plan is do do intensive DAILY rides from Mon 4th July - with a tough 88m Peterborough Cycle Club Sportive (WILD ROUTE) on Sun 10th July as our final large bit of work.
http://www.peterboroughcyclingclub.co.uk/content/view/517/70/
Then some short sharp rides allowing 6-7 days rest before the off!