A Challenge
Men in middle aged crisis. Motorbike? Sports car? Slippers and a pipe? Join an 80s rock covers band? Not here. Here there be bikes. And miles.
What better way to spend a long weekend in September 2011 than to a) reach an ambition; b) add another event to your tally of endurance challenges for 2011; c) create a target for a year of getting back into running, cycling and swimming or d) joining in because your so-called tough military cadet type mates gradually fell by the wayside and couldn't cope with the idea of riding their bikes from London to Paris?
As this blog goes on, your challenge dear reader is to match each rider to the above 4 statements of intent.
Why London to Paris? Its a popular ride with fund raising groups and it brings the opportunity to finish at a globally recognisable location - be it the Eiffel Tower, or our choice - the Arc de Triomphe at the top of the Champs Elysees - scene of the last stage of the Tour de France.
Stuart and I have both made the pilgrimage to see the end of the Tour so it makes some sort of sense for us to finish there. We'll be starting at the Lloyds Banking Group HQ on Gresham Street in London as 3 of us currently work for the bank and the fourth is a supplier to the bank.
And that's about as logical as it gets, I guess.
We're riding completely unsupported. We won't be followed by a van containing our luggage, we've done all the organising ourselves, we'll have to fix anything that breaks and we're funding it all ourselves. Treating it as a bit of a cycling holiday really. We'll stay in Formule 1 Hotels and cycle between 80 and 90 miles for 3 days and then finish with an easier 30 or so miles into Paris on the fourth morning before heading back for home on the train. Route details will be posted here.
A Chance
A chance to do what? To raise funds for 2 worthy causes.
Neil, Stuart and Andy are raising funds for Save the Children
Dylan is raising funds for Help for Heroes
If we're going to do something challenging, its great to be able to combine that with raising money for those that need some support - so by supporting us, you can help others too.
Choose your preferred rider and/or charity and sponsor us please - every little will help us reach our targets. Check out the links at the top right of the blog homepage to make those donations on line - its quick and very easy.
Thanks for your support!
Four Bikes
and four riders. We're all from different backgrounds, cycling wise - see our individual pages (tabs at the top of the home page) where you'll find a bit more about what cycling means to us and why we're involved in this little jaunt. We do have fairly common aims though - complete the journey, raise some serious cash, have a good time and to get suntanned, not soaking wet.
We'll blog about preparations, the route, practical stuff like kit lists / bike prep etc., and hopefully we'll have the right tech with us to make some jottings and post up some piccies on the way and definitely afterwards.
We hope you enjoy our musings. Wish us luck.
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