Posted by Stuart
Good to see all the prep from other members of the party. Andy's off to Kos for a week tomorrow to continue his alcohol-based training regime.
I'm back on the bike after the marathon a couple of weeks ago. Still not training too hard, but I'm getting hours in the saddle in, which is the main thing.
What else? Not a lot really, just that having been in France for a week recently, riding across there is such a joy compared to the UK. The weather helps of course, but a combination of considerate drivers and smooth road surfaces (rather than having to play dodge-the-pothole) makes for really pleasurable riding - the Saturday and Sunday of our trip should be great. Not sure I can say the same about our Monday morning ride into Paris however....
Talking of which, that's the last bit of the route I need to get sorted. No time like the present.
Tuesday, 7 June 2011
Monday, 6 June 2011
30 Mile barrier broken
Posted by Dylan
Training has taken a bit of a back seat due to being away on the bank holiday weekend but i broke the 30 mile barrier this weekend in a session and happily have no issues to report. The adjustment of the seat seems to have resolved the sore bum issues but may need another tweak soon as towards the end my hands started to ache slightly. Managed just over 31 miles in 2hrs 20mins but the head wind on the way back meant I did not manage to make it in the 2 hours that i wanted. I am still investigating all of the kit that we need for L2P and it is proving impossible to decide on what shorts to buy so will just go with my colleagues suggestions and see how it goes. I noticed that Andy has managed a sneaky trail run for our training run in a few weeks and it looks like i might need to be packing my kevlar for the dodgy area that we will be passing through.
Training has taken a bit of a back seat due to being away on the bank holiday weekend but i broke the 30 mile barrier this weekend in a session and happily have no issues to report. The adjustment of the seat seems to have resolved the sore bum issues but may need another tweak soon as towards the end my hands started to ache slightly. Managed just over 31 miles in 2hrs 20mins but the head wind on the way back meant I did not manage to make it in the 2 hours that i wanted. I am still investigating all of the kit that we need for L2P and it is proving impossible to decide on what shorts to buy so will just go with my colleagues suggestions and see how it goes. I noticed that Andy has managed a sneaky trail run for our training run in a few weeks and it looks like i might need to be packing my kevlar for the dodgy area that we will be passing through.
Will look to get a short run out mid week and then look to break 40 miles this weekend.
More to report soon
Thursday, 2 June 2011
We're all doing very well
Posted by Andy
13 weeks to go, and the training is coming along nicely. I'm up to 3 pies a day, and a heady diet of rubbish TV every night to contribute to my mental strength training. It's all in the head, so that's what I'm focusing on. Any lingering doubts about my physical fitness soon melt away after the first bottle or two of Pinot, which just goes to show how good wine is for preparation in events like this. My training plan is looking rather polished now - I did consider changing the colour schemes again, but on reflection decided to stick with the existing one. At some point I may dig the bike out of the shed, but I don't want to do anything hasty. My last training session in January hurt not inconsiderably, so I won't be making that mistake again ! My previous doubts about the mental stability of my 3 co-riders have subsided now, although they do appear to be cycling regularly, so I'll keep a close eye on that rather worrying and deviant behaviour. Oh well, time for lunch.....
13 weeks to go, and the training is coming along nicely. I'm up to 3 pies a day, and a heady diet of rubbish TV every night to contribute to my mental strength training. It's all in the head, so that's what I'm focusing on. Any lingering doubts about my physical fitness soon melt away after the first bottle or two of Pinot, which just goes to show how good wine is for preparation in events like this. My training plan is looking rather polished now - I did consider changing the colour schemes again, but on reflection decided to stick with the existing one. At some point I may dig the bike out of the shed, but I don't want to do anything hasty. My last training session in January hurt not inconsiderably, so I won't be making that mistake again ! My previous doubts about the mental stability of my 3 co-riders have subsided now, although they do appear to be cycling regularly, so I'll keep a close eye on that rather worrying and deviant behaviour. Oh well, time for lunch.....
Wednesday, 25 May 2011
Maiden voyage complete
Posted by Dylan
At last i got to put some miles on my new bike last night after looking at it for the past 5 days. Only sneaked in 16 miles but it was considerably easier that any other ride i have done to date. Had a fairly decent head wind on the way out which was interesting but it made the journey back a bit easier. Needs a bit of a tweak as it seems the chaps in Halfords had obviously been concentrating on getting to the pub in the Friday my bike was built rather than setting the gears up properly.
At last i got to put some miles on my new bike last night after looking at it for the past 5 days. Only sneaked in 16 miles but it was considerably easier that any other ride i have done to date. Had a fairly decent head wind on the way out which was interesting but it made the journey back a bit easier. Needs a bit of a tweak as it seems the chaps in Halfords had obviously been concentrating on getting to the pub in the Friday my bike was built rather than setting the gears up properly.
It is 100 days to go until be embark on our challenge so still have a fair way to go but i also have a fair amount of training still to do.
Friday, 20 May 2011
New bike imminent
Posted by Dylan
After much deliberation i have take the advice of my team members and have gone for a road bike which i will collect tonight. I have consulted the technical expertise of Neil and have decided to go for a Carrera Vanquish which seems to fit the bill for a decent price.
After much deliberation i have take the advice of my team members and have gone for a road bike which i will collect tonight. I have consulted the technical expertise of Neil and have decided to go for a Carrera Vanquish which seems to fit the bill for a decent price.
Other purchases this week are SPD pedals, SPD shoes but i am sure i have more to go before i look and feel the part.
I will post an update on how it goes on the maiden voyage over the weekend. Target is 30 mile trip this week in under 2hr 30 mins.
Thursday, 19 May 2011
Not That Please!
Posted by Neil
My normal commute home on the cboardman bike is about 55 minutes. Last night it took 1 hour 9 minutes. At one point my normal flat road cruise of 17-18 mph was down to 11 mph.
No headwinds on the way to Paris please!!!
My normal commute home on the cboardman bike is about 55 minutes. Last night it took 1 hour 9 minutes. At one point my normal flat road cruise of 17-18 mph was down to 11 mph.
No headwinds on the way to Paris please!!!
Monday, 16 May 2011
1st Miles
Posted by Dylan
Attempted my first decent number of miles this weekend and all went pretty well. The headwind was a bit of a challenge in places together with some very dodgy roads with holes not designed for a road bike. I completed 22.5 miles in just under 2 hours with only a few stops on the way.
Attempted my first decent number of miles this weekend and all went pretty well. The headwind was a bit of a challenge in places together with some very dodgy roads with holes not designed for a road bike. I completed 22.5 miles in just under 2 hours with only a few stops on the way.
Looking to get a new bike this week so i suspect it will be a few nights of tweaking to add the various bits that i have bought.
Well better get on with some work.
More miles later this week......
Lets get started
Posted by Dylan
I thought that i would at least start the ball rolling with my 1st entry on the London to Paris blog. I have a lot to do seeing as we have 122 days to go.
I thought that i would at least start the ball rolling with my 1st entry on the London to Paris blog. I have a lot to do seeing as we have 122 days to go.
My main focus over the next few weeks is to get a suitable bike that is up to the job and then with some fettling get it to a configuration that works for me.
I had not appreciated how complicated it can be to prepare your body and bike for sitting in the saddle for 8 hours a day for 3 days solid. I have even been measuring my "Sit Bones" to find a seat that will mean i can at least walk after we have finished. Updates on selected seat to follow......
I hope to get some miles under my belt over the weekend as i have a bike that i am trialling from a friend.
Sponsorship is going well with £135 raised so far in the first day (was helped by a £50 donation from my Mum)
Well that's it for now and will be back when i have completed a number of miles.
Sunday, 15 May 2011
Route planning
A very quick blog to kick things off. We're still over 3 months away from departing these shores, but it's never too soon to start, and indeed finish, the planning.
We got together as a foursome, as it were, last week, and I think all is going to be well. We each have our challenges to overcome if it's going to be a totally harmonious experience, but with a bit of luck those are undulations rather than high peaks on the road ahead. Mine? So many....remember this is for pleasure rather than being a military exercise, get the navigation sorted properly, remember not to preface every sentence with "when I did Land's End to John O'Groats" (I'm boring myself with that), for starters.
As far as navigation is concerned, the route from central London to Dover has been bothering me. My first thoughts were to go out through south-east London, and then hug the north Kent coast through Dartford, Chatham, Gillingham through to Faversham, then hit the back roads to get to Dover. I didn't fancy the navigation over the last 25 miles though, and elements of the route to Faversham looked a bit dull, to be frank. I think we've got a better one now though, heading south after Dartford to pick up the A20, then staying on that through parts of the North Downs to Maidstone, Ashford, and nearly all the way to Dover. Andy has been kind enough to stick it through bikeroutetoaster (I need to get a lesson off him - I've failed dismally to make it work for me so far), and it looks ok.
Three months feels like a long time between now and departure, but before then we've got plenty else to occupy us. Inter alia, there'll be a trip to France to watch the Tour de France for Neil and me, a new job for Neil, summer holidays, and bike buying for Dylan. So the time will go quickly, and the more we can get sorted quickly, the better. It looks like we'll be having a practice outing on Monday 27th June, organisation courtesy Andy, so there's an interim target.
We got together as a foursome, as it were, last week, and I think all is going to be well. We each have our challenges to overcome if it's going to be a totally harmonious experience, but with a bit of luck those are undulations rather than high peaks on the road ahead. Mine? So many....remember this is for pleasure rather than being a military exercise, get the navigation sorted properly, remember not to preface every sentence with "when I did Land's End to John O'Groats" (I'm boring myself with that), for starters.
As far as navigation is concerned, the route from central London to Dover has been bothering me. My first thoughts were to go out through south-east London, and then hug the north Kent coast through Dartford, Chatham, Gillingham through to Faversham, then hit the back roads to get to Dover. I didn't fancy the navigation over the last 25 miles though, and elements of the route to Faversham looked a bit dull, to be frank. I think we've got a better one now though, heading south after Dartford to pick up the A20, then staying on that through parts of the North Downs to Maidstone, Ashford, and nearly all the way to Dover. Andy has been kind enough to stick it through bikeroutetoaster (I need to get a lesson off him - I've failed dismally to make it work for me so far), and it looks ok.
Three months feels like a long time between now and departure, but before then we've got plenty else to occupy us. Inter alia, there'll be a trip to France to watch the Tour de France for Neil and me, a new job for Neil, summer holidays, and bike buying for Dylan. So the time will go quickly, and the more we can get sorted quickly, the better. It looks like we'll be having a practice outing on Monday 27th June, organisation courtesy Andy, so there's an interim target.
My other blog!
Posted by Stuart
Here's the link to my other blog, which will pick up some of the training and prep for this event: http://monmarduman.blogspot.com/
Find it in the links on the right too.
Here's the link to my other blog, which will pick up some of the training and prep for this event: http://monmarduman.blogspot.com/
Find it in the links on the right too.
A Challenge, A Chance and Four Bikes
Posted by Neil
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.
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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