London to Paris Cycle September 2009
Many thanks for sponsoring for my 19th consecutive year of sporting charitable fundraising.
I have raised over £4,000 for The Rose Road Association in Southampton for their Change My Life Appeal (see the website at www.roseroad.org.uk).
This charity provides wonderful support for children with multiple and profound disabilities. My four fellow cyclists who also cycled to Paris enabled us to raise over £10,000 in total, which was very pleasing in the current economic climate. I think they have also all now got the ‘bug’ and will no doubt be either joining me on my next challenge or trying a different challenge.
I am pleased to report that the ‘bionic hips’ have settled down well as the anniversary of my operation approaches and I am currently dreaming up a ‘different cycle challenge’ for 2010 to celebrate 20 years….....
Thank you again.
With best wishes
Bruce Elkins
Charity Cycle Challenge Diary
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Got up at 4.00 a.m. to be ready for running club pal, John Mursell to collect me at 4.30 a.m. to drive me up to Croydon by 6.15 a.m. The 130 cyclists gathered and registered outside the Hotel Aerodrome and following a briefing and good lucks we were on the road by 7.15 a.m. Cycling out of Croydon heading south-east to Dover there were a couple of stiff climbs to start which warmed us up before the morning sunshine arrived. |
Bruce Elkins |
The 5 of us, supporting Rose Road, cycled together for much of the first session until we reached our first water, banana & energy bar stop after a couple of hours just outside Tonbridge. A brief rest and we were soon on our way as the sun was starting to shine but wind began to pick up and we reached Bethersden, near Ashford for our lunch break.
The organisers certainly knew they had to feed us well for lunch as we burn a lot of calories out on the road and they did not disappoint! I always did like my food hence the need to exercise!
Refuelled, we set off east and as we had made good progress we were at the afternoon 'fuel' stop (77 miles) before the support vehicle, so took some photos and pressed on knowing that if we got to Dover early we could have a good break in the afternoon sunshine.
Arrived in Dover by about 4.15 p.m. and the ferry was not due to leave until 6.15 p.m. so Laurence searched out the local seafront cafe and we sat down to pasties (2 for Laurence!) tea and coffee. A little bit of a breeze on the coast but we had enjoyed good weather for our first 93 miles.
Set the alarm for 7.00 a.m. as the organisers wanted everyone breakfasted and on the road by 8.00 a.m. to provide sufficient time for all abilities to achieve the second day of 82 miles after a long first day. A few moans and groans about tender 'regions' but everyone seemed in good spirits and the weather forecast looked good with dry sunny periods but getting windier.
Once out of Calais we were on to minor roads in the French countryside remembering to cycle on the right and after about 10 miles the aches and pains seemed to ease and we were maintaining a steady pace.
Whilst not fast cyclists we had worked out that the 'Rose Roadies' were in the quicker groups of cyclists so set off and went along at a pace that we were comfortable with.
Laurence and I had pressed on ahead of our other team members and that was when the 'Italian Stallion' decided he was going to bomb past us.
Laurence decided otherwise and sat on his back wheel with me behind and suddenly we were pushing it a bit.
The Italian tried to burn us off and to his surprise (he was much younger) Laurence blew him away on the next big climb. I pushed on about 100 metres behind at a reasonable pace.
Shortly the 3 of us and one cyclist ahead of us had arrived first for lunch so we laid out in the sunshine and ate a blueberry muffin, crisps (needed the salt), an apple and satsuma for an energy shot before lunch was served once a sufficient number of cyclists arrived. The remaining Rose Roadies arrived early for lunch which put the whole team at ease.
Another beautiful but windy day enabled us to take 2 hours for lunch whilst other cyclists arrived to rest and eat.
We set off for the afternoon session and felt comfortable, if somewhat tired by the time we reached Arras late afternoon.
Supposed to be another early start of 8.00 a.m. but the queue at breakfast was very long as hotel was not organised well for 130 cyclists! However, we were all out on the road by 8.45 a.m. to get out of a busy town.
A slower start to the day to get the joints working again and after a few complaints about various ailments we settled in to a steady pace. We mainly had the wind behind us or across us which was no bad thing. There is nothing worse than cycling head on into a wind so counted our blessings.
A lovely countryside route along rural minor roads running parallel to the A1 E15 – E19 autoroute all the way to Compiegne. We arrived quite early in the afternoon which enabled an hour of relaxation in the sunshine followed by a couple of beers before dinner. Quite a tough day with a few climbs and 80 miles travelled.
After dinner, the 2 youngsters (Ash & Andy) hit the sack whilst Laurence, Phil and I walked into town for a relaxing beer. The walk helped ease the legs out ready for the final day.
The slower cyclists headed off after an early breakfast whilst Laurence, Phil and I had an extra hour in bed!
The wind was behind us blowing us along –good news. Only one big climb today and then it was an easy run into the lunch stop after about 50 miles.
We agreed that Rose Roadies would cycle together for the remaining 25 miles and had time to stop off for a beer en route to the park at St Denis, around 3 miles from Eiffel Tower where everyone gathered for the final peloton slow group cycle to take in the atmosphere past the Arc de Triumph, along the Champs Elysée and to the Eiffel Tower. Absolutely fantastic atmosphere capped by the elation of finishing followed by a celebration dinner and drinking in the bar until 4.30 a.m. capped off a wonderful trip!!
An achievable challenge for all abilities with the desire and commitment the ride was well organised but the good weather helped massively. Contact EmmaDeabill@roseroad.org if you would like to support their Change My Life appeal by cycling in next year’s ride.
