Forgive me readers for I have skimped. It’s been 2 months since my last blog update….
This weekend marked the end of training for the London to Paris cycle ride I will be taking part in, starting in just 9 days time!
This weekends plan was an 80% distance dry run of the real thing.
Thursday 14th July – Ely to Cambridge
Needing to go to Cambridge, I decided to take the train to Ely and cycle to the UK capital of the bicycle, Cambridge.
Usually I drive to Cambridge, but I thought I would join the crowds of highway code ignoring locals and students and to see what it is like to ride dangerously!
Clearly, I did not do my homework as the Cycle Route 13 from Ely to Cambridge takes you across the fen on gravel tracks and along the river Cam on a tow path. Not really any good on a road bike with skinny, slick tyres.
Arrived in Cambridge, it was time for refreshments and watch people on the river trying to steer punts in a straight line. Clearly, many needed a lot more practice…
Business done in Cambridge, it was time to head back to one of the smallest UK cities, Ely to take the train home.
Friday 15th July – North Norfolk Coast Loop
After a day enjoying the flat roads of Cambridgeshire, Friday was high time for some hills, Norfolk style. Not the highest in the world, but constant up and down along the coast.
This is my regular ride and giving it was coming towards the end of training, one 30 mile lap wasn’t enough so I did two.
Saturday 16th July – Ely to North Walsham
What a disaster! The plan was to cycle around 75 miles from Ely to North Walsham to get some miles in.
Around 20 miles in a double pot hole hit at speed: thud, thud, whoosh. Puncture! Not a worry I thought. Less than 15 minutes later the inner tube was changed and I was on my way again.
Over the next 10 miles I realised something wasn’t right. First I thought it was the fact that this was the 3rd day on the trot that I was out cycling, then I thought it was the under inflated rear tyre, then I realised that something was seriously wrong with the rear wheel, it was wobbling alarmingly. Clearly I damaged it when I whacked it.
The problem with cycling in the middle of nowhere is that the next cycle shop was another 20 miles away. So I carried on and checked my bike into Halford’s in Dereham, 25 miles short of my destination. Time to take the bus home…
Sunday 17th July – Marriotts Way
Sunday started with a trip to Norwich to pick up some part to fix my other bike. No excuses on the last day of training!
Bike duly fixed, it was time to set off. As I was riding a hybrid bike, I thought I would take Marriotts Way, an old railway line from Aylsham to Norwich for a bit of variety.
The surface changed from Mud to Sand to Gravel frequently, but it was nice to have some variety.
Lunch was had on the Riverside in Norwich, washed down with a pint of beer. Can you be done for being ‘drunk in charge of a bicycle’?
Looking back
4 days, 210 miles cycled, 1 bike broken, 1 bike repaired.
I ended up being 25 miles short of my target, so the final tally was around 75% of London to Paris distance instead of my 80% target.
Looking forward
Am I ready? Ready as I’ll ever be.
I can’t say I was dead on my feet on any day and I’m sure I would have managed the extra miles needed to reach Paris.
So why am I doing this? For personal pride, but also to raise money for a good cause, the East Anglian Air Ambulance.
Please click on the link to sponsor me!
The next time I’ll post, I will hopefully be sat on a ferry in Dover in 9 days time. Until then, Au revoir!
Sascha
Sascha's Blog 