London-to-Paris with Action Medical Research

This is the big one... 300 miles in 4 days and a promise to raise at least £1000 pounds for Action Medical Research.

You can sponsor me HERE. Your money WILL make a difference.

Follow my zen-like approach to training and please offer as much advice as you can, especially which lycra is the most 'slimming'!

The Training Programme:

Mondays: 45 minutes of Spinning (thanks Joe) followed by 60 to 90 minutes of, er, Spinning (thanks Janine & Gill).

Tuesdays: 45 minutes of Spinning (thanks Gareth), followed by 75 minutes of Heart Rate based steady peddling, followed by another spinning 45 min (thanks Joe or Lee-Jay) - if I'm up to it.

Wednesdays: a 2 to 3 hours training ride through Essex. Average speeds between 24 and 32 km/h.

Thursdays: a rest day or a 45 min gentle spin (thanks Lee-Jay) or an active recovery ride.

Fridays: One hours BodyPump followed by an hours Yoga, Pilates or Spinning (thanks Claudia). Sauna and/or steam.

Saturdays: Long training ride, usually over a 100 km.



Sundays: Long training ride, usually over 100 km.



I need to point out that the above doesn't happen all the time, I take rest or vary things depending on how I feel or how much time I have.

Let's take a look at the route ...



DAY 1: London to Dieppe: approximately 100 km.
An early start from Kingstone should allow us all to miss the morning traffic. Our route will take us through Purley, Coulsdon and the outskirts of London onto the quieter roads just south of Caterham. We will continue hedading south to Crawley Down riding through the beautiful Sussex and Surrey countryside and small, quiet villages. As we head further south we come to the hills of the South Downs, cycling through the bustling town of Lewes with itsimpressive medieval castle. From Lewes we climb up and over the beautiful chalk downs and descend into the harbour town of Newhaven to catch our ferry to Dieppe. We then have a short ride ahead of us before we reach the evenings accommodation.

DAY 2: Dieppe to Lisieux: approximately 150 km.
Having started the day with a hearty breakfast we will head out of Dieppe hugging the coast, before heading inland along the Saane Valley. This spectacular valley cuts through lots of tranquil villages en route. We head towards Yerville and then into the forested area south of Yvetot, before arriving at the banks of wide River Seine. Crossing thirty kilometers short of the river mouth will be an impressive experience as large vessels ply its aters far up-river. From the southern banks we continue south through woodland and then into the pretty town of Pont-Audemer. From here we continue to pass through small villages until we reach our finishing point for the day, the rustic old town of Lisieux.

DAY 3: Lisieux to Vernon: approximately 130km.
Leaving the old town behind us we head due east through roilling farmland and friendly villages to Brioneon the banks of the River Risle. From Brionne we continue, firstly to Neubourg and then through forests to Beaumont. The afternoon's ride will take us through the villages north of Evreux to our final destination of Vernon, where rest awaits.

DAY 4: Vernon to Paris: approiximately 110 km.
Our final day's cycling takes us along the river Seine to Breval; from here we continue on a busier road to Septeuil and Crespieres, where we touch the outskirts of Paris. Cycling is the national sport of France and while Le Tour de France attracts supporters in the thousand, it will come as no suprise if the locals stop and cheer us on as we pass through their towns and villages. As we reach the suberbs of Paris we will look out for the distinctive landmarks of the Eiffel Tower and the Sacre Coeur to tell us we are nearing the end of our 'petit tour'. Reaching the suberb of Boulogne Bill Lancourt, we will head for our rendiview point a few miles from the finish where we will regroup. From the meeting point we, all five-hundred of us, will head for the Arc de Triomphe and down the Champs Elysees - just like the pro-riders in the tour a day later - to a champagne finish at the Eiffel Tower.

DAY 5: Paris to London - thankfully by Eurostar, after watching the finish of the 2007 Le Tour de France that is!!!