Slept really well and was surprised to be woken by the alarm at 07:30hrs (I never sleep this late). Joined the others for breakfast and ate a couple of yogurts before washing lots of pastries down with a cup of coffee and two cups of hot chocolate. Plan was to set the groups off in same order and timing again so I didn’t rush.
We waved the first two groups off whilst getting the bikes ready and ourselves stocked with bottles and energy bars (after running out of fluids the day before I had learned my lesson, so packed my jersey pockets with a Cliff bar and a 500ml bottle full of energy drink instead of the camera) .
Both ours and Richards group where ready at the same time and in view of how it had been agreed for everyone to meet at a bridge just outside of central Paris there was little point in setting off at different times so we left together as a ten man peloton.
Pulling away was encouraging as my knees were a little stiff but not grumbling, however it was interesting how different the approach was from within Richards group as my group had pulled away slow and taken it easy for the initial ten or so miles each day which suits me very well as I find it takes my legs at least 10 miles to free up.
Richards group however seemed to instantly want to turn on full power. This had the effect of spreading the group out initially, particularly as its mostly uphill leaving Evreux.
I hung back and chatted with Richard whilst reminiscing at the scenery from when Joy and I stayed in Evreux for a week last year.
We caught some members of the first two groups within 5 miles whilst going up a climb so had a brief chat and words of encouragement as passing by.
Not far out of town and we were on country lanes again on which we could go miles without seeing a car and when we did they would tend to pull over with a smile and a wave. The landscape was flat again now and certain riders seemed intent on piling on the speed to the point of going for a break away. The whole group kept together though and I took the opportunity to speak to a few of the other lads on the ride.
We actually had a patch of road which had been freshly “laid” the botch way (throw stones onto old tarmac and let the traffic press them in). We have had a lot of roads treated to this awful process around Surrey over recent years and I absolutely hate it as whilst it’s fresh its really dangerous (you never know when you are going to lose traction and slide onto your side) and has a has a high risk of giving punctures as invariably is full of tiny flints and then once bedded in the surface is very rough and saps your energy when riding on it. It’s also a false economy as has to be re done very frequently compared to proper tarmac.
This patch of loose road surface lasted a mile or so and included a section going downhill with some bends in it. I proceeded down this very slowly as the bike was being twitched in between the ruts in the stones and I had no desire to take a fall so was holding on for dear life, I came up alongside the flying Scotsman and was astounded to find him unwrapping a ham beget and proceed to eat whilst descending along this treacherous section!!!!!
We had to take a small detour around the town of Breuilpont as they seemed to have a fate on. it was cool seeing some of the old Citroën’s heading the other way towards the town as we came out the other side. Nice hill (60metre climb over 3/4mile) just the other side of Breuilpont and having ridden 20miles my legs where now suitably warm so when I saw Ian about 50 metres ahead start sprinting the hill with Ben in tow I excused myself from the conversation I was having at the back of the peloton and stepped the pace up to join them before the top. I kept in the saddle and accelerated up the hill and eased off once past them both. Simon joined Ben, Ian and I shortly after the climb and we accumulated about a mile lead from the rest of the pack but had no desire to split off so held back for the rest of the group to catch up.
Ceri and Alan passed us in the van and told us they would pull up at the next convenient point for us to get refreshments.
We all stocked up at the van and after about ten minutes Simon jumped on his bike and was off so we followed and soon reeled him in. I thought we had the whole group but later discovered that we had left Richard and the Flying Scotsman at the van (bad Justyn).
After some pretty flat sections we an awesome downhill for which I was at the front so managed to fully enjoy by descending without using the breaks, accelerated up to 41mph and then clocked a STOP sign three quarters of the way down so I alerted the others behind me before slamming on the breaks and giving the all clear once past the junction.
With every down there is an up and this particular up was very sly as just when we thought we were at the top we came round a corner to see the final 200 feet of climb appear to almost go straight up. Having clocked the climb I checked what gear I was in (still had three cogs to go) and pushed ahead, I kept in the saddle and changed down a gear a quarter of the way up. Half way up I could feel my legs start to complain so changed down again and even wondered if I could make it to the top. I immediately realised I was still sitting so got out the saddle and put all my body to work and was soon topping the climb feeling a real sense of achievement. Ben followed a couple of seconds behind and we both stopped at the top panting and Ian soon joined us but pointed out that mustn’t stop moving or the lactic acid will get us so we pulled away at snail’s pace so the others could catch up.
Half a mile on the peloton was formed again and we continued around a 19mph pace. We passed a lovely chateau at Thoiry (38 mile mark) and was a little confused as we all had the same info coming from the Garmin’s but we seemed to leave the beaten track just to go past this chateau and then get back in the main road a quarter of a mile later.
Chateau at Thoiry
Around the 45 mile mark at the village of Beynes Ian called out to see who fancied a coffee, we stopped at Café De La Place and Ian very kindly got coffee for all whilst we made a call to Val to find out where the vans where. Turned out that everyone else was 7 miles back the green in front of the Chateau eating lunch and we were meant to have stopped there. Val and Gerry kindly agreed to come to meet us leaving Ceri and Alan with the other van with the other groups.
We basked in the sunshine in front of the café and Gerry and Val soon came to our rescue with a slap up lunch of ham and cheese baguettes washed down with lots of sugary drink.
Felt magnificent after lunch as the day was now glorious sunshine, 23c, my legs where a bit achy but otherwise tip top and with less than 30 miles to go I finally felt that I could actually make the distance to Paris.
There were three more good climbs and I kept my routine of topping the climbs first all the way in to Paris. Reaching Versailles was another boost for me as Joy and I have been here a twice before and it’s beauty cannot fail to lift anyone spirits. We stopped to get photo’s at the entrance to the Palace before beginning the final stretch. Having reached the rendezvous’ point at our first bridge across the Seine (69miles) we set ourselves out the front of a café. Everyone else had beer except Ben who asked for a cider and having taken five minutes to ask the waiter for the cidre I opted for a coke (having not drunk any alcohol for 6 months I didn’t want to finish the ride tipsy from one beer).
The rest of the riders came in over the next 40 minutes or so and we completed the last 3 miles together.
The last 100 meters, spot me in my red top
Not sure who I am blowing kisses at!
We did it
Me being silly
Felt absolutely fantastic at the base of the Eiffel Tower and was surrounded by 18 others who I had the pleasure of sharing the experience with. Evening meal was superb and we all shared stories of the last three days.
Someone will like this photo (you know who you are)
Val announced how we had raised over £10,000 for the charity and Richard awarded some Jersey’s to riders on their second and third tours.
Went to bed with a huge smile on my face which stayed there for over a week and returns every time I think of the ride. http://connect.garmin.com/player/218550643
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