Riding to Geneva

The charity I work for is organising a fundraising cycle from London to Paris and then on to Geneva. I'm considering doing it on my mostly-off-the-peg Bianchi Pista. Madness or doable? At the moment I have a 48x16 gearing which I like on the flat, but struggle a little getting up Archway Road on my daily commute to be honest. The Col de la Faucille heading up into the Swiss Alps might therefore be bit of a nightmare with my current setup...

Also you need to raise quite a lot of cash through sponsorship, so not 100% sure I'm going to do it, but thought people on this forum might be interested.

http://www.crisis.org.uk/page.builder/cycle_challenge.html

do it... just walk up the mtns.

yeah that'd be a bit humiliating though when some fatty in first gear spins past me trudging up an alp. Was thinking adding a flip-flop ss in a saner gear ratio might be an idea..

get a bike with gears, don't be a hero.

To be honest, that's the kind of ride that will make you realise why gears were invented. Taking a Bianchi Pista would be doubly harsh as there's no room for mudguards or a rack so you'll get wet if it rains, have to carry stuff on your back and suffer without gears. Also the geometry of a Pista is the opposite of what you want for long distance comfort.

Basically, it's doable but it will make it much, much harder. The hills would be my main worry.

nope, sod that. be a hero.
there aren't enough in the world.
and think of the bragging rights!

The climb is about 12kms long.
Can't remember the gradient, not steep but average prob 1 in 15.
Then of course there would be the very long twiddle down to Geneva.

addie nope, sod that. be a hero.
there aren't enough in the world.
and think of the bragging rights!

im chris crash and i approve this message

yeah, 12km of 1in 15 will be a doddle in 48:16

chris crash [quote]addie nope, sod that. be a hero.
there aren't enough in the world.
and think of the bragging rights!

im chris crash and i approve this message[/quote]

I'm Addie and I approve this approval.

done!!! next....

they used to do the Tour de France fixed, all their shit on there backs ..do it for them! ;)

Well the bragging is without doubt the main reason for thinking of doing it - how many people have ridden fixed from London to Geneva? Not many I'm sure.

There's a support vehicle as well, so no need to bring my bag...

wimp

Support vehicle - then you can use tubs... just like the old days eh?
Do it sitting on raw steaks the whole way for classic tour bragging rights. mmm... tenderised.

would anyone sponsor me if I decide to do it?

It's a serious amount i'd need to raise: £2,400... Chris I promise to carry a bag if you sponsor me £100...

Better get up Archway road without a sweat first.

That is the thing with these Charity events the sponsorship amount requires you to have lotts of rich friends.

Yeah and when people approach me that sort of thing asking for sponsorship i do feel slightly like I'm paying for their glorious cycling holiday...

10 days to do it in is pretty easy going - i'd be very tempted doing it fixed

Never more than 100 miles in a day... so piece of piss really. pph.

Geneva's nice. I've been spending a bit of time there recently, as my missus works for the Red Cross. There are a handful of fixed-gears around (and a velodrome!). You could get into town without going up any beastly hills if you follow the valley in. But if you're going the straight line from Paris, there'll be some bumps.

Make sure you pop into D.Girard when you're there. Cracking bike shop.

Buy a setapost rack and do it without supprt. Raise as much sponsorship as you can and enjoy the ride. Just saved you the hassle of raising £2400. My consultancy services are provided free of charge because you're doing it for charity.

mongrel would anyone sponsor me if I decide to do it?

It's a serious amount i'd need to raise: £2,400... Chris I promise to carry a bag if you sponsor me £100...

you better carry me for that, i might give a tenner...

can't you just grab the rear of some big double decker / truck driving up the mountain and scooch your way up ? or a 12km walk what do you fancy ?
although with all those s bends the gradient will never get all that steep n'est pas ?