2013-08-22 - London to St Tropez Audax

i'm raising awareness for a cause and money for a charity via a Facebook Page.
i would love for anyone interested to comment and share the page as it will hopefully help with that.

two weeks ago i set off on a casual little jaunt from London to St Tropez. the Facebook Page tells the whole story, so i wont do so again here.

i learnt a huge amount about how to prepare for and how to undertake distance, and now can contribute to the appropriate threads. however if anyone has any questions specific to my journey (e.g. route, equipment) then it's probably good that this trip has it's own thread so i can answer them here.
i originally sought advice in a thread but figure it's best to start a new one.

Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/brbuckleylondonsttropez2013
I feel its a great platform to promote the cause, so please do get involved on the page!
I - on a 9 day delay - uploaded two videos for each day of the first 6 days; a video diary recorded each night, and a video with commentary over the photos/ Strava from each day.
The Facebook (non-cyclist) audience will generally have different interests than those on here have, so the videos on FB are a bit short on bike related chat.
In time I'll make a couple of videos that cover bike/ gear/ cycling issues across the whole trip and put them to Facebook. I imagine they will be more interesting to those on here.

Route & Photos
Day 1
London to Dover, 136km
http://www.strava.com/activities/78426824
Calais to Divion, 82km
http://www.strava.com/activities/78426766
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/xrxq9n7ry4tqvig/-q9utNt7OC

Day 2
Divion to Courmelois, 234km
http://www.strava.com/activities/78426823
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/emfq5ez6ee93z5c/m3bKshUU_j

Day 3
Courmelois to Lanty-sur-Aube, 176km
http://www.strava.com/activities/78426756
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/2tk69b22rlfh3id/MRBCQvzgeG

Day 4
Lanty-sur-Aube to Cluny, 218km
http://www.strava.com/activities/78426752
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/s97jmekqna36wxv/LrMprqWb5P

Day 5
Cluny to St Vallier, 171km
http://www.strava.com/activities/78426712
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/2cg4x3ccgwt0n2a/N4dIFA1Uca

Day 6
St Vallier to Bonnieux, 209km
http://www.strava.com/activities/78426735
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/ngfs37lr5rlrnqg/53Tq5znTW5

Day 7
Bonnieux to St Tropez, 187km
http://www.strava.com/activities/78426697
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/bv40qipm9a2d1wb/cjATqdXHvM

It was an incredible experience. I really recommend everyone try something that they believe to be beyond them - you may be surprised!

Cycling Clothes

Craft Active Waist Shorts x2
[INDENT]great, i'm a pole so bibs never fit.[/INDENT]
Odlo Asphalt SS Jersey x2
[INDENT]super jersey in every way, feels and fits great.[/INDENT]
De Rosa Summer Socks x2
[INDENT]socks, yeah?[/INDENT]
Rapha Country LS Jersey
[INDENT]so glad i went with this instead of a baselayer (pockets!), spent much more time in it than i expected, don't forget mornings are cool even in summer.[/INDENT]
Rapha Rain Jacket
[INDENT]last minute purchase, thank god, any sort of long distance riding you must take a proper rain jacket and not a windbreaker/ 'water resistant' one.[/INDENT]
Specialized Sport Touring SPD Shoes
[INDENT]i wouldn't do this distance in SPDs again, my left toe is still 80% numb.[/INDENT]
Specialized BG Gel Mitts
[INDENT]awesome, huge fan of these, better than giro lx or santini summer gloves over long distances.[/INDENT]
LFGSS Summer Cap
[INDENT]reppin'.[/INDENT]
Quecha Anti-UV Cap
[INDENT]never used as lost on 2nd day, it would have been good at times, but i managed without.[/INDENT]

Non-Cycling Clothes

Uniqlo Linen Blend SS Shirt
[INDENT]simple as, smart enough for practically anywhere off the bike when combined with the rapha jersey, plus light and compact.[/INDENT]
Altura Metro Baggy 3/4 Shorts
[INDENT]very versatile and relatively slim fitting, on bike rolled up with the option of covering the knee off the bike.[/INDENT]
Pants
[INDENT]nuff said.[/INDENT]
Travel Towel
[INDENT]only ended up camping one night, so this was actually pretty useless once staying at BnB's, essential if camping though.[/INDENT]

Bike Specific Equipment

Garmin Edge 800
[INDENT]met a cyclist with the 810, he was not happy with his device, while mine performed flawlessly, if a bit slowly.[/INDENT]
Inner Tube x2
[INDENT]nuff said.[/INDENT]
Folding Tyre
[INDENT]never used a patch kit, but if you have time to look for cycle shops (and are near some) fuck taking a spare tyre.[/INDENT]
Lezyne Road Drive Large
[INDENT]bigger is always better, this was a solid, compact alternative for taping to downtube.[/INDENT]
6mm Hex Key/ 4mm Hex Key/ Atomic22 Mini Ratchet and bits/ Tyre Levers
[INDENT]i can dismantle everything (can't remove brake pads or change cogs) with four tiny tools, awesome, triple check you have what you need.[/INDENT]
Cree Q5/ Cateye TL135
[INDENT]did the job but it's always worth getting better lights, the cree wasn't enough for night riding on unlit roads, which i had to do on day 2... not fun.[/INDENT]
Electrical Tape & Cable Ties
[INDENT]huge hassle savers.[/INDENT]

Non-Bike Specific Equipment

Camera
[INDENT]nuff said.[/INDENT]
Mobile
[INDENT]if you can, take a smartphone and make sure you don't break it (use it while moving), i regretted taking a featurephone.[/INDENT]
Headphones and iPod Shuffle
[INDENT]open ear headphones let you hear what's around you, big advocate of these when cycling, the ipod shuffle stops you fannying around choosing things; podcasts are your friend.[/INDENT]
Batteries AA x8
[INDENT]huge overkill if not in the middle of nowhere, especially if new batteries in lights before departure.[/INDENT]
TeckNet Power Bank iEP387 7000mAh
[INDENT]three charges of the garmin in it and able to charge ipod simeltaneously, plus i think it can do most smartphones.[/INDENT]
Exspect EX875 Triple USB Travel Charger
[INDENT]perfect companion to the tecknet.[/INDENT]
Micro+Mini USB & iPod Shuffle Cables
[INDENT]charged everything... but my phone, almost ran out of juice, which would have f-ed me.[/INDENT]

Camping

Hammock & Tarp
[INDENT]this was a truly awful idea, camped one night and almost froze, was cramping all night, hardly slept, never for longer than an hour, fuck hammocks, take a tent and sleeping bag.[/INDENT]

Toiletries

Toothbrush/ paste
[INDENT]nuff said.[/INDENT]
Wet Wipes
[INDENT]be kind to your behind.[/INDENT]
Chamois Cream
[INDENT]lost at the end of day 3/7 and was fearful, rolled dry 8 hours a day for 4 days without problem, miles > cream.[/INDENT]
Sudocream
[INDENT]never used, but i would say worth it.[/INDENT]
Nivea with Tea Tree Oil
[INDENT]for face and feet, highly recommend.[/INDENT]
Bag Balm
[INDENT]applied every night, preventative medicine is the best form.[/INDENT]
P20 Sunscreen
[INDENT]worked a treat for me.[/INDENT]
Anti-Bacterial Moisturiser
[INDENT]apply to hands before applying other creams to other bits.[/INDENT]
Painkillers
[INDENT]despite vast amounts of pain i never used any, non-prescription ones never really work.[/INDENT]
Plaster
[INDENT]worth taking, even though i never used.[/INDENT]
Energy Bars
[INDENT]don't bother having more than a few ahead of time, buy stuff as you go.[/INDENT]

What I Wished I Had

Overshoes
[INDENT]mine are cheap bulky neoprene ones, so i left them, buy some good ones and take them if there is any chance of rain.[/INDENT]
Clothes Wash
[INDENT]bought some on the road, needed even if staying in hotels.[/INDENT]
Scissors
[INDENT]tiny nail scissors would have met my needs.[/INDENT]

Amazing. Glad you shared this! Have 'liked' the Facebook page and will donate as much as I can.

thank you!
but, shit, those links are wrong and make it look like i'm asking for money! i'm really not! a big reason i'm supporting Time To Change is that it is an initiative that doesn't need money to have a positive impact.
i'd much prefer people have a watch of this video and read of this page than donate.
xxx

(i've fixed the links)

Great stuff!

^^ Don't worry. I'm sure there are lots of people on here who'd be happy to donate to such a good cause and spread the word.

I hope you are managing to open up a bit yourself :)

Good kit list!

You did the climb out of st gobain fixed? Bravo dude. We stay in that neck of the woods quite often and it's great riding but..... There's never a flat bit....

Lol, thanks! Low gearing!
Is that day 6? Before Carpentras to Gordes?

Very impressive Ben! Real effort there, both on the trip and post production! ;)

thanks! the cause was a great motivator

Wow, large amounts of kudos to you man. A truly inspirational ride and for a great cause too. Would love to attempt something like this but just need to find the time.
What's next?

Cheers dude! X

All you need is a week and the commitment two(+) months prior to get fit. With the really later sunsets in Summer rides after work are easy enough. Set a weekend goal one bank holiday and use it as proof you can do it!

Going to try do it again next year... in 4 or 5 days. 350 or 280km a day. Will have to have a support car, its 80 or 150km a day MORE than I have done!