2009-08-15 Sat 00:01am Start London to Paris night ride (Because Long Rides are Fun)

Sounds like a good challenge - have done a couple of similar rides in the past though not overnighters. Might be up for this!

I'd be in there like swimwear if it wasn't for the fact a rugby injury and subsequent operation has put me off the bike for the the rest of the year.

Any chance of a 2010 repeat?

There looks to be two of us at the moment, Mike and Me! We're booking things tomorrow I think.

2010 repeat... of course, with a wee bit more planning than just "fuck it, let's do it".

-Kristian

For those that are wondering...

London to Paris in... 29hrs. Done.

Hot, hilly and quite torturous, but great erm... fun.

-Kristian

wow, what an achievement!

did you stop to kip in a ditch at some point?

Yeah... I had to. Sleep or puke... even 30 minutes is enough for another few hours of riding. For some reason from Calais onwards was a bitch. Also I think we (I) must have chosen the route that avoided any flat roads... constant hills, not massive ones... just one after another it seemed.

Crap time.. but we made it!

For those that are wondering...

London to Paris in... 29hrs. Done.

Hot, hilly and quite torturous, but great erm... fun.

-Kristian

Nice 1... That's an epic acheivement.
Do you think the 24h target is possible?

Gutted i missed this! just bad timing. Great work you two
i'm there for the next one.. 24 hrs has to be doable!

Yeah 24hrs is easily doable. I've certainly learnt a lot, and I know where we went wrong.

-Kristian

~420k + ferry according to google.
How far was it compared to what you expected?
How many were riding it?
Where did you stop and sleep?

Thinking about riding to Amsterdam for Awakenings..
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4685036549388476022

420k + ferry according to google.
How far was it compared to what you expected?

75m to dover and another 175m to paris. Which is what I expected. I think the distance is doable without going that quickly, as long as you rest, eat and drink enough.
The reason it took so long, was that I was a mess... eyes rolling... feeling sick etc etc... Sleep is king, but it does make it a challenge!

How many were riding it?

Two. Support driver would have been ideal, as my rucksack weighed about 10kg... mostly pasta, not really (10kg) but it felt like it at times (can't fit panniers on my bike).

Where did you stop and sleep?

erm... just at the side of the road. During the day under a tree to get out of the blazing sun and at night.. at the road side for 40 mins waking up shivering... before jumping back on the bikes and trudging the last 50miles.

Thinking about riding to Amsterdam for Awakenings..

Strangely, this afternoon i looked at london2dover->calais2amsterdam... 320m Bosh. The soonest i could do it is 10th Oct. I thought about sept 19th but the train back was 170quid (5hrs) compared to 87 in oct....

Oic... Awakenings is the same weekend as the Autumn epic :-) mm... i wonder which sounds more fun.

-Kristian

I've done the Autumn Epic but not Awakenings. Mate wants to go to I Love Techno in Ghent now though which does appear to have a better lineup. He won't be riding and I don't think I can afford the time off now though which sucks a bit.

Hey what was that route like? Easy enough to not get lost even when your buggered? Thinking about this ride myself, you've sown that seed in my mind

A few weeks past now... so the route was fine :-)

It was a bit hilly in the UK, but there is a flatter route to Dover using the A20 to Folkstone and a further 5miles to Dover. France... erm... only a bit hilly (i think), bit manic getting into Paris one way etc... My advice is not to use google maps like I did. Try and get a proper road atlas of france maybe as well. I printed out maybe 10 pictures of difficult areas to navigate and it worked quite well. Also make sure you pick the right Arc de Triumph unlike my riding parnter did... it was the mini one by the louvre.

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=2642713&l=64121fdf87&id=510982733

Next one is chalked down for 14th August 2010....

-Kristian

Hope you do 24 hours buddy

Next one is chalked down for 14th August 2010....

-Kristian

kristian

I could well be up for this. Should be doing some good preperation, as I have the Vatternrundan in June and might attempt Dunwich and back in July.

Let me know when you need to book to get the best train price.

Simon

~Awakenings techno party in gashouder Amsterdam netherlands

Name that tune???

Next one is chalked down for 14th August 2010....

-Kristian

kristian

Let me know when you need to book to get the best train price.

Simon

Whta's the sketch with this, kristian? Would love to give it a crack.

erm pfff... ok :-)

We're on for the Friday 13th August. I'm looking to book the ferry and train on 23rd July (payday). Looks like 30 for the ferry and 87 for the train. Hotel wise... not sure yet, but I may just sleep under the eiffel tower (may not happen).

After my bike got nicked i managed to replace it two weeks ago (geared)... so I'm not really that fit, but in for a penny!!

-Kristian

Ominous date...

Depart Friday night - ride through Saturday - train back Sunday - yah?
Give me a shout when you book, and i'll get on the same.

I'm up for some parkbenchtrampcrashing btw

Ominous date...

Depart Friday night - ride through Saturday - train back Sunday - yah?
Give me a shout when you book, and i'll get on the same.

I'm up for some parkbenchtrampcrashing btw

Aye I think the Idea is to run French time so leave 11pm Friday from Trafalgar Sq... and Train back Sunday yeppers.

Coolios, in that case I shall be in touch a week today!

Kristian

This looks all kinds of awesomely epic. Hmm...

God I'm tempted...

Don't think I'll be able to make this one but would love to try L2P via Calais and ride back to London via Dieppe. One day. Hopefully this year. Hmmm...

This looks great! Very tempted indeed...

Have you got a link to the route?Just checked site, how did you find navigating last time?