BAAF London to Paris bike ride
21 riders lined up at 6.30am at the Bexley Holiday Inn car park shivering in eager anticipation of riding 300km to Paris.
The routine which we would get used to in the next 3 days was riding for 15 miles then stop by the support vehicle for water and snacks consisting of peanuts, fruit and an occasional Percy Pig.
The ride to Rochester was busy with many pot holes to avoid. Riders followed black arrows on a yellow background and could ride at their own pace. After Rochester the route turned into welcomed country lanes and many short sharp climbs (not so welcomed!)
Lunch was enjoyed at a beautiful Kent pub with a river at the end of the garden. A wedding looked surprised at the view of the many differing lycra encapsulated shapes. In the afternoon the riding became more challenging as we approached Dover; the lanes steepened, and some testosterone fuelled riding at the front of the pack left riders scattered over the Kent countryside. The downhill into Dover saw speeds of nearly 40 miles an hour achieved.
The ferry crossing was followed by a coach trip to Dieppe arriving at 1.00am making for a very long day. The day was made longer by sharing a room with 3 riders, 2 of whom snored loudly.
Day 2 brought blue skies and smooth roads. The roll out was later at 10.00am so breakfast could be enjoyed in full. We were shortly playing leapfrog with another group of about 30 also riding to Paris. Lunch was memorable; chicken and dauphinoise potatoes in a picture post card setting enjoying the warm sunshine. The afternoon ‘challenge’ was to start at the back of the group and ride through our group and the group ahead. After hard work on the climbs the front of the second group was found and passed, the chase was on, with aching legs from maximal effort to catch the front group, accumulated lactic acid made further effort painful but necessary for the pride of BAAF. The roads were smooth, twisty and hilly, perfect for road racing! The effort ended after 15 miles with a celebratory handful of peanuts and some Percy Pigs and a cheeky afternoon beer.
That evening’s hotel was comfortable but the walls still rattled with the pneumatic snoring. Sleep did not arrive until the early hours, then it came heavily which meant missing breakfast for the 7.00am start. The start was very cold and dark. All warm clothes were needed; leg warmers, arm warmers and woolly hats for follicly challenged heads. After a couple of stops the weather warmed and layers were shed. Lunch at a golf club in Milton Keynes ‘a la Francaise’ was not the most memorable meal. The traffic increased and the landscape urbanised as we reached the outskirts of Paris. The new game was to sprint to make the green traffic lights unfortunately they were mostly red. As we cycled ever closer to the Eiffel Tower the Parisian traffic nearly brought us to a standstill. In fact faster progress could have been made if we’d had to push peas along the road with our noses. Eventually we arrived at our destination; champagne flowed and self congratulation began.
Over £41,000 had been raised for BAAF……………….. well done to everyone!