London To Paris – Day 3 Beauvais to Paris: Ride to Glory

Here we go, it’s monday and this is the last day of the trip where hopefully I’m arriving in Paris, alive. Monday morning at the hotel I met this group of 6 British fellows doing the same route, we had a chat about the trip and stuff; as for the first day on the ferry when I met with those 2 guys from Lake District, the atmosphere was nice and we had a hood laugh.

Shortly after 9.30am I left the hotel for what I expected to be an easy day to arrive in the center of Paris. Sun is shining and the traffic is light. However it’s very very windy and the route between Beauvais and Paris (via Méru, Taverny, Clichy) is hilly.

As a result of this, my average speed that day went down to 23kmh for 80km (55miles) and I made it to the Place du Trocadero (Eiffel Tower) in 3h30. Surprisingly the traffic was pretty light in Paris (arrived around 1.30pm) and except the ridiculous amount of pavés all over the place, the ride is quite easy in the city of love.

Once I arrived at the Trocadero I was very happy and proud. What an achievement! I did it! Despite an awful first day where I nearly get in a train back to London, I accomplished my project I’ve been working on for the last 4 months, raising $760 for the LiveSTRONG foundation! So proud, so happy! I’ve also been super touché by all the support as well from my girlfriend, my mum, friends, colleagues and anonymous people! It was also very nice to share this moment of joy and glory with my close friends on monday night in Paris, it was so good to see you all and I promised I’ll come more often to Paris, and on Eurostar! Great Success!

THANKS.
I hope this blog will inspire you to achieve a similar project, you’ll feel very good after such a thing, trust me.

TIPS
- Don’t do it alone as I did, it’ll be more fun with friends.
- Get some training.
- Know your route.
- If you’re having a side bag, get one with clipping hooks. Mine hadn’t and I lost it several times, including on the pavés in Paris.
- Keep yourself determined as if you’re encoutering all the troubles you’ve never imagined, arriving in Paris will be a relieve.
- You’ll enjoy the ride more on the French side than the British one, the road is on a way better state.
- Don’t get an early way back Eurostar to London as I did (7am tuesday), as I’m writing this right now and I’m knackered.

The Route – Part 3

So the third and last day of my challenge will normally occur on monday, between Beauvais and Paris. The route is supposed to be less than 90km (56 miles) and I plan to arrive at the Esplanade du Trocadero front of the Eiffel Tower, hopefully at the beginning of the afternoon.

Starting from the south of Beauvais to Paris via Méru, Ablainville, Vallangoujard, Auvers sur Oise, Taverny, Quai de St Ouen, Clichy, Bld des Batignolles, Place de l’étoile, Trocadero.

As you can see I’m not going through the Champs Elysées as if I’m passing by (Place de l’étoile) just because it will make me a massive tourist. I mean come on I’m already arriving at the Eiffel Tower!!

The first half part of the route should be alright as I’m going through departementale roads between the woods and the fields, however the second part of it from Auvers sur Oise, I’m expecting it to be very high traffic. I’ll need to be cautious knowing how the Parisians can drive. Tomorrow I’m dropping my bike at the workshop of Look Mum No Hands to have a check-up before departure, it will be actually creepy to have a mechanic trouble. And mechanics are not my favourite stuff, that’s why I was riding a fixed gear bike before!!

Can’t wait to start my trip, and I can’t already wait to be Paris to gather with my friends too!

The Route – Part 2

I’ve planned the route for the second day of my challenge which would be on Sunday. This probably going to be the most enjoyable ride of the trip. First it will be Sunday so the traffic will be very light, secondly I’m going to have the whole day to ride 70 miles which is going to be a slice of cake compare to day 1 Time-Trial to Newhaven, and finally the road looks pretty nice.

Day 2 I’m cycling from Dieppe to Beauvais via the Avenue Verte, Forge-les-eaux, Gourmay-en-Bray, Villambray, Savignies.

From Dieppe I’m starting straightaway on the Avenue Verte for almost 30 miles to Forge Les Eaux. The Avenue Verte is a brand new large bike and pedestrian path along a former rail route. It’s all going to be very green and nice, this is definitely going to be the most enjoyable part of the trip! For the little story, The Avenue Verte was first built to link London to Paris to offer a bike path between the 2 cities. Obviously the route is not over, and on the British side is not so good as it’s still a trail more than a bike path. For the mapping between Dieppe and Forge les Eaux via the Avenue Verte I’m using this dude guide. Pretty well done.

Day 2 should be nice then, the route looks easy and not hard, I shouldn’t get lost. Just need to find my hotel in Beauvais, but thanks God, now we’ve got Google Street View so I managed to point it out.

6 days before the big day!!

Got my way back to London

It’s cool to cycle to Paris for a good cause but I don’t want to stay there obviously, as if I’m going to be very happy all my buddies living in the city of Love.
I booked my way back to London this morning via Eurostar. I’ll get the first train at 7.13 am at gare du Nord and I paid £45.50 which is the cheapest fare you can have. FYI you can only book Eurostar tickets 4 months in advance so I was perfectly in time to keep it as cheap as possible.

I haven’t really figured it out yet for the bike. I know that I can put it on the train for an extra £30 (!) or the free option is the put the bike on a bag. Then I might need a bike’s bag… Well I’ve got still some time to sort this out…

Ticket in the pocket, no doubt I’m going to make it!

Please don’t forget to support my cause and to give to Livestrong!