London to Paris Cycle Challenge - June 2007

Well, just three and a bit days to go. If I'm not ready now, I never will be...

I haven't posted for a while, mainly due to a mix of crazy long hours at work, having to travel overseas on business and, of course, training...

I managed to do a couple of BIG rides, a fifty mile jaunt into the Mid-Suffolk countryside last Saturday being the peak. There's some amazing countryside out that way and I was lost, just riding around aimlessly for a while as the villages I was riding through had been considerately covered over by a photo of a windmill on my map! It was great to turn the corner to be greeted by the huge and majestic Heaveningham (sp?) Hall, and a real joy to trigger the "Slow Down - 30mph" sign as I sped into Fressingfield and 36mph (my fastest speed ever). And I can recommend the little store in Metfield as the lady who runs it is sweet and helped me overcome my urge for cake by offering me a slice from her kitchen as the shop had run out...

I'm now winding down with my last proper ride on the racing bike tomorrow, a mere 20 miles is the plan. I did a "time trial" during the week just gone, doing a circuit from home through Aldebrough on the coast, up to Thorpness (also on the coast) and then back home. About 22 miles covered with an average speed of 19.7 mph... And David, Friston is 2.7 miles from the Brook Farm Road/South Entrance junction. That road from Aldebrough to Thorpness is great to ride on, dead flat and straight with sea views and the smell of the seaside...

The fundraising has gone well, with some concerted begging resulting in a current total of £1,846 including the Gift Aid and another £125 pledged (including £100 from my lovely wife). So I'll hopefully be just a whisker short of my challenging £2,000 target. Brilliant!

Thanks to everyone who has donated. Our efforts will make a big difference to the little children of Malawi and give them a real chance to make a difference in life.

Special thanks this time around to Debbie, my Sister for having gone almost a whole year without having hear nails done and suffering the consequent pain of having to stare at jagged, blackend stumps all day (I'm sure they weren't that bad really!). She raised £160 for me. Thanks...

Keep an eye on my blog over the next week as I'll be posting regularly during my challenge with, hopefully, some pictures of me and a load of other exhausted cyclists drinking red wine in by the roadside and spraying champagne allover the lower reaches of the Eiffel Tower.

Don't forget the key dates. I leave for London on Tuesday 18th and the ride starts early on the 20th. I arrive in Paris on Saturday tea-time and get home to Suffolk at about 22:30 on the Sunday.

Thanks again to everyone who has sponsored me and given me so much encouragement, especially Jo to whom I've been useless for the last 9 months whilst training, waking her up at 6am so I can go and play on my bike and has been managing the little monsters practically single-handedly - you're a star.

Also, special thanks to David who has been a huge help during my training and is picking me up from Waterloo...

As a reward to you all, here's a picture of me in ridiculous lycra clothing to give you all a good laugh...

Simon