London to Paris - cycling - done!
Posted by: Occean on 29 June 2009
Just like to share with everyone that I have just completed the London to Paris cycle ride and raised nearly £1200 for UNICEF!
Before this I had hardly ever touched a road bike, as I am an mountain biker but I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed myself and I think I will be buying myself a bike v.soon (I borrowed one for the trip)
Also I came 53rd out of 300 in the timed sections, under 40mins for 20km, I have never pushed myself so hard!
I was part of the DHL team and there are pictures on the London to Paris website if anyone is interested
www.londres-paris.com &
www.justgiving.com/ericemel 
Posted on: 29 June 2009 by 555
There's a monkey on your back Eric!
Posted on: 29 June 2009 by Absolute
Nice one, excellent effort!
Posted on: 29 June 2009 by BigH47
Well done , congrats.
Posted on: 29 June 2009 by GML
Well done, splendid effort.
Posted on: 30 June 2009 by Occean
Cheers guys and thanks 555 for the sponsor, much appreciated (if unexpected!)
Eric and his monkey
Posted on: 30 June 2009 by nap-ster
Isn't there a bit of sea in the middle?
Posted on: 30 June 2009 by Manni
Probably he used something like that:
waterbikePosted on: 30 June 2009 by nap-ster
Aha, it all becomes clearer now.
Posted on: 30 June 2009 by Steve Bull
Nice one.
I did it last autumn through 4 days of dreadful weather - but riding in convoy up the Champs-Élysées, around the Arc du T to the finish point at the Eiffel Tower was probably one of the best experiences of my life. Slightly depressing that the return trip took a mere 2 hours 20 mins on the Eurostar though...
If you've got the bug, Discover Adventure do some great supported rides, I am eyeing up Paris to Geneva as my next challenge.
Steve.
Posted on: 30 June 2009 by northpole
Well done - must have been a heck of a challenge if you aren't used to going far on a road bike. I would certainly struggle.
A chap in my office has just completed a coast to coast cycle - N America! Hard to imagine over 3,000 miles in 11 days. I've no idea how anyone could do that solo - supported or not!!
Peter
Posted on: 30 June 2009 by GML
quote:
Hard to imagine over 3,000 miles in 11 days.
Good grief, that works out at 273 miles per day. Didn't he do well.
Posted on: 30 June 2009 by u5227470736789439
Now I have a decent bike [and plans to get another], I would undertake long journeys, but certainly not hundreds of miles a days.
In his day Elgar managed the trip from Chester to Worcester, on a bicycle [called Dr Phoebus], over three days, and that on unmettled roads, and as a middle aged man on one his many long journeys round the West Midlands and Wales.
The longest rides I have ever done usual amounted to about 20 odd miles done as fast as possible, so I have no idea how I would do on a marathon type run. Herefordshire is too hilly to enjoy with a bicycle really.
One day I will find out, I suppose!
I plan to drive to Poland this Autumn for a holiday, but I think the real plan will be to ride there and back perhaps next year if I can get a long enough time off from work, while the weather still makes it feasable. There must be ways through Germany that do not involve the Autobahnen.
The speed would be less than involved in the journey from London to Paris, which seems to have been done at an awe-inspiring rate! Well done!
ATB from George
Posted on: 30 June 2009 by AS332
Fantastic effort , I can only do 50 miles on my bike before collapsing .
