London to Amsterdam 2015

Done

Way of The Roses - Day 3 ( York to Bridlington ) 10/5/14

Apologies , it's some months now since we completed the last day of our trip and I've been somewhat lazy in updating it. York , that's where I awoke on the final leg of the route . It's fair to say we all had probably too much to drink the night before and got rather carried away , but hey, what our these trips for if you can't let yourself go a bit. However it's that laissez faire attitude that now made the first few miles seem a bit of a struggle. The forecast was mixed with thunderstorms predicted later on that day. Progress was slow, the previous nights activities mainly responsible for this. We eventually got into our stride and began ticking off the villages along the way. Not too far in Sion had been pointing out a sign when his right cleat came loose and with one hand off the handle bars his foot caught the rear wheel. Within an instant he was down on his left hand side. Sam , who was just a few bike lengths behind,  immediately ploughed into the fallen bike and rider , I somehow managed to stay upright and came to a stop into a hedge. It all happened so quick, as these things tend to do. Our main concern apart from the bikes , was the welfare of Sion . He'd fallen heavily and it looked bad. His left thumb had born the brunt of the impact along with the bike. We gave it ten minutes or so to check everything out. It all seemed okay thankfully, so we all jumped back on. Sion had a few problems with his chain and gears as a result of the crash. This slowed us up for a few miles and made us a bit late for our planned rendezvous with Mark . We had planned a stop with him at Pocklington, but we decided to ride on .
This was the right decision as the rain had begun to fall.

We made great progress from now and the flat run in helped considerably. Mark got some fantastic photo's as we approached the final few miles. As we closed in on Bridlington we'd  anticipated a dry run to the finish, however the weather had other ideas. The thunder that was forecast appeared on the horizon and the sky grew darker. We were on the outskirts of the seaside town when the heavens decided to soak us proper. Biblical rain fell with flashes of fork lightning too close for comfort.Fortunately Mark was with us and we pulled into a lay by and sought sanctuary in the car for 10 minutes as the rain and hail engulfed us. We were just a few miles from the finish. No sooner had it arrived, then it passed. So before we seized up we got back on the bikes and the flooded roads for the final hussar.

It was great to see the sea again, my second time arriving here on a bike. This time, unlike last, I knew exactly where the finish was. We rode up and I  slapped the sign with an open palm by way of achievement. Onlookers sat in their cars looking out to turbulent skies over the sea must have thought we were a bit weird.
Mark eventually found us and our plans to have fish and chips from the shop opposite the finish were thwarted as it was closed .

A very wet drive home for the next few hours followed , but we'd done it and I'd do it again.

Way of The Roses Day 2 - ( Pateley Bridge to York ) 9/5/14

The rain was heavy overnight and as I awoke I could still hear it on the window in the room. The forecast was fairly good , I expected it to clear. We all gathered in the breakfast room downstairs eager with anticipation. The breakfast here is magnificent and worth the fee alone. Proprietors Steve and Lynne use local produce from their own farm along with award winning black pudding from Britain's best butcher, which is just yards away. This culminated in a belly busting full Yorkshire plate. It may not be a good idea given the hill you have to climb out of Pateley Bridge, but you can't miss this .

All full, we had a brief chat with our hosts along with the licencee of the pub we ate at last night. We could have chewed the fat all morning but we had to get going. Dave was joining us for this leg , he's a fit lad , but given the bike he was on, it looked like it was going to be difficult for him. As we set off up the hill the sun was breaking through. It's a tough start to the day but levels off after a few miles. Dave was keeping up, but it was going to be a long day for him.

A few brief stops along the way before  we arrived at Fountains Abbey . The route takes you through the grounds and is a shear delight to ride through. Our plan was to stop at Ripon where we would meet Mark. This is one of the key cities during this years Tour de France. We stopped in the main square there and discussed our plan with Mark & Dave. We wanted to get to York early this afternoon and decided to press on. Mark got us a round of coffee's from Costa and whilst we waited a local reporter with camera man spotted us and asked if she could film us for an upcoming feature on the Tour for ITV Tyne Tees. She must have been desperate. We hardly looked like Team Sky , more like we'd eaten Team Sky, but there you go.

Dave realised that to ride to York and then try and get back he would be pushing it . So a plan was hatched for Mark to ferry him back to Pateley Bridge by putting his bike on the roof rack. Dave said he'd meet us in York later. Mark would try and pick us up along the route. We rode hard from Ripon not stopping until we were just outside York . I ran the gauntlet under the rail tunnel that I'd crashed in back in 2012.Those demon's now exorcised.

Mark found us and we said we'd meet him with our kit outside the Premier Inn.
It was almost like a military operation when Mark pulled up just behind us as we got to the hotel and as we looked up, there was Dave just arriving as well.

Once all the kit was sorted out and we were washed and changed it was just after 4pm. York is great for beer and food and we were all ready. Several hostelries visited , Dave left us at about 8pm to drive home.
It wasn't until 11pm before my head hit the pillow.

Day 2 completed.

Way of The Roses Day 1 - ( Morecambe to Pateley Bridge ) 8/5/14

Logistics, logistics, logistics........Riding this route 2 years ago all I had to worry about was me. Oh Mrs. S. was a big help on that one, sorry darling. However planning this adventure became a lesson in logistical skills. Four adults with bikes and kit in an old Vauxhall Astra, across country.With overnight stops  and bike storage, it wasn't easy. With our support driver, Mark,  it was somewhat eased . This turned out to be essential, we couldn't have ridden these bikes without somewhere to store and transport overnight kit.

So at about 6:30 am on Thursday we all gathered and sorted everything out and we were on our way soon after. Overcast and raining the forecast wasn't great. Morecambe and this time I was determined to get my picture taken with Eric. A group photo and we rode to the official start point just the other side of The Midland Hotel. Another group photo and we were off . We had arranged to met Mark in Settle for lunch.

We had barely crossed the road when we all decided we needed the toilet. The welcoming staff at a nearby Frankie & Benny's must have wondered what the hell was going on, but she was ever so obliging. By diverting I must have missed  a sign and we didn't seem to be on the right track. However we soon picked it up again and started to knock off the miles. Soon enough the flat run out starts to climb and the effort becomes more concerted.

This is a lovely run and the weather was behaving and the following wind was a bonus. By the time we reached Settle and Mark, we were all ready for something to eat. I'd chosen The Kitchen on  Market Square. I had a marvellous sausage sandwich there last time, it was as I'd remembered. Sam plumped for a full breakfast on a butty and soon realised he may have overdone it.

This was all a distraction from what lay ahead of us, the "killer hill" out of Settle. Last time it almost saw me off, on a bike with full panniers. This time I hoped it would be easier. It wasn't , after both Sam and I cramped up and stopped a bit, we carried on to the top, where Mark was waiting. We knew this would be our toughest day and this hill would be the hardest climb.

From there on in things got a bit easier, a few more climbs and by the time we caught up with Mark again outside The Angel at Hetton, the rain had started. We considered a cup of tea there, but decided to push on to Pateley Bridge. By the time we reached the  dangerous 2 mile decent into the village the roads were soaking. It's still a thrill  but must be treated with respect.

We all arrived safe and there was Mark waiting for us outside The Lyndale Guest House . All our bags had been checked in and put in our rooms. We took off our wet kit and the bikes were put in there storage shed.

I had stayed there before on my last trip and Lynn & Steve are so helpful. Changed we walked straight into The Crown to sample their excellent beers and hearty food. On finishing we were surprised by our friend Dave , he had driven up to see us and was staying in the same B&B . He planned to ride some of tomorrows leg with us.

Day one complete .

Way of the Roses .....Again

After last years exploits, culminating in our fabulous London to Paris trip. It was going to be hard to top  it this year.. However an early Easter break to Mallorca, saw Mrs S. and  me base ourselves in Puerto de Pollenca. Having never been to this part before , I was aware it was some what of a cycling Mecca. Four days cycling in the beautiful hills and sunshine did me the world of good and Mrs. S. didn't find it too shabby either. Many thanks to Pro Cycle Hire there. On return thoughts turned to my second ride of The Way of The Roses , this time it wouldn't be solo, but with my London to Paris team. Sion and Sam were keen to keep the momentum going so earlier this year we sorted out the logistics of all being off together, away from our work commitments. Sam's dad would be the support driver as well. So here we are the night before our grand depart and I was hoping for a much drier ride than in 2012, when I got soaked. The forecast looks fairly poor again , showers, heavy at times. Here's hoping it won't be too bad. All set for a 9am ish start at Morecambe. follow us on twitter @CycleWithMe.

London to Paris - Day Four ( Compiegne to Paris ) 29/09/13

Firstly,apologies for the lateness of this post, it was a pretty full, exciting and eventful day. Rising at 6am for a 7am breakfast again, I was becoming accustomed to the routine by now. I knew exactly what I was going to eat and in what order, was I becoming an institutionalised L2P cyclist ? Water bottles filled and a final check of tyre pressures for the last hussar into Paris.

Just over 50 miles to go on the final day

 Leaving the Ibis here and setting off along the river my attempt to reach Paris was almost thwarted by "Rocket Ron" who beckoned my from behind as I reached a set of unseen bollards. Missing them by inches I decided to not do this again until at least tomorrow. The first 10 miles of this last 50 plus mile leg was nice and flat, but given More Adventure's thirst for a nice hill or two, it wasn't long before we were climbing again. The legs were pretty leaden by now and I slowly ground my way to the top for a brief rest with those ahead.

Love these French roads

The weather was holding as there was a watery sun in the sky trying to break through here. Conditions were once again calm. This early climb seemed to kick start the weary body into action and before I knew it I was at the front with the "Elite Group" , well sort of. In our tight group we spun along at a hairy pace up and down the rolling silky tarmac roads of the French countryside, each mile closer to the goal. A stop for a very early lunch here near to a park was welcome indeed.

Brunch

From here on in it was going to get busy. Despite it being a Sunday, Paris is Paris and I was truly excited at the thought of negotiating the Arc de Triomphe.  The roads did get busier and the charming suburbs rolled by. Local like-minded children in the "interesting" Saint Denis came out on their own bikes to ride alongside us, performing stunts or just watching from the central reservation. After this we were then suddenly stopped by a Sunday flee market about a mile long which forced us off our bikes. Having no choice but to walk it in cleats. I couldn't have stopped a pig in a passage with the way my legs looked after this.

Once all through safely we rode on before grouping near to the Arc. In one big uniformed line of pairs we raced across this iconic landmark, an absolute thrill  if I'm to be honest. I could have done this again and again , it was a real treat. Immediately onto the Champs-Elysees and down those famous cobbles to eventually arrive in the park opposite the Eiffel Tower...... We'd made it ! Such a feeling of achievement and we'd all got there in one piece.

The lead out through the streets of Paris

Outside The George V ( Not a part of the Ibis chain )

The Team

Made it !

With that we had a 5 mile ride to the hotel, so no chance of a sit down then ! Showered and changed we had a group meal and one or two small cream sherries to celebrate. A good night was had by all. A great group of people who shared a rather challenging adventure and raised some good money for all our fantastic charities  along with www.moreadventure.co.uk

THANK YOU ALL. 

London to Paris - Day Three ( Arras to Compiegne ) 28/09/13

Sam was surprisingly clear headed this morning given his birthday celebrations, so no chance of getting near to him on the bike,today then ! Still he was a little lacking in appetite for breakfast at 7 am, a legacy of the night before. We grouped at 8am again outside the Ibis ready for another 70 plus miles to Compiegne. The weather was calm again with the potential of more sun later. Sun cream at the ready to top up those Belgian tan lines !

Outside the Ibis Arras

The ride out of Arras was another beautiful one and took us through the area of the Somme. Glorious watery light veiled the fields either side as the roads became more exposed to the wind. There's no shelter here other than that provided by your fellow riders. Sion and Sam were up at the front again with our "Rocket Ron"  and I was conserving my energy and enjoying the countryside again.

Check of the Garmin's

These wind farms are a big clue to the prevailing weather here.

We stopped near to a Commonwealth war cemetery which had a very sobering effect on all the riders, what pain we were feeling on the ride was nothing compared to what we could see here.
These were long stretches of exposed road now and you're at the mercy of mother nature. Thankfully she was having a good day and winds, although testing could have been much worse.A brief coffee stop to recharge the batteries and we were off again.

Coffee stop

Commonwealth Cemetery in the Somme area

Chaingangs  formed and speeds zipped along as we eventually rode into Compiegne. Another Ibis to tick off here, Showered and changed we made our way to an all you can eat Asian buffet, ( little did they know we'd cycled over 70 miles and were just a tad hungry )  A few refreshing recovery beers in the light rain outside before retiring to bed. Another fifty plus miles to Paris in the morning, Praying this weather will hold !