Pedal2Paris Day 4!
Pedal2Paris Day 4!
Day 4: Beauvais to Paris (100.8km)
taken from the P2P itinerary – The Royal British Legion.
Enjoy the mounting sense of anticipation as you leave Beauvais for the final stretch to Paris. After lunch, you will merge together into one massive peloton for your triumphant entry into Paris.
From the outskirts of the city, Paris police accompany you, sirens blaring, as you wind through city streets to your final destination. Your first view of the Arc de Triomphe as you turn the corner is a magical moment that you will never forget. We are the only bike ride other than the Tour de France that the roads around the Arc are closed fo and cycling around this iconic monument with 300 cyclists is thrilling end to your exhilarating, unforgettable adventure.
But it’s not quite over yet. Before celebrations begin you will, as a group, parade up to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier beneath the iconic Arc. During a poignant ceremony, cycling becomes secondary for a few minutes as we remember all those in our Armed Forces who are away from home serving their country – some of them in difficult and dangerous surroundings. What better way to “Stand shoulder to shoulder with all who Serve”?.
But the evening is all about celebration as we toast your fantastic achievement! As your bike heads back to London, you travel by coach to your hotel and a final celebratory dinner together, hosted by The Royal British Legion.
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Day 4 – Beauvais to Menucourt
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Menucourt
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Day 4 Menucourt to Paris
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Paris
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and here are the very last hills for our trip:
Yours thrilled to bits to be in Paris!
Pedal2Paris Day 3!
Pedal2Paris Day 3!
Information taken from: P2P itinerary – The Royal British Legion.
Day 3: Abbeville to Beauvais (106.9km)
Following a rousing send-off from the people of Abbeville, we continue our cycling by heading south through the Somme region.
The Somme is remembered for the terrible battles of the First World War and the beautiful countryside is studded with cemeteries and other poignant reminders of the thousands of men who lost their lives. You will continue through the Oise Region of Picardie and in the afternoon there will be a special reception at the small village of Auchy La Montagne, where each year the villagers give us a wonderful welcome in thanks for their liberation by British Forces in the Second World War.
The day ends with a ceremony at the war memorial in Beauvais followed by a drinks reception at the Fire Station, before coaches take you to your hotels.
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Day 3 – 7.00am breakfast in hotels 7.40am coach from Cap Hornu 8.00am coaches from Ibis and Mecure hotels 8.45am War Memorial ceremonyDepartures at 9.00am, 9.45am and 10.00am |
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Day 3 – Abbeville to Poix de Picardie
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Poix de Picardie
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Day 3 – Poix de Picardie to Auchy la Montagne
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Auchy la Montagne
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Day 3 – Auchy la Montagne to Beauvais
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Beauvais
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Here is the map for the hills:
Yours with only one more day to go until PARIS!!!
Pedal2Paris Day 2!
Pedal2Paris Day 2!
Information taken from: P2P itinerary – The Royal British Legion.
Day 2: Calais to Abbeville (120.9km)
A moving ceremony at the Calais War Memorial begins our first day in France. After laying a wreath of Remembrance, set off south-west through the beautiful undulating fields and open countryside of the Pas de Calais region. Cycling is the national sport of France and you’ll receive a warm welcome with locals cheering and waving you on your way.
Rolling road-closures and our fleet of support vehicles make sure you need stop for no-one as you cycle to ancient Desevres for lunch. You’ll then pass through the picturesque villages of Roussent and Crécy-en-Ponthieu. Our final leg of the day will bring you to the stunning town of Abbeville, which lies on the River Somme. Abbeville suffered badly in a German air raid in WW2 but its beautiful Flemish-style architecture is still in evidence.
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Calais Town Hall
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Day 2 – Calais to Desvres
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Desvres
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Day 2 – Desvres to Roussent
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Roussent
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Day 2 – Roussent to Crècy-en-Ponthieu
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Crècy-en-Ponthieu pit stop
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Crècy-en-Ponthieu to Abbeville
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Abbeville
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and this is what the hills will be like:
Yours very pro the ‘plain sailing bits’,
Pedal2Paris Day 1
Pedal2Paris Day 1
Information taken from : P2P itinerary – The Royal British Legion..
Leave the capital bright and early from Greenwich Park, accompanied by our motorbike outriders, and head for the coast through some of Kent’s finest scenery.
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Start – Greenwich Park
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Day 1 – Greenwich to Aylesford
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Royal British Legion Village, Alyesford
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Day 1 – Aylesford to Sellindge
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Sellindge Sports and Social Club
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Day 1 – final leg to Dover
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Dover
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Ferry to Calais
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There’s been a lot of talk on here about tough hills, so we asked the super-efficient P2P organisers to highlight key elevation moments that might be challenging. Here’s what they told us…
Yours, not quite believing that I’m really on my way!
Reading for my Ride to Paris
Reading for my Ride to Paris:
The Agent has been laughing his head off at me because he caught me studying ‘Cycling Weekly’ which I gather is the UK’s best-selling cycling magazine.
Don’t you think this week’s edition looks interesting?
I’ve told him sternly he may laugh if he likes but although it’s true I may not exactly measure up to the prowess of the target readership of ‘Cycling Weekly’, I am considering taking out a subscription. If I’m going to be able to cycle to Paris in September, it’s simply not good enough to cross my fingers and hope for the best. I need to think myself into the role. Perhaps the Agent hasn’t heard of ‘Method Acting‘.
Now that I have:
- a beautiful bike to try to ride to Paris on
- dear little lights which flash fore and aft from my helmet.
- a training schedule as approved by the Poppy Bike Ride organisers
- amazing magic clip-in cycling shoes and pedals
- a username for map-my-ride so I can log my training sorties
- some WD40
- a ticket from Paris to London on Eurostar to return home with….
‘Cycling Weekly’ might prove to be essential reading. I need to learn how to be ‘mentally prepared ‘!
This week’s edition:
This week’s edition has been very informative. I’ve read about techniques for effective uphill training, how to avoid DOMS (delayed-onset muscle soreness), interval training and the best ways to coping with potholes on the road. There was also an encouraging article called, ‘Starting afresh…you’re never too old..’
I love the sound of ‘Cycling cafés’; they sound fun!
The April weather has meant my recent forays out on the Poppy Bike have been rather damp ones. Cycling in the rain is much better fun than I ever dreamed it could be. Other cyclists have started to nod their heads at me and it feels very convivial.
Yours, luckily without any delayed-onset muscle soreness thanks to my new-found knowledge gleaned from ‘Cycling Weekly’,
Feeling a bit meh? Is your standard information diet – The Times, Le Figaro, Die Welt, The Washington Post et al… ok for global news but not quite cutting it on those all – important village updates?
Catching up with ‘The Awesome Hen’
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Lady Egality Maran Sporting Correspondent
Sir Plymouth Rock Author of '101 Ways to Organise Everything & Everyone'
Brown Owl Castle Coop Local Celebrity
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Julia. I'm allowed to be present at editorial meetings so long as I sit at the back & colour in quietly. 
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