Cycling to Paris?

Nova_era

I saw an add in Cycling Weekly earlier for a London to Paris charity ride, which I'd love to do, was it not for the extremely high sponsorship target, which I really don't think I could reach.

Is there any similar cycle going from Dublin, and ending up in Paris around the same time as the Tour ends? (The London one ends on the Champs Elysee either on the day or the day before, which is for me the biggest selling point!)

If not, has anyone here done this cycle? Is it quite straightforwards in terms of getting from Roscoff/Cherbourg to Paris, and then into the city centre? Any advice?

Cheers, Rory

Bringthethunder

Nova_era wrote: »

I saw an add in Cycling Weekly earlier for a London to Paris charity ride, which I'd love to do, was it not for the extremely high sponsorship target, which I really don't think I could reach.

Is there any similar cycle going from Dublin, and ending up in Paris around the same time as the Tour ends? (The London one ends on the Champs Elysee either on the day or the day before, which is for me the biggest selling point!)

If not, has anyone here done this cycle? Is it quite straightforwards in terms of getting from Roscoff/Cherbourg to Paris, and then into the city centre? Any advice?

Cheers, Rory

its a bit misleading is'nt it...i mean you cant actually cycle to paris from dublin you have a sea and a channel that you cant actually cycle on....:rolleyes:

Dr.Millah

Bringthethunder

problem solved

Captain Havoc

Yes, the Irish Hospice Foundation did two this year, I was supposed to be on the first one but had to pull out. The first was in July and the second in September. The July one arrived in Paris the day before or a couple of days before the final stage of the TdF. It took five days I believe (no smart comments about the TdF taking 5 days please).

PS, I plan on doing something similar next year but with no charity involved.

ashleey

I did one in may this year starting in portsmouth then cherbourg via the normandy ww2 battlefields. It wouldn't be a common charity here but all my friends here sponsored me, so respect. (h4h is the uk charity)(I'm English but we've all moved on..right?). It's a great run of around 100k/140k a day depending on route and the charity will have outsourced hotel/transport/catering. Watch out for the last day into Paris. There is generally a deadline and it is mostly uphill and into the wind (guaranteed) so you have to get your departure time right. It's great fun, the roads are brilliant and french drivers respect cyclists. Not like here then.

Nova_era

The Tour De France took 5 da.... Sorry.

Well if you're looking for more people to do that trip to Paris with, please drop me a line.

Captain Havoc

The ultimate goal is to take two or more weeks off work and cycle to all the towns I've lived in which currently stands at, Shannon, Kilkenny, Dublin, Birmingham, Midhurst, Paris, Montreux and Zürich, (Carlow could be going onto this list next year).
99% of my plans they never happen but I may still do Kilkenny to Paris as I reckon I could do it in four days (stages one and two on the hospice trip were in Ireland). Announcements to made in the spring, but keep me in mind.

Nova_era

I'd go to Montreaux, but you could count me out of going anywhere near Birmingham. :P

Sean02

very surprised that a U.K. charity would expect more than a Irish one. Apart from the charity aspect it's expensive to organise group cycle trips anywhere now. Then add back up and admin. The whole sponsored charity thing needs regulation.

Captain Havoc

Sean02 wrote: »

very surprised that a U.K. charity would expect more than a Irish one. Apart from the charity aspect it's expensive to organise group cycle trips anywhere now. Then add back up and admin. The whole sponsored charity thing needs regulation.

The Hospice were looking for €3k or €3.5k to do theres

ashleey

The first 800 quid covered the tour costs, the rest is money for the charity. Some of the accommodation was basic but it was good in Paris. Watch out for 10 euro a pint for 1664.

The tour operators signpost the route overnight and also store your bikes. They then move your luggage and set up drink stops and lunch stops during the day. I reckon that margins are tight.

Also, most French towns are in a steep river basin and the motel type accommodation is normally at the top of the hill on the other side.

It's a great trip if my wife will let me go again

ROK ON

Nova_era wrote: »

I saw an add in Cycling Weekly earlier for a London to Paris charity ride, which I'd love to do, was it not for the extremely high sponsorship target, which I really don't think I could reach.

Is there any similar cycle going from Dublin, and ending up in Paris around the same time as the Tour ends? (The London one ends on the Champs Elysee either on the day or the day before, which is for me the biggest selling point!)

If not, has anyone here done this cycle? Is it quite straightforwards in terms of getting from Roscoff/Cherbourg to Paris, and then into the city centre? Any advice?

Cheers, Rory

RAAM's brother did this last year. If you pm, I'm sure he will be able to help with queries/advice etc.

Captain Havoc

ashleey wrote: »

Watch out for 10 euro a pint for 1664.

Not when you know where you're going it's not

ashleey

admittedly it was about 6 or 7 euro outside Paris. Obviously, being a committed athlete I wasn't drinking though

Esroh

There's a bunch of lads on BikeRadar doing London to Paris under their own steam. There was mention of a Boards Tour of Ire a few weeks back . Maybe a Boards Dub to Paris might be a good alternative. Anyone got or know a White Van Driver who would do Support/Gear wagon

WakeyTyke

Did the Irish Hospice Foundation's Dublin-Paris Cycle Challenge in September and had a great time. The cycle was organised by Irish Cycling Safari's and they arranged an excellent route from Cherbourg to Paris that avoided all the main arterial routes. The distance was around 600 kms which we covered in 5 days. The cost of the trip was €1,000 and you needed to raise €2,500 for the IHF.

Next July they intend to re-run the Dublin-Paris cycle, again to tie in with the Tour finish, then the following week they are continuing on with a Paris-Geneva cycle.

Full details have not been announced yet but I could certainly recommend it and hope to do the second leg to Geneva.

cdaly_

Errm, how did you get home again? Cycle the lot a second time?

Captain Havoc

Esroh wrote: »

Anyone got or know a White Van Driver who would do Support/Gear wagon

10 of us x €100 each = pay for a buddys trip and accomodation for 10 days and possibly even petrol on top.

WakeyTyke

Flight home from Paris to Dublin included in cost. Bikes were brought back to Dublin by van. All was very well organised.

Esroh

jerseyeire wrote: »

10 of us x €100 each = pay for a buddys trip and accomodation for 10 days and possibly even petrol on top.

Now there's an idea.
Another 10x150 would cover the Ferry Rosslare to Cherburg return trip for riders, driver and van

IM0

You can cycle the same the route on your own (as in unsupported charity trip) pretty straight forward really no mountain ranges to cross or anything and their roads put ours to shame (and their motorists)

kavanagh_h

I did the Dublin to Paris cycle in july and loved it. Very well organised and great atmosphere. Accommodation was great and the evening meals were lovely. Cherbourg to Paris was not as flat as I expected! We had a pub quiz on the boat which was great fun and the trip flew. I'd do it again if I thought I could raise the money again!

H.

aidandoyle

I did the London - Paris cyclosportive last year (June 25th - 27th). It was a 3-day event and on average we did about 170km per day. Well organised with support vehicles and outriders etc.. in fact all you have to do is turn the pedals and not fall off. Raising cash for charity was optional but not obligatory. There was 300 cyclists participating and the atmosphere was great. I would recommend it, it cost 730 GBP and imho this was good value for all we got (3 nights accomodation, all food, drinks, transportation, logistics, DVD etc..). It is a nice feeling rolling into Paris as part of a 300-strong peloton. The event is run by Hot Chillee

teamireland

Nova_era wrote: »

The Tour De France took 5 da.... Sorry.

Well if you're looking for more people to do that trip to Paris with, please drop me a line.

My mate and i are on about doing this trip this summer , maybe a bit ambitious doing this on our own so if people are interested in organising a tour we would be interested. Another friend of ours done the London to Paris cycle on their own and only 3 out of 8 of them finished. Support Car/Van is necessary

We are both only new to cycling. I have done a couple of marathons in 06 & 07 but since then have put on 2st !! and need a challenge.

Captain Havoc

Shall we get something planned? Maybe go to Reims & Eparnay for the 7/8th of July and head across to Paris. I would like to organise this if there were enough numbers interested.

Esroh

jerseyeire wrote: »

Shall we get something planned? Maybe go to Reims & Eparnay for the 7/8th of July and head across to Paris. I would like to organise this if there were enough numbers interested.

A few weeks early for the Final stage on the 25th or are u intending to ride for 3 weeks:D

Captain Havoc

Esroh wrote: »

A few weeks early for the Final stage on the 25th or are u intending to ride for 3 weeks:D

Was planning on joining the tour there and following the rest of the way I wasn't thinking about going to the final stage at all TBH, those are the days when the tour stages finish and start in Reims and Epernay. Just throwing an idea out there.

peterjmaxwell

I did London to Paris this year with a UK charity. 4 days and had to raise 1100stg. I'd love to go again next year and if i can do it from Dublin that'd be cool.

Seeing the final stage in Paris is excellent, they did 8 laps at the end of the stage so a good chance to see some action and to soak in the atmosphere.

Captain Havoc

i've started the planning. Initial route drawn up. Part of the plan is to cycle the stage that starts in Epernay. Leaving on saturday 3rd july, arriving in paris on friday

Nova_era

Just off the phone to Jersey, and he has me convinced. The trip sounds fantastic, and the guy points we took from the conversation were -

1) In order to catch that stage in Reims, anyone interested is going to have to book accomodation ASAP, as it's looking like a busy evening on the hotel front there, due to the Tour.

2) A man in a van is essential, for carrying our gear/food/camping equipment/spare parts.

3) There is no obligation whatsoever to raise money for charity; if someone wants to do it then well and good, but it's by no means a requirement.

And lots of other things! The most exciting thing for me is Jerseys plan to cycle a full TDF stage on the same day as the riders, and stop in the middle for a few hours to watch them pass.

Fingers crossed there'll be some interest in this, a group of 10 or 20 would be great fun + it would also keep costs at a minimum.

teamireland

jerseyeire wrote: »

i've started the planning. Initial route drawn up. Part of the plan is to cycle the stage that starts in Epernay. Leaving on saturday 3rd july, arriving in paris on friday

Can you publish the route, how many kms a day is it:)

Thanks

Captain Havoc

There is no route as of yet, I have drawn up a provisional route which probably will have some changes made to it. I still need to get info from locals on it, so don't take this as "the route". The last few days from the arrival in Reims onwards I don't want to change. There are many reasons why the route may change, the boat may not leave on a Saturday, many people think it would be unwise to do 200kms in a day, a road maybe unsuitable for safe cycling etc............ I only came up with it yesterday with sod all planning.

The Route


Stage 1. Saturday 3rd July, Dublin to Rosslare, 140km:
The boat will leave in the evening. I am allowing eight hours to get to Rosslare plus we will be there 1hour 30minutes before the departure of the boat. €120pp for the boat


Stage 2. Sunday 4th July, Cherbourg to Caen, 127km:
We should all be relaxed after our 14 hours on the boat. Accomodation €46pp Mercure in Caen.


Stage 3. Monday 5th July, Caen to Beauvais, 201km:
Known as the Ryanair town but we're stopping there. €50pp Mercure.


Stage 4. Tuesday 6th July, Beauvais to Reims, 156km:
Known for it's cathedral and where the French kings were crowned. We're going here to see our cathedral, a sprint finish of the Tour de France and hopefully see the heir to the green jersey throne. The legs will be tired so a rest day will be in order. €105pp Mercure.


Stage 5. Wednesday 7th July, Reims to Épernay, 27km:
An evening stage where we will catch up with the start of the Tour de France. We're sleeping in tents for this one (no joking).


Stage6. Thursday 8th July, Épernay to Montargis, 187km: This is our l'étape, we will leave very early in the morning and follow along the route until a point where we will be forced to stop to let the tour through. We will continue on after they have passed. Again we'll be camping.


Stage 7. Friday 9th July Montargis to Paris, 109km: Pictures and all that, we'll probably get drunk here afterwards in some of my old haunts and I'll try and get some mates to organise something. €76pp Novotel



Train back to Cherbourg, the van can carry the bikes, someone can go in the van if they want, preferably a French speaker.


The prices are estimates at the moment. The two camping nights are due to the Tour de France and I don't see any possible chance of getting decent accomodation.

Esroh

jerseyeire wrote: »

. The two camping nights are due to the Tour de France and I don't see any possible chance of getting decent accomodation.

Hey Young Fella any bed maybe better than the ground for those of us 40+;)

Well done on that plan. Looks good.

Captain Havoc

Esroh wrote: »

Hey Young Fella any bed maybe better than the ground for those of us 40+;)

Well done on that plan. Looks good.

Listen grandpa, you're more than welcome to find a hotel on this night and pay rack rate, which in France is periodicaly and not anually like in Ireland, so I'm sure rack for that period will be sky high.

Nova_era

IIt's all looking great and very affoardable, but I just have one slight issue -

Is the stage finish in Reims enough to justify an extra few hundred kilometres, an extra 2 days, and 2 nights in a tent? :P

I'd be happy to forfeit the experience in favour of just heading straight to Paris, but of course if the popular opinion is with doing Reims then I'm happy with that too.

Just wondering if I'm the only one who does'nt fancy waking up in a tent in blazing sunlight before a long day in the saddle. :P

ridertothesea

I cycled to Paris under own steam last July on the same route - Rosslare Cherbourg.

I presume you're taking the Coastal road towards Caen. Much more interesting than inland. Caen itself is a big city and was quite messy and time consuming to get out of although I should have done a bit more planning.

Absolutely loved it. Had no back up van - which was a good incentive not to give up.

R

teamireland

Nova_era wrote: »

IIt's all looking great and very affoardable, but I just have one slight issue -

Is the stage finish in Reims enough to justify an extra few hundred kilometres, an extra 2 days, and 2 nights in a tent? :P

I'd be happy to forfeit the experience in favour of just heading straight to Paris, but of course if the popular opinion is with doing Reims then I'm happy with that too.

Just wondering if I'm the only one who does'nt fancy waking up in a tent in blazing sunlight before a long day in the saddle. :P

What sort of standard would you need to be at for this, what sort of km per hour would be the target, Two of us would be dead keen for either the direct route or indirect but very worried as we are complete amateurs.

Captain Havoc

teamireland wrote: »

What sort of standard would you need to be at for this, what sort of km per hour would be the target, Two of us would be dead keen for either the direct route or indirect but very worried as we are complete amateurs.

We're still only in the early stages of trying to organise, it was only mentioned over the weekend and the route above is only a proposed one, I really can't see that being the final route but you never know. You will need a certain level of fitness that goes without saying.
There are still many questions that need answering.

WakeyTyke

teamireland wrote: »

What sort of standard would you need to be at for this, what sort of km per hour would be the target, Two of us would be dead keen for either the direct route or indirect but very worried as we are complete amateurs.

A big advantage in doing the Irish Hospice Foundation charity cycle from Dublin to Paris is that everyone cycles in a group of around 10 cyclists, with a guide/leader, according to their ability/experience on a bike, so there are no worries about holding everyone up, or worse still being dropped and left. There are also regular pre-arranged stops to rest and refuel.

Nova_era

teamireland wrote: »

What sort of standard would you need to be at for this, what sort of km per hour would be the target, Two of us would be dead keen for either the direct route or indirect but very worried as we are complete amateurs.

Don't worry about that, I only started cycling at the start of the summer and to date the longest cycle I've done is the 60km Rebel Tour. Of course I plan on doing a lot of training in the meantime, but as far as I'm concerned the emphasis will be getting to Paris with a smile on our face, no worries about sprinting up mountains etc.

Captain Havoc

Just to bring ye up to speed, I've sent messages to some of my French friends and I've received responses with some information on how to plan routes in France and one guy is from that neck of the woods and is asking cycling buddies for specific information on specific roads, another couple of friends are asking their buddies about the condition of certain roads. I'm waiting over the weekend for a few more responses.
TTFN
Jersey

cdaly_

kavanagh_h wrote:

I did the Dublin to Paris cycle in july and loved it.

I saw you lot waiting for the boat at Rosslare. I was in the car that looked more like a hedgehog with roofbox, bike on roof and three on the back.

jerseyeire wrote:

Esroh wrote:

Anyone got or know a White Van Driver who would do Support/Gear wagon

10 of us x €100 each = pay for a buddys trip and accomodation for 10 days and possibly even petrol on top.

Another option would be to have a number of rider/drivers who would share the driving and get to do some cycling too. Would make for some extra logistics in terms of driver insurance tho.

Would love to try that myself. I'd better start hinting at home now...

Gio Trappatoni

Nova_era wrote: »

Don't worry about that, I only started cycling at the start of the summer and to date the longest cycle I've done is the 60km Rebel Tour. Of course I plan on doing a lot of training in the meantime, but as far as I'm concerned the emphasis will be getting to Paris with a smile on our face, no worries about sprinting up mountains etc.

This sounds great, I would be keen to join the peleton, though as TeamIreland has said we are very green as far as cycling is concerned. However I am banking on brute force and blunt ignorance getting us a long way, well at least as far as Paris

Keep up the good work guys!

Esroh

Gio Trappatoni wrote: »

This sounds great, I would be keen to join the peleton, though as TeamIreland has said we are very green as far as cycling is concerned. However I am banking on brute force and blunt ignorance getting us a long way, well at least as far as Paris

Keep up the good work guys!

Between now and July is plenty of time for Banking Miles so you will not need as much room for Brute Force;)