Preparation for a long cycle ride

to begin with you need a reliable bike. I have a 9 year bike, bought with my London Cycling Campaign discount from Evans Cycles in The Cut near The London Eye at Waterloo.

Here is a picture of my cycle, loaded up with: two waterproof Ortlieb pannier bags, a couple of litres of water, and a stuff-it pack with quick release water-proof for those times when it pours. I also made sure that I had new puncture resistant tyres and new brake pads, a couple of spare inner tubes and a repair kit. I gambled by not taking along any spare spokes, but these are relatively easy to come by in France.

…just an idea

A few months ago, whilst considering where to go on holiday, a friend suggested that I might cycle across France. The suggestion was a partly a reasonable one, since as those of you personally acquainted with me will know, I am both a keen cyclist and also something of a Francophile. Clearly the unreasonable element in the suggestion was the part about crossing France within two weeks plus the couple of days that I could take as annual leave. Separately to this suggestion, I had wanted to do something to support the work of the Stroke Association and I thought that I could combine these two things by asking people to sponsor me to cross France on my cycle. As far as sponsored undertaking go, it seemed to me that it was as long as many others, as difficult in as much as this would be an ‘unsupported’ crossing without the benefits of any pick-up van to sort things out if I experienced mechanical or physical :-) failure; and all the money I might raise would be going to a charity. It would still, of course, be a holiday, but slightly more strenuous than most.