Nick and Steve - London to Paris 24 cyclists

Nick and Steve were part of the pioneering team that took on the challenge to cycle from London to Paris in 24 hours. Read Nick’s account of the last two stages of the event. At this point in Nick’s blog, he and Steve have already cycled in relay, from London, through the night and the clock is ticking…..

Stage 8 – 5.45am (32 miles)

Having rested briefly on a transition coach during stage 7, I walked out to collect my bike. I was tired, the fog had rolled in and I could see maybe 30 yards as it was still dark. The bike was wet, I was wet and I was sick of caffeinated gels and Mars bars! All I needed was a big hill and my day would be complete; I didn’t have to wait long! Stage 8 was a bit of a slog, although it started quite well. Setting off near the front of the pack, it was still dark, but we still maintained 20mph through long stretches. This was the start of my second back-to-back stage and a 55-mile ride into Paris. 20mph was not sustainable and after about five miles started to lose the front runners. Ended up in a trio of riders, and 10 miles in, with the sun breaking through, we hit a mega hill. Long and arduous, it was enough to keep going and not get off and walk. There would be long stretches, with mist and low visibility, not to mention low temperatures, almost to the end of the stage. This was when cycling with others had a distinct advantage, psychologically if nothing else.

Stage 9 – 8.00am (22 miles)

I rolled into transition to be told that, due to time pressures, we had a five-minute turnaround. Steve was now waiting the other side of the village and any change of kit was out of the question as the bags were on their way to the finish line. We cycled through the village and met up with the other 80 riders including Steve. Once assembled, we started towards Paris en masse. The outskirts were fairly clear, but as we got further into the suburbs, road works and traffic lights would start to slow us down. It is deceptive how far away you can be from the centre, and, as a group of around ten, we were about five miles away and unsure whether we would make the 24-hour split, we made a conscious decision to make a sprint for it. Putting our feet down, we approached the Arc de Triomphe, notorious for its lack of direction for all those on it, we took our lives in our hands and went for it, exiting onto the Champs Elysee, riding this area was something everyone had been looking forward to. This area is cobbled and we took it at a good speed. Having gone 170 miles with no mechanical problems, I suggested to Steve this would be just the time to have a puncture. We both had a back-up plan for this – pick the bike up and run with it! We exited right onto a smooth surface and finished with a sprint through chequered flags, 23 hours and 36 minutes after we had started!

Time after the event allowed us to reflect on our achievement. We were exhausted but elated as the whole event was such a thrill and one we are unlikely to forget in a hurry!

www.london2paris24.com