The L2P Ride 2005http://l2p_blog.blog.co.uk/This blog provides a daily update of the progress of 8 cyclists heading from London on Tuesday 23rd August, to ride to Paris, a distance of around 250 miles. It's all in aid of Cancer Research UK.en-EUhourly82000-01-01T12:00+00:00The L2P Ride 2005http://l2p_blog.blog.co.uk/http://data5.blog.de/design/preview/e2/b8bd70955a66e647ea3910e7178c49_160x200.jpgLast blog wasn't the whole story....http://l2p_blog.blog.co.uk/2005/08/27/last_blog_wasn_t_the_whole_story~145763/2005-08-27T13:30:43+02:00 <p>Continuing on from the last instalment this is what happened.... </p> <p>After a journey down the hard shoulder of the motorway Mark had a serious blow out, and only managed to avoid certain death by employing his advanced bike handling skills (ed). After F1 trained Simmo changed the inner tube in less than 8<br> seconds Jit 'GPS' Patel then navigated us superbly to the wrong hotel. After setting off for the right hotel Mark somehow managed to get another puncture. Looking at the tubes manufacturers warranty it was revealed that it was only guaranteed for 37 inches of cycling. Walking the bikes through the beautiful suburbs of Paris in the pitch black was interesting. The bikes were secured in 2 groups of four, with Mark taking his back wheel off to repair once again. Next morning, and after the last blog was written, it was discovered that Hils Matt Jit and Andy no longer had bikes! They had been stolen. The Police were called, reports were taken and new bikes were bought. The story hasn't ended yet! </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://l2p_blog.blog.co.uk/2005/08/27/last_blog_wasn_t_the_whole_story~145763/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>Continuing on from the last instalment this is what happened....

After a journey down the hard shoulder of the motorway Mark had a serious blow out, and only managed to avoid certain death by employing his advanced bike handling skills (ed). After F1 trained Simmo changed the inner tube in less than 8
seconds Jit 'GPS' Patel then navigated us superbly to the wrong hotel. After setting off for the right hotel Mark somehow managed to get another puncture. Looking at the tubes manufacturers warranty it was revealed that it was only guaranteed for 37 inches of cycling. Walking the bikes through the beautiful suburbs of Paris in the pitch black was interesting. The bikes were secured in 2 groups of four, with Mark taking his back wheel off to repair once again. Next morning, and after the last blog was written, it was discovered that Hils Matt Jit and Andy no longer had bikes! They had been stolen. The Police were called, reports were taken and new bikes were bought. The story hasn't ended yet!

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]]>Last blog wasn't the whole story....http://l2p_blog.blog.co.uk/2005/08/27/last_blog_wasn_t_the_whole_story~145733/2005-08-27T13:16:02+02:00 <p>Continuing on from the last instalment this is what happened.... </p> <p>After a journey down the hard shoulder of the motorway Mark had a serious blow out, and only managed to avoid certain death by employing his advanced bike handling skills (ed). After F1 trained Simmo changed the inner tube in less than 8<br> seconds Jit 'GPS' Patel then navigated us superbly to the wrong hotel. After setting off for the right hotel Mark somehow managed to get another puncture. Looking at the tubes manufacturers warranty it was revealed that it was only guaranteed for 37 inches of cycling. Walking the bikes through the beautiful suburbs of Paris in the pitch black was interesting. The bikes were secured in 2 groups of four, with Mark taking his back wheel off to repair once again. Next morning, and after the last blog was written, it was discovered that Hils Matt Jit and Andy no longer had bikes! They had been stolen. The Police were called, reports were taken and new bikes were bought. The story hasn't ended yet! </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://l2p_blog.blog.co.uk/2005/08/27/last_blog_wasn_t_the_whole_story~145733/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>Continuing on from the last instalment this is what happened....

After a journey down the hard shoulder of the motorway Mark had a serious blow out, and only managed to avoid certain death by employing his advanced bike handling skills (ed). After F1 trained Simmo changed the inner tube in less than 8
seconds Jit 'GPS' Patel then navigated us superbly to the wrong hotel. After setting off for the right hotel Mark somehow managed to get another puncture. Looking at the tubes manufacturers warranty it was revealed that it was only guaranteed for 37 inches of cycling. Walking the bikes through the beautiful suburbs of Paris in the pitch black was interesting. The bikes were secured in 2 groups of four, with Mark taking his back wheel off to repair once again. Next morning, and after the last blog was written, it was discovered that Hils Matt Jit and Andy no longer had bikes! They had been stolen. The Police were called, reports were taken and new bikes were bought. The story hasn't ended yet!

Comments

]]>day 4 three hotels and three punctures!http://l2p_blog.blog.co.uk/2005/08/27/day_4_three_hotels_and_three_punctures~145472/2005-08-27T11:15:30+02:00 <p>we managed a whopping 76 miles in the sun and wind over the somme and if only the day finished there! slight problem for les with his second puncture of the week, then came the trip down the motorway whoops </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://l2p_blog.blog.co.uk/2005/08/27/day_4_three_hotels_and_three_punctures~145472/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>we managed a whopping 76 miles in the sun and wind over the somme and if only the day finished there! slight problem for les with his second puncture of the week, then came the trip down the motorway whoops

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]]>Big news: dinner in a restaurant!http://l2p_blog.blog.co.uk/2005/08/26/big_news_dinner_in_a_restaurant~143004/2005-08-26T08:07:53+02:00 <p>Amazing! The L2P team abandoned supermarkets and trolleys and actually had dinner in a rather pleasant restaurant! Apparently the team do know how to use a knife and fork. Big day ahead today - the 75 mile push to the outskirts of Paris at Pontoise. Once that's done the team's almost there! </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://l2p_blog.blog.co.uk/2005/08/26/big_news_dinner_in_a_restaurant~143004/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>Amazing! The L2P team abandoned supermarkets and trolleys and actually had dinner in a rather pleasant restaurant! Apparently the team do know how to use a knife and fork. Big day ahead today - the 75 mile push to the outskirts of Paris at Pontoise. Once that's done the team's almost there!

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]]>Day 3http://l2p_blog.blog.co.uk/2005/08/25/day~142324/2005-08-25T19:59:07+02:00 <p>Well we've made it to Amiens. A much nicer day, sunshine, less wind and gently rolling French countryside until lunch. The heavens then opened, but luckily we were at our luxury luncheon abode. Today we went up market, standing in a trolley shelter at an Intermarche, naturally eating our lunch from a trolley! Staying in a beautiful industrial estate outside Amiens - wish you could be here? </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://l2p_blog.blog.co.uk/2005/08/25/day~142324/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>Well we've made it to Amiens. A much nicer day, sunshine, less wind and gently rolling French countryside until lunch. The heavens then opened, but luckily we were at our luxury luncheon abode. Today we went up market, standing in a trolley shelter at an Intermarche, naturally eating our lunch from a trolley! Staying in a beautiful industrial estate outside Amiens - wish you could be here?

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]]>title-141750http://l2p_blog.blog.co.uk/2005/08/25/title~141750/2005-08-25T15:24:57+02:00<p> <small> <a href="http://l2p_blog.blog.co.uk/2005/08/25/title~141750/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p> Comments

]]>day 2 wet and wildhttp://l2p_blog.blog.co.uk/2005/08/24/day_2_wet_and_wild~140400/2005-08-24T21:11:57+02:00 <p>not alot of updates today because the weather was against us for most of the day. we set out at 11 and had a brief pleasant ride out of Calais but once on the open road the rain started and the wind was against us all day. 41 miles today but felt like 400, but we made camier and have rewarded ourselves with a large beer. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://l2p_blog.blog.co.uk/2005/08/24/day_2_wet_and_wild~140400/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>not alot of updates today because the weather was against us for most of the day. we set out at 11 and had a brief pleasant ride out of Calais but once on the open road the rain started and the wind was against us all day. 41 miles today but felt like 400, but we made camier and have rewarded ourselves with a large beer.

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]]>Day 2 On the ferryhttp://l2p_blog.blog.co.uk/2005/08/24/day_2_on_the_ferry/2005-08-24T09:33:05+02:00 <p>After an early night and lasagne all round tired bodies retrieved our bikes and gingerly rode the mile to the ferry port. We got through the ticket booth and spent a cold 15 mins queuing with the cars and lorries. It was a very strange experience cycling onto the ferry not helped by the steep ramp. Now on board we are about to tuck into a hearty breakfast </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://l2p_blog.blog.co.uk/2005/08/24/day_2_on_the_ferry/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>After an early night and lasagne all round tired bodies retrieved our bikes and gingerly rode the mile to the ferry port. We got through the ticket booth and spent a cold 15 mins queuing with the cars and lorries. It was a very strange experience cycling onto the ferry not helped by the steep ramp. Now on board we are about to tuck into a hearty breakfast

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]]>Dover arrivalhttp://l2p_blog.blog.co.uk/2005/08/23/dover_arrival/2005-08-23T21:48:09+02:00 <p>We made it to the hotel in Dover at 7:45pm after covering the 77 miles in a little under 12 hours, actually riding for 7 and a half hours. We had one detour due to tired map reading and can confirm that Dover is uphill from London. Looking forward to dinner if we don't fall asleep in it. Tomorrow it is the crossing to Calais and a lighter day of 50 miles. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://l2p_blog.blog.co.uk/2005/08/23/dover_arrival/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>We made it to the hotel in Dover at 7:45pm after covering the 77 miles in a little under 12 hours, actually riding for 7 and a half hours. We had one detour due to tired map reading and can confirm that Dover is uphill from London. Looking forward to dinner if we don't fall asleep in it. Tomorrow it is the crossing to Calais and a lighter day of 50 miles.

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]]>Afternoon teahttp://l2p_blog.blog.co.uk/2005/08/23/afternoon_tea/2005-08-23T18:02:56+02:00 <p>Just gone through Canterbury though did not stop to sight see 32k to Dover </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://l2p_blog.blog.co.uk/2005/08/23/afternoon_tea/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>Just gone through Canterbury though did not stop to sight see 32k to Dover

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]]>Day 1 lunchhttp://l2p_blog.blog.co.uk/2005/08/23/day_1_lunch_1/2005-08-23T14:24:21+02:00 <p>We had a fantastic send off from lots of friends at 8am and heade west into the sunrise. After a shaky start following Jit's directions from Tower Bridge we made our way out through Dartford, across the M25 and on to lunch at Rainham for lunch. Not many aches but the sun is proving to be the toughest test </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://l2p_blog.blog.co.uk/2005/08/23/day_1_lunch_1/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>We had a fantastic send off from lots of friends at 8am and heade west into the sunrise. After a shaky start following Jit's directions from Tower Bridge we made our way out through Dartford, across the M25 and on to lunch at Rainham for lunch. Not many aches but the sun is proving to be the toughest test

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]]>Day 1 lunchhttp://l2p_blog.blog.co.uk/2005/08/23/day_1_lunch/2005-08-23T14:19:49+02:00 <p>We had a fantastic send off from lots of friends at 8am and heade west into the sunrise. After a shaky start following Jit's directions from Tower Bridge we made our way out through Dartford, across the M25 and on to lunch at Rainham for lunch. Not many aches but the sun is proving to be the toughest test </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://l2p_blog.blog.co.uk/2005/08/23/day_1_lunch/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>We had a fantastic send off from lots of friends at 8am and heade west into the sunrise. After a shaky start following Jit's directions from Tower Bridge we made our way out through Dartford, across the M25 and on to lunch at Rainham for lunch. Not many aches but the sun is proving to be the toughest test

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]]>Welcome to the Blog for the L2P Ride 2005http://l2p_blog.blog.co.uk/2005/08/18/welcome_to_the_blog_for_the_l2p_ride_2005/2005-08-18T17:12:33+02:00 <p>This blog has been set up to allow our friends, family and other interested people to track our progress to Paris.</p> <p>Check here regularly for updates.<img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/l/l2p_blog/img/team.jpg" border="0" alt="2nd practice ride team"> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://l2p_blog.blog.co.uk/2005/08/18/welcome_to_the_blog_for_the_l2p_ride_2005/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>This blog has been set up to allow our friends, family and other interested people to track our progress to Paris.

Check here regularly for updates.2nd practice ride team

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