The Ride: Paris (Versaille ) to London Cycling Challenge

Friday 21st to Sunday 23rd September 2012

Summary

• Approx 200 miles (320km) fabulous cycling in 3 days
• Cycling mainly along ‘B’ and minor roads
• Avoidance of large towns most of the time – except for Paris and London of course!
• Cycling through pretty and quaint villages both in France and England
• Passing points of interest including castles ,other historic sites and outstanding natural features
• Two nights – one by the Seine at Vernon and one in or near Newhaven on the coast
• Bicycles and participants transported to Versaille by van/eurostar respectively (bikes on Thursday 20th September from a place in London to be agreed)

Friday 21st September 60 miles cycling Versaille to Vernon

• Take Eurostar from St Pancras International at 7am – arr Paris Gar du Nord at 10.15am – transfer to Versailles and meet up with bikes transported by van the previous day.
• Commence cycling at 12 noon in Versaille after a snack.
• Our route takes us out of Paris (Versaille) to Saint Germain –en- Laye and then on to Poissy and after a climb at Chanteloup to the Foret Domaniale
• Here we have a late picnic lunch in a delightful spot.
• It’s now just 35 miles to our stop for the 1st night at Vernon passing through Hardicourt, the wide open landscapes of the plateau around Sailly and finally back to the Seine at Vetheuil and the majestic castle at La-Roche-Guyon for a break.
• The final section is all along a very peaceful and stunning section of the Seine away from the main road until the famous gardens of Givernay are reached.
• We stay at the Kyriad Hotel in St Marcel near Vernon which we expect to reach at 19.00. Dinner in this delightful hotel will be at approx. 20.30.

Saturday 22nd September 70 miles cycling Vernon to Newhaven via Dieppe

• We follow the Seine to the attractive town of Les Andelys and have a welcome break by the river with spectacular views of the limestone cliffs and the castle.
• Now commences a steep climb out of the Seine Valley onto the plateau for another rest stop around Charleville.
• Lunch is a little further on in the depths of the countryside at a quiet picnic spot near the market town of Buchy.
• Now we remain on the plateau until the bustling town of St Saens after which it is a gentle downward gradient through the valley on quiet straight roads towards the sea at Dieppe.
• We aim to arrive in Dieppe at 5pm and take the 6pm ferry to Newhaven – a 4 hour cruise. We will eat on the ferry and arrive at Newhaven at 9pm local time and check into a hotel.

Sunday 23rd September 65 miles cycling Newhaven to London East End

• The route from Newhaven takes us across the South Downs through Lewis and then along country lanes to the North Downs following part of the famous London to Brighton cycle route.
• A slight deviation takes us to Greenwich for a view of London from the Observatory and then to the Cutty Sark with a finale on the cycle track on the S side of the River Thames, crossing the Thames at Tower Bridge.
• It’s then just a short ride to our destination in Shoreditch where we expect to arrive by 5pm for a celebration reception and dinner.