Comments on: Route Planning

By: Dave Gillham

Dave Gillham — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 08:12:42 +0000

The above comment misses one vital word between ‘keep & interested’ (bloody silly broadband connection keeps jumping in and out) on the 2nd line, who am i reffering to?
I think we all know!

By: Dave Gillham

Dave Gillham — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 08:09:55 +0000

Im rather easy with either – 2 seems to sound hunky dorey and we will keep interested and moving freely all the way to the cheese place (getting him to complete the journey may be a little difficult).
I like the idea of 2 as it means we will not be rushed on the 1st day having to make it to the beautiful restort of Newhaven for a certain time, though we are going to have to get up rather early – anything before 07:35 for me is hideous – someone will have to come into my room and wake me (bagsee not Scott as i fear i will not be able to ride so well the next day)!

In Short, option 2 sounds groovy!

By: Alan Bull

Alan Bull — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 22:00:49 +0000

So Dave & Luke, what do you think of the route plan here?

By: Marcus

Marcus — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 21:39:47 +0000

Guys I would like to wish you all the best of luck as myself and a group of friends plan on also cycling London to Paris next year.

By: Ed Moore

Ed Moore — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 12:05:58 +0000

AL ,
I have read your comments and I can now see the wisdom of option 2.
If I am totally honest you had me when you mentioned cheese making . !!

By: Scott Metcalf

Scott Metcalf — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 14:55:50 +0000

Ladies and gentlemen, im sadly announcing that I have recently received a most distressing voicemail that borders on harrassment stating that I have to write a comment on this thread, so here I am, surrendering to peer pressure once again like I did when I was a young impressionable child with scabs on my kness due to lunch time football at school, I will as I have been told to do, write a comment… so here it is….

‘a comment’

By: Scott Metcalf

Scott Metcalf — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 13:26:02 +0000

errr give me a couple more days to finish reading what Alan has written and post my riposte….

By: Alan Bull

Alan Bull — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 07:09:56 +0000

Ok, so I have had the chance to think about this carefully and after reading all your comments so far and doing a little more research on the matter I feel that Option 2 is my preferred.

Here are my reasons:

Reason One

I agree with Ed in that it's not just about the challenge, it's about the journey itself and the places we visit and pass through. Problem with Option 1 is that we will likely not arrive into Rouen until around 9pm at night and therefore will not have the opportunity to explore the place properly anyway, especially with the need for an early start the next day.

Neufchâtel-en-Bray being closer will mean that we arrive early enough to get to know the place. It's a small historic village which is famous for it's natural beauty and cheese making (read more here) and should be a nice place to rest for the night.

Reason Two

Whilst researching what route to take I came across information about a largely traffic free route between London and Paris (via Newhaven & Dieppe) for cyclists. The route called 'Avenue Verte' (translates as Green Way), is a part European Union funded initiative, which is due to be completed by 2012. Parts of it however have already been completed and are in use now.

The French part of the route starts just outside Dieppe and takes you through the beautiful countryside, with no cars, to Neufchâtel-en-Bray and onto Forges-les-Eaux. It currently finishes there, but will be extended all the way to Paris within the next couple of years.

Here is some more information about Avenue Verte: Watch a video | Look at the map | Visit the website

I'd really like to cycle along the Avenue Verte as it will make the journey so much more enjoyable and relaxed and reading reviews of the route from other cyclists, it comes highly recommended. This is only possible if we go for Option 2 as Option 1 takes s in an opposite direction out of Dieppe.

So therefore, after the morning ferry from Newhaven to Dieppe I suggest we get on the Avenue Verte and stop in Neufchâtel-en-Bray for the night and then the next day carry on the Avenue Verte to the end in Forges-les-Eaux before getting back on to the main country roads to Beauvais.

Reason 3

Removing 45 extra miles from our journey by taking a more direct route to Paris means that we have more opportunity to look around the places we stop in and pass through and enjoy the ride a little more.

We must, as Apple mentioned, think about factoring in time for bike problems, as this is surely going to happen to all of us at one point.

This mileage saving may also give us more reason to start from central London and not the outskirts like we are currently planning.

What's your thoughts? Does this sound like the better option?

By: Apple Bull

Apple Bull — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 11:05:05 +0000

I think Option 2 is better. The first day is going to be hard enough, the shorter 2nd day will be welcome. What if the boat is late, this make it very difficult for us. Also if we have a problem with our bikes then in the dark this would be very hard.

Also, if we can save on doing extra miles for no reason then this will be better – no point adding to the pain!!

By: Ed Moore

Ed Moore — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 10:32:46 +0000

For me Option 1 please Al .
I know we planned not the travel in the night . But It shouldn’t be for long , and travelling in a group at night . I forsee as being not that bad .
As already said we are not just doing this for the challenge it would be nice to take in some of the sights . !!!