Some articles should be appearing in the local papers shortly. One from the Nottingham Post can be found here - http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/Peter-moon-London-Paris-ride/story-16609280-detail/story.html Slightly infactual that I don't live in Long Eaton and that I've raise over £2, 400 but they did put the key issue in that Christian Aid help regardless of race or religion.
I found this article from the Hucknall Dispatch from February whilst trawling the sites (not easy when most articles retrieved are from my football days) - http://www.hucknalldispatch.co.uk/lifestyle/cyclist-hits-his-big-ride-target-1-4280062
Welcome
Welcome to the 'on your bike to poverty' blog. Here I will be talking about all things fundraising and cycling following my successful ride from London to Paris for Christian Aid . A link to my fundraising page can be found here.
Thanks to these guys for all their help in my fundraising: Proskins, PF Collections Limited, Snowdome, Beanbagcrazy, Zootsports, Decathlon, Born Extreme and Wonderland Memorabilia.
Le Tour de France
Sunday 22nd July
We awoke to glorious skies over Paris for what would be a historic day in British cycling. We headed down early to breakfast so as to be able to head over to the Gare du Nord to dump the bags in lockers in readiness for our Eurostar train home in the evening. Surprisingly when I got down to breakfast, Claire and Luke were not there. A quick text to Claire and she replied that she couldn't wake Luke up. I went up to the room and gently awoke him from his slumber and got him dressed in his Sky jersey ready for the day ahead. After breakfast we jumped on the metro to the Gare du Nord to stick the bags in lockers before heading back on the metro to the Champs Elysees. Alighting at Rue de Rivoli, the crowds were already gathering at Place de la Concorde. The main part of the Champs Elysees is full of grandstands for coroprate hospitality so we headed up the back streets adjacent and up to the intermediate sprint point so that we could see them twice as they raced up to the Arc du Triomphe and back down on each of the 8 circuits. As we were on our way up we were approached by a Sky Sports reporter and cameraman and asked whether they could interview us. I grabbed Luke and my RAF 'Wiggo' flag and we were promptly interviewed along with Mike and Rob. I even managed to shoe horn a plug in for Christian Aid.
The clip of us on a special report at 12pm on Sky Sports News kindly recorded by my brother Mike:
After the excitement of being interviewed and subsequent messages home to record Sky Sports News, now came the sharpening of elbows to keep our place on the Champs Elysees. We had placed ourselves just a few metres form the PMU intermediate sprint and you had to keep close guard so that someone didn't steal your place as race time approached.
Just after 2pm the Publicity Caravan rolled up the Champs Elysees. Crazy driving, sights and sounds ensued as the caravan rolled past for the best part of an hour.
A short wait and a glimpse of the helicopter heralded the start of the first circuit on the Champs Elyees. They flew past with a hum resonating through the thousands of pounds worth of carbon. Jens Voigt (shut up legs!) decided to make a fist of it and along with two other riders managed to eek out 30 seconds on the peloton. With two laps to go the Sky train along with help from Liquigas set about reeling them in and it was down to 9 seconds with just 1 lap to go. The Sky train was now in full effect with Wiggins and Boasson Haagen all set to keep the pace high and catapult Cav to the stage win. We were trying to decipher the French commentary and it took a good few seconds to realise that Cav had gone and won his 4th straight win on the Champs Elysees and led out by the yellow jersey himself.
I said goodbye to Claire and Luke and headed down the Champs Elysees to try and catch the presentation ceremony. We managed to get down there just as the national anthem was sung and could see the back of Wiggo and the big screen.
Once the mosh was over we headed to Gare du Nord on the metro and had a meal at Buffalo Grill outside the station, being subjected to the worst service known to man. Afterwards we grabbed the bags and headed up to Eurostar departures to await boarding and the train home.
I can say I was there when British Cycling history was made.
We awoke to glorious skies over Paris for what would be a historic day in British cycling. We headed down early to breakfast so as to be able to head over to the Gare du Nord to dump the bags in lockers in readiness for our Eurostar train home in the evening. Surprisingly when I got down to breakfast, Claire and Luke were not there. A quick text to Claire and she replied that she couldn't wake Luke up. I went up to the room and gently awoke him from his slumber and got him dressed in his Sky jersey ready for the day ahead. After breakfast we jumped on the metro to the Gare du Nord to stick the bags in lockers before heading back on the metro to the Champs Elysees. Alighting at Rue de Rivoli, the crowds were already gathering at Place de la Concorde. The main part of the Champs Elysees is full of grandstands for coroprate hospitality so we headed up the back streets adjacent and up to the intermediate sprint point so that we could see them twice as they raced up to the Arc du Triomphe and back down on each of the 8 circuits. As we were on our way up we were approached by a Sky Sports reporter and cameraman and asked whether they could interview us. I grabbed Luke and my RAF 'Wiggo' flag and we were promptly interviewed along with Mike and Rob. I even managed to shoe horn a plug in for Christian Aid.
The clip of us on a special report at 12pm on Sky Sports News kindly recorded by my brother Mike:
After the excitement of being interviewed and subsequent messages home to record Sky Sports News, now came the sharpening of elbows to keep our place on the Champs Elysees. We had placed ourselves just a few metres form the PMU intermediate sprint and you had to keep close guard so that someone didn't steal your place as race time approached.
Just after 2pm the Publicity Caravan rolled up the Champs Elysees. Crazy driving, sights and sounds ensued as the caravan rolled past for the best part of an hour.
A short wait and a glimpse of the helicopter heralded the start of the first circuit on the Champs Elyees. They flew past with a hum resonating through the thousands of pounds worth of carbon. Jens Voigt (shut up legs!) decided to make a fist of it and along with two other riders managed to eek out 30 seconds on the peloton. With two laps to go the Sky train along with help from Liquigas set about reeling them in and it was down to 9 seconds with just 1 lap to go. The Sky train was now in full effect with Wiggins and Boasson Haagen all set to keep the pace high and catapult Cav to the stage win. We were trying to decipher the French commentary and it took a good few seconds to realise that Cav had gone and won his 4th straight win on the Champs Elysees and led out by the yellow jersey himself.
I said goodbye to Claire and Luke and headed down the Champs Elysees to try and catch the presentation ceremony. We managed to get down there just as the national anthem was sung and could see the back of Wiggo and the big screen.
Once the mosh was over we headed to Gare du Nord on the metro and had a meal at Buffalo Grill outside the station, being subjected to the worst service known to man. Afterwards we grabbed the bags and headed up to Eurostar departures to await boarding and the train home.
I can say I was there when British Cycling history was made.
London to Paris Day 4: Compiegne to Paris
Saturday 21st July
Today was going to be a stop start affair, to make sure that everyone rode up the Champs Elysees together. The previous night, Mark, Rob, Mike and myself were asked whether we wanted to wait back at the hotel when everyone set off. We would have to be up for breakfast at the same time and would be without our bags, so we decided to set off at the normal time. So up we got at 6:30am for breakfast and a 7:30am depart. Spirits were high amongst the group with just a short hop of 65 miles to Paris ahead. Some members of the group decided to join us at the front and experience the joy of speed on a road bike. We rolled out from the hotel and soon found ourselves on quiet track roads in the Compiegne forest. Rich and I decided to chain gang the flat long forest roads and moved along at a fair old lick as we took turns on the front. A sharp climb out of the Forest and some sweeping descents and we soon arrived at the first water stop, just 16 miles in.
Hannah and Alan had set up at the foot of the Abbey at Crepy-en-Valoise. Spirits had remained high and fellow riders who had joined us were loving the speed at which we were travelling, particularly as Mike, after taking some photos had headed a fast train to the water stop.
Energy gels and bananas consumed and bidons topped up we set about on the 22 miles to the lunch stop at Survillier. We rode past some stunning scenery including a field of giant sunflowers and up a few rolling hills. Rich and I found ourselves up front again and were on the hunt for a Tabac when we came across a Patisserie. Unclipping I went in and spied some eclairs, picking a coffee one and a can of coke. For just 2 euros the eclair was an absolute treat. Other members of the group started to roll up and we directed them towards the cake goodness. The patisserie did a cracking trade. Now quite a large group we remounted and headed south to Survillier and lunch.
Rosemary and Harvey had set up lunch in a nice shaded spot close to a local sports pavilion. Lunch was yet again a treat. After devouring some French cheese and baguette, Rosemary dished up a divine spaghetti carbonara, perfect cycle touring food. On the way to Survillier Mike and Mark had called in at a Carrefour supermarche to try and find something to create some Bradley's for us to sport. What they found was some iron on clothes patch up material. Cut to shape and with gaffer tape attached we now had ready made stick on sideburns in honour of Wiggo.
It was just a short 12 mile ride to Sarcelles and our final water stop. Ray attached to Rich and my wheels and we sped towards the outskirts of Paris. We lost Mike and Mark to the call of a McFlurry and we beat Hannah and Alan to the waterstop, luckily spotting the signs. We must have been waiting here for a good hour til everyone arrived. Martin gave us a final briefing and then as a group of 9 (safety in numbers), we headed towards Paris and the Louvre.This section really was a stop start affair. Every few 100 metres were were held up by traffic lights that just didn't allow us to flow. At one set of lights, Mike and Mark went either side of a moped in a mock up drag race. The look on the moped rider's face was a picture when Mike pulled up at the side of him at the next set of lights. Negotiating the cars, buses and vans we arrived at the arches heralding the entrance to the Louvre and the Tuileries.
The wait at the Louvre wasn't as long as expected and everyone was reunited after just a half an hour wait. Mike, Mark and I negotiated to ride up Rue de Rivoli, past Place de la Concorde and to the bottom of the Champs Elysees rather than a walk across the Tuilerie Gardens like the rest of the group. With the whole group reconvened we slowly moved up the Champs Elysees supported by front and rear vehicles. We negotiated the Arc de Triomphe with relative ease, as cars gave way for us and we turned off towards the Trocadero and the Eiffel Tower
That was it, 311 miles cycled and we had reached our goal, the Trocadero and the Eiffel Tower. Claire and Luke were there to great me and as Luke came to give me a big hug I was close to a tear or two. Champagne corks popped, it was time for the obligitory photos in front of the Eiffel Tower.
After a few sips of champagne and numerous photos taken, we clipped in and headed to the Ibis Tour Eiffel. Claire and Luke had gone ahead and Luke high fived everyone as they cycled past. Ariving at the hotel we were met by Leon and Justin who collected our bikes ready for their transport home. It was now time to get cleaned up, relax and enjoy the celebratory meal with my family and friends new and old.
Total Statistics: 311.3 miles in 19hrs16mins32secs, 12,910ft of elevation, 16.2mph average.
During the celebratory meal, I was awarded 'Rear of the Year' for the following slogan on the seat of my shorts:
Today was going to be a stop start affair, to make sure that everyone rode up the Champs Elysees together. The previous night, Mark, Rob, Mike and myself were asked whether we wanted to wait back at the hotel when everyone set off. We would have to be up for breakfast at the same time and would be without our bags, so we decided to set off at the normal time. So up we got at 6:30am for breakfast and a 7:30am depart. Spirits were high amongst the group with just a short hop of 65 miles to Paris ahead. Some members of the group decided to join us at the front and experience the joy of speed on a road bike. We rolled out from the hotel and soon found ourselves on quiet track roads in the Compiegne forest. Rich and I decided to chain gang the flat long forest roads and moved along at a fair old lick as we took turns on the front. A sharp climb out of the Forest and some sweeping descents and we soon arrived at the first water stop, just 16 miles in.
Hannah and Alan had set up at the foot of the Abbey at Crepy-en-Valoise. Spirits had remained high and fellow riders who had joined us were loving the speed at which we were travelling, particularly as Mike, after taking some photos had headed a fast train to the water stop.
Energy gels and bananas consumed and bidons topped up we set about on the 22 miles to the lunch stop at Survillier. We rode past some stunning scenery including a field of giant sunflowers and up a few rolling hills. Rich and I found ourselves up front again and were on the hunt for a Tabac when we came across a Patisserie. Unclipping I went in and spied some eclairs, picking a coffee one and a can of coke. For just 2 euros the eclair was an absolute treat. Other members of the group started to roll up and we directed them towards the cake goodness. The patisserie did a cracking trade. Now quite a large group we remounted and headed south to Survillier and lunch.
Rosemary and Harvey had set up lunch in a nice shaded spot close to a local sports pavilion. Lunch was yet again a treat. After devouring some French cheese and baguette, Rosemary dished up a divine spaghetti carbonara, perfect cycle touring food. On the way to Survillier Mike and Mark had called in at a Carrefour supermarche to try and find something to create some Bradley's for us to sport. What they found was some iron on clothes patch up material. Cut to shape and with gaffer tape attached we now had ready made stick on sideburns in honour of Wiggo.
It was just a short 12 mile ride to Sarcelles and our final water stop. Ray attached to Rich and my wheels and we sped towards the outskirts of Paris. We lost Mike and Mark to the call of a McFlurry and we beat Hannah and Alan to the waterstop, luckily spotting the signs. We must have been waiting here for a good hour til everyone arrived. Martin gave us a final briefing and then as a group of 9 (safety in numbers), we headed towards Paris and the Louvre.This section really was a stop start affair. Every few 100 metres were were held up by traffic lights that just didn't allow us to flow. At one set of lights, Mike and Mark went either side of a moped in a mock up drag race. The look on the moped rider's face was a picture when Mike pulled up at the side of him at the next set of lights. Negotiating the cars, buses and vans we arrived at the arches heralding the entrance to the Louvre and the Tuileries.
The wait at the Louvre wasn't as long as expected and everyone was reunited after just a half an hour wait. Mike, Mark and I negotiated to ride up Rue de Rivoli, past Place de la Concorde and to the bottom of the Champs Elysees rather than a walk across the Tuilerie Gardens like the rest of the group. With the whole group reconvened we slowly moved up the Champs Elysees supported by front and rear vehicles. We negotiated the Arc de Triomphe with relative ease, as cars gave way for us and we turned off towards the Trocadero and the Eiffel Tower
That was it, 311 miles cycled and we had reached our goal, the Trocadero and the Eiffel Tower. Claire and Luke were there to great me and as Luke came to give me a big hug I was close to a tear or two. Champagne corks popped, it was time for the obligitory photos in front of the Eiffel Tower.
After a few sips of champagne and numerous photos taken, we clipped in and headed to the Ibis Tour Eiffel. Claire and Luke had gone ahead and Luke high fived everyone as they cycled past. Ariving at the hotel we were met by Leon and Justin who collected our bikes ready for their transport home. It was now time to get cleaned up, relax and enjoy the celebratory meal with my family and friends new and old.
Total Statistics: 311.3 miles in 19hrs16mins32secs, 12,910ft of elevation, 16.2mph average.
During the celebratory meal, I was awarded 'Rear of the Year' for the following slogan on the seat of my shorts:
London to Paris Day 3: Arras to Compiegne
Friday 20th July
Breakfast had been put back slightly following the group's vitesse, so we were given a much needed extra half an hour lie in. Arriving down to the breakfast room at 7:30am, it was a sea of lycra. We were sharing the hotel with one of the Action Medical L2P groups and it was a scramble to get a seat at a table. With the now customary pains au chocolat and coffee consumed, it was time to load up the van and get the bikes ready for the off. Justin from Global Adventure Challenges gave the brief this morning outlining some of the memorials we would encounter on our ride through the Somme.
We set off through the back streets of Arras and quickly got the legs turning again. We rollled through various villages and after a short climb out of Miramont, 18 miles in, we came across our first war memorial. Situated between Miramont and Courcelette, it was an Allied Memorial of roughly 3000 soldiers and Canadian and British symbols were present on many stones. The memorial was immaculately kept with the stones gleaming white and the lawn neatly trimmed. A fitting memorial to the Allied troops who died in WWI.
Back on the bike we headed the short trip to the first water stop at Martinpuich. Unfortunately roadworks were being carried out and as a result the van hadn't managed to find a suitable spot so we missed it and rolled on to Contalmaison and the memorial to McCrae's Batallion. This batallion was formed in 1914 and had a strong connection with Hearts FC, evident by some of the poppy rossettes around the memorial built from Scottish stone in 2004.
Having missed the water stop, we decided to find the nearest Tabac. Rolling in to Bray Sur Seine we spotted one on the left hand side and duly unclipped for a shot of espresso. We received a few shouts of Tour de France from the locals and Mike when asking for water was asked whether he was doping!
After a pleasant stop in the glorious sunshine we headed towards the lunch stop at Hallu. We picked up Dave along the way and came across a massive German cemetery at Vermandovillers. It was vast, but unsurprising seeing as over 22,600 German Empire Soldiers were buried here. From the pictures you can see that the cemetery is in stark contrast to the Allied memorials, maybe a bit of embarrassment from the Germans as to the hurt and suffering they caused.
On wards to Hallu and a cracking lunch prepared by Rosemary and Harvey. Another batch of stilton and broccoli soup was served up along with some bread and pate. The icing on the cake though was a cracking chicken tikka masala and rice.
With lunch digested, we cycled on to the final water stop at Plessis-de-Roye. This section we had some fun. Mike and I did a little bit of TTTing and then flew down a sweeping descent at Lassigny. Just as we were rolling towards Plessis-de-Roye a grumpy local rider went past. Initially we let him go, before Mike said, "Pete, go get him." I stuck it in the big ring, got on the drops and stuck the cadence high. I didn't seem to be reeling him in, so backed off slightly. I was however gaining on him so I put on the afterburners and managed to catch his back wheel. To say he was surprised to see me was an understatement. He turned off just before the water stop, where we met Hannah and Alan. Hannah briefed us on our route to the hotel, I wish we'd not listened!
Wanting to get his average speed up, Mike and I rolled out together and quickly set about raising the speed. It was just a short 17 mile hop to Compiegne, but due to miscomunication of signs and directions we got horribly lost on some of the most trecherous roundabouts I've ever witnessed. A quick look on Mike's phone and we found a route to the Mercure. When we arrived, Mark was sat smuggly in reception having arrived first. Bike's put in the storage room, we settled down with a 9 euro pint(!) to watch the last few km's of stage 20. Team Sky were on the front with Wiggo in yellow trying to bridge the gap to a breakaway and set up Cav. Wiggo rolled off, but Boasson Haagen still had plenty to do to catch the lone riders, so out of the pack sprung Cav. He put in a spurt of sprinting that was pure magic to watch, to snatch the stage win. The following day L'Equipe had the below headline:
After a fine meal, it was time for the quiz hosted by Hannah. Thanks to Mike's horticultural knowledge and Mark and Rob's knowledge of arts and history, Team It's Not A Race, only went and won.
Breakfast had been put back slightly following the group's vitesse, so we were given a much needed extra half an hour lie in. Arriving down to the breakfast room at 7:30am, it was a sea of lycra. We were sharing the hotel with one of the Action Medical L2P groups and it was a scramble to get a seat at a table. With the now customary pains au chocolat and coffee consumed, it was time to load up the van and get the bikes ready for the off. Justin from Global Adventure Challenges gave the brief this morning outlining some of the memorials we would encounter on our ride through the Somme.
We set off through the back streets of Arras and quickly got the legs turning again. We rollled through various villages and after a short climb out of Miramont, 18 miles in, we came across our first war memorial. Situated between Miramont and Courcelette, it was an Allied Memorial of roughly 3000 soldiers and Canadian and British symbols were present on many stones. The memorial was immaculately kept with the stones gleaming white and the lawn neatly trimmed. A fitting memorial to the Allied troops who died in WWI.
Back on the bike we headed the short trip to the first water stop at Martinpuich. Unfortunately roadworks were being carried out and as a result the van hadn't managed to find a suitable spot so we missed it and rolled on to Contalmaison and the memorial to McCrae's Batallion. This batallion was formed in 1914 and had a strong connection with Hearts FC, evident by some of the poppy rossettes around the memorial built from Scottish stone in 2004.
Having missed the water stop, we decided to find the nearest Tabac. Rolling in to Bray Sur Seine we spotted one on the left hand side and duly unclipped for a shot of espresso. We received a few shouts of Tour de France from the locals and Mike when asking for water was asked whether he was doping!
After a pleasant stop in the glorious sunshine we headed towards the lunch stop at Hallu. We picked up Dave along the way and came across a massive German cemetery at Vermandovillers. It was vast, but unsurprising seeing as over 22,600 German Empire Soldiers were buried here. From the pictures you can see that the cemetery is in stark contrast to the Allied memorials, maybe a bit of embarrassment from the Germans as to the hurt and suffering they caused.
On wards to Hallu and a cracking lunch prepared by Rosemary and Harvey. Another batch of stilton and broccoli soup was served up along with some bread and pate. The icing on the cake though was a cracking chicken tikka masala and rice.
With lunch digested, we cycled on to the final water stop at Plessis-de-Roye. This section we had some fun. Mike and I did a little bit of TTTing and then flew down a sweeping descent at Lassigny. Just as we were rolling towards Plessis-de-Roye a grumpy local rider went past. Initially we let him go, before Mike said, "Pete, go get him." I stuck it in the big ring, got on the drops and stuck the cadence high. I didn't seem to be reeling him in, so backed off slightly. I was however gaining on him so I put on the afterburners and managed to catch his back wheel. To say he was surprised to see me was an understatement. He turned off just before the water stop, where we met Hannah and Alan. Hannah briefed us on our route to the hotel, I wish we'd not listened!
Wanting to get his average speed up, Mike and I rolled out together and quickly set about raising the speed. It was just a short 17 mile hop to Compiegne, but due to miscomunication of signs and directions we got horribly lost on some of the most trecherous roundabouts I've ever witnessed. A quick look on Mike's phone and we found a route to the Mercure. When we arrived, Mark was sat smuggly in reception having arrived first. Bike's put in the storage room, we settled down with a 9 euro pint(!) to watch the last few km's of stage 20. Team Sky were on the front with Wiggo in yellow trying to bridge the gap to a breakaway and set up Cav. Wiggo rolled off, but Boasson Haagen still had plenty to do to catch the lone riders, so out of the pack sprung Cav. He put in a spurt of sprinting that was pure magic to watch, to snatch the stage win. The following day L'Equipe had the below headline:
After a fine meal, it was time for the quiz hosted by Hannah. Thanks to Mike's horticultural knowledge and Mark and Rob's knowledge of arts and history, Team It's Not A Race, only went and won.
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