Thanks for visiting Simone's fundraising page. Simone has now completed her incredible cycle challenge from London to Paris! Read about her amazing journey here:
Day 1: Crystal Palace to Dover- Calais to hotel. An arduous initial mile to Seal with lots of undulations (hills). Managed to get lost an do an extra 10miles/ fall of my bike cos my cleats snapped/ have A vertical seat for half way (ouch!) / get a flat tyre. legs start to cramp around the 45 mark but after brief water filling and seat tightening managed to be on way. At that point i did wonder why i was doing this? The thought of Marcus and neuroblastoma research far outweighs any inconvenience. Some extraordinarily beautiful scenery and breathtaking country side was an added bonus. In all we did over 100miles today. I have padded shorts but still saddle sore galore!! But amazing experience so far 75miles planned for tommorow. Bring on day 2!
Day 2: Calais to Abeville. Ok so I start by telling you my cleat on my left shoe snapped yesterday. So I cycle most of the way with out being able to clip in my left foot. Well I couldn't unscrew the cleat from the shoe and nor could the
Maintenance team the screw snapped in the shoe :( they told me I would have to wait until get to Abbeville to get to a bike shop to drill it off. Despite balancing on pedal one foot clipped in I completed the 75 miles today!!!! As expected lots of Hills in morning whooo! Not easy when you can only click one foot. Absolutely Gorgeous views of the French countryside, nice weather to go with it, and great company most of the way. My peak speed 30miles per hour my slowest 5.6. Found a nice French country pub 45miles stopped for a Jack D and coke before carrying on. Route not as bad as yesterday but blisters accumulating. I have blisters in places it would be un ladylike to mention but it hurts to pee!! But 75miles done and only 64 (apparently) tommorow. My best friend SUDACREM my enemy HILLS!!!!!
Day 3: Abbeville to Beauvais. Well this morning I was absolutely dreading getting back on the saddle. But once on it soon warmed up. My shorts yesterday were padded but they were the cheap ones and my gosh you can tell the difference. It is definitely worth paying for quality wore my Gore ones today and they were so much more generous softer on my lady regions. As per usual some challenging Hills in morning or (Hillocks) as the organisers like to refer to them. This somehow is supposed to sound less scary well the word Hillocks freaks me out. The hills were challenging but with my cleats all in good order and being able to work two legs evenly felt like half the work of yesterday and the day before. I still HATE Hills though!!! After 23 miles at which point I was first girl to water stop the rest of the way almost seemed a breeze. I thoroughly enjoyed it and what an amazing experience it has been. I reached hotel by 3:30pm was first girl in and 5th person. The downside I then had to wait till 7:30pm for dinner. There is a McDonalds right next to hotel which was very tempting but I thought better of it. I went for a power nap instead all I can dream of are these orange arrows we have been following since we set off from Crystal Palace they will probably haunt me for rest of my life lol! Any ways time to clock out will arrive final destination Paris tommorow only 62miles to go. We arrive on Bastille day so should be interesting. Paris baby here I come!!!!!!Day 4: Beauvais to Paris!!!!! Got up this morning couldn't wait to get on saddle full of beans and raring to go. Finally figured out how to reset mileage on my cadence thingy..... You press the reset button! Doh! I know!
There was a big hill in morning but my legs are adapted and with my brand new cleats was able to power through. Once in the city took leisurely ride well earned coffee shop break. Had my fav cappuccino :) After lunch a leisurely ride to Eiffel tower following the beautiful scenery and the river. Being back in a city with flat roads, traffic, cars and traffic lights almost felt like home. Then the moment we arrived at the Eiffel Tower absolutely breathtaking. I feel so full of adrenaline despite massive bruise on right bum cheek, bruising on my left calf and on my inside thighs. I feel like I would do it all again tomorrow. The Best thing about it... I've done it for Marcus!
We've joined together to raise money for much needed medical research, helping us to find a cure for neuroblastoma. A cruel and aggressive childhood cancer.
You'll see our team fundraising target on the right. Your donation can really help us smash this goal
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