Cycling with a purpose

Since my fall on monday at Gisburn Forest, plus the fact that my Raleigh is without a rear wheel (dead rim), I am a bit reluctant to go straight out on the bike as it is a bit of a nervous affair to cycle with a fresh injury.  With the leg still hurting a bit, but more like stinging, I had no plans to go offroading for a while until the wound has healed enough to put protection back on!

Since I had booked Monday and Tuesday off from work, and Monday was used around Gisburn, I "conned" Mrs B to go to Chiquitos, with one condition.  We cycle there!  Since we live inbetween two restaurants, one is distinctly easier to get to than the other due to having quieter and more urban roads.  The Middlebrook one is a major A road away but the Preston docks one is smaller A roads and streets so easier to navigate and easier for Mrs B as she hasn't been on a bike in a while.

The route there is fairly flat until the last half mile where it drops to the docks, which meant the route back with a stomach full of food would include a short sharp climb towards Lostock.

The route there is here.  and the Return leg is here.

You will notice the outbound route is longer as we stopped at Morrisons to get changed, but couldn't be naffed on the way home so we got changed at Chiquitos! (hope they didn't mind as we plan to go back again soon!)

I luckily wore bib tights so it not only protected my injury from the elements it also kept it warm.  BIB Tights FTW! :)

Cycle Challenge Itinerary

I am using the itinerary as quoted from the Discover Adventure website here (its a PDF by the way) but to summarise what I'm letting myself in for:

Tuesday 19th June
Set off down south from home/work by train to London staying somewhere (I don't know where yet) near Greenwich (starting point).

Wednesday 20th June (early) Greenwich - Dover - Calais
Set off towards Dover, leaving early to avoid the traffic, not because of congestion but to avoid being knocked down I guess :). Heading towards Canterbury then through the North Downs onto Dover, for an evening ferry to Calais, where we will be staying the evening.

Thursday, 21st June - Calais - Abbeville
Head out south west towards the town of Abbeville, going through the market town of Guines, passing Desvres, heading towards the Canche River, then onto Hesdin, which is near the historic site of the Battle of Agincourt, heading down towards the river Somme, then onto Abbeville.

Friday, 22nd June - Abbeville - Beavais
Heading out of Abbeville, towards the town of Amiens, then onto Beavais through farming hamlets and most of the riding is on flat roads.

Saturday, 23rd June - Beauvais - Paris (Eiffel Tower)
Heading south again towards Paris, the route takes us towars the town of Meru, and then onto the suburbs of Paris, notably St Denis. After going through the suburbs we hit the river Seine and follow the northern esplanade, in the shadow of the Bois du Bologne until we reach Pont d'Iena and then onto the Eiffel Tower and the finish.