Perhaps we should admit that we were a little under prepared for this trip…and after hiking up the Eiffel Tower on our first day of sightseeing, there was a unanimous decision…to go back to bed for not a little power nap but a big sleep before continuing our venture in ‘Gay Paris! Note: Just because we cycled from Land’s End to John O’Groats last year does not mean we are fit enough tojump on our bikes and cycle to Paris 8 months later!
On the last day we took the bikes out round Paris for a little 18 miler – but although Paris appears to be geared up with cycle lanes, hire bikes etc, it wasn’t that great with lots of weaving in and out of pedestrians in our cycle lane, and cobbles along the Seine which were not good for road tyres. Lovely day though and we even had a beer by the Seine, since it was rubbish for cycling along.
The trip back was by Eurostar and the bikes were pre-booked as parcels (for £20) so we didn’t have to dismantle them or put them in a bag (yes we did this on a previous trip). It was a very simple procedure, we all left our very expensive and in some cases very new bikes with a random french man in a back yard, who kindly hung them on a clothes rail and we all waved goodbye as they bashed together in the wind. …Rather surprised to see them intact (apart from one rear light) with us on the same train when we arrived back in London 2.5 hours later.
So despite a very difficult start, we made it to Paris in 5 days, had a few lovely days sightseeing (although most attractions seemed to be up at least 100 steps – like we needed more exercise) and back home in just 5 hours! Highly recommended.
I’m loving the way this post makes a 5 day ride to Paris sound like an ‘everyday’ event.
Riding to Paris is one of my must ride routes.