In Paris, at last
After cold, rain, mud, a broken chain and loads of pain, we arrived in Paris. Saturday, the last day of the ride, started in Soissons with rain and cold. Right after the first water stop, my chain snapped whilst going uphill. After the chain got repaired, I carried on. By this point my right knee was hurting a lot. On every pedal-stroke I was feeling a stabbing pain right behind the kneecap. I carried on and I reached the lunch-stop. I left from there in a grupetto with 4 more riders and with the support of my fellow cyclists I got to the second water stop. There, we picked up one more rider and we got to the northern suburbs of Paris.
We carried on through urban traffic and eventually we got in the centre of Paris and finished at the foot of the Eiffel Tower. We had a bit of champagne and then we headed for the hotel to have a shower and then dinner.
On the last day we did 82 miles (132 km). In total we did 250 miles (400 km). My knees (especially the right one) still hurt. I don’t have sore muscles any more, but for a couple of days (Sunday and Monday) sitting down, standing up, stairs and long walks were a bit of a problem. Some discomfort in the under-carriage, too.
Would i do it again? Yes; but with more training. The whole year I had done less miles than those 3 days. The bike behaved impeccably and I really enjoyed riding her.
If you have not donated yet, please do it now.
Yours truly, in Paris, at the foot of Eiffel Tower