In the last three years, my small crew of five reasonably fit enthusiastic cyclists, have ticked off trips from Paris back to London. From Kent to Amsterdam and more recently from Kent to Bruges then back to Dunkirk, via Ypres and various landmarks dedicated to the fallen of World War 1. I have learnt quite a bit from these trips so let me offer some helpful advice.
The Bike
Don't skimp on tyres, get as puncture proof as you can, it is so worth it.
Have the bike serviced before you go and ensure you have a few training rides with panniers on so no surprises on the road. Make sure your clothes are in something waterproof and remember you are carrying them so think carefully before including anything.
Take a good lock and also one of those all-purpose tool sets, plus spare inner tubes, tyre levers etc.
Planning
Plan your route, use a GPS if possible and learn to trust it but take a back-up map and keep a note of the village/town sequence on route. From our most recent road trip, we learnt late to make a note of where bike shops were and what times they open. Many towns and villages in France and Belgium close for lunch. Big shout out here to Arnaud of Dessy Cycles, Wormhout France, who fixed a buckled wheel in 15 mins and kept my trip alive.
Nutrition
To avoid hitting the "wall" the idea is to drink before you get thirsty and eat before you are hungry, to keep your energy levels up. Try out energy bars and gels to see what you are comfortable with and take a good supply with you, they do work
Where to go?
The standard landmark ride that introduces many riders to long distance cycling is the Paris ride, usually on a charity basis. Can be from Dover to Calais but I would avoid that French port like the plague and go to Dieppe from Newhaven. Just outside Dieppe is a converted railway line cycle path, called the Green Avenue (Avenue Verte), that will give you a good 40+ kilometres start of smooth path pointing towards Paris. Then back home on the Eurostar to Central London. We did it the other way around. Dieppe incidentally is a great place to overnight.
The riding in France, Belgium and Holland is superb and flat in the coastal regions. If you wanted a short introduction to international cycling try this. Take the car to Dover and park in a ferry car park and get the boat to Dunkirk. The ferry is actually ten miles from Dunkirk but go instead to Gravelines about six miles away and ride out from there on empty cycling paths. The town is beautiful and moated with beaches close by. Try out your navigational skills and maybe next time go a little further, Bruges is about 55 miles away with Ypres and the Menin Gate 30ish.
The sense of adventure and freedom is not something you get behind the wheel of a car and the country is gorgeous.
Have fun and be seen.
