5 IN 3 AND REST@ OKTOBERFEST!

Racking up the end of season mileage, this annual pilgrimage to Northern Europe for a worthy charity, O2E (who do magnificent work for a clutch of smaller kids charities who provide sporting facilities including getting them on two wheels) is a fantastic ride and a great time too. One to consider for anyone who might be tempted in 2012. Here's a report on how the three days unfolded.

Day 1

Early start at Dover on 21st in the UK (1) to catch the 09.40 crossing (two mile lung buster to the ferry!)

113 of us descend the TT ramp in Calais, France (2) all in official tour shirts, to start a flat and tailwind assisted 60 mile social to Ypres, Belgium (3): multi tea and patisserie stops mandated with wine and cheese in Veurne; civilised!

Dinner in the famous square but only after the moving nightly Last Post ceremony at the Menin gate.

Day 2.

Early night and early off to Leuwen, quite a carrot despite the 103 miles, with it being the home of Stella and Leffe (Geoffy’s home town !!)  Everyone finding their own paced group, Warren from Redhill, my colleague from Harrogate, Tim and a feisty Yorks lass called Nova who runs the events at the Shakespeare Globe, teamed up to enjoy another social pace of 15mph with a stunning lunch just before Brussels. When we rolled into Leuwen at 5.30 , disaster, no bar in the hotel! But this is university town and it was Freshers week, 5000 students imbibing, mainly female. This cycling’s not all bad!

Day 3

This was the last day of cycling but the potential banana skin for many of the infrequent riders, 123 miles to Cologne!  Breakfast at 6, and many away soon after, we pushed off at 8 in twilight. We decided to break at half way, 60 odd miles, today being much hillier after the loop into Holland.  The smooth roads and cycle paths continued and the unerring willingness of drivers to let a huge peleton through junctions too! Scenery also changed with forests springing up and then the huge snake of the Rhine at Maastricht in Holland (4) Photo with shirts to prove it!  The sun was now beating down and we stumbled on a great Brasserie with tables facing the warmth and a menu laden with pasta! Lunch over, Warren and I asked to be let off the leash to chase down a few and get to Koln double quick. Hills loomed though, but we managed to smooth them out and caught the lead group of 5 some 40 miles out at the schoolboy sniggering town of TITZ!! After 15 miles of steady riding we had a planned cheese and wine stop (again!) as we ‘bombed’ into  Germany (5).

Leaving the stop, it was TT style for 7 of us sweeping down cycle paths at 30 +, and into the environs of Cologne, where it was rush hour by now!  Using the roads to avoid massacres on the paths, we found our hotel using the excellent Garmin, and rolled in first to the bar, where beers were waiting, 288 miles all told! But all the toil worth it, for the money we  raised.

Late night time, and then Cologne’s Oktoberfest, what a hoot! And then rest…eventually!

5 countries 3 days 1 fantastic time

Same time next year different destination, please join us!!

Steve Taylor