From the Amex
to Versailles...
on two wheels!
They (who are they?!) say that things come in threes…well after accidentally using the ladies toilets
on the ferry to Dieppe, I proceeded to drop my bike while unloading it off the van, then I had a
slight accident when failing to notice a ditch at the first checkpoint (after 22 miles) resulting in a
somersault over the handlebars. Finally after 67 miles, my chain came off and snapped several
spokes in half in the process, which meant I had to complete the last 63 miles on a different bike. I
know I’m clumsy but isn’t that four things!? Actually I had forgotten my water bottle as well, luckily
I needn’t have worried as so did quite a few others. But let’s skip over that bit…
Day one saw us meet at the home of
Brighton & Hove Albion at the ridiculous
time of 5.30am on the Friday, followed
by a briefing, checking of bikes and
passports and then a short 10 mile ride
to Newhaven to catch the 9am ferry to
Dieppe. From there we cycled the largely
flat 50 miles to Gournay-en-Bray, enjoyed
a few small drinks and then settled down
for the night, ready to go again in the
morning. If Friday was mainly flat, at least
for the first 35 miles, then Saturday was,
to say the least, very hilly!! I’ll never forget
the forest climb near the end that seemed
to go on forever… However after a high
degree of puffing and panting, a few
bruises, together with various aches and
pains in areas I’d rather not mention…
suffice it to say, all 64 of us taking part
successfully made the 130 mile journey
and finished at the Palace of Versailles…
The weather was perfect, the
companionship was brilliant, the French
countryside was beautiful, the support
from GIANT, Mr Cycles and the host of
volunteers from Albion in the Community
was amazing. It was hard work but a quite
unbelievable few days which will live with
me for a long time to come. And that first
beer at the end went down the hatch all
too easily!? Remember that black and
white film, Ice Cold in Alex?
Over £70,000 has been raised for Albion
in the Community (AITC), the not for
96
profit arm of the Seagulls, so a massive
well done to everyone concerned. And a
special thank you to Lucy and Beccy from
AITC who both helped me through day
one and Pat from Brighton & Hove Buses
who stuck with me through day two.
See below the highlights on You Tube.
tinyurl.com/Lozonabike
tinyurl.com/Lozonabike2
Will I do it again? It was that much fun I
would recommend the trip to anyone...
see you in 2016!!
By Laurence Elphick