2012 /// The cycling plan

Right, we've been hard at work planning for 2012 and here are the challenges ahead in

chronological order:

Some Surrey and Richmond Park training at the beginning of the year to get the legs

warmed up. Towards Feb/March, we should be planning a weekend in the Cotswolds

 where the first real tests of the season will be upon us - short but steep climbs surrounded

 by beautiful countryside.

Then we get to April, where the season really starts to kick in. We'll be heading to 

Geneva where Ben, Dan and I will be hitting some day trips that tap into the tour

of the Léman lake, some along mountain passes including the Col de la Faucille, the

road to the mountain station Flaine and possibly Loèche-les-Bains. We're still working

on the routes and itinerary, but we’ll let you know as soon as they’re ready.

The weekend after this will be the Amstel Gold race (www.amstelgoldrace.nl) in Holland, 

where 15 of us will get on a 150km race for the day followed by a little party time!

Come May, I'll be heading south to Bordeaux for a family weekend. Bordeaux is so

close to the Pyrenees, it would be rude not to attempt the big boys while I’m there,

including the classic Tourmalet among others. We're working on the programme

at the moment.

At the end of June (30th), we’d like to get onto the Dunwich Dynamo again

(http://southwarkcyclists.org.uk/node/61). It’s such a different and unreal experience 

riding 120 miles through the night with about 500 other riders, arriving in the early 

morning hours at a beach in Norfolk. Anyone is welcome to join for this one - departure

is at 8pm from a pub in the park. Anyone fancy doing it with a single speed? I think I might.

The big trip this year will be FRANCE. Although we will have done a couple of small trips

in and out, we wish to start a trip from London to Paris to warm up, followed by a train 

journey into the centre of France. Maybe while we’re there, we'll travel to the south and

possibly attempt Mont Ventoux. Or we might head to Bourg d'Oisans where the Alpes d'Huez

and Galibier will hopefully welcome us back with open roads and harsh climbs. Either way,

 it'll be sweat and glory all the way. This should be between the 6th and 17th of July, 

which is coincidentally, when the Tour de France will hit central France, so maybe 

we’ll see the riders fly by.

In the mean time, there‘s always trips to the Surrey hills and a couple of extras here and there.

Also keep your eyes on the trip that Thom and Guigui are going to be doing - Paris to 

St Petersburg by bike. We don't have the itinerary yet but will let you know as soon as
we get it. These guys will be travelling for a long time and their stories are bound to be

worth telling.

Also in the pipeline is the story of Rob Ward, who 20 years ago rode all the way from London
to Pakistan with his wife. We'll try and have an article about his adventure as well as a

couple of pics of his epic journey.

Voilà, that's all for now folks, but if you'd like more detailed information, please get in touch. 

We'll be posting all our routes.