#107TDF: 107 miles a day during the 107th Tour de France
Road Cycling Collection by ChrisHallRides
20
Tours
144:38 h
2,242 mi
124,975 ft
In 2020, we would have experienced the 107th edition of the Tour De France, a number that not only has a great significance to me personally but also to many families and friends associated with The Pace Centre.
The Pace Centre is a school dedicated to transforming the lives of children up to the age of 18 with motor disorders such as cerebral palsy. Completely self-funded, it's founded on the firm belief that every child has the ability to learn and make progress, whatever physical or sensory challenges they face.
Each of the 107 children that attend the school face their own monumental daily struggle. Every element of their day requires complex planning. Not only by the teachers, who create tailored programmes to fit each of the kids' needs, but also by their families just to get them to and from the school each day.
These kids are the inspiration for the challenges I take on. I certainly faced a few struggles throughout this project. But, then again, we all struggle.
Starting on the 29th August, I rode from London, to Land’s End, to John o' Groats, then the long way back to London, cutting through Lowestoft, the most Eastern point of the UK, covering a minimum of 107 miles each day during the course of the 2020 rescheduled Tour De France. The amount of climbing, the distance and the weather conditions really took its toll on me more than anything. It was the hardest thing I have ever done, no competition.
There were some rest days, as tackling this challenge was no easy feat and from experience the body needs a few opportunities to recover, and I was carrying all I needed on me for the challenge.
To donate to Pace visit here: justgiving.com/fundraising/107tdf
On The Map
Tours & Highlights
- 06:41107 mi16.1 mph3,975 ft3,925 ft
I started off by leaving my flat in London and heading west towards Salisbury. The weather was warm but fresh. A nice cheeky bit of gravel was chucked in close to the end passing the landmark of Stonehenge.
- 07:35111 mi14.7 mph8,150 ft7,650 ft
Things started to get lumpy on the second day but the weather was incredible. Still with some fresh legs but I was definitely feeling it towards the end. We managed a great cafe stop at The Yellow Deli, would definitely recommend it!
Sign Up To Discover Places Like This
Get recommendations on the best single tracks, peaks, & plenty of other exciting outdoor places.
- 07:27107 mi14.4 mph7,500 ft8,125 ft
The third day stretched from Sticklepath on Dartmoor, close to Okehampton to Penzance near the tip of Cornwall. The B&B I was staying in had a fantastic doggo which you can see in the pics. The route was another lumpy one, it's crazy how undulating the South West is!
- 08:12110 mi13.5 mph9,000 ft8,750 ft
I started out riding from Penzance to Land's End which, was a bit of a let down... They've removed the sign and you have to pay £12 to have a photo taken with the official sign!
This was the first day starting to ride back on myself and head north to John O'Groats, riding back east towards Tavistock on the edge of Dartmoor.
- 07:09111 mi15.6 mph8,000 ft8,050 ft
Crossing over Dartmoor National Park with my friend Liam, we were incredibly lucky to have such a beautiful and clear morning. Unfortunately the heavens started to open as I got closer to Bristol heading up the popular Cheddar Gorge.
- 07:11111 mi15.5 mph6,775 ft6,400 ft
Really privileged to have had so much company on this sixth day heading from Bristol to Birmingham. I managed to cut slightly into Wales via the Severn Bridge as well ticking off another country!
- 07:46113 mi14.6 mph8,275 ft8,475 ft
From Birmingham to close to Blackburn, the route cut slightly into the Peak District, where it rained, in Leek of all places!
I always am blown away by how beautiful the Peak is. One of my favourite places to cycle.
- 07:33109 mi14.5 mph8,375 ft8,625 ft
The Lake District, as brutal as it is, is also simply stunning. Ive always loved cycling through here and taking on some of the tough climbs here was always a definite thing I needed to do.
The day finished close to the border of Scotland in Carlisle.
- 05:33109 mi19.6 mph4,125 ft3,900 ft
This day was crazy fast! A tailwind all day and an awesome bunch of Scottish gents met me as we headed further North. We stopped at a local cafe, The Apple Pie Shop which does, unsurprisingly, incredible apple pies!
- 06:59112 mi16.0 mph4,425 ft4,050 ft
The cycle lane which runs through the Cairngorms parallel to the A9 is like a kids playground. Bits of gravel and some newly resurfaced sections.
Unfortunately I had a bit of a brutal headwind all day which was incredibly sapping chugging up the main climb. Of course it rained too!
- 06:13107 mi17.3 mph4,925 ft5,500 ft
The bed and breakfast I stayed in was amazing, such a lovely and welcoming couple (see the note on the door).
A lot of people warned me about this stretch that the roads were dangerous but I have to be honest I didn't think it was all that bad. Lorries gave me plenty of room and cars were patient. Maybe I'm used to London?!
- 07:34115 mi15.2 mph6,100 ft6,275 ft
This was probably one of the hardest days I have ever had on the bike.
I had a 40 mph tailwind to get to John O'Groats which sounds great, until you realise it was in a torrential thunderstorm.
Once I arrived to John O'Groats I was keen to get on the road again because that tailwind became one of the strongest…
- 07:03111 mi15.7 mph5,150 ft4,475 ft
So weird to be properly starting to ride back towards home and heading south!
I was honestly knackered after the previous day... Dealing with that headwind again. I can see why no one cycles back from John O'Groats!
- 07:45117 mi15.2 mph4,575 ft5,325 ft
Gravel galore heading back into Edinburgh on Day 14. Wet and wild, I knew after this stage I had a rest day which was definitely needed.
Not much to report on this one as it was mainly a case of cycling back on some of the same roads I'd headed north on.
- 07:43124 mi16.1 mph8,200 ft7,600 ft
Quite literally one of the best routes I planned for the challenge, with stunning roads, company and weather. Very lucky to have been able to ride with friends on this day!
- 07:59120 mi15.0 mph9,350 ft9,850 ft
One heck of a challenging day this was!
The three major climbs had sections of well over 20% which with a loaded bike and so many days into the challenge really took their toll on me mentally and physically.
- 07:55108 mi13.7 mph8,650 ft8,825 ft
Lots of company and fantastic weather. It was great to see George and Jess again, it's been way too long.
Here the goal was to tick off some of the Peak District's iconic climbs. It's a stunning part of the world.
Towards the end of the day, I was cooked. The tyres were running low on air and the bike was battered...
- 06:49109 mi16.0 mph4,025 ft4,125 ft
Finally starting to get to the flat lands and hitting my last 'Monument' in the challenge, the most eastern point.
I had to make a stop in a bike shop called MegaBike where I purchased a new rear tyre as my current one had a huge rip in it!
- 07:01117 mi16.6 mph1,950 ft1,925 ft
HEADWINDS ALL DAY! It may have been flat but the winds were brutal. My mate Nibs had a bit of a sense of humour failure in the winds. It was incredibly flat and to be honest I was incredibly thankful for the improvement in the weather.
- 06:30112 mi17.3 mph3,475 ft3,425 ft
THE LAST DAY! The goal here was literally to go as straight as I could back home. The route may not have been the best but is there ever really a nice way to cycle into London? Lots of incredible company. Completely broken and blown away by all the support. x
Like this Collection?
Collection Stats
- Tours20
- Distance2,242 mi
- Duration144:38 h
- Elevation124,975 ft
You Might Also Like
Road Cycling Collection by Jaimi
Road Cycling Collection by Café du Cycliste
Hiking Collection by Alpenwelt Karwendel
Hiking Collection by Marika Abbà