Is it safe for me to cycle solo London to Paris?

[BigonaBianchi]

go for it...no more dangerous than riding in the uk..in fact less so I would suggest. The thing to do is to know your route getting out of dieppe when you arrive..right clothing...phone...etc and all will be well.

 

[BigonaBianchi]

again the caveat is that I am an ugly bloke

..hmm..well I'm a stunningly hot bloke and I've never had any trouble either

 

[snorri]

'tis true, how could Captain Cook and his crew have survived their great voyage into the unknown if the brave Captain hadn't demanded that a charger for his mobile be fitted on Discovery before he left old Blighty?

Sorry, i couldn't resist.

 

[jefmcg]

'tis true, how could Captain Cook and his crew have survived their great voyage into the unknown if the brave Captain hadn't demanded that a charger for his mobile be fitted on Discovery before he left old Blighty?

Sorry, i couldn't resist.

Not necessarily the best example

 

[yello]

Ask him if he would be as concerned if he was doing the journey himself?

I can understand people being protective but not if they're equally suggesting that you're not capable! You're a grown adult (I think!) with a tongue in your head. You are no more or less likely to encounter problems on the journey than if you rode the same distance in the UK. Unless you a re a snail, you're not likely to be eaten here!

 

[trio25]

Sounds like a nice plan there. I like the idea of setting out at 2am....not something I have done yet but might make plans.

 

[StuartG]

."I think cycling out of Dieppe at 2am [I told him that time] is too dangerous.

Nope - unless you suffer from loneliness. I've done the overnight ferry. You can get a good free 4 hours kip on that. A wash and brush-up in the Dieppe Terminal (go in the entrance before you go through the main gates - you won't get in from the other side). Hide there if the weather is bad or hit the road. Choose Avenue Verte or the quiet road that runs parallel to it. At night I would choose the latter as it will be very quiet if only to avoid having to ride round the barriers at every junction.

Dream of finding a great cafe or bread shop for breakfast. The only down to the whole ride is the final approach to Paris which is pretty dire but by then you will be so exhilarated that you won't care. Once in the centre of Paris you will be impressed by the cyclepath/lanes. Not perfect but much better than London.

Oh and Newhaven is even direr. Finding a decent pub is hard. Coming back: in the day and evening Dieppe is a fun place.

 

[Ian H]

Here's a link that might inspire you: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dervla_Murphy

 

[steveindenmark]

Buy him a book by Rosie Swale Pope called "Just a little run around the world" and make him read it and then ask him the same questions again and he will let you follow your plan and not his.

After he has read it you have to read it. It is very good.

I can`t remember if this is a boyfriend or husband. If it is a boyfriend, I would keep it like that if I were you.

Steve

 

[ufkacbln]

I have a great belief in my own Radar

I think most experienced lone cyclists will know what I mean. There is a sixth sense that something isn't quite right. YOu can't put your finger on it, but change your route, speed, don't stop there for lunch, or wait for company. This is an important defence mechanism that keeps you out of trouble

However explaining that to someone with different perceptions, values and ideas is difficult and nigh on impossible. There is also the other issue where people feel the need to care for others and recognising that they may not need that care is dificult.

Now to be entirely hypocritical......

I have carefully thought this through and would probably take the same decision if it was my wife!

There is no way that she is experienced as me or able to deal with adverse incidents, and that is all to do with my ego and not her capabilities.......... so there!

Is there a compromise?

Can he escort you for the first bit and then travel by train to make the arrangements in Paris?

 

[lpretro1]

Just go and do it girl! If I'd listened to blokes advice I'd never have gone half the wonderful places in the world I have now been . Sometimes our men folk are a little over-protective - this can just be a man thing or it can mean they are a little bit jealous that you are going and wish they could do it themselves - they will then put silly obstacles in your way. Just remember that we ladies we travelling the world solo way bfore mobile phones ever came about. Assert your independence, be confident and go. I travelled across Europe when I was only 19. If yoiu plan it all out it will be fine. People of today are way overconcerned about safety - ok you obviously need to consider some things sensibly but If in doubt read some of Josie Dews books!!!

 

[Terry Kay]

Well all I can add is I think it's a great idea! Sounds like an ideal mix of pleasure and romance.. Might have to suggest something similar

Though I have had experience of driving abroad and the roads over there are a lot more relaxed.. Lots more space and less cars..
At least until you get to Paris.. Though we managed to drive through, find a parking spot and get out with less hassle than visiting Nottingham..

 

[jefmcg]

Thanks everyone,

His issue was not that I was likely to get into trouble because it was France or because I was a women, it's just that if something did go wrong, it would be much more complicated because I'm in France.

And to be clear, he never for a minute suggested I shouldn't go: his offer to go with me was genuine, even though he wasn't keen.

I think he and I have come to a good compromise. I'll cycle Dieppe while he catches the train. We'll meet in Lewes or Newhaven and catch the ferry together. We have both wanted to revisit a lovely Chateau we stayed in in 2008, and it's about 10km outside Dieppe, so that's perfect. The next day we'll do a relaxed 30-40km in the morning, lovely lunch then the same in the afternoon. We'll spend the night somewhere with a reliable train service to Paris. In the morning, I'll drop him at the station and cycle to Paris, and we'll meet there. Eurostar back on day 4. It ticks most of the boxes: I get to cycle to Paris. He gets the sort of weekend he enjoys, without straining too much.

Oh, and I am still planning to do the Paris in 24 hours, but now I'll wait until autumn, and I should have a road bike by then. He'll be more relaxed as I've done the route before, and I won't ask him to wait and worry in Paris. I'll call him when I get there, and pretty well turn around and catch a train the same evening.

 

[Spinney]

I had a proper chat with him about it. It comes down to this "What do I do if I'm in Paris, and you don't arrive?" We discussed this. I suggested he could call me. "What if your battery is flat, or your phone is broken?" Good point, I am the-drainer-of-batteries and the-destroyer-of-small-electronics.

This may now only be applicable to your solo foray in the autumn, but...
You phone/text him at set times. If you have broken or lost your phone, get out the phrase you wrote down beforehand and ask some friendly cafe owner or similar to let you use their phone. If you don't know his number (who does, these days), write it on your arm in indelible ink!