Why the Two Towers?

[James691]

Visualisation -

Easy to mentally visualise for anyone explaining the run to anyone else with two internationally recognised land marks.

Both have parking areas and you are left in no doubt you have arrived, there should be a sodding big tower in front of you and your bike. Nice photo oppertunity also.

Challenge -

The ride would be done WITHOUT motorways

That's 16hours 30+ mins with constant movment. To put that in to perspective I plotted an SS1000 route around the UK and that comes out with the same riding time of constant riding! Anyone thinking that a Towers ride will be easy will be in for a shock. But with the removal of the motorways it means the speed is slower. But it does mean that you can do this on a 125 L plate.

Selling it for charity -

MAWF is children and people will give to charity for sitting in a bath of beans if it means helping kids. So raising money from non bikers is not an issue. You have the USP of no motorways to capture the media attention if you want that run. MAWF has an office in Paris and oppertunity to have a send off from Blackpool and an arrival shot at Paris is there. That would have to be sorted by MAWF and the XRV team.

The route -

Blackpool Tower to Eiffel Tower - Google Maps

I have done many an endurance event and this one appeals to me so much that I will be doing this run anyway. If XRV picks another route then I will do whatever they come up with.

Logistics -

The ferry is gone and the channel tunnel is used in this route. This gives far superior felxiblity over the ferry. If you miss the train time you get another one in no more than an hour.

I think about 17 riders missed the early ferry on the TLD2010 and could have been left sitting on the dock of the bay! It's far less hastle and pressure to do it by train.

Accomodation -

As with this year you have the options of the YHA as they places both in Blackpool and in Paris. If you cannot get a B and B in Blackpool there is something seriously wrong!

Summary -

• You have a challenging ride of over 16 hours

• Doable in one day - The Longest Day

• You have a selling point of no motorways

• You have a selling point of two international land marks

• You do not have the cost and issue of the ferry. With tshirt decal and discounted ferry I was £156 down before I even put the keys in the ignition.

• Chunnel - £25 return on ave - you want to stay a few extra days in the City of light? Just a call changes your booking. I have done this myself a few times for Europe runs. Once cost me nothing to change the day and others cost £5!

• L plates and scooters and 125cc could come along.

• The Charity MAWF can get directly involved in the launch and arrival.

• The logistical nightmare of booking people on ferries is gone and changing boarding times is also gone

• Photo oppertunities galore and time for the riders to mingle at the start and the end of the ride.

The option is yours

James691

[winxp-master]

I have to admit i like the sounds of this ride...

I like the fact that with the train there is no pressure for a dealine so you don't miss the boat, pardon the pun.

It's non-motorway but if there is a problem (puncture,chain) whatever, you can always hop onto a motorway to make time up if you really have to, and again, no ferry to miss.

I think this idea has legs and can be discussed over the coming months (as can other ideas ofcourse)... thoughts and comments people?

[ian porter]

a very well made argument I think,

I was initially put off by the thought of crossing the channel but if that's all the tunnel costs then it's not bad.

and that route goes within 5 miles of my house

[alpslapper]

Visualisation -

Easy to mentally visualise for anyone explaining the run to anyone else with two internationally recognised land marks.

Both have parking areas and you are left in no doubt you have arrived, there should be a sodding big tower in front of you and your bike. Nice photo oppertunity also.

Challenge -

The ride would be done WITHOUT motorways

That's 16hours 30+ mins with constant movment. To put that in to perspective I plotted an SS1000 route around the UK and that comes out with the same riding time of constant riding! Anyone thinking that a Towers ride will be easy will be in for a shock. But with the removal of the motorways it means the speed is slower. But it does mean that you can do this on a 125 L plate.

Selling it for charity -

MAWF is children and people will give to charity for sitting in a bath of beans if it means helping kids. So raising money from non bikers is not an issue. You have the USP of no motorways to capture the media attention if you want that run. MAWF has an office in Paris and oppertunity to have a send off from Blackpool and an arrival shot at Paris is there. That would have to be sorted by MAWF and the XRV team.

The route -

Blackpool Tower to Eiffel Tower - Google Maps

I have done many an endurance event and this one appeals to me so much that I will be doing this run anyway. If XRV picks another route then I will do whatever they come up with.

Logistics -

The ferry is gone and the channel tunnel is used in this route. This gives far superior felxiblity over the ferry. If you miss the train time you get another one in no more than an hour.

I think about 17 riders missed the early ferry on the TLD2010 and could have been left sitting on the dock of the bay! It's far less hastle and pressure to do it by train.

Accomodation -

As with this year you have the options of the YHA as they places both in Blackpool and in Paris. If you cannot get a B and B in Blackpool there is something seriously wrong!

Summary -

• You have a challenging ride of over 16 hours

• Doable in one day - The Longest Day

• You have a selling point of no motorways

• You have a selling point of two international land marks

• You do not have the cost and issue of the ferry. With tshirt decal and discounted ferry I was £156 down before I even put the keys in the ignition.

• Chunnel - £25 return on ave - you want to stay a few extra days in the City of light? Just a call changes your booking. I have done this myself a few times for Europe runs. Once cost me nothing to change the day and others cost £5!

• L plates and scooters and 125cc could come along.

• The Charity MAWF can get directly involved in the launch and arrival.

• The logistical nightmare of booking people on ferries is gone and changing boarding times is also gone

• Photo oppertunities galore and time for the riders to mingle at the start and the end of the ride.

The option is yours

James691

Nope.

Didn't get me I'm afraid.

MAWF kids seeing us off at Blackpool, Make a Wish foundation kids meeting us in Paris, a night in the city of Luuuuuuuurrrrrrrrrrvvvvvvvvveeeeeee, breakfast in the sun on a pavement cafe, leasurely jaunt home and a no grief train.

Crap.

[stuart]

got me

[Axe]

Just had a look on the MAW website, They are currently doing a London/Paris pushbike ride Set off on 23/6/10 four day event.

looks like an annual event.

If it is then perhaps it's a bit too similar to the 2 towers?

Axe

[James691]

Just had a look on the MAW website, They are currently doing a London/Paris pushbike ride Set off on 23/6/10 four day event.

looks like an annual event.

If it is then perhaps it's a bit too similar to the 2 towers?

Axe

Excellent, so not only would this have the two towers but the two bikes. Big bikers and Little riders! If XRV spoke to them to see if we could arrange a meet at the same time at the Paris Tower you have even more publicity at the end of the ride.

Not surprised they going for this - rather like LE to JOG it is an iconic route and for good reason. It's a beautiful ride with a lot of pros for a charity event. The route is one of the best scenic routes in Northern Europe.

You know how many push bikes are doing this?

[Axe]

You know how many push bikes are doing this?

No it doesn't say on their website,
The pushbike event is actually run by 'Across the Divide' a charity event fundraising company

Axe

[James691]

No it doesn't say on their website,
The pushbike event is actually run by 'Across the Divide' a charity event fundraising company

Axe

Ah ok then mate, it was worth a look at

I had a look at events on the google machine -

blackpool tower to eiffel tower bike ride - over 3340 resluts

5 peaks challenge - 13,000,000 results. One of the things I didn't like about the 5/3 peaks is that I have done them (on foot of course) and you will not get a motorbike up there. I have serious reservations that any national trust would give permission for 50 - 100 motorbikes to go riding up the peaks anyway even if it was possible for the more off road bikes. So what you have is the riding past the 5 peaks challenge. For me it just does not have that same ring for an already very well established charity event.

I don't mind what XRV picks as I'll ride anyway and if they go for riding past the peaks then great! I get to put on the 2 Towers.

[James691]

And if you wanted to add The Tower Bridge -

Blackpool Tower to Eiffel Tower - Google Maps


James691