Yet Another Cycling Forum
General Category => Audax => PBP => Topic started by: Tomsk on 09 June, 2023, 07:45:21 pm
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Ride from Dieppe to Rambouillet (Thursday 17/08) and back (Friday 25/08). Overnight ferry both ways: meet at the Flying Fish, Denton (outskirts of Newhaven) from 20:00. make your own booking if you want to eat there: https://www.flyingfishdenton.co.uk/
We'll use Phil Whitehurst's excellent route from 2019: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/30108965
As I recall, we had an early breakfast stop in Neufchatel-en-Bray, a pâtisserie stop at Étrépagny and lunch in Bonnièrres-sur-Seine, arriving at Rammers late afternoon. I'll maybe sort out a whatsapp group nearer the time to minimise cat-herding issues ...
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Ha, I also still have the route sheet I created for that.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/5yh63tfq4tya9in/Dieppe%20-%20Rambouillet.pdf?dl=1
I haven’t checked since; to see if cafes, bars noted etc are still there.
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seems very early to me, are 2 days necessary to recover? or is it just about soaking up the atmosphere?
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Not sure whether Tomsk meant overnight ferry on Thu, ride Fri to Rambouillet. As for returning Fri, that’s the day after the 90hr finish deadline.
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I took it to mean ride thursday, therefore ferry wednesday, but ferry thursday seems to work
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I was going on what the modus operandi has been for 2015/19. Thus intent rather than the day actually put. Anyway, unless you are desperately short of time; an extra day in France ahead of PBP is no bad thing. Some would say the ride down and back is the best bit, a good social catch-up with cider, turning it more into a holiday ;D
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I was going on what the modus operandi has been for 2015/19. Thus intent rather than the day actually put. Anyway, unless you are desperately short of time; an extra day in France ahead of PBP is no bad thing. Some would say the ride down and back is the best bit, a good social catch-up with cider, turning it more into a holiday ;D
one more day off work, I've currently booked 5. I can see booking an extra 1 to ride on Friday. but booking 2 more would be a problem.
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I’m in. Enjoyed the ride to and from Paris the last two events. Ferries booked, but not sorted sleeping in Paris/Ram yet.
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:thumbsup: Thursday night ferry, so ride over on Friday.
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:thumbsup: Thursday night ferry, so ride over on Friday.
sounds great, since I will be car free by then that sounds like a good plan. Are the trains to Newhaven likely to be rammed with bikes, or does everyone cycle in the UK as well?
hmm, no bikes leaving trains between 4 and 7, so either a late train or an early train (in which case just ride down)
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I will get the train down on Thursday afternoon, to Brighton, and then ride along the coast to Newhaven. It's about 11 miles to the Flying Fish pub, or the ferry terminal.
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I think check in for ferry closes at 21:30. Trains are modern Thameslink 12 carriage, with horizontal bike storage in carriages 3 and 10. But plenty of space in other carriages. As above, train to Brighton. There’s a below cliff promenade you can cycle along as far as Saltdean, then cycle path on right up hill to Peacehaven, then drop down to Newhaven and across to pub.
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Tomsk will know this but there’s a cycle path that follows the Undercliff out of Brighton and (I think) most of the way to Newhaven.
I’m travelling during the day on Wednesday and riding to Rambouillet over 2 and a bit days. I haven’t entirely worked out how I’m getting back yet.
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Photos from ride down in 2015
(https://www.dropbox.com/s/5ptlhoucu41rpd0/2015%20Aug%2012_0742.jpg?raw=1)
(https://www.dropbox.com/s/ggm9t70ri4nakrh/2015%20Aug%2012_0746.jpg?raw=1)
(https://www.dropbox.com/s/1ieg0onm5ui5tqv/2013%20Feb%2020_0533.jpg?raw=1)
(https://www.dropbox.com/s/i95uagswxdm70jq/2015%20Aug%2013_0736.jpg?raw=1)
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It is a nice way to relax on way to start, and does at least ensure you have all the essentials to be able to ride your bike. Just don’t forget your passport.
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It is a nice way to relax on way to start, and does at least ensure you have all the essentials to be able to ride your bike. Just don’t forget your passport.
that applies to every means of getting there. No one will leave enough time for a return journey home for a passport.
The big advantage on getting the same ferry as everyone else, is a relaxed group for easy pacing to the start. If I rode solo, I would probably go far to fast burning energy that I should be saving for the big ride.
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It is a nice way to relax on way to start, and does at least ensure you have all the essentials to be able to ride your bike. Just don’t forget your passport.
that applies to every means of getting there. No one will leave enough time for a return journey home for a passport.
Except if driving, you won’t realise you’ve forgotten your cycling shoes, or some other important item. Cycling down you’d soon know you’d forgotten your cycling shoes, because you need them for the ride down. Riders have been known to turn up to LEL or PBP without their cycling shoes. A rider who drove over, did just that for my Jelly Fish Legs 400 earlier this year. They didn’t start.
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It is a nice way to relax on way to start, and does at least ensure you have all the essentials to be able to ride your bike. Just don’t forget your passport.
that applies to every means of getting there. No one will leave enough time for a return journey home for a passport.
Except if driving, you won’t realise you’ve forgotten your cycling shoes, or some other important item. Cycling down you’d soon know you’d forgotten your cycling shoes, because you need them for the ride down. Riders have been known to turn up to LEL or PBP without their cycling shoes. A rider who drove over, did just that for my Jelly Fish Legs 400 earlier this year. They didn’t start.
yes I was only focussed on the last sentence. Obviously if you leave home by bike, then you (probably) can't forget shoes/helmet/water bottles/lights/gps etc.
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Thanks Tom, I would like to join this if possible. I’m already booked on the overnight ferry from newhaven Thursday night. I have a hotel booked in Chevreuse, 19k from Rambouillet so ideal for me. I’d be cycling back to Dieppe on the Friday (all being well)
Cheers all
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I thought that the ride to / from Paris was the best bit of PBP last time TBH :)
If I ever do PBP again (not this time) I will not go via Newhaven as it is super difficult to get a train there / Brighton from Devon
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Is everyone staying in (or at least riding to) Rambouillet or will there be a contingent for Versailles / SW Paris?
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I thought that the ride to / from Paris was the best bit of PBP last time TBH :)
If I ever do PBP again (not this time) I will not go via Newhaven as it is super difficult to get a train there / Brighton from Devon
Train to Guildford, then a pleasant 50mi pedal :D
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check in for the ferry is 21:30, about 10 miles from Brighton. slightly over an hour on the train from Victoria, and no leaving before 19:00. So need to catch a train leaving between 19:00 and 19:30
Are the trains just after 19:00 likely to be turning bikes away, due to too many?
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If you’re worried about time, there are half-hourly trains to Newhaven Town* with a change in Lewes. Currently £6 advance!
No one counts how many bikes are on trains. None of these trains have guards and theres plenty of space in vestibules. If you’re worried go to somewhere like Farringdon or Blackfriars where the trains are even more spacious and much too frequent for anyone to have time to argue.
(* Town is closer to the ferry than Harbour)
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I thought that the ride to / from Paris was the best bit of PBP last time TBH :)
If I ever do PBP again (not this time) I will not go via Newhaven as it is super difficult to get a train there / Brighton from Devon
Train to Guildford, then a pleasant 50mi pedal :D
That's probably the best route. I didn't do this
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If you’re worried about time, there are half-hourly trains to Newhaven Town* with a change in Lewes. Currently £6 advance!
done. little bit anxious about the 4 minute change at Lewes, but if I miss the connection it's only 12km
No one counts how many bikes are on trains. None of these trains have guards and there's plenty of space in vestibules.
GWR count, but my experience on my local railway is similar to what you describe. there's always plenty of space UNTIL there is a Wembley event kicking out.
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done. little bit anxious about the 4 minute change at Lewes, but if I miss the connection it's only 12km
Just be aware that Lewes is a station on a Y shaped junction, hence trains to/from London and trains to/from the south coast line use different pairs of platforms, so you probably need to go up and down some stairs. Worth checking on live national rail enquiries or other app to get the platform info before you arrive. NB I know about this as we had a very hurried tandem transfer on the way back from Newhaven in 2015 (and yes I know southern trains don't take tandems but no-one cared at 6am fortunately)
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done. little bit anxious about the 4 minute change at Lewes, but if I miss the connection it's only 12km
Just be aware that Lewes is a station on a Y shaped junction, hence trains to/from London and trains to/from the south coast line use different pairs of platforms, so you probably need to go up and down some stairs. Worth checking on live national rail enquiries or other app to get the platform info before you arrive. NB I know about this as we had a very hurried tandem transfer on the way back from Newhaven in 2015 (and yes I know southern trains don't take tandems but no-one cared at 6am fortunately)
yes trainline app tells me I need to go from P1 to P3 (or vice versa, can't remember) so I am expecting stairs.
If I miss the connection, the next train will still be in time, or I can easily ride the 12 7 miles to Newhaven.
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This sounds good; I would like to join. I've already booked two overnight ferries, but my ferry out is on the Friday, not the Thursday. So I'll join you on the return only. Unless I change my outward ferry to a day earlier. And unless I get a lift back, as I did in 2019!
PS what are people doing for accomodation Fri, Sat and Thu evenings? Is there a seperate thread for that?
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PS what are people doing for accomodation Fri, Sat and Thu evenings? Is there a seperate thread for that?
The answer to q1 is here, there and everywhere! No thread for ACME accomodation specifically.
When I get my new phone I'll sort out a whatsapp group, but the simplified plan is to meet at the Flying Fish, Denton Road, Newhaven, for the outbound journey on Thursday evening and outside the Mairie de Rambouillet, Place de la Libération, Rue Général de Gaulle, at 08:00 on the Friday afterwards for the overnight boat to Newhaven from Dieppe.
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Flying Fish at Denton good choice! I've been there twice - in 2019. Unfortunately you'll be there 24 hours before me...
Right, I better sort out accommodation...
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I may be up for at least some of the ride back to Dieppe, but might have to do the first part by train and meet on the way - is there a route and likely timings?
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I may be up for at least some of the ride back to Dieppe, but might have to do the first part by train and meet on the way - is there a route and likely timings?
Phil's outbound route which we'll simply reverse: https://www.dropbox.com/s/5yh63tfq4tya9in/Dieppe%20-%20Rambouillet.pdf?dl=1
I can email his routesheet too, if you'd like it?
Timings are going to be a bit vague - last time I hooked up and separated several times, due to the usual fluctuations in energy and the need for food! We did have a good long lunch at Le Restaurant Chineur Gourmand in Bonnières sur Seine though.
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Thanks Tom, I'll figure something out and hopefully meet up along the way.
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I'm returning on the 25th via Dieppe late night ferry. Then cycling Newhaven to Reading where I catch a train to Evesham and then cycle back home to Kidderminster. My outward journey is on 16th August from Kidderminster to Portsmouth (setting off about 04:00). Overnight ferry, boarding no later than 21:30, then Ouistreham to Evreux (Formula1) and finally on the 18th August to Première Classe Plaisir Gatines. I'm sure to bump into AC Portsmouth and maybe a few others as I get closer to Portsmouth. HAPPY CYCLING.
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Right, time to get started on an ACME PBP Whatsapp group: PM/email me your phone numbers if you would like to be included (regardless of whether you're riding from Dieppe, or even if you just want to enhance your 'Armchair PBP' back home).
I already have the numbers of many of the usual suspects, but give me permission anyway.
I hope we can meet up on Saturday at the signing on and perhaps for a meal/drink in the evening.
Cheers,
Tomsk
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Thanks Tomsk - have pinged you my number for the whatsapp group for the return journey, all being well! On that note, does anyone have any experience of turning up early for the ferry and blagging their way onto an earlier crossing? Just thinking ahead in case things either go far better than expected, or far worse.
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Thanks Tomsk - have pinged you my number for the whatsapp group for the return journey, all being well! On that note, does anyone have any experience of turning up early for the ferry and blagging their way onto an earlier crossing? Just thinking ahead in case things either go far better than expected, or far worse.
I've changed a ferry booking fairly last minute over the phone before, ("Parlez-vous anglais svp" ...) - that was a long time ago and for the Ouistreham-Portsmouth crossing. I'm sure it's an easier thing to do for bike + rider than for motor vehicles. If you've got time to kill in Dieppe, eat moules frites and drink cidre ...
Btw, the 81st anniversary of the Dieppe Raid (1942) will be Saturday 19th August so we'll miss out - one time, 2015 I think, we rolled up to the port in time to see the fireworks, all red and white (in honour of les Canadiens).
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I've changed a ferry booking fairly last minute over the phone before, ("Parlez-vous anglais svp" ...) - that was a long time ago and for the Ouistreham-Portsmouth crossing. I'm sure it's an easier thing to do for bike + rider than for motor vehicles. If you've got time to kill in Dieppe, eat moules frites and drink cidre ...
Btw, the 81st anniversary of the Dieppe Raid (1942) will be Saturday 19th August so we'll miss out - one time, 2015 I think, we rolled up to the port in time to see the fireworks, all red and white (in honour of les Canadiens).
Thanks Tomsk. Shame re: missing out on the anniversary - my wife's grandfather (a Quebecois) was part of the Dieppe Raid & lost several comrades. I'm getting a Sat 19th outward crossing though, so will get a chance to pay my respects.
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Thanks Tomsk - have pinged you my number for the whatsapp group for the return journey, all being well! On that note, does anyone have any experience of turning up early for the ferry and blagging their way onto an earlier crossing? Just thinking ahead in case things either go far better than expected, or far worse.
I've changed a ferry booking fairly last minute over the phone before, ("Parlez-vous anglais svp" ...) - that was a long time ago and for the Ouistreham-Portsmouth crossing. I'm sure it's an easier thing to do for bike + rider than for motor vehicles. If you've got time to kill in Dieppe, eat moules frites and drink cidre ...
Btw, the 81st anniversary of the Dieppe Raid (1942) will be Saturday 19th August so we'll miss out - one time, 2015 I think, we rolled up to the port in time to see the fireworks, all red and white (in honour of les Canadiens).
Love the "eat moules frites and drink cidre" part...I will have some time to kill as there's a good chance I will get a lift with a friend who's catching the mid-day ferry from Calais. He'll drop me off somewhere near Neufchatel en Bray (or anywhere along his route) so I will have a steady ride to the ferry and lots of eating opportunities ;D
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Is everyone staying in (or at least riding to) Rambouillet or will there be a contingent for Versailles / SW Paris?
I'm staying in Plaisir which I think is quite close.ish.
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Hi - hopefully people are still meeting at the Flying Fish tomorrow, but I thought I'd ring through to book a meal as my train ticket might have put me at the tight end of their serving time.
It turns out the kitchen is closed. Until the new tenant takes over.
The landlady said she would recommend the Hope Inn (https://www.revivedinns.co.uk/thehope ) across the river and when I mentioned that I was likely meeting a bunch of people I didn't know there who were cycling to France she said she'd emailed to notify the kitchen situation.
She was more than happy for people to have take away delivered and suggested the Newhaven Fish bar on South Street 01273514556 who she said would deliver.
Seems the Hope Inn has a Steak night on Thursday so might be worth considering, but probably a bit late to re-arrange the meeting point.
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There was a lot going on in the centre of Dieppe earlier so this makes a bit more sense now. I’m staying uphill out of town and was going to head back down for some dinner by the harbour but I think I’ll do that on the way back instead.
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Le Turbot is the best restaurant in Dieppe. I say so and so does Rick Stein. Probably better without the bike though.
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small group of us riding down this afternoon from south London, aiming to get to FF around 7.30, will get a chippy delivery for dinner then
a bientot!