As part of my Everest training, in August 2014 I decided to cycle 880 miles from Chester to Chamonix, France, in just 7 days self-supported. A few days after arriving I then climbed the Dom – the highest peak entirely in Switzerland.
I lost time and finished in 8 days overall. My eventual itinerary was:
Day 1 – Depart Chester Town hall to YHA Stratford-upon-Avon, 123 miles
Day 2 – YHA Stratford-upon-Avon to Rowlands Castle, Hampshire, 136 miles
Day 3 – Rowlands Castle to Newhaven, sail to Dieppe at 23:00, 80 miles
Day 4 – Arrive Dieppe 04:00, to Compiegne, 103 miles
Day 5 – Compiegne to Auxerre, 137.5 miles
Day 6 – Auxerre to Avallon, 44 miles (disaster!)
Day 7 – Avallon to Lons-le-Saunier, 118 miles
Day 8 – Lons-le-Saunier to Chamonix
- Miles travelled: 878.41 miles
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Average pace: 12.4mph
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Vertical ascent in feet: 27,678ft (Everest is 29,035ft)
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Hours in the saddle: 68.35 hours
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Maximum calories in one day: 6,600kcal
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Weight of panniers: Approx 10kg (bike 8.71kg)
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Biggest ascent in one day: 9,744ft
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Countries travelled through: 3
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Crashes: 2
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Flat tyres: 0 (!)
Chester to Chamonix – Part 2: The hardest week of my life…
Chester to Chamonix Update Part 1
Chester to Chamonix: one teenager, one week, one bike