ON YOUR bike!
Former Caistor Grammar School student Chris Barrow hopes to have raised more than £2,000 for cancer charities, thanks to a cross Channel cycle ride between two of Europe's most iconic structures.
Chris was brought up in Navigation Lane, Caistor, before moving abroad and now works in France.
The ride took him from the Marble Arch, in London, to l'Arc de Triomphe, in Paris, where he finished his ride exhausted but very proud, the next day.
Chris rode with friend Mark Ayshford, from Somerset.
Chris said: "The initial challenge was from Marble Arch to the Arc de Triomphe over three days, which is the usual charity run. But after a good training session I suggested to Mark that we should do it over just two days.
"After some hesitation we went for it – and did it," he said.
"Cycling completely independently, with no back-up van or supplies, was a little unnerving, especially in some of the less desirable areas, but I am ecstatic to have succeeded in my challenge."
The end of the ride in Paris was the high spot.
"After frantic pedalling, involving some quite hairy dual carriageways, especially at night, we made it to l'Arc de Triomphe by 11pm and it was seriously exhilarating to see Paris by night. We were greeted by two gendarmes telling us that we couldn't park our bikes there.
"After a quick exchange, I finally convinced them to give us a break, seeing as we had just cycled from London, and he took our picture!
"So we did it, 477km in 20 hours, an average speed of 23km an hour, four meals a day including hearty fish and chips on the ferry, ten litres of drink per day and a considerable number of energy bars.
"So far in France we have raised more than 1,000 euro for La Ligue contre le Cancer and together in the UK more than a £1,000 in aid of Cancer Research UK.
The cycle mad duo still hope to get in some more sponsorship.
To make a donation, visit Chris and Mark's fundraising webpage at www.justgiving.com/markayshford
