Byrne Bros. Charity Challenge - Stage 1

Stage 1 of 2: London to Paris 2016

Byrne Bros. have completed the first leg of their Cycling Charity Challenge in June. The objective of these challenges is to raise money for a local charity (YMCA East Surrey), for local parents, giving them much needed respite from their loving but demanding handicapped children.

The team set off from Reigate, Friday evening of the 3rd of June and completed the ride in 22 hours despite wading through elements of the Seine floods, negotiating through carnivals, weddings and steep hills.

The weather was overcast and the rain held off. The trip to Newhaven featured a lot of lumpy hills set within the lovely Sussex country lanes. The team was rolling in light rain, through sleepy French villages on the way to Paris and eventually we hit the Seine towpath that would take us into the city centre. Paris was suffering floods and the river overflow eventually blocked our way (despite some wading). 

Paris was in the grip of the Euro football preparation and there was a big “Giants of the North” carnival going on therefore the re-route involved interfacing with very sticky Parisian traffic. Despite this, we finished the challenge on time.