Chmou and Kathryn challenge themselves on the Classic Challenge No. 3

Classic Challenge No. 3     -     Paris - Nemours       -     June 17th 2017

Race Reporters Kathryn and ChmouChmou: It's Friday night and I am at this fashionable new Italian restaurant in Paris called Pizza Populaire. I am looking at this enormous dessert called "Profiterole", which I am just about to eat, when I have the guilt that it may not go down too well and that perhaps I should go easy before the following morning, as I would be riding in the third Classics Challenge going from Paris to Nemours.

The Classics Challenge is an organisation (founded by Francois, who is also a member of PCG and Club Cyclo Sport de Pantin) that arranges a long ride every month, departing from Paris to distant towns in the wider region of Paris, with multiple pace groups departing at 15 minute intervals throughout the morning. I have done the last two rides; the first Paris to Rouen and the second to Evreux! This time, I was going to be joined by fellow ExpaTRIés teammate Kathryn.

2. Café

3. Put the porridge in the fridge

4. Remove my tri bars from my bike (it's going to be a group ride and tri bars can be dangerous there and add weight) and adjust the seat height and position without tri bar position

5. Pump the tyres

6. Take gels

7. Prepare a sandwich (some pelotons never stop for a pause and just go straight)

8. Fill up bidons with cold water

9. Credit card, money, ID etc..

10. Bibs, JerseyI am almost ready when I realise that my white helmet wasn't matching my black and red outfit and where was the red one I have? The all important matching of kit meant I searched everywhere for it and was now running 10 mins late to meet Kathryn at the departure point of Velodrome Jacques Anquetil in Vincennes and meant I had to sprint in a high gear to get there in time for our speed group departure of 7.15am.  

Classic Challenge No. 3     -     Paris - Nemours       -     June 17th 2017

Race Reporters Kathryn and ChmouChmou: It's Friday night and I am at this fashionable new Italian restaurant in Paris called Pizza Populaire. I am looking at this enormous dessert called "Profiterole", which I am just about to eat, when I have the guilt that it may not go down too well and that perhaps I should go easy before the following morning, as I would be riding in the third Classics Challenge going from Paris to Nemours.

The Classics Challenge is an organisation (founded by Francois, who is also a member of PCG and Club Cyclo Sport de Pantin) that arranges a long ride every month, departing from Paris to distant towns in the wider region of Paris, with multiple pace groups departing at 15 minute intervals throughout the morning. I have done the last two rides; the first Paris to Rouen and the second to Evreux! This time, I was going to be joined by fellow ExpaTRIés teammate Kathryn.

2. Café

3. Put the porridge in the fridge

4. Remove my tri bars from my bike (it's going to be a group ride and tri bars can be dangerous there and add weight) and adjust the seat height and position without tri bar position

5. Pump the tyres

6. Take gels

7. Prepare a sandwich (some pelotons never stop for a pause and just go straight)

8. Fill up bidons with cold water

9. Credit card, money, ID etc..

10. Bibs, JerseyI am almost ready when I realise that my white helmet wasn't matching my black and red outfit and where was the red one I have? The all important matching of kit meant I searched everywhere for it and was now running 10 mins late to meet Kathryn at the departure point of Velodrome Jacques Anquetil in Vincennes and meant I had to sprint in a high gear to get there in time for our speed group departure of 7.15am.