''Et fini' from the Palais to the Arc and....'

Arc de Triomphe, dodging the traffic!

Versailles, beginning of the end....

After our final early start and a long drive from Annecy we arrived in Paris, our final destination for Ride 21 and the 21st Stage of the Tour. 
The final ride was 'relatively' easy albeit along the busy avenues of Paris
A short 15 mile ride from Versailles to the Arc de Triomphe, riding three times around the Arc to celebrate the end of Ride 21, not quite! 



We then met up with the 500 riders taking part in the Action Medical Research London to Paris cycling event, to all ride together to the Eiffel Tower, a fitting end to Ride 21.

..motionless, Trocadero

Arc de Triomphe, end of the road for Ride 21

Ride 21 Blog has truly been a beautiful experience, an incredibly tough challenge - possibly the biggest yet and hopefully what proves to be a 'training ride' for bigger things to come, to 3,0000 miles across the USA. Here's to longer roads and higher mountains ahead....

Champs Elysees, meeting 500 riders on the Action London to Paris ride, a perfect end!

So, as we sign off from Ride 21 in Paris, something about cycling and a few words of thanks:

''The pleasure that cycling gives you is delicate, intimate and ephemeral. It arrives, takes hold of you sweeps you up and then leaves you again. It is for you alone. It is a combination of speed and ease force and grace, it is pure happiness''  

Taken from the book 'Tomorrow We Ride' written by Jean Bobet brother of Louison Bobet three times winner of the Tour de France.

Thank you to everyone who has followed our progress, please spread the word, the Blog and the fund raising site www.action.org.uk/tourdefrance, and watch this space for the next two challenges that are being planned.

Some special mentions go to: 

Action Medical Research for giving Ride 21 purpose, this is the reason we put Ride 21 together, 9 months of planning, a young team, lots of commitment beforehand and what took it, and us, through the hardest moments, Ventoux, the Pyrenees and the Savoie.

Keith, Kelly and Nigel at British Cycling and Team Sky for their support (it was magical to see the team ride through Serres leading the yellow jersey, unforgettable. And then Paris, again, there are no words, it was in the moment!)

Supporters & sponsors (so far) of Ride 21, Longcross Construction Ltd, CBRE, Renewable Resources Ltd, Lawmax Electrical, Motion, Team Energy, CTS Ltd, IPT Ltd, Scott UK, British Cycling and Team Sky, CNP Nutrition, there are others to add when we update the Blog further.

David, James and Megan, the crew of Ride 21, young age is no barrier to commitment and responsibility, you guys did an amazing job, not one thing wrong in over 3000 miles (Mont Ventoux without water was the fault of the rider!)

Keith at Scott UK, the two bikes were amazing, Foil 20 for the mountain stages, Foil 10 for the flat stages. 

Clifford Davison, a remarkable cyclist, for saving me 25 miles into London to Paris 2007 and for inspiring me to ride, this is the reason for cycling! 

Matt Haigh and Graham Ginn for the hard rides through Essex (and Italy)

Bev, Meg and Sarah for their patience and support without which Ride 21 would not have been possible, and for all being in Paris at the end, this is what makes it special.

Mum and Dad, for exploring and caring, everything flows from this.

And thank you to everyone who has followed Ride 21....check the Blog from time for the next two challenges that we are working on, both of which are quite unique and very different to RAAM and Ride 21, but just as challenging...and in support of Action Medical Research.