Prologue

To cycle from Paris to Rome; when did the idea come to mind. I'm not sure, but it was in the middle of the 1970s - the best part of twenty years before I actually undertook the trip. At that time I had joined the CTC in preparation for a 900 mile, 10-day tour of Ireland following the route my father had taken on a tandem with his brother in the mid 1940s. Some time after I had done that trip, the prospect of covering the similar distance from Rome to Paris seemed attractive. But the years passed, other priorities took over, the dream faded, and in the early 1980s I stopped cycling.

Then in 1992 I suddenly found myself planning the Rome/Paris trip in earnest with my 40th birthday as the target date for completion. I drew a straight line from Paris to Rome on a map in and started to read about the route. Over time the route took shape as I diverted to various points of interest. Before I set out I had settled on a line which I estimated would be 1584 kilometres long and wandered through France, Switzerland and Italy.

Getting back on the bike was more difficult. On 15 August 1992, the first 11 mile trip after a lay off of 10 years was very difficult - believe me. At an average of 13 miles an hour, it took me 50 minutes and I returned home barely able to walk and dropped gasping into a chair much to the bemusement of Sinéad and Andrew.

Gradually though I built up the miles and my fitness improved to a point where I felt I was ready to rejoin my old cycling club, the Dublin District Association of the Cyclist's Touring Club, on its easy rides. I joined Brendan, Anne and Pat for an unforgettable trip to Brownstown Dolmen. I wondered what the fast group did!!

After considering buying a new bike I finally decided to stay with the REW Reynolds bike I had received as a 21st birthday present from my parents. I had it rebuilt by Harding’s - the colour remains defiantly Yellow.

It was some present. Thirty years on its still going strong and bridges the gap from my father' s generation to my son's. It was on that bike too that I prepared to cycle coast to coast with Andrew in 2006. But we are getting ahead of ourselves. Go back 12 years to August 1995.


OK; I'm ready; let's go.