Paul German

What was your reason for wanting to ride the Trafalgar Way?

​I was actually asked if I wanted to ride it by my mate who lives in Plymouth. So we both entered but he didn’t ride as he was worried about getting a train home with the strikes. It was a training ride for LEL but also a big challenge in itself.

How would you sum up your ride of the Trafalgar Way to a friend?

It was a great experience, it was hard with the relentless hills of the southwest but also some breath taking scenery. The support was great and the finish at the Admiralty was fantastic. The sense of achievement as you roll into London makes all the work worth while!

What was your most memorable part of the ride?

I loved cycling through the night. The sleep stop was welcoming with hot food and the option to get your head down.

What are your top 3 tips for anyone thinking of riding the Trafalgar Way?

Make sure you train well with some rides of 200 – 300k. Cycle plenty of hills (The only way toget good cycling up hills is by cycling up hills). Practice on some night riding with a friend if you can for safety. I prefer power naps to long sleep. I only had 45 mins sleep and as a result got in with time to spare.

What are your top bits of equipment or kit you wouldn’t want to ride the Trafalgar Way without?

Good quality lights, a power bank to charge your items while on the move. Clothing for the cold weather at night and wet weather. So some bike packing is required. And make sure you have enough fuel!

What bike (make and model) and chainset / cassette set up did you ride the Trafalgar Way with (if available)? 

Cervelo R3. Great all round bike. Rotor 52/36 chainset and Shimano Ultegra gears 11-30 Cassette.