6th Sept - Myself and Bob are ready and drive on down to Dover car park where we meet our two ride leaders (Mark & Marcus) and the rest of the riders.
Of the riders two are on their own (Caroline and Nick) and a group of 6 geezers together (who call themselves the Fat Bellies), altogether including myself and Bob there are 10 riders.
After a long long wait we finally board the ferry to Dunkerque - it leaves half a hour late, on board we first have a ride briefing and then we are free to have a full English breakfast which turns out not too bad at all.
By the time we get to Dunkerque it felt like we had been out all day and should be 5pm or something, turns out to be 1pm-ish. We start riding to our hotel in Bruges.
Overall the route was a bit naff and mostly unscenic, loads of cobbles and rough surfaces, through a few ghetto towns as well as some nicer towns. The group split into two with the group of 6 geezers (the Fat Bellies) and Nick barrelling on ahead, myself, Bob, Caroline and Marcus drop back and go at a slower pace. The ride seemed to be about getting to the hotel asap so there wasn't any stopping apart from when Mark who was driving the support van met with us. We were supposed to stop at a cafe half way but decided to carry on. We rode through Ostend seafront, looked lovely but as there was no stopping it just passed me by... the Fat Bellies and Nick who had stopped at the cafe caught up with us by the time we rode into Bruges.
Verdict: Day 1 appeared to be a mission to get to hotel.
7th Sept Day 2 - Ghent
Hmmm yes... Mark lead today's ride and I don't remember much about it because - it was once more a mission to get to Ghent and back as fast as possible. Turns out the Fat Bellies usual rides at home consist of barrelling along at 15mph none stop to a pub and then barrelling back none stop and that's all today's ride turned out to be. I purposely rode behind the back of the pack and was pretty cheesed off and bored as I was still going at a faster pace than I wanted to. The hour we got in Ghent however, was lovely! Once more it was a none-stop ride back to the hotel and 8 miles out Mark had a word with me about it getting busy as we entered Bruges and he wanted to keep the riders together - I didn't book onto this tour for pack riding at pace staring at the wheel infront so I simply replied 'ok...' - it obviously wasn't the answer he was looking for as there was a pause before Mark then said 'I'll go a bit slower...' (too bloody right you will!). Talk about indirectly asking me to speed up!
Funny thing was, everyone thought I was struggling and started asking how the legs were and 'well done' etc etc - I wasn't, I thought I was going on a relaxing sight seeing cycling tour!!
Verdict: Yeah... ok... NO!
8th Sept Day 3 - Ypres
Marcus leads once more... once more they are off barrelling along at 15mph and I am totally fed up and bored of it! We arrive at a war cemetery and I tell Marcus I'm getting in the van at Ypres (Didn't see the point if I'm not enjoying it!) - he convinces me to stay out riding as the final day is about 'hanging on' (Hanging on??? I'm on a tour not a bloomin' training camp!!!!). I tell him I didn't come here for pack riding and was riding faster than I would like and shall be riding on my own behind them all...
The hour was had in Ypres / Menin Gate was lovely.
On the way back to Bruges I left them to barrel off and rode as I said I would however I still felt as if I couldn't relax/stop to take photos etc, Marcus dropped back and rode with me, he was trying but it was all misconstrued - I could tell all he wanted to do was keep everyone together '...aaand we're hunting them down!' etc, so once more it was just another none stop ride at speed. Once more, I got lots of 'well done' said to me that evening... I know it was well meaning but it was getting annoying...
Verdict: Nah!
9th Sept Day 4 - Back to the ferry at Dunkerque!
At this point I just wanted the riding over with... surprisingly Marcus lead again (It was supposed to have been Mark but assume the switch was because I had said something the previous day) - I stayed near the back of the pack mostly. At 17 miles I asked Marcus 'where is the stop?', he replied '17 miles', I said 'it's 17 miles now', he replied 'do you want a rest or food?', I said 'well... food really', he hands me a bar from his pocket to keep me going... we stop at 23 miles for a coffee and then 5 miles later at a town square for a proper break/lunch. When we left we were well ahead of time so everyone slowed down to a nice pace - finally!!! It must have been requested to stop for ice cream at Ostend seafront - by which time I was feeling like shit and had enough of it all!!! I went and sat in the shade on my own while everyone else had ice cream, I was close to getting in the van as thought my body was giving up, I was not happy! (turned out it was a digestive issue - had eaten too much crap and not enough goodness over the last day and half). By the time I got to Dunkerque Ferry terminal ten miles later I had picked up again.
To top it all off my new bike fell onto a concrete block at the ferry terminal resulting in scratches and a small dent in the top tube!! Brilliant!!
We get on the ferry and I relax with a cuppa, I would normally treat myself to cake but had eaten enough crap for 4 days plus I was saving it for the 3 course tea with Bob in Dover that evening. :)
We get back to Dover and say our goodbyes, Marcus says how pleased he was that everyone had 'kept together' (hmmm...) and then shakes everyone's hand whilst saying 'nice meeting you'.. when he shakes my hand he says 'well done' (double hmmm!!!).
Myself and Bob had never said anything to each other about the riding whilst over there - I didn't want to negatively impact Bob's experience and I assume Bob was of the same thought... as soon as Bob's bum was down on that pub seat that evening he said 'Well, they managed to cock that right up between them!' and then ensued a long discussion about what we had both experienced and thought about it all.
Verdict: All of the riding just facilitated for the Fat Bellies - anyone else just had to keep up!
I don't remember much about the scenery we rode through on any of the days which is thoroughly annoying!
Everything else however, was really lovely, loved the places we visited and want to return to Bruges to do the touristy thing, getting on boats etc etc...
I also wonder what would have happened if someone had booked on that would have really struggled at anything above 13mph average.
When I got back home I emailed a complaint over to the guy that runs the company - he got back to me by phone which is something (caught me offguard though and I afterward wished I had said more back to him about it), he said both Mark & Marcus knew there was an imbalance in the group, they apologise and admit they handled it wrong, it's not what usually happens on their tours and hope it doesn't put me off booking with them again in future etc etc. At the end of the conversation he said 'All that I can offer is a full apology...'
Overall Verdict: 260 miles over 4 days and I don't remember much about the scenery we rode through! Massive shame because everything else was brill, I would happily ride that all over again... but not with that lot!
Anyway... enough negativity! Here are some nice photos 😃
