Rome To Home – TBD
My goal when I hit my 50th year was to complete the Pair’o'Knees (Pyrenees) Ride which I’m rather to pleased to say, I did but ther year before. The following year therefore I took up the challenge to take part in The Fondue Ride which was to cycle from the South of France, visiting Mont Ventoux on the way before heading to Paris and then on to Le Havre for the ferry back to blighty. This event wasn’t without its challenges: anyone who know of Mont Ventoux will attest to that. I was however further tested by an accident earlier in the year when I came off my bike damaging my arm, shoulder and knee.
After some time away from proper cycling, I still retain the dream to complete the Rome-To-Home Ride (hopefully, with Matt & Nick to accompany me). When this will be achieved, I really don’t know as Matt and I have now agreed a new challenge for May 2012. Fortunately, this is to be organised by somebody else. All I have to do is pay the money and ride the bike 
As for Rome-To-Home, well the planning continues against the possible itinerary below though this will almost certainly change as time goes by.
| Day | Start | Finish | Miles | Notes |
| Home | Rome | Many;Some by land:Some by air. | Getting to Rome will be a two pronged approach with a minimum of 2 support vehicles travelling overland from the UK to Rome over a couple of days. The riders will most likely f;y direct though some may elect to travel with the support crews. | |
| 1 | Rome | Montalto di Castro | 75 | |
| 2 | Montalto di Castro | San Vincenzo | 92 | |
| 3 | San Vincenzo | La Spezia | 93 | |
| 4 | La Spezia | Savona | 95 | |
| 5 | Savona | Vinadio | 80 | |
| 6 | Vinado | Barcelonnette | 66/40 | Today’s ride takes in Isola 2000 and the Col De La Bonnette. There will however be a shorter route for those in need of a breather before the next couple of days. |
| 7 | Barcelonnette | Briancon | 52 | We’re now in the hilly bits, so naturally, the distances will be shorter. |
| 8 | Brandon | Grenoble | ||
| 9 | Grenoble | Bourg-en-Bresse | ||
| 10 | Bourg-en-Bresse | Bourbon-Loney | ||
| 11 | Bourbon-Loney | Bourges | ||
| 12 | Bourges | Orleans | ||
| 13 | Orleans | Évreux | ||
| 14 | Évreux | Caen | ||
| 15 | Caen | Portsmouth | ||
| 16 | Portsmouth | Home | ||
Codge
is R2H a pipe dream or a potential reality, only ask as a group of us who did last years fun jaunt retain an interest, and I can sign in a few others. Maybe ‘you’ should throw something out there to garner interest. Would you be planning on a similar format – i.e. charity based / Foundation supported?
Richard
Richard,
Rome to Home is something I’ve been wanting to do for some now: I originally planned to do it in 2003 but had to drop out, though the ride still went ahead. The stories that came back made me determined that I would complete this event. After my poor showing in The Big Ride, I have vowed that I will organise Rome to Home and raise the money for my original charity of choice. If there is interest then I’m more than happy to take the idea to the next step: But, I don’t want it to become another corporate event. I want the ride to be a personal challenge for anybody riding it and if we can raise money for a good case then all the better. I would also be keen to limit the number of participants so as to make organising it, hotels etc, a little easier.
If you or anybody else is interested, then let’s get together to discuss. But, one way or another, I do intend to do this ride.
Codge