Benevolent bike ride: one day down, three to go

122km, 4,000kcal, one double expresso and no arguments. It’s an extraordinary combination that only cycling could produce – especially in a storm drenched but mostly sunny France on an expedition organised by the wine trade. Patrick Schmitt reports.

Day one of the Benevolent bike ride is complete – as is an early buffet dinner preceded by half a case of Ayala and three rounds of lager in the Aube’s kitsch but comfortable Hotel des Pirates (Captain Pugwash meets Travel Inn with a dash of Johnny Depp and a lot of MDF).

Casulties: none. Battered egos: not sure; yet. Extreme exhaustion: chronic. This is a serious challenge and it’s going to get a lot more painful but so far we’ve enjoyed breakfast at Bollinger’s HQ, struggled with a ceaseless headwind through the Côtes des Blancs and marvelled at the tenacity of guest cyclist Hervé Augustin, who accompanied us on day one with baggy shorts and sagging tyres and then treated the peleton to his first rate brut before disappearing with his dutiful wife back to Ayala to meet with a hoard of UK sommeliers. Chapeaux off.

Further updates should continue this week – wifi allowing.

In the meantime thank you to all my supporters – it is hugely motivating to know this ordeal will benefit the Benevolent.

Bonsoir.

Click here to sponsor Patrick on his epic 600km ride from Champagne to Hermitage.

Patrick Schmitt, 07.06.2011