mission: cycle from lands end to john o'groats on what is a whim

[pencil shavings]

my housemates and I were talking about going on a cycling trip this summer. At a guess its all hot air (like alot of plans are) but I actaully want to do this.

Im thinking of doing it start of june ish, and would want to do it on a super budget (as i am a poor student).

My idea is to crash at friends/anyone who will have me's house along the way, even if it meens it has to take slightly longer.

Im just so stressed atm and need to blow out and actaully achieve something!! I will do it by myself also, just get away for abit.

my fitness it good already, but I would need to practice on a pushbike for abit to get used to it.

anyone done it before and got any advise?

also if anyone lives along the usual route wants to offer a bed for a night then that would be wonderful :)

[Jamiebridges123]

Well mate, I live in Thatcham and you could crash at my crib if for some reason you felt like coming along this way.. I hear the Thames is a nice cycle this time of year. :D

Practise up and do some hill training.. IE find yourself a bigass hill and cycle up it all day in a stupidly high gear.

Try getting some sponsering, do it for charity and pocket a £5'er sort of thing.

[Ping]

Um... Now... I've not looked at any OS maps comparing north and south but there's something in my head that's saying 'do it the other way round'...

Something to do with 'downhill is easier'.

I may be wrong. :lol:

[missyburd]

Um... Now... I've not looked at any OS maps comparing north and south but there's something in my head that's saying 'do it the other way round'...

Something to do with 'downhill is easier'.

I may be wrong. :lol:

East to west would be better, no hills involved at all then, just flatness! :p:p

Hehe, sounds a great idea PS, but if you're going to go to all that effort then maybe try and get sponsorship and raise a bit of cash?? Although I'm sure the personal achievement would be more than enough of a reward but just an idea :-)

[pencil shavings]

everything Ive read says do it like im thinking, there are loads of websites about it. and its not easy. http://www.ctc.org.uk/DesktopDefault.aspx?TabID=3397 the map on there shows the basic route I would take but I would need detours depending on where I can scrounge a bed for the night. Ive got one sorted already, for the first night in Exeter.

MYC, i will probably do sponsership but havent thought that far ahead yet. :)

[pencil shavings]

Well mate, I live in Thatcham and you could crash at my crib if for some reason you felt like coming along this way.. I hear the Thames is a nice cycle this time of year. :D

Practise up and do some hill training.. IE find yourself a bigass hill and cycle up it all day in a stupidly high gear.

Try getting some sponsering, do it for charity and pocket a £5'er sort of thing.

cheers, but I wont be going that far inland :)

I will do some hill training, i need to get another bike first, I dont think my BMX is up to it somehow!! :smt037

http://www.sanger.ac.uk/Users/sgj/lejog/img/endmap.gif

that is the basic route idea

[missyburd]

everything Ive read says do it like im thinking, there are loads of websites about it. and its not easy. http://www.ctc.org.uk/DesktopDefault.aspx?TabID=3397 the map on there shows the basic route I would take but I would need detours depending on where I can scrounge a bed for the night. Ive got one sorted already, for the first night in Exeter.

MYC, i will probably do sponsership but havent thought that far ahead yet. :)

Well if you can't organise a route via .orgers' sofas then maybe lookie here http://www.couchsurfing.com/. Seems a good way of a) getting a free bed and b) meeting lots of people, maybe you could fill in those places where .orgers cannae be found :-)

[appollo1]

good on you for being so ambicious. Sponsorship would definately be a good idea and if there is going to be a few of you doing the ride then a back up vehicle would be essential.

Also get a really comfy saddle and a decent pair of cycling shorts so you don't get too sore! (waits patiently for the vaseline comments).

Oh yeah and lots and lots of training. try to plan how long you expect it to take and what distance you hope to cover each day.

Good luck and let us know how you get on with the planning.

[pencil shavings]

Well if you can't organise a route via .orgers' sofas then maybe lookie here http://www.couchsurfing.com/. Seems a good way of a) getting a free bed and b) meeting lots of people, maybe you could fill in those places where .orgers cannae be found :-)

that looks good, thanks :) Ive stumbled across that site before but never looked in depth (but i guess that was because i didnt have a reason to)

good on you for being so ambicious. Sponsorship would definately be a good idea and if there is going to be a few of you doing the ride then a back up vehicle would be essential.

Also get a really comfy saddle and a decent pair of cycling shorts so you don't get too sore! (waits patiently for the vaseline comments).

Oh yeah and lots and lots of training. try to plan how long you expect it to take and what distance you hope to cover each day.

Good luck and let us know how you get on with the planning.

the lots and lots of training bit is going to be hard, because a) theres not much time between now and the start of june. b) that time is taken up with exams, part time job and a trip to South Africa. c) I dont really want to train too much :???:

yes I know that sounds daft, but I am fit anyway for football and I will do some training so I get used to being in the saddle for long periods. but I just want to be chalanged, i want my body to want to give up. its the only time when i have a clear head and that is what i need now.

believe me i know it will be hard work, im not naieve about this. but i can do it! :p

comfy saddle and gear is a must. I will do some more planning tomorrow :cool:

I think i will be going it alone, partly because I want to, partly because the logistics are simpler and gives more flexability and im only responcible for myself

[metalangel]

That would probably kill me on my SV, never mind on a mountain bike!

[SoulKiss]

my housemates and I were talking about going on a cycling trip this summer. At a guess its all hot air (like alot of plans are) but I actaully want to do this.

Im thinking of doing it start of june ish, and would want to do it on a super budget (as i am a poor student).

My idea is to crash at friends/anyone who will have me's house along the way, even if it meens it has to take slightly longer.

Im just so stressed atm and need to blow out and actaully achieve something!! I will do it by myself also, just get away for abit.

my fitness it good already, but I would need to practice on a pushbike for abit to get used to it.

anyone done it before and got any advise?

also if anyone lives along the usual route wants to offer a bed for a night then that would be wonderful :)

My advice.

Stop drinking whatever it was that made the above seem like a good idea :)

Good luck with it if you do it :)

[fizzwheel]

Wow fantastic plan.

If your not an experienced cyclist then your going to need to put a lot of training in I would imagine and work out what is a realistic milleage you'll achieve per day. I did 95 miles in one day last year and TBH I couldnt even look at my bike the next day and I didnt ride it again for a week or so. So not only will you need to be physical fit and bike conditioned your going to need to be mentally tough to.

If you havent already then get some decent cycling shorts, I know its lyrcra I know you'll get mocked by your mates, but it makes so much difference in terms of comfort. I'll mention it now as well chaffage and saddle sores might also be a problem, cycling shorts will help with this as well as will chamoi creme.

have a look at www.bikeradar.com theres a section on the forum that will help with training and planning your ride as a few peeps on there have done something similar.

Best of luck :cool:

[Kinvig]

Go for it!

[pencil shavings]

Ive been looking at bikes, and boy are they more expensive than I was expecting. I guess ebay and gumtree could have some bargins. would I be expecting the impossible to get a bike for <=£100?

[missyburd]

would I be expecting the impossible to get a bike for <=£100?
I should think that depends on how much maintenance work you're happy to have to do on your trip lol! Shop around, no reason why you can't find a bargain though, but for such a big journey I doubt you'd want a pile of crap liable to fall apart at every bump :-P

[pencil shavings]

I should think that depends on how much maintenance work you're happy to have to do on your trip lol! Shop around, no reason why you can't find a bargain though, but for such a big journey I doubt you'd want a pile of crap liable to fall apart at every bump :-P

yep, I dont want that!!

but working on the logic that I dont need the GSXR of the cycle world, cant I find a nice '99 curvey? :thumleft:

also, I dont mind stripping and cleaning/lubing the bike, cant be hard compared to doing work on the SV can it?

[fizzwheel]

would I be expecting the impossible to get a bike for <=£100?

Short answer = Yes

Long Answer = Your planning on alot of miles. Dont scrimp on the bike, and get it setup so it fits you otherwise you're going to be very sore and achey.

Unless you know what your looking at on ebay or gumtree you might end up with a crock of sh*te.

Get down to your nearest proper bike shop i.e. not a halfrauds and talk to the staff in there and get some advice from there.

I rekcon you'll be wanting someting in the £300 to £500 bracket with flat bars and a decent spread of gears and that doesnt weight a tonne, you want something setu for touring or audax's IMHO.

If you can find a Giant SCR 3 like this one

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/giant-scr-3-race-bike-road-bike_W0QQitemZ220400992513QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Bi kes_GL?hash=item220400992513&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1688%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C 240%3A1318

Is a good starting point.

Halfords do a Half decent hybrid have a google for a Carrera Gryphon II a mate of mine had one and he was really pleased with it. So maybe check that out to.

You really want a hybrid ( a flat barred road bike ) or a road bike with drops and skinny tyres. I think you'd be making extra work for yourself by trying to do it on an MTB...

[pencil shavings]

yes, I know you are right Fizz.

however I dont really see the point in getting a new bike, when Im sure there will be alot of bargins out there atm with people needing extra cash.

MTB, I know thats the wrong way, skinny tyres make sence too. :)

[fizzwheel]

however I dont really see the point in getting a new bike, when Im sure there will be alot of bargins out there atm with people needing extra cash.

True, Ebay can be good, but theres also alot of cr*p over priced stuff on there to.

A good place to find decent 2nd hand bikes, is to buy one of the cycling mags and then look in the classifieds or for sale section and you can often pick up bargain in there and you'll have a better chance IMHO that its been looked after properly to...

You do get into the point of dimishing returns after a while where the cost goes up the benefits dont go up as much in return.

This is my bike, which I did the sportives on last year, longest of which was 95 miles in one day.

Carbon / Alu frame with a reasonable level of components and a wheel upgrade. Would cost £1800 now if I were to replace. But you dont need anything lilke this for what you are planning on doing

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e344/fizzwheel/DSC_0055.jpg

Just to throw some more stuff into think about, how are you going to fuel whilst your cycling, you'll need some way of carrying water, energy drinks, so bottles like I use or a camelback might be better. Then what are you going to eat, you'll need some tools and puncture repair kit pump etc to.

Just take a bit of time and do your prep work, Its a fantastic idea and the feeling of achievment is immense after along ride, but it can be an emotional rollercoaster which I why I said about the mental toughness to. I cried at around the 70 mile mark during my 95 miler I was emotionall knackered and I felt like giving up, 10 minutes later I was smiling and loving it again.

[pencil shavings]

I have breifly thought about the planning of it, but not in much depth. Im going on the idea that its been done enough times before for me to able to work from others experiances.

nice bike...

fancy loaning it to me for a while? ;)

I know how it feels to be nackered, I seem to have no problem pushing myself with endurance. 2 seasons ago I played two games of football back to back, first game for the 1st team, 2nd for the resserves as they were one player short. I had horrible cramp and was so dead I just couldnt even run by the end of it. I was being sick too :puker:, and I went to the doctors and they said I had poisened myself (i forget what cemical it was now) and its usually only seen in marathon runners. :-({|=

I know this is a completly different chalange, but why not

[Skip]

My boss here did it in the year 2000 - four of them and a support car going ahead and getting supplies etc and setting everything up at their various stops - they did 100 miles a day and it took them 12 days with one day off - they all built bikes for the event - but nothing outrageous - I think Jim said his bike cost about £900 - he wont cycle without a Brookes leather saddle and says its hard at first but once broken in its like an armchair - and you will need that if you plan 100 miles a day!

He sits right near me so anything you want me to ask him let me know. Oh one thing he said was that getting to Scotland (they started at Lands End) was only half way!!

Oh and they were all over the age of 50!!

[fizzwheel]

and I went to the doctors and they said I had poisened myself (i forget what cemical it was now) and its usually only seen in marathon runners. :-({|=

Lactic Acid ? Its a waste product of your muscles burning oxygen for fuel. It can also cause cramp as well.

I know this is a completly different chalange, but why not

I cant see any reason not to, as long as you know what you're getting into and are properly prepared then go for it. :cool:

and no you cant borrow my bike :p

[missyburd]

Lactic Acid ? Its a waste product of your muscles burning oxygen for fuel. It can also cause cramp as well.

I've never heard of anyone actually poisoning themselves because of lactic acid buildup!

[pencil shavings]

I've never heard of anyone actually poisoning themselves because of lactic acid buildup!


yep, it definatly wasnt lactic acid. I just did a quick google and couldnt find it.

[pencil shavings]

and no you cant borrow my bike :p

well, if you dont ask you dont get :D

[fizzwheel]

yep, it definatly wasnt lactic acid. I just did a quick google and couldnt find it.

Cool OK, it was the only thing I could think off. I can relate to the feeling sick thing though, orrible especially when accompanied by jelly legs.

[Spiderman]

Well if this ever happens and you pass by Hatfield, Herts then you're welcome to crash here for a night...somehow i have a feeling you wont be anywhere near here tho, lol.

[arc123]

Sorry to derail thread a little....... But Fizz, what wheels have you got on yours?? I've just got myself a Giant TCR Advanced and will be in the market for lighter wheels at some point in the future....... Nice bike btw :)

[fizzwheel]

Nice bike btw :)

Ta :cool:

Its got :

Mavic Ksyrium SL Premium

These ones

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/Mavic_Ksyrium_SL_Premium_Wheel_Set/5360033713/

[MCN_LiamM]

Don't mean to **** on your bonfire PS... But how you getting back?

[Jdubya]

One of my colleagues did this last summer. He was raising funds for some or other school building project in Asia somewhere. He started off at LE and arrived at JOG in something silly like 78hrs. When he gets back from Spain next week I'll ask hime for the details if you want. Just PM me. His OH and a mate drove behind/ahead of him as his backup team.

[fizzwheel]

started off at LE and arrived at JOG in something silly like 78hrs.

Kin ell, thats good going.

[Miss Alpinestarhero]

Don't mean to **** on your bonfire PS... But how you getting back?

Cycle? Train? Fly? :p

Back to the topic in hand: I think its a really cool thing to do :D I cant really advise much since a lot has been mentioned already but building yp your fitness & getting used to cycling is definately a number 1 priority.

investing in a good bike and thinking about how you'l carry luggage/food is another thing to consider.

Energy bars are probably a good idea too (can be found in camping shops - they have all sorts of stuff).

[Warthog]

I haven't read the whole of this post, but Philbut off this forum has done it, so send him a PM if you have any questions :)

[tigersaw]

I rode from sussex to Amsterdam quite a few years back, about 60 miles per day quite leisurely. Stayed in youth hostels - cheap as chips.

[pencil shavings]

thanks for the replies guys, I guess I need to sit down and get the route properly sorted and get a bike too!! I will have to wait untill after my exams as I really should be concentrating on them!!