Re: Has anyone done the end to end cycle?
 

EssexDave- my cycling fitness is average, VERY average. I am a mountain bike rider and runner so this sort long distance steady cadence cycling is all new to me. I can cycle hard on black routes for 3-4 hours at a time and usually do 2 or 3 runs a week (2x10km, 1xhill sprints) but I know this counts for nothing when training for distance cycling.

I couldn't find a touring bike in my budget just now so got a 1993 cannondale M500 rigid mountain bike from eBay for £70 to train on.

I want to get a solid base fitness down and build up slowly. Hopefully 6 1/2 months is enough time to do this.

I will be putting new brake pads and gear change cables on the bike tomorrow and possibly some new tyres with added puncture protection? when I have done more research.

Training will officially start on the 20th when I'm back on shifts but will be doing small rides from Monday.

Re: Has anyone done the end to end cycle?
 

Well if anyone's interested the training stage has begun.
The old cannondale has got some new bits on and is taking me to and from work.
The first day of 23 miles there and 23 miles back in the ice cold and pitch black was horrible. The route is 90% off road on a ridged mtb so my arms were vibrated to bits.
I will be changing the route to make it less "extreme" off road and more canal path type riding to prevent any sort of injury from severe vibrations as the pins and needles was starting to get on my nerves. I'm also thinking of putting a very small (60mm) travel fork on the bike to help with this but I'm concerned about adding too much weight.
Changing the tyres from 1.3 inch slicks to 1.5 inch armoured tyres with a tread has slowed the bike down quite a bit but I haven't had a puncture yet, unlike the old ones.
Planning has taken a back seat at the minute as I just want to get time in the saddle as suggested by Essex Dave.
Planning will continue in the new year and will most likely change to from LEJOG to JOGLE. But nothing is 100% as of yet.
Anyone free from 7th-26th of May next year for a bike ride???

Re: Has anyone done the end to end cycle?
 

Now's the time to put in some serious steady miles, it doesn't matter what you're riding just try to get the distances in without stopping say twice weekly 60 or 80 milers should see your stamina increase, take plenty to drink and keep the carbs up. Would love to join you but I couldn't do it next year too much planned already.

Re: Has anyone done the end to end cycle?
 

My brother in law did it earlier this year. Although he did it with support vehicles, staying in hotels, etc.

He cycles (only 15 miles there and back combined) to work each day and has done for 4-5 years. Prior to training for this, he had never done longer. In addition to the daily cycling, just under a year before doing it, he joined a cycle club of "serious" cyclists and rode in their Peloton on weekend rides varying between about 50-100 miles. He built this up to the stage he could do 120-140 miles in a day at the weekend without being absolutely dead the next day.

He found the actual event a lot easier than he thought it would be and realised that training with competitive cyclists had resulted in him having a comfortable, sustainable cruising speed of slightly higher than most people on the ride.

Re: Has anyone done the end to end cycle?
 

Thanks Ceri. I did have a look at my local cycle club and as you say it's full of "serious" cyclists. I'm really not one of the Lycra wearing, carbon fibre bike brigade I'm afraid and if I rocked up on a battered old mountain bike i would get some strange looks and i doubt I would be keeping up with anyone anyways.
I do fancy having a blast on one of these mega light bikes with super skinny rubber on but I enjoy canal paths and forests etc rather than sharing the road with cars.
Good to know that only 15 miles and back gave him a good base fitness for some serious mileage!