Quote:
Originally Posted by Winder
I have booked myself 3 weeks off in May next year with the hope of doing LEJOG (Lands End - John o Groats) cycle.
I have been doing my research for the last week and read through around 100 articles on different websites. It's a lot to take in.
I don't want someone following along in a support vehicle and staying in swank hotels as that sort of "credit card adventure" isn't for me and I couldn't afford it anyway.
I would prefer hostels and camping for sleeping arrangements and I want the quietest (least traffic) route as possible. I know people have done it in a week by slogging out mile after mile on A roads sucking it lorry fumes but again, that's not for me. If it could all be done on cycle routes and canals I would go for that no matter how hilly it is.
If any of you have done it before I would be interested in
•your training
•your route
•your daily mileage
•where you stayed
•what bike you used
•anything you would change/do differently
Thanks
Mark
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My old boss and friend did it when he was 64, a pre retirement ride.
Training: miles, miles & more miles. Try and fit in some Audax or Sportive events
Route: There's several routes to do it (shortest, fastest etc), but usually South to North is the easier way because of the prevailing winds. The CTC website has these routes. I don't think you can do it on towpaths, the systrans network might cover some of the route. There are some really quiet roads on the route.
He did it as part of an organised event with pre booked guest houses at each stop so you knew how many miles you were facing each day. They had a support van in case of breakdowns or injury.
If you're camping you'll need a touring bike or mountainbike with pannier racks, probably front & rear depending on how much gear you're carrying, but if you use the option above, then you're ride might be more fun if you don't have to lug all that gear up hill and down dale. Plus packing up and setting up each could be a PITA.
Especially if you're doing between 80 - 100 miles per day, maybe less on hilly parts?
The timescale you've set aside is perfect, I think my boss did it in about 10 days with travel at either end.
I've just done a weeks cycling in the French Alps averaging about 50 miles per day, on roads not dissimilar to some you're going to be doing, so don't underestimate the amount of fitness you'll need.
Doing it as part of a group can help you through the rough parts & having a support wagon gives you reassurance if you get into trouble