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

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

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.

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.

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.

Originally Posted by 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.

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

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

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.

Originally Posted by 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.

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!!



that is the basic route idea

Originally Posted by 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.

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.

Originally Posted by missyorkie_chris

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)

Originally Posted by 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.

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!

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

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

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