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

[SoulKiss]

Originally Posted by 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

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

Go for it!

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?

Originally Posted by pencil shavings

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

Originally Posted by missyorkie_chris

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

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?

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

[fizzwheel]

Originally Posted by pencil shavings

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-ra...1%7C240%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...

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]

Originally Posted by pencil shavings

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



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.

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 , 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