Land's End to John o' Groats Equipment Help

Billy94

So, me and a friend are cycling from Land's End to John o' Groats in the Summer, I know the Summer is a long way off yet but as my only income is from a paper round, I thought I'd better start saving and buying now! I am planning to do the ride on a Carrera Gryphon v-spec, I was just after advice as to what equipment I would need. What I've thought of so far are: panniers, touring wheels (or at least stronger wheels), and cycling shoes. Would you agree with these, what advice do you have on what brand etc to buy? And is there anything else that is necessary?
I am an absolute ametuer so I would really appreciate any help!
Thanks
Billy.

amaferanga

Will you be carrying camping stuff?

Billy94

amaferanga wrote:

Will you be carrying camping stuff?

Yes. Between the two of us. Going to try and find the smallest tent possible!

don_don

Ignore any cries that your bike won't be good enough and you should spend lots on a spangly new one. I'm assuming yours is in good order and you know how to maintain it.

Buy several pairs of good cycling shorts and some chamois cream!

Make sure your set-up is comfy for long days in the saddle.

Consider joining the CTC and accessing their forum and tech/route advice on LEJOG. Despite what some CTC naysayers may think, they do at least have plenty of members who can help with practical advice.

Billy94

don_don wrote:

Ignore any cries that your bike won't be good enough and you should spend lots on a spangly new one. I'm assuming yours is in good order and you know how to maintain it.

Buy several pairs of good cycling shorts and some chamois cream!

Make sure your set-up is comfy for long days in the saddle.

Consider joining the CTC and accessing their forum and tech/route advice on LEJOG. Despite what some CTC naysayers may think, they do at least have plenty of members who can help with practical advice.

I gathered most people would start telling me my bike isn't good enough. In all fairness I have to save up for it on £15 a week from a paper round so it's not going to be the best, and I'll just have to make fo with what I have. Thanks for the advice on the shorts and cream! Any advice on wheels etc?

alfablue

For a small tent on a budget I recommend the Coleman Avior X2. At 2.4kg there are certainly lighter tents but not unless you start to pay double the price. Very well designed, quick to pitch. For room to breath I would go for the X3, 500g / £20 more.

A good cheap rack - Tortec Ultralite, good for up to 25kg, for around £22, only 400g.

Good waterproof panniers would be worthwhile, the Ortlieb Back Roller Classic is the pannier of choice.

Billy94

alfablue wrote:

For a small tent on a budget I recommend the Coleman Avior X2. At 2.4kg there are certainly lighter tents but not unless you start to pay double the price. Very well designed, quick to pitch. For room to breath I would go for the X3, 500g / £20 more.

A good cheap rack - Tortec Ultralite, good for up to 25kg, for around £22, only 400g.

Good waterproof panniers would be worthwhile, the Ortlieb Back Roller Classic is the pannier of choice.

Thankyou very much. I will certainly look into these.

amaferanga

IMO that's actually a pretty good bike for LEJOG

My advice would be to travel as light as possible - cut down on spare clothes and all the bits and pieces you CAN do without for a couple of weeks and you'll enjoy the cycling a lot more. I really despair when I see people lugging four massive panniers worth of stuff when touring during the UK summer.

I've toured quite a bit with 4 panniers (long trips in Africa), but recent tours I've had only 2 small (25 litre per pair) panniers with the tent strapped on top of the rack. This is ample capacity for camping stuff, tools, some food, 2 sets of cycling clothes and a set of civvies (i.e. all you NEED). A bit like this:




This year I did a rapid LEJOG on a road bike with just a rack bag (around 10 litres), staying in B&B's and Youth Hostels. Costs a bit more, but means you can either do a direct route much quicker or take a much more interesting and scenic route without fearing hills.

Mark Grant

You could find somewhere halfway to send a package of fresh clothes & any other supplies before you leave and pick it up when you get there. You could possibly treat your self to a B&B at about the halfway mark and send it to them (pre arranged of course) or find a helpful fellow cyclist willing to take in the package and meet you on a set date. You then send the old clothes etc home.
My brother uses this method when long distance walking.

Mark.

dodgysparky

Hi live in Newport,Shropshire sometimes used on the LEJOG,willing to offer collection of clothes ready for your pick up,even a shower and backgarden for tent.
Reason is im planning to do it sometime next year myself and this sounded a good idea..

Billy94

dodgysparky wrote:

Hi live in Newport,Shropshire sometimes used on the LEJOG,willing to offer collection of clothes ready for your pick up,even a shower and backgarden for tent.
Reason is im planning to do it sometime next year myself and this sounded a good idea..

Thanks for the help. I might get back in touch with you in a few months, when we start planning the route and accomodation properly

Billy94

Would these wheels do the job? As I'm trying to keep costs down as much as possible.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/New-Touring-Wheel ... 4cebf200fb

alfablue

In theory, those wheels would be fine, the shop, however, has history and should probably be avoided at all costs.

AidanR

Personally I'd have thought those wheels will be fine for touring - they're 32 spoke and built with strong rims.

The equipment you'll need is a rear rack, panniers, decent pump (I like Lezyne mini pumps), multitool inc. chain splitter and spoke key, at least two water bottles + holders, possibly mudguards (SKS Chromoplastic 35mm (for tyre up to 28c) are good), spare inner tube x2 plus puncture repair kit (Park Tools do a patch and tyre lever combo which is good), basic bike computer, maps (OS Travel Maps are good), good gloves, 2 sets of padded shorts, lights (the front one can double up as a torch), 1 set of waterproof socks (seal the top with a piece of a rubber glove), a light waterproof jacket, some sunglasses, a set of SPD pedals (M520s will do fine), MTB/touring shoes, a saddle that you get on with...

But despite that hefty list, pack light. Bubble wrap works well as a sleeping mat.

Most importantly, test all the gear before you go out. Try and get a few weekends of training in where you cycle 50 - 100 miles, camp on the Saturday night, then ride back on Sunday.

In Scotland you can camp wild (within reason), but elsewhere you'll need to book a camp site or seek permission from the land owner.

Security can be an issue - you'll want a lock but not a heavy one... of course that means that it won't be a good one. You're really just wanting to put off opportunists so don't park up for any length of time in big towns etc.

giantsasquatch

It is easier than you think. I did part of it 4 months ago on a MTB. I cycled 394 miles in 7 days, following mainly the busier A roads. I had no map. I studied the route from AA online at home, wrote down the junction turnings and major towns and followed the signposts. I travelled very light with a small rucksack and the bare bike essentials, slept rough in fields and used shops and garages for isotonics and food supplies. Felt rough and tired at the end but was exhilarated. Cycled late into the night. Kicking myself the one thing i forgot was a chain breaker but was ok without it. I got lift back by car from my family which i spent a week with them there. Great beaches and weather.

MichaelW

There is no relationship between the amount of money you spend and the fun you have.

I picked up a cheap, lightweight tent by Gelert. The Solo really is one person but they make 2/3 man tents.
Mine has survived two 2-week tours so far, not bad for £24.00. The fibre-glass poles started to split but a nice lady at Gelert sent me some new and improved one for free. As long as you swap the steel pegs for aluminium you get a cheap, waterproof, lightweight tent that does the job.

Footwear is the major item in your bags. I have managed to tour on one set of Hi Tec Silver Shadow trainers and nothing else. You may want to take some sandals or boots but think carefully about it.

I take a waterproof jacket and an ultralight windproof one. They can be worn together for extra warmth. Windproofs are much more comfortable on cool, breezy but mostly dry days.
You will need some leggings and evening wear for cooler temps. Ron Hill make good, cheap stuff.
In cheaper days, I would survive cold rainy days by wearing plastic bags over my socks. Now I use expensive Sealskin plastic bags. Full length mudguards make life much more comfortable.

I usually take some chain lube in my kit. I did manage without, salvaging gear oil from discarded bottle at garages but that is sticky stuff and gets dirty. A it of rag and several plastic bags

andrew_s

Wheel strength is all in the build.
It may well be better to find a good local wheelbuilder and get them to rebuild the wheels that come with the bike than it would to buy moderately priced new wheels.
(Rebuild meaning slacken off all the spokes and retension them)
Cost would probably be something like £20 per wheel - the rear wheel is most important.

Ask on here (or CTC Forum, YACF, Bikeradar) for recommended wheelbuilders, or shops with good wheel builders

Monty Dog

As well as having the right kit, make sure you make the investmen in the parts most likely to break down i.e. you. You'll need to get a fair amount of mileage in to get yourself used to long days in the saddle. Suggest you do a long back-to-back i.e. saturday-sunday where each day you ride your daily mileage - a month before. It'll give you a chance to check out your bike, kit and fitness. Beginners tend to take way more than they need - be brutal with your kit choiuces - it's not as though you're riding across the Sahara unsupported and you can pick up what you need on the route.

rake

have a sharp axe in case you need to sart a fire.

sandbag

rake wrote:

have a sharp axe in case you need to sart a fire.

You can get one on a good multi-tool nowadays.