Lands End to John O'Groats

armsonfire

Hi, just wanting some advice really. maybe training plans and time lines, what to eat on the ride. we are aiming to do it over 8-9 days. if anyone could give me some advice or share there own experience on having done it. would be really grateful

bigal.

I have just finished a 7 day solo Lejog and although it was tough, it wasnt as bad as I had imagined.

I generally ride approx 100 - 150 miles per week and basically increased my mileage to approx 200 miles a week for around 3 months prior to going. I also made a point of completing 3 x 100 miles rides back to back at least two or three times, so that my body was getting used to recovering as quickly as possible.

The other key elements are, ensure that you are well organised in terms of spares and making sure that your bike is in good condition which might sound obvious, but I came across a lot of riders doing it on cheap worn tyres with no spares as back up.

Then there is of course the weather. I still say that the wind can be the difference between success and failure. Cant help you with that one.

Eat well and make sure that you are well hydrated. For your own sanity think about it in stages and not that your about to cycle 900 miles.

My total cycling time was 51 hours over 7 days which doesnt sound as bad as 900 miles.

Meant to add that cold baths and compression tights helped a lot.

t_b

I did the LE to JoG three years ago. That was my first major tour ride. For practice, I was doing about 60miles a day in a weekend. The interesting thing is I didn't realise how much I can cycle until I got into the expedition. The first two days are though... then I got the hang of it, then it was easy. doing 100 miles a day with full load. two panniers in front, two in the back and a tent.

So my advice is.. don't take it too serious. And don't set high target. you will find your own phase after two or three days. then you can do it comfortably..

Happy riding

mroli

Think about your route. Do you want to ride busy roads (shorter) or nicer roads (longer). Do you want to include any big hills? Think about the midges in Scotland and be prepared for prevailing weather conditions. How do you want to cycle it? Hard - 8 days will be 100+ miles per day and depending on speed will be significant times of your day in the saddle.

What are you taking with you?

Get your bike well serviced beforehand and be prepared for "minor" breakdowns - flats/spokes/chain breakages.

Get your navigation sorted - nothing more soul destroyng than backtracking.

Get fit beforehand.

Enjoy our beautiful country.

edward1948

hi

just did solo unsupported 'lejog'. i'm 62 and did it on my normal road bike-shorter rochford 'tight angle' frame, full carbon fork and seat stays. no guard space, 53/39 and 12 x 25. 922 miles. Campag G/set with skeleton brakes, San Marco Royal saddle, 'handbuilt wheels' - nothing special, CXP21 rims. Otherwise would have used mavic aksiums.

altura bar bag, and carradice tour with QR seatpost fitting. the bar bag alters the handling but you soon get used to it.

routed south c/wall-devon-cheddar-bristol-chepstow- monmouth-ludlow crossed mersey @ warrington. preston A6 over shap, penrith, gretna, moffat, biggar-crossed forth road bridge-perth then NCN7 to inverness-(mirrors a9 most of the way but safe). the A9 south of inverness is too risky in my opinion. NCN7 is the 'sustrans route' -some great cycling.

onto beauly-slight diversion but avoids inverness road bridge-then mostly A9 and then A99.

Roads I would always aviod. A30. A9 south of Inverness. The A590/591/A6 for about 10 miles south of Kendal- if are using the A6 come off at Ackenthwaite and use minor roads via Sedgwick and Natland into Kendal-no time penalty.



advice:
1. Do a few 'back to back' 90/100 mile rides - with some climbs.
2. Fit a compact c/s - 50/34 and a 28 rear. you really need something like 34/28 for shap, helmsdale etc. I wish i had!
3. avoid the A roads into kendal-you can easily slip through the byroads-see above.
4. keep well hydrated - and keep eating-carbs etc
5. unless you're on a really tight time line don't force it-enjoy.

I used a 'philip's' easyread navigator road atlas-cut out the pages i needed, and discarded them as i went along(properly!) quite satisfying to see the pile diminish!

I didn't have any mechanical issues. just changed brake blocks in taunton as wore them out on blind descents in c/wall. perhaps i was lucky. one puncture in the mendips.
'conti' gatorskins '23' section. longest day the last, 96 miles invergordon-jog. headwinds all the way! june6-18, 2010.

enjoy yourselves! 'sit in' and climb shap fell! most invigorating! best riding-the climb out of moffat about 5 miles up to the source of the tweed, then a lovely descent followed by about 20 miles alongside the river. brilliant.

on the way back get to inverness somehow(i scrounged a lift!) get your bike boxed up-i used highland cycles-great guys-jump on easyjet and your done!

cheers!