LEJOG - 4 Fat blokes on some bikes- Advice welcomed

Bernieburger

Hi there,
Myself and 3 colleagues of mine who all work for a big chocolate company have commited to doing LEJOG next Summer (Drunkenly agreed on a night out) in order to lose weight (Working for a chocolate company has pushed us all north of 17stone!), raise money for Charity, and do something that we can be proud of. None of us are regular cyclists, and would welcome some advice if possible:
1) We are looking to do a supported tour. Any recommendations for companies to use?
2) What sort of bike/bike budget should we be looking at bearing in mind our size and the type of distance we are covering? (I'm liking the CAAD8?but also have the habit of wanting to continually upgrade stuff - Upgrade vortex?) Is it best to buy lightest frame/wheels/best groupset?
3) Does anyone know any links to a training plan for LEJOG?
4) Any other advice welcomed
Cheers
Simon

sungod

http://www.cycle-endtoend.org.uk/ (site is down at the moment, but if you go to google you'll find it in the cache)

and...

http://www.ctc.org.uk/DesktopDefault.aspx?TabID=3397

also try posting in the ctc lejog forum...

http://forum.ctc.org.uk/viewforum.php?f=22

Teach

Bernieburger wrote:

Hi there,


2) Is it best to buy lightest frame/wheels/best groupset?

Be careful what wheels you buy. Your current weight may lead to lots of broken spokes.

Bernieburger

Thanks both for the advice. Training starting this weekend with a ride to, and around Rutland water on the MTB until I can beg/borrow/afford a road bike... Currently secretly saving and hoping that Mrs Bernieburger doesn't notice a shiny new road bike hanging in the garage (' Its alway been there dear!')

izza

Teach wrote:

Bernieburger wrote:

Hi there,


2) Is it best to buy lightest frame/wheels/best groupset?

Be careful what wheels you buy. Your current weight may lead to lots of broken spokes.

When I started riding I was north of 16 st. After doing L2P with AMR, I started breaking spokes due to added aggression in my riding. Searched around and the only company that rated their wheels were DT Swiss. Their 1850's take riders up to 110kg.

Bought a pair and they have served me very well . May look at others as I have now lost 3 stone.

UpTheWall

Worth getting a tourer bike, going for stronger wheels with that kind of weight, and getting bullet proof tyres, e.g. gatorskins. Also, dont go skinney tyres - go for min 26mm

sorr48

Great story guys, I too agreed in a pub to do the 60mile Manchester to Blackpool ride 3 years ago, badgered 3 other guys at work to do the same, me being unfit and 17 stone... it took us about 3 months trainng but we did it easly...! We've since done the Manchester 100m the last 2 years

I have a trek 7300 and is really comfortable but since getting a second hand lemond racer I find myself going fast and longer... but dno't want to carry anything, so for me I'd want all the support I could get...

Now I'm under 14st and getting more and more interested in touring around... the LeJog is certainly a box to tick... keep us posted on the progress... I'll watch from a distance..

Steve

woodywmb

What a great story for the papers. Four big guys surrounded daily by mountains of chocolate set about cycling from one end of the country to the other - to lose weight and raise money for charity. Firstly, get a picture of you all looking mega fat (leave it till later and the feat less less impressive), then submit it to your local paper, asking businesses for sponsorship. Your employers might buy into this. The trade magazines would use a feature as well as the local newspapers. Even the dailies might cover it if you can get the right picture and there's a worthwhile conclusion to your efforts. Send me a message with contact details if you need advice on maximising publicity, assuming you're not shy guys. A catchy team name and any associations with iconic brands) Mars, Kit Kat, Dairy Milk for example) would help the story along. LEJOG experiences are ten a penny these days but this sounds different and could be a winner with some "tickling" on the way.

Kneesaway

Hi

When you get your bikes. Go and get them professionally fitted to you. It will be worth every penny. Type 'Bike Fitting' into google and you should find somebody close by.

N

Bernieburger

Thanks all. Woody, PM'd you re: publicity etc.