LEJOG route

pompy

Hi all,

I am planning on doing lejog in September (very beginning of) and I am trying to get a good balance of faster but not too bust A roads and more pleasant b roads. After scouring forums on the subject, I have selected a route!
Do any of you previous lejogers have any advice on this? I am hoping to complete this on my Pompino (singlespeed) :? so planning on having to push up a couple of Cornish hills!

Thankyou!

pompy

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps/ms?ie=UTF ... 91953&z=11

barney69

112 miles to Grantown-On-Spey through the Caringorms, in 1 day ona single speed - you must be 1 fit cyclist (although your bike will weigh little).
Not sure if you can do it Google maps but if you use Bikeroute toaster you'll be bale to see the profiles and there may be some you'd rather avoid if possible.
Why not go straight over the Forth Road Bridge?
I'm considering popping onto the Black Isle (to view the dolphins) and hopefully getting the ferry across from Cromarty.
Good Luck, I'm attempting it late August but will be keeping West in Scotland until Fort William.

barney69

just checked on BRT and you have a 650m climb from 60km and 120km and that's all climbing (and not the end of it for that day).

thecrofter

Grantown on Spey is awfully far east to come back west for Inverness, across Culloden into the wind. And the road up through Glenshee is a hoor of a climb, then you're going Tomintoul to Cockbridge, that's the first road that closes every year and the last one to open due to snow, the reason for that it's very high, very up and down and very windy. That will be one mother of a day, if that's your intention then fine.

Definately use the Forth Bridge if you are coming that far east, saves you twenty odd miles.

Better I think if instead of Auchterarder you went towards Callander, then over by Crianlarich to Fort William and the Great Glen. Much less climbing, more chance of a tailwind all the way to Inverness

thecrofter

Also use the Kessock Bridge at Inverness, save another twenty miles, there is a cycleway beside the dual carriageway. And stay with the main road at Evanton/Alness it's a big bump to get over and down to Tain nice road in a car but a long climb up and again very windy on top.

The A9 up the coast from Brora is a bit dull you could turn left at Helmsdale and hit the north coast along to JOG, it's a bit longer but probably more fun/pain.

pompy

Wow, thanks guys for the suggestions!
The reason I am avoiding the A9 is it seems to be a lot of busy dual carriageway and not all with cycleways, I'm quite happy to add a few miles for the sake of a more pleasant journey!
Barney69, I will have a look at that site, it might help persuade me to make some changes! I'm possibly looking to start my trip on Aug 31st so if you delay your trip, let me know and you can tell me how stupid I am attempting this on a single speed!

Think what I might do is add another day to reduce some of the big mileages as I'm in no rush.

Thanks again guys.

thecrofter

Avoiding the A9 is a good plan although there is a lot of the old road which is now a cycleway, but as barney69 says you'd be a lot easier heading west and up the west coast as far as Fort William than heading thru' the Cairngorms.

harpo

thecrofter wrote:

And the road up through Glenshee is a hoor

Is that supposed to be horor or whore? I hope it's another way to spell whore.

thecrofter

harpo wrote:

I hope it's another way to spell whore.

Correct, although we tend to use it to mean anything that's extreme, in a monstrously large or fearsome kind of way.

Dr U Idh

There is no dual-carraigeway needing to be cycled if you use the A9. You're either on relatively quiet local roads, closed sections of the old road or purpose-built cycle path. However, there is one section around Newtonmore which is currently closed and you need to call a provided number for a free mini-bus/taxi service for a few miles.