Lands End to John o Groats equipment advice
johnson1985
Posts: 38
Hello,
I will be cycling from Lands End to John o'Groats over 14 days at the end of august, but do not have much equipment. I've recently bought myself a decent bike, but now need a helmet, a pannier rack and bags and a gel seat cover, to be bought on a VERY tight budget...
Does anyone have any advice on buying these items (i.e. how cheap can I go, and where can I buy them from?). Also, are there any other important items I should also be looking to buy i.e. kevlar tyres, cycling shorts?
any help would be much appreciated...
steve
I will be cycling from Lands End to John o'Groats over 14 days at the end of august, but do not have much equipment. I've recently bought myself a decent bike, but now need a helmet, a pannier rack and bags and a gel seat cover, to be bought on a VERY tight budget...
Does anyone have any advice on buying these items (i.e. how cheap can I go, and where can I buy them from?). Also, are there any other important items I should also be looking to buy i.e. kevlar tyres, cycling shorts?
any help would be much appreciated...
steve
0
Posts
Puncture resistant tyres are a good idea, what tires does your bike have now?
A lot of your questions depend on how you'll be doing it. Will you be camping and unsupported, or in a B&B every night?
I don't want to be patronising or tell you how to suck eggs but I'm inferring from your post that you're not super experienced at this, so with the end of August looming main advice would be to get some miles in and if possible get a trial weekend in first, especially if you're going to be camping. Nothing tells you what you need and don't need like actually going out and doing it, although of course there are some basics!
I am planning on a few long bicycle rides in the run up to the trip, so yes you're right hopefully that will give me some answers.
We are planning on camping and using b&bs/hostels, depending on how we feel!
The bike tyres I have now are Kenda nylon tyres - they are on this bike
http://www.giant-liverpool.co.uk/bikes. ... nge=1&id=6
+1. Having the right saddle position is more important than a gel cover. You really need to spend time on the bike to get it set up comfortably.
Schwalbe Marathons would be my choice, in 25 or 28mm. I'd run them around 85 psi.
If it's wet you'll really appreciate mudguards. I'd get some thin gloves with a slightly padded palm.
If you don't have them already get proper cycling shoes with a solid sole, even in you're not using clip in pedals. Touring / light mountain bike SPD compatible shoes with a rubber tread. Doing this in trainers will be horrid.
What route are you planning?
Specialized Roubaix SL3 Expert 2012, Cannondale CAAD5,
Marin Mount Vision (1997), Edinburgh Country tourer, 3 cats!
Do you have any advice on any good places I can buy this equipment from? i.e. pannier racks, mudguards, helmets??
Are you taking maps or GPS? Booked B&B's?
In Scotland folk either use the A82 or A9. The A82 is a very busy road with limited cycle paths. The A9 has the option of either cycle paths or parallel B roads (the old A9) for most of it's length.
The Cycle Touring Club website might be worth a visit.
Specialized Roubaix SL3 Expert 2012, Cannondale CAAD5,
Marin Mount Vision (1997), Edinburgh Country tourer, 3 cats!
We went up the A9 and to be honest it was the worst part of the route (even worse than the A30).
Can't comment about bags and rack as we had support vehicles with doing it in under 80 hours.
Andy
Cyclist, Massage Therapist & Ice Cream Genius
Andrew Creer Massage
The trick is to use the old A9 at the side. But depending on how you plan it north of Inverness that may not be possible. South of Inverness I'd far rather the old A9 and cycle path than the A82.
Specialized Roubaix SL3 Expert 2012, Cannondale CAAD5,
Marin Mount Vision (1997), Edinburgh Country tourer, 3 cats!
Whats the longest ride you've done - and what distances are you thinking of doing each day ? My pals have just done it and they're both experienced bikers - I think they took something like 10 days and it wasnt easy. Keep the weight to a minimum and you need to plan a lot better than you have done already.
Route will be crucial - there's some nasty fast roads out there that i wouldn't want to ride on.
Might be an idea to make sure you have lights on the bikes too.
As to kit - any LBS will help you out. Comfort of the helmet is more important than saving a few quid. And they'll probably fit the panniers too.
Gel seat cover - that kind of shows you've not ridden very far ? You need to maximise time in the saddle now.
As to tyres - what have you got on now ?
And if you're camping - that's a lot of weight you'll have to carry too. Just to make it extra tricky.
the tyres I have on now are Kenda nylon tyres that came with the giant escape 3:
http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-gb/bik ... 846/45465/
But can anyone recommend a good site that sells equipment?
Good luck with the trip buddy. By the sounds of it you're in for a hard time with so little experience and time in the saddle.
I would definitely advise a trip to your LBS they should be able to hook you up with what you need although camping may prove to be a bit too far with the extra luggage you'll be hauling about.
You should get as many miles as possible in now and at the very least one ride with your bike fully kitted up with everything you'd be taking so you know how your bike will feel. For tyre choice i'd go with Conti Gatorskins, they're practically bullet-proof and should see you right.
Kona Jake CX
Cervelo P5
Kit: try your local bike clubs for second hand kit (Panniers small tents etc) get in touch with the two or three near you and post up in their wanted forum - there is one here too.
Miles - aim for 80-90 miles one day 40-50 the next any more is a bonus
Route - make sure you know where you are staying each night - - if camping factor in the time to build/strike camp - Avoid A82 as there is no respite from the road, go via A9 but stay off the main road and follow the NCN route/old A9 road adjacent. I travel the A9 regularily and seeing cyclists wobbling about on scare the Shengis out of me.
Beware the weather in the highlands, can get cold and wet quickly.
Eat - you need to consume 4000 cals a day to keep going.
Shorts - 3 pairs min - you can get nasties in there if you don't keep them and your undercarriage clean including cream for your backside before and after riding.
Pack plenty of midge repellant those wee shites can ruin a good holiday.
Smile lots and don't give in to the inevitable self loathing... prob around day 4-5.
Camping adds alot of weight onto the bike, and takes up a pannier bag in itself. If you're going to lug the kit all that way then lugging for (say) 4 nights out of 14 doesn't make sense. Plotting B&Bs every 3/4 days is handy to use a real washing machine though. You'll be hand washing your kit every night almost at the camp site -- I was anyway!
I did it in 12 days unsupported with 5 mates, camping all the way except 3 nights, so we could mix in a washing machine and decent bed. One pannier was full of tent/sleeping bag/inflatable pillow/silk liner/cooking kit/off bike shoes while the other was all clothes, off bike/on bike, lock, solar panel... and then a small bar bag with food/valuables/electrical kit. Whole package weighed a fair bit!!! We were knocking in between 70 and 95 miles depending on terrain. I did it on a mountain bike (spare parts bike!), but each to their own huh.
As people say, the contact points with the bike are important. Decent shoes, shorts (oh your censored will hurt) and gloves. Move about on the bike as much as you can to spread the load or you'll suffer from things like ulnar nerve compression (I did, lost the use of 3 fingers for 3 months).
Best of luck dude, sounds like you're in for a grindfest. It's well worth the major tick in the box though.
I did start a website but didn't quite finish it. Has my kit list on it though so feel free to browse. https://sites.google.com/site/brumlejog2010/home
However, you'd be better undertaking a much shorter tour this year and then aim to do LEJOG next year once you know what you have let yourself in for and have time to train fully and get some experience. Good luck!!
As others have said - ignore the gym - it's not going to do anything for you at this point. The key is to get comfortable on the bike - and that can take some trial and error doing some miles.
You need to do some back to back days fully loaded - you've a couple of weekends before the big ride - use them wisely!
Keep everything very clean downstairs or there will be trouble. Eat and drink well - little and often. Get on the road as early as possible each day - 50-60 miles a day loaded touring can be done at quite a leisurely pace if you get on the road nice and early, have some elevenses, ride an hour or two more, some lunch and then plod on for the afternoon.
I've heard of people doing crazier feats with less prep - but it wouldn't be for me!
I this is a serious post I don't believe that you can do sufficient training now for your body to acclimatise to doing 80 - 100 miles per day for 2 weeks. It is not a question of fitness, it is a question of your body being able to do this without overuse injuries such as tendonitis.
I would have thought you would want 3 months minimum adding the miles on and preferably 6 to 12 months preparation time.
I have just come back with 50 others from cycling from Bristol to Bordeaux, a much smaller undertaking than yours. Despite everyone having prepared pretty well there were a few who weren't able to finish through knee/achilles etc injuries. I would suggest you plan to delay to next early summer and spend from now to then training.
You don't need to be a superfit lycra-clad cycling machine to do this, undoubtedly it would help, but not as much as the determination to finish.
Cover off the contact points and make sure the bike is mechanically sound.
GOOD LUCK and don't forget to post and let us all know how you're getting on.
Allezoops
Sponsor me please http://www.justgiving.com/scotlandsbravesttot
LEJOG is no small matter and if you've not ridden more than twenty miles before, and are giving yourself so little time to train, you really are going to need to re-think your timeline a bit. Riding 80 miles a day - day after day - with a full load on a tourer is a bit more challenging than you seem to realize. I'm not saying it can't be done, but I have my doubts that fourteen days will be enough time for you to do it. You really will need to plan on giving your joints and tendons some well-earned rest along the way. Failure to do so will be painful at the very least and possibly damaging. Once knees and achilles tendons start getting creaky, and you keep on going, that can well be the end of your ride.
Do you have to go at the end of August? Can you postpone another month? If not, what about doing C2C this year - an admirable ride and accomplishment - get the experience under you belt, put a few miles in your legs over the winter and tackle LEJOG come spring?
Well said...
Rather than potentially ruin your chance to do LEJOG, why not give a CTC ride a chance - say 3/4 days?
Building up fitness is vital, whilst doing this you will also get used to the bike (and will not need a "gel" seat, as long as you have decent saddle/shorts), it will also iron out pontetial bike issues, a new bike will need to worn in.
Added to that is camping gear, you can buy light weight stuff, but it all adds to the weight (and cost!). A good to time to get this stuff cheap is at the end of the season (Sept).
Get used to all these first, I reckon you would complete the LEJOG if you tried it straight away, but would it be an enjoyable experience hitting it head on? There are so many other great rides/tours... I can recommend The Way of the Roses.
Whatever you do make sure your bike fits you properly.
Tyres: those Kendas are rubbish. Bontrager Hardcase are tough but much lighter than the Marathons - http://www.allterraincycles.co.uk/product/119612.html
You'll need spare tubes and tools, of course.
You may need more than one pair of shorts, I would recommend starting in a clean pair every day. If you're strapped for cash I find Lusso 6-panel shorts quite comfortable, though more expensive shorts have better padding. Take some Sudocrem for saddle sores.
Clip-in SPD pedals and shoes make a big difference to pedalling efficiency.
Search these forums for LEJOG or check CTC's dedicated forum at http://forum.ctc.org.uk/viewforum.php?f=22 and http://ctc.org.uk/DesktopDefault.aspx?TabID=3397
Hope you have a great time.
I'd think again about camping and i'm a huge camping fan!
It seems pointless lugging all the gear for the sake of a few nights. You'd be better off just opting solely for B&Bs as you'd save on buying the gear (decent lightweight camping gear is very expensive and far outweighs the cost of 4 nights in a B&B) and then the added weight of carrying it which will make your trip even harder.
With your relative lack of riding, i'd concentrate on making it as easy as possible. So the idea would be to travel as light as you can. Get some SPD pedals at least to make the riding easier. You'll fall off whilst clipped in for the first few days but then it will be second nature after the first few hundred miles.
Pre book hotels and B&Bs in advance so you have a destination that you "need" to get to each day as this may help spur you on each day.
I'd recommend travelling with essentials in a saddlebag such as a Carradice Nelson and even post items such as a change of clothing ahead to your B&Bs.
If you've got the budget to suit, all you really need is a bike, saddlebag and a few changes of clothing down the line.
https://twitter.com/DKNWHY
Bloody hell man - 20 mile maximum and you are planning an end to end! In 14 days!! Good luck with that - you do realise you will be having to do around triple that EVERY day, don't you?!!
Anyway for best places and value to buy bits I would say CRC then Wiggle and then Ebay - in that order.
I do fancy an end to end - I wouldn't fancy it on that bike with only 21 gears or even my hybrid with 27 - although it would be doable.
Gel seat covers - complete waste of money. As others have said - get your riding position spot on and buy some padded shorts - you WILL need them..
Possibly - no, definitely some kind of saddle sore cream - Sudocream works for me you could use Vaseline or some specific expensive bike product. You WILL get sore censored /balls/ legs.
If I was in your postion I wouldn't even contemplate lugging the extra weight to camp. Join the Youth Hostelling Association and stay at them. Search for YHA and book it up. You will appreciate being able to have a cuppa and shower when you arrive and not worry about pi55ing about setting up a tent.
Dunno about the tyres you have but I would definitely suggest some puncture protected - I have used these on a hybrid http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=26232 and found them pretty darn good.especially for the money.
I would also advise on mudguards but seeing that it is warm may not be a problem if you have some waterproofs. Although they will help protect your drivechain.
When you know what you want I suggest going to those sites - especially CRC - brilliant service and pricing - and then searching the items from low to high.
BTW I am not affiliated with any site - just based on my experience - best of luck - it is a BIG step up from an occasional 20 miler to an end to end in a fortnight!!
You've got to want it. If you do, then get out there and nut it out.
I have these - and they are the standard entry level pedals http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... delID=3759
I use them with these shoes - because I found proper road shoes completely impractical to walk in http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=46594
I paid £19.50 for the pedals and £35 for the shoes.
It really will help your ride because you are still rotating the crank on the upstroke.
HTH