LEJOG - Lands End to John O'Groats

Jakess1971

Looking at getting fit enough to do a bucket list challenge for next year and well what better then a LEJOG.

Started planning some routes, I've noticed a lot of the routes I've seen for the first couple of days are quite inland for my liking, see http://www.landsend-to-johnogroats.co.uk/ for example, however I'm trying to devise a nice coastal route even if this means a few extra miles, here's what I've come up with so far:

Day 1: Mornings Ride Lands End to Crantock - 78.4km



connect.garmin.com/modern/course/8674930



Day 1: Afternoons Ride - Crantock to Bude - 94.2km



connect.garmin.com/modern/course/8675199

It's early days but lots of planning to do, appropriate places to stay, bike shops, decent training etc.

I'm aiming for about 9 or 10 days doing about 110 miles a day, I may split that first day into two days though, for one it's beautiful down in Cornwall and for another just look at those hills! lol. Currently thinking May 2016 as that's just before peak season and the traffic that goes with it, plus it co-insides with my 45th Birthday.

Any thoughts etc on these are most welcome.

KitTheRoadie

I'm in Bridgwater in Somerset, pretty near the coast, I would gladly put you up for the night if needed! Maybe if it fits with work I could be your Somerset chaperone?! lol

Jakess1971

Thanks for the offer Kit, your more then welcome to ride some of the course with me, the following shows my schedule so far:



Here's the links for Bude to Minehead (stopping at Woolacombe):

connect.garmin.com/modern/course/8679285

connect.garmin.com/modern/course/8679317

and Minehead to Gloucester (stopping at cheddar):

connect.garmin.com/modern/course/8679697

connect.garmin.com/modern/course/8679800

cloggsy71

Looks epic; would love to do this one day!

Jakess1971

I've been on about this for the past several months so it's time to put some action behind the idea, it's good to have something exciting to train for and this ticks all the boxes for the next stage in my cycling. This year is to step it up a gear and get some more weight off to be in good shape to do this.

Here is another route at http://www.users.waitrose.com/~ianclare/lejog1.htm

Again it's a through the mainland route, all my riding so far has been mainland and I want to see the sea!

TheBigYin

well - all I can say is this - the first three days or so will be bloody tough... the inland routes are hard enough, it's pretty hard and rolling terrain and after the first two 100 mile days I was fairly near to being broken... that said I was riding a touring bike with all the camping kit on it, call it 15kg of bike and another 20 of luggage. That and the fact that it didn't stop raining for the first 3 days nearly put paid to my attempt.

To add a little perspective though, I was 27 at the time, and held a 2nd Category racing licence, specialising in longer distance time trials, so it was a bit of swings and roundabouts.

Jakess1971

TheBigYin wrote: »

well - all I can say is this - the first three days or so will be bloody tough... the inland routes are hard enough, it's pretty hard and rolling terrain and after the first two 100 mile days I was fairly near to being broken... that said I was riding a touring bike with all the camping kit on it, call it 15kg of bike and another 20 of luggage. That and the fact that it didn't stop raining for the first 3 days nearly put paid to my attempt.

To add a little perspective though, I was 27 at the time, and held a 2nd Category racing licence, specialising in longer distance time trials, so it was a bit of swings and roundabouts.

Chapeau for doing it! I tip my hat to anyone no matter what age, ability or fitness to do this, it's a mammoth task no matter how you look at it, I'm a little in awe of the task ahead at the mo, I know my current fitness anything over 300km in three days hurts a lot, doing 1000 odd miles in 9 days is a bit like looking at a big blooming mountain but hopefully a good year this year with the weight loss and stepping it up a gear on the bike will stand me in good stead for the challenge ahead.

TheBigYin

third day is the hardest, after that you sort of get into the routine... We did it in a fortnights holiday, 11 days riding and the rest travelling to the start and back home afterwards, so no real scope for days off - "easy days" were anything under 100 miles... but, when you realise that you've got all day to ride, it's definitely do-able. If I was thinking of trying it now, it'd be a longer route but i'd be taking 3-4 weeks over it, breaking for the odd day off here and there, and calling in on a few friends on the way. Oh, and I wouldn't be bloody well camping, so the gear overhead wouldn't be as bad.

Jakess1971

Me and camping don't get on, it'll be nice BnBs all the way .