Why LEJOG?

Why Lands End to John O'Groats?

The idea really started when I was 18 (see picture left, complete with hair!).












During the holidays between upper 6th and university, I was lucky enough to take part in a cycle tour from Southampton down to lands end and back (a really big thanks to Lawrence Herklots from KES for this experience).

Now you have to appreciate that I was 18 - planning and preparation were not part of my vocabularly. My bike for the duration was a raleigh ace 5 gear racer that I'd had since I was 12 - far too small for me and all the wrong gears. I'd borrowed some panniers from my friend Pete and loaded them up with my stuff and cycled around the block the night before. Training over.

On the first day, about 60 miles in, I developed muscle spasms in both my thighs and cramp in both calve muscles. I was well behind the rest of the team and developed my own little ritual. It went like this - cycle about 500m, get cramp and spasms in both legs, fall off on the grass verge, lie there twitching like a dying ant, wait for spasms to stop, then get back on bike and repeat. I do remember several cars stopping and their very kind drivers asking if I was OK, but being an 18 year old lad, my stock answer was always "I'm fine".

Anyhow, things did get better and it was a really excellent trip. I remember seeing a couple of lads on a tandem beginning their LEJOG and thinking "that's a cool idea" and it's been at the back of my mind ever since.

22 years later I'm hoping that I'm less of an idiot than I was then - or at least a better prepared one...

LEJOG Itinery

The LEJOG road less travelled?

26th July Lands End -> Launceston 89 miles
27th July Launceston -> Cheddar 108 miles
28th July Cheddar -> Leominster 100 miles
29th July Leominster -> Winsford 93 miles
30th July Winsford -> Slaidburn 81 miles (almost a rest day)
31st July Slaidburn -> Lockerbie 117 miles (oh dear)
1st August Lockerbie -> Loch Lomond 99 miles
2nd August Loch Lomond -> Loch Ness 122 miles (ouch)
3rd August Loch Ness -> Helmsdale 89 miles
4th August Helmsdale -> John O Groats -> Wick 86 miles
5th August Fly home (back in a few hours!)

If you are around in any of these locations (stranger things have happened) come and say hello!

The joy of cycling

Last couple of days commuting have been pure joy - gentle breeze, sun shining, the bike gliding through drifting blossom and dandelion seeds. On days like this, you become part of the landscape, rather than separated from it inside a tin can. Maybe the price of petrol will force more drivers to revisit their pre-car childhood...

Does it fit?

Yes it does - packed all of the stuff that I intend to take in July. It fits into two rear panniers and comes in at 2 stones. Hopefully I can offset this a bit by losing 10lb before the end of July. But that's another challenge...

Training ride

Went on an 87 mile training ride yesterday. Followed the test valley through Romsey, before heading through Lockerley and the grimsteads to Downton. From there back into the New Forest through Ibsley and bransgore to the Coast and back home through Lymington and Beaulieu.

Some really nice scenery, with Bluebells, Rapeseed and Gorse all in flower. Shame it was cold, wet and windy - still probably excellent training for British Summer Time!