Reflecting on LEJOG

A week later…

One week on and unsuccessfully trying to lower my calorie intake back to a normal level, I thought that I would reflect on the whole experience. What have I learned?
– in no particular order…

1. It was tough – particularly the first few days. It does get easier due to a combination of leaving Cornwall behind and your body getting used to what it is being asked to do. I also found my mental attitude changing – no longer trying to “beat the miles” more cycling with them, going fast when I could, happy to just keep the pedals turning on hills.

2. This wasn’t a cycling holiday. On many levels I knew this – the trip was about challenge, the daily mileage ensured this. However, a small part of me was looking forward to seeing the countryside from the freedom of a bike. Hah! That part of me was living in dreamland. Everyday was about the challenge of getting through the miles. If you want a nice cycle touring holiday, my route would be excellent if you did it over 18+ days. Cornwall should be done over two days. Actually sod it – take 3!

3. The Satmap active 10 GPS is fab! It didn’t let me down at all – I always knew where I was and the battery power was pretty good – it went flat on route on only my longest day – it had been on for about 13 hours though. GEEK alert - if anyone wants the GPS files, I am happy to email them.

4. Udder cream works – not at all saddle sore. Although the application of this product is something best done in private and feels decidedly odd.

5. Ibuprofen works. The picture shows my ankle after I stopped taking the tablets (and cycling) on Thursday. The injury was already a week old – the swelling wasn’t. Sorry about the feet

6. The road less travelled – certainly the cycle paths and quiet lanes took me away from traffic and on to picturesque locations. It did also ensure that for the most part I didn’t see any other LEJOGers on route (at least until Scotland) – it may have been nice to have cycled with someone else for a while.

7. Kit – I carried far more than was necessary. There was certainly stuff that I didn’t need and indeed I posted a fair amount home. I still think that having a support vehicle would make continuing on harder when the going gets tough.

8. The “Work division game” – for those of you not familiar with Terry Pratchett – you do find yourself occupying your time on the bike working out milestones e.g. 1 more mile and I’ll be a third of the distance, which will take another 5 minutes, so just another 4.5 hours and I’ll finish. The constant re-calculations during the day become part of the cycling ritual.

9. Cake is a dangerous addiction when you stop cycling.

10. Youth Hostels – if you haven’t used them before or for a long time, then they get my recommendation. If you’re travelling alone, you don’t feel like you are still alone in the evenings (particularly true of the small hostels – Slaidburn was my personal favourite and Helmsdale is an overlooked gem). If there’s a family/group of you they do family /ensuite rooms. Some of them are just fab and cheap! Many of them you can rent out the whole hostel out of season.

11. Would I do it again? The most important question. Well yes has to be the answer, but cycle with a friend – preferably one who is almost as good as you at cycling. Fast enough to keep up the pace, but you have the lift of seeing them struggle slightly more than you. Maybe take more time – 100 miles means the whole day on the road. 80 would give you more time to have a look around during the day. You could also travel lighter with two of you. So I may well do this again in another 15 years if the kids want to do it. (or maybe a different challenge a little bit sooner - sshhh don't tell Tracy…)

lejog day 10

Helmsdale to John O Groats

Today I was mostly regretting the wine last night...
Got a bit too relaxed last night – nice hostel, good company, bottle of wine – kind of forgetting that I still had over 80 miles to do.
30 mins into today I had sweated out the alcohol from the night before – a few hills around 13% does that to you. Mind you I enjoyed the downhill – check out the max speed.

I took a detour north to Dunnet Head – the most northerly point of mainland UK. Guess what’s there – the most northerly point of mainland UK. That’s it.

Continued on to John O Groats. I arrived in the rain to no fanfare whatsoever. I noticed that for some reason everything around JOG smelt of broad beans. I had my picture taken by a funny little man at the signpost. He had a sweatshirt with JOG official photographer written on it – presumably so that he knew who he was and what he was there for. Hurray for care in the community.

After a coffee and the last cake of the trip (Chelsea bun) I headed off back to Wick.
I ran into Andy and Sunny on the road back – they had 6 miles to go. Chatted for a bit, all in good spirits, before passing on our separate ways. You should check out their blog – it’s so funny.

http://endtoend3peaks.blogspot.com

The B + B that I’m in is fantastic. My bike is now in pieces and packed away ready for the flight home, I’ve been out and had a curry and a few beers – I hope that I earned them.

Day 10 – 86 miles covered Average speed - 11.9mph Max speed – 43mph
Ride time 7h12 Total mileage – 1009 miles
State of mind – Job done and really looking forward to seeing the family tomorrow

Lejog Day 9

Loch Ness to Helmsdale

Today I was mostly following the kerb of the A9...

Kind of cool start to the day – got up, packed and made breakfast before anyone else in the Hostel had stirred. Nice view from the hostel.


Left at 8 o’clock and had a nice ride along the shore of Loch Ness (no monster sightings) before heading off to Beuley – up a 15% hill, which came as a shock to my body after 2 days without anything so steep. Continued through Dingwall (banoffee pie), then on the A9 – a long and boring road, with the wind working mostly against me. Stopped at a cafe to continue my investigation of all things cake related – a hazelnut and strawberry Pavlova. Passed the Glenmorangie distillery, which may have been interesting if it wasn’t for the fact that whiskey and I are like Clark Kent and superman - we cannot be in the same place at the same time. If I drink whiskey, it comes straight back out of my nose. If Campbell was still around, I am sure that he would have wanted a sample (of the whiskey, not my nasal contents).

I eventually reached the firth of Dornoch and my first sign to John O’Groats.





Crossing the bridge, there was a massive crosswind and motorists suddenly seemed to start driving like nutters – not sure if it is a local custom or something, but consideration to cyclists suddenly seemed out of vogue. I finally reached Helmsdale – a strange little village where there seem to be more pubs than houses. Helmsdale hostel is lovely – an old school gym converted in the 1960s. Very sociable, with both the residents and staff being really chatty.
I am looking forward to finishing tomorrow, but I am concerned about going cold turkey from my cakes...








Day 9 – 93 miles covered Average speed - 11.8mph Max speed – 38mph
Ride time 7h50 Total mileage – 923 miles
State of mind – looking forward to tomorrow

Lejog day 8

Loch Lomond to Loch Ness

Today I was mostly eating like a Hobbit...

Boy I've stayed in some slums in my time...



I started early today – 6am yet still had time for breakfast of toast and a Snickers bar. I cycled around Loch Lomond which was so pretty.



I met Andy and Sunni on the road again and chatted for a while. They were saying how vulnerable they felt riding on the road last night – they didn’t know about the cycle path! They were to climb Ben Nevis that afternoon. You can follow their madder than a bucket of frogs adventure on http://endtoend3peaks.blogspot.com/.

I stopped on the climb up to rhannoch moor at the Green Welly stop. Had second breakfast of cake and Danish.

Rhannoch moor and Glen Coe were also beautiful. Stopped for pre-lunch of a sandwich which I had bought. I was on a mission to get to Ballaculish to meet Jenny and Mark at 1pm. I got there early at 12.30 and had coffee and cake (do you see where this is going?). I had managed to cover 70 miles in about 5 hours of riding.
It was fantastic to see Jenny and Mark – it gave me a real lift to see them. We had a chat for about half an hour about my trip and their holiday plans before I needed to be on my way.

I continued on through fort William (subway sandwich – proper lunch?) and onto the Caledonian Canal. This part of the ride was also lovely – it was nice to be on the great glen way rather than the A82. Onwards and upwards (more subway and a snickers)

I started to see a few midges. Simon, a cyclist that I met in the hostel in Leominster had asked me what I planned to do about the midges, before telling me about Avon soft and simple, which the army use. Apparently it stops them biting. He then told me that you can’t get it, but he had some. So to recap – he told me about a problem, then the solution, but you can’t do that, and I’m alright – thanks mate! Or am I analysing general chat too deeply?
I told him that I was planning on letting the midges bite me. They don’t seem interested. Perhaps they don’t want a high sugar diet from feasting on the blood of this cake-loving English hobbit. Can midges get diabetes?

Day 8 – 125 miles covered Average speed - 12.3mph Max speed – 30mph
Ride time 10h04 Total mileage – 830 miles State of mind – very relaxed

Lejog - Day 7

Lockerbie to Loch Lomond

Today I was mostly cycling into the wind...

I started late today - 9am, as it was only 99 miles and mostly flat- it meant that I could sleep in a bit and stayed at the hotel for breakfast. I spent the first part of the day alongside the motorway on an old B road. It was mostly deserted, but someone had taken the trouble to paint a cycle lane on it. Seriously, I was lucky if a car passed me every 20 mins - it felt like my road. Actually it was my road. It didn't need a cycle lane - it should have a car lane instead. And they should ask my permission to use it.

The road had a gentle climb until it became moorland at 1000ft. It was very bleak and felt strangely remote despite being next to the motorway. The westerly wind was hampering progress, but I soldiered on.

My headphones finally died completely - I had been using only one earpiece for the past couple of days. I had bought a new pair in Penrith, but being the lanyard type, the wires were too short to have the player in my pocket. I sat in the motorway services pondering this problem. Hey presto, one coin bag from the guy at the till and a plastic spoon and I had a functioning holder for my MP3 player. I can't tell you how chuffed I was - small things I suppose...

I met a couple of young end to enders on road bikes - Sunni and Andy. These lads were also riding for 10 days, but were also climbing the 3 peaks on route. It just goes to show that however big and difficult that you think your challenge is, there is always someone trying something harder. They are due to finish on weds too - and I hope to catch up with them at John O Groats.

I cycled passed the Tunnocks bakery today. Some of you may know how I feel about their teacakes - my fuel for D of E weekends.

I rode through Glasgow along the Clyde - a nice route, except when there is a westerly wind, which was by now seriously hacking me off. You can see where the money runs out as plush new developments give way to concrete blocks of flats. At the same time the landscaped waterfronts becomes a disused railway, strewn with broken glass. Guys hang around them like a scene from the alley in "King of the Hill", only with Pigeon lofts. I decided to stick to the A roads then, it was Sunday and traffic was light.

I rejoined the cycle route as it began to follow the canal - very pretty. Stuck with this all the way to Loch Lomond. I arrived at about 6.30 feeling unexpectedly tired - it's surprising what a headwind can do to a seemingly easy day. I made tea in the communal kitchen - cheese on toast with beans, which to be frank seemed like a massive effort. I ghosted around the kitchen, probably looking very confused. I felt the type of detachment from the world that you only get when you are truly tired. 3 days left!

Day 7 - 99 miles covered Average speed - 12.2mph
Max speed - 30mph Ride time - 8h03
Total mileage - 705 miles State of mind - a bit spaced out