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LEJOG 2013

Posted: 02 Jun 2013 18:28
by IanT
Keith and I set off on 5th June to attempt the end to end, riding from Lands End on the morning of 6th June, hopefully arriving at John O’Groats on 15th June.

In total the route will be just over 1,000 miles in 10 days of riding. One or two folk have asked about the route, so without boring anyone with the details the overnight stops will be:

Upton Cross
Bridgewater
Northleach
Ashbourne
Harrogate
Newbiggin by the Sea
Edinburgh
Kingussie
Golspie
Wick

Not a standard LEJOG route in many ways but hopefully one that will set some challenges, take us through some great scenery and involve plenty of cake stops. On 9th June we’ll be on familiar club run roads for much of the day, probably cake stopping at Broadway Tower, amongst others, so drop either of us a pm if you want to hook up and see what sort of state we’re in by then.

No doubt we’ll post an update or two along the way. One thing’s for sure, after yesterday’s Weston run I’m expecting this to be a doddle. I’m just not looking at any of the the route profile…

Posted: 02 Jun 2013 18:50
by Fred2637
Good luck lads :D

Posted: 02 Jun 2013 19:06
by Pedlo Mudguardo
Good luck fellas.

It's just a shame you couldn't have got a decent long ride in recently.
Oh hang on.....

Posted: 02 Jun 2013 19:24
by dweben
With their new found long distance ability they can surely for LEJOG in 5 days ?

Posted: 02 Jun 2013 19:28
by Neil Compton
Good luck guys. Enjoy. Looks like you will have some nice weather.

Posted: 02 Jun 2013 20:21
by AlanW
Good luck guys, you will really enjoy after you have finished. :wink:

Posted: 02 Jun 2013 20:38
by Philip Whiteman
Would you like some expert advice as I know someone that can offer it? :wink:

Best of luck and keep us updated with your progress. Hopefully, yesterday's adventure won't have caused any fatigue. Your easterly route Harrogate and Newbiggin will be an interest variant on the normal route and possibly far more preferable than the drudgery of North West England.

Posted: 02 Jun 2013 20:58
by Grogz
Best of luck, guys. What time are you expecting to be in Broadway? As 9th is Sunday, we could arrange a club run to coincide at Broadway or somewhere else along your route.

Posted: 02 Jun 2013 21:03
by Philmondo
Best of luck to you both, have a great ride.

Posted: 02 Jun 2013 21:34
by CakeStop
Good luck lads, have a great ride.

Posted: 02 Jun 2013 22:45
by WorcsPhil
Good luck to you both and enjoy the ride(s)...1000 miles, 9 days and 50 excuses for cake, what could be a better way of spending this week?

Posted: 02 Jun 2013 23:53
by George
All the best!

Posted: 03 Jun 2013 00:01
by diggers
Have a great trip guys. May the wind be always at your back..

Posted: 03 Jun 2013 17:52
by David Cole
Best of luck with the ride
I hope you have a good time

Dave

Posted: 03 Jun 2013 18:00
by paul.farrell
Best of luck on your ride. It's cracking round Kingussie.

Posted: 06 Jun 2013 23:13
by keith
Good first day 90 miles. Lumpy and a head wind. but cakes were super
Best Maverick and Goose

Posted: 07 Jun 2013 00:55
by charlotterp
I'm sure you'll have a beautiful day crossing Devon and Somerset but it's a shame you end up in Bridgwater, please don't let it spoil your opinion of this lovely county! Good luck

Posted: 08 Jun 2013 06:58
by keith
Hard day yesterday seemed to be climbing into a strong head wind all day good fun though. We stayed at Burrobridge last night which was nice. Got some pan flat stuff this morrning.
Best Butch and Sundance

Posted: 08 Jun 2013 19:37
by IanT
To the hills of Devon, I say damn, damn you all. To the hills of Bath, I say damn you to hell and back. To the constant, relentless, hateful headwind of the UK I say please stop, you've made your point...

We're now well into the Cotswolds and looking forward to being on home roads for much of tomorrow, even though it'll be into a headwind...

Best

Cannon & Ball

Posted: 08 Jun 2013 20:07
by Philip Whiteman
Dear Jekyll and Hyde

The wind tomorrow will be a pestering ENE wind but from Monday you will have advantageous SE to SW winds.

Outlook for Monday to Wednesday:

Largely dry with warm sunshine at first, but a few showers in northwestern parts. A change in the weather into Tuesday, becoming cloudier, wetter and windier from the west.

Maximum temperatures of around 17-19C.

Enjoy Northleach as it is a pleasant little place.

Posted: 09 Jun 2013 18:39
by David Cole
Ian and Keith
Good to hear that the trip is going well in spite of the head wind. I cycled into that headwind yesterday on the way to Bournville - a distance of almost one mile from my house. I complained bitterly, perhaps if I had to ride 1000 miles into it I would get used to it

All the best

Dave

Posted: 10 Jun 2013 13:33
by Philip Whiteman
Dear Laural and Hardy.

Here is the latest weather synopsis to help you along your way.

Tuesday:

Cloud and rain will spread to all parts, reaching northeast Scotland by the evening, after some afternoon sunshine. Drier later in the south with some brightness possible in the southwest.

Outlook for Wednesday to Friday:

Unsettled with rain at times. Windy at times too, particularly in the south on Thursday. Brighter for a time Friday, but rain and strong winds returning into the northwest later.

SE veering W winds during the week.

Posted: 10 Jun 2013 19:29
by IanT
Thanks Philip, that's a timely intervention with the weather, I was beginning to run out of expletives with the headwind. Enjoyable day yesterday, the headwind lessened and we managed to resist the temptation of turning for home as we passed as close as Knowle at one point. We were on the route of the Castleton audax by late afternoon and made camp north of Ashbourne. Stunning ride today through the Peak District and Derwent, less stunning as we skirted Leeds and now stuffing our faces in Harrogate. Hoisting the spinnaker for the Toon in the morning, looking forward to some flatter profiles later in the day. Half way there now more or less!

Best

Fortnum & Mason

Posted: 10 Jun 2013 21:51
by George
LAJOG

Posted: 10 Jun 2013 21:57
by Pedlo Mudguardo
Le Jog .

Posted: 10 Jun 2013 22:28
by keith
Pedlo Mudguardo wrote:Le Jog .
What ?

Posted: 10 Jun 2013 22:31
by CakeStop
Les Jogs occasionally

Posted: 11 Jun 2013 07:47
by George
CakeStop wrote:Les Jogs occasionally
:lol:

Posted: 11 Jun 2013 19:51
by Philip Whiteman
Dear Hinge and Bracket

I am not clear on which route you are taking but here is some news for the Edinburgh area based upon a three week old observation:

- The Forth Bridge cycle path on the north bound (upstream) side is closed. However, the south bound side (downstream) is open and can be accessed from South Queensferry.

- It is not legal to cycle along the A90 between the city limits Edinburgh to the Forth Bridge. The appalling cycle path along side the A90 was closed for repairs recently. You may need to observe diversions. I believe that an alternative runs to the north of A90 nearer to the Firth of Forth.

Weather:

Wednesday:

Cloudy with patchy rain or drizzle at first, but brighter conditions developing by afternoon to the lee of the Pennines. Further showery rain may return during the evening. Maximum Temperature 20 °C.

Outlook for Thursday to Saturday:

Thursday, cloudy and breezy with rain or showers, but drier and brighter later. Friday, dry and bright start, but outbreaks of rain and stronger winds later. Saturday, scattered showers.

Brisk SW winds, strong W wind on Thursday

Posted: 11 Jun 2013 22:56
by IanT
Many thanks for the update Phil, it is appreciated and we will look out for the diversions.

We're currently bivvying overnight on the north east coast after a great day of riding through north Yorkshire, county Durham and much of Tyneside. We stopped for food on Gateshead Quays and then crossed rhe millennium bridge and followed the Hadrians route to the mouth of the Tyne. Great contrasts of rural, coastal and urban riding and all with a splendid tailwind.

Coast and castles in the morning up to Berwick and then the borders as Scotland beckons, it'll be the longest day so far as we look to notch up 120 miles before overnighting in Edinburgh.

Best

Wallace & Gromit

Posted: 12 Jun 2013 11:59
by Philip Whiteman
Dear Reggie and Ronnie

Here is some A90 NCN1 diversion info:

http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/downloads/f ... -diversion

Posted: 12 Jun 2013 12:33
by AlanW
Well done Mork & Mindy, and I have to say that I am really jealous of you. Sounds like you are taking it all in your stride and enjoying it.

Posted: 12 Jun 2013 17:53
by dweben
Bill and Ben -- did you really use bivvy bags or just trying to sound gruffer?? ;)

Posted: 12 Jun 2013 23:12
by IanT
Something of an epic day, up the coast, round the castles, over the border, across the moors and into Edinburgh. A testing day for the chalfonts but we emerge intact after 116 miles. 121 miles in store tomorrow and we're armed with PDF maps of diversions - should be fun!

Over and out

Chas & Dave

Posted: 12 Jun 2013 23:22
by Tim
Great going!

Posted: 13 Jun 2013 22:24
by keith
We are in Kingussie. Did not think we would get here at one point due to the wrong type of wind and a terible surface on the cycle path. Switched to the glass smooth A9 just as the wind died down and we time trialed the last 20 odd miles in an hour. Hysterical !
Best Burt and Ernie

Posted: 14 Jun 2013 00:06
by David Cole
Och aye
Argyll and Sutherland
Best of luck with the rest of your trip
Dave

Posted: 14 Jun 2013 14:10
by George
Keep it going, you two!

Posted: 14 Jun 2013 17:52
by paul.farrell
Sasanachs !!!! :lol:

Posted: 14 Jun 2013 17:53
by paul.farrell
keith wrote:We are in Kingussie. Did not think we would get here at one point due to the wrong type of wind
Are you on a train ???

Posted: 14 Jun 2013 21:12
by keith
96 miles today to Gospie, good weather and a slight tail wind finnished just after six. ETA late afternoon toorrow So close we can smel, it or is that the unwashed shorts i
Best Flanigan and Allen

Posted: 15 Jun 2013 13:08
by rdleaper
Good stuff Chas & Dave - keep it up!

Posted: 15 Jun 2013 18:38
by keith
The eagle has landed
Neil and Buz

Posted: 15 Jun 2013 18:47
by dweben
Well done guys! Assume you carried a pebble from Lands End to deposit in the sea up north? If not then back down south with ya! ;)

Posted: 15 Jun 2013 19:10
by CakeStop
Congratulations lads - enjoy Tranquility Base and take no notice of the conspiracy theorists.

Posted: 15 Jun 2013 19:23
by IanT
Thanks to all for the encouragement and comments, particular thanks to Phil for the weather and route updates from the Drayton nerve centre! Having run out of UK now it's time for us to put an end to this nonsense and go home. In a car.

Photos and random stats will no doubt follow at some stage for anyone daft enough to be interested!

Cheers

Saint & Greavsie

Posted: 15 Jun 2013 19:46
by George
IanT wrote:Photos and random stats will no doubt follow at some stage for anyone daft enough to be interested!
We're looking forward to it!

Posted: 15 Jun 2013 20:13
by Grogz
Well done, Tom and Jerry. Look forward to hearing your stories of derring-do.

Posted: 16 Jun 2013 13:54
by paul.farrell
Well done gents, looking forward to the pics

Posted: 16 Jun 2013 16:18
by David Cole
Doug and Dinsdale
Thanks for keeping us entertained for the last 10 days
Well done and congratualtions both

Dave