Advice re LEJOG

[Mitz]

I have read through the threads, and it's made me even more nervous

I'm just after some pointers really, obvious or not. Any useful information that might make our trip less arduous. I have been a leisure cyclist for some years, but nothing particularly serious. I have a terrible bike which is at least 15 years old and is short of gears .... very short! Yet I am presently using it to train for LEJOG in September. It's hard work.

My friend in the UK and I have set September 3rd at the date to go and we anticipate 14 days. We allegedly have a backup car that will be around for us. We were originally considering Youth Hostels, but from what I have read here B&B or low cost hotels may be a better alternative

My friend rides an older Dawes Super Galaxy and I'm presently checking Ebay for something similar to ease my pain. I bought a Brookes B17 saddle the other day on the advice of a cycle shop in Birmingham, but still wearing it in and people who have seen it think I am verging on insanity as it looks so hard.

We have been checking various blogs and sites for routes, nothing finalised as get.

So do you have any advice for a not so seasoned cyclist who is starting off at the deep end?

 

[Rebel Ian]

So do you have any advice for a not so seasoned cyclist who is starting off at the deep end?

If you are training on an old bike you'll notice the difference when you get a decent one. If you train sufficiently and you aren't carrying kit then 14 days is comfortable.

 

[shirokazan]

...I bought a Brookes B17 saddle the other day on the advice of a cycle shop in Birmingham, but still wearing it in and people who have seen it think I am verging on insanity as it looks so hard.

A B17 is a tried-and-trusted classic. These people you refer to don't appreciate what they are looking at.

 

[e-rider]

I did LEJOG in September 2009 using youth hostels.

The hostels were fine and much cheaper than B&B or hotels.

It rained almost everyday so be prepared to get wet! And fit some mudguards and lights even for daytime riding if the weather is poor.

We did 11 days which was quite tough going especially in the early stages. We carried all our stuff in panniers which made the bikes very heavy and several people suffered numerous broken spokes.

My advice is set off early each morning and enjoy a beer or three every evening! And be careful on the busy roads. We ended up cycling on roads that we wouldn't usually cycle on (too dangerous) because when you plan the route you have no idea how good/bad any particular road might be!

My saddle became very uncomfortable after 7 days and didn't improve until after the trip!!!

 

[Christkd]

I did LEJOG last month in 12 days and first got a road bike last September having no previous experience of road riding or covering anymore than about 10 miles!!!

You are already one step ahead being a leisure cyclist so my only advice would be get a decent bike and enjoy it, I had the time of my life, loved it!!

 

[Mitz]

If you are training on an old bike you'll notice the difference when you get a decent one. I

This is what I'm thinking ... you wouldnt believe what I'm training on at the moment

A B17 is a tried-and-trusted classic. These people you refer to don't appreciate what they are looking at.

I too being uneducated had doubts, but tbh it's not uncomfortable at all, even in these early days

We did 11 days which was quite tough going especially in the early stages. We carried all our stuff in panniers which made the bikes very heavy and several people suffered numerous broken spokes.

My advice is set off early each morning and enjoy a beer or three every evening! And be careful on the busy roads. We ended up cycling on roads that we wouldn't usually cycle on (too dangerous) because when you plan the route you have no idea how good/bad any particular road might be!

My saddle became very uncomfortable after 7 days and didn't improve until after the trip!!!

Yes, we were planning on taking a few spares, and if the backup materializes then it wont be so much of a problem.
We are planning for a 7-8 am start, finishing mid to late afternoon

I did LEJOG last month in 12 days and first got a road bike last September having no previous experience of road riding or covering anymore than about 10 miles!!!

You are already one step ahead being a leisure cyclist so my only advice would be get a decent bike and enjoy it, I had the time of my life, loved it!!

Well, yes ... I have come up against a wall over the last day .. mainly because of my bike .... I've been searching for a replacement for weeks, but have seen nothing that I feel I can trust so far, and of course buying off ebay can be a bit of a lottery

 

[vernon]

Mitz, rather than take a gamble on a second hand bike,

Can you afford this bike from Decathlon?

Decathlon bikes are underrated. I bought a similar bike in France when the frame on my old Dawes Galaxy snapped and I made the decision to purchase a replacement bike rather than attempt to have the Galaxy repaired.

I have been very impressed with my B'Twin hybrid. I have toured with it for the past two years and have been very comfortable. It comes fully equipped for touring and there will be no additional expense.

The only thing that i salvaged from my Galaxy was the B17 seat which I immediately fitted to the B'twin.

 

[Mitz]

Mitz, rather than take a gamble on a second hand bike,

Can you afford this bike from Decathlon?

Decathlon bikes are underrated. I bought a similar bike in France when the frame on my old Dawes Galaxy snapped and I made the decision to purchase a replacement bike rather than attempt to have the Galaxy repaired.

I have been very impressed with my B'Twin hybrid. I have toured with it for the past two years and have been very comfortable. It comes fully equipped for touring and there will be no additional expense.

The only thing that i salvaged from my Galaxy was the B17 seat which I immediately fitted to the B'twin.

Thanks for that ..... I was willing to go up to around £700 tbh, and as you say I hadnt even considered going to Decathlon, who in fact have a shop in Valencia

I'm a bit out of my depth tbh in choosing a bike, hence the questions I asked on here ... might be worth a trip to Valencia

 

[vernon]

Thanks for that ..... I was willing to go up to around £700 tbh, and as you say I hadnt even considered going to Decathlon, who in fact have a shop in Valencia

I'm a bit out of my depth tbh in choosing a bike, hence the questions I asked on here ... might be worth a trip to Valencia

I would say it's well worth your time to pay Decathlon a visit. I would be very happy to buy one of their trekkiing bikes. Should my current Decathlon bike get stolen.

Last year I called into a Decathlon in Nevers in France to get a new tyre fitted. While I was there a fellow Brit arrived also on a Decathlon hybrid. When I commented upon the rarity of seeing a Brit on a Decathlon bike he told me that he'd purchased it on the on line recommendation of someone in a cycling forum who'd bought one in Orleans when his Dawes Galaxy broke. He was amazed to find out that I was that person. He too was very happy with his purchase.

 

[Yellow Fang]

I did it on my own in 2005 I think. I lost 5 lbs in ten days. I stayed in hostels three nights and cheap hotels and B+Bs the other nights. Take a compass. Try and avoid the Chester/Wigan/Widnes/Runcorn area at peak hour because the traffic is dense in that part of the country and it's difficult to pick your way through. Likewise, avoid the Glasgow area in peak hour. I didn't usually book accommodation in advance. This has the advantage of not committing you to arrive at a certain place on a certain date, but it can be risky. I had trouble finding anywhere to stay in Shrewsbury and Tain. Tourist information centres can help find you somewhere to stay that evening, but they're not always open when you want them. They're still useful to find because they often have lists of accommodation printed outside. You will need gears unless you're super fit.

 

[Mitz]

lists of accommodation printed outside. You will need gears unless you're super fit.

Well .... I'm working on it. Doing 17 - 20 miles every day on a 15 year old Raleigh mountain bike that has only 6 gears and that doesnt phase me at all

It's got to be better when I get a real bike ................ hasn't it?

Still desperately looking, although making that trip to Valencia shortly ... if I buy one I guess I can ride it home ........ it's only 85 kms

 

[lejogger]

Firstly, don't worry too much about the bike... see attached image - I managed it in 9 days on a very old, battered, heavy, Claud Butler mountain bike carrying all my kit. That front wheel has actually done LEJOG twice now, only once with me though! Check out the retro Pace forks too!

One thing I did have is gears... that triple was a life saver on a number of times.
But if you have a support car carrying your stuff then it's not that much of an issue.
I did break a couple of spokes but that was completely my fault for messing with the limits on my rear mech when I didn't know what I was doing.

I'd only been cycling for less than a year at this point too (except for when I was a schoolboy) and I certainly didn't train as much as I should have. Between 10-15 miles most days for the last 3 months, the odd 30-40 miler thrown in at the weekend, and then a 150 miler a couple of weeks before hand. It will be a lot more comfortable if you're very fit, but honestly I believe completing a challenge like this is very much mind over matter.

 

[Mitz]

I'd only been cycling for less than a year at this point too (except for when I was a schoolboy) and I certainly didn't train as much as I should have. Between 10-15 miles most days for the last 3 months, the odd 30-40 miler thrown in at the weekend, and then a 150 miler a couple of weeks before hand. It will be a lot more comfortable if you're very fit, but honestly I believe completing a challenge like this is very much mind over matter.

Heh heh
Now you are worrying me

........ I'm still only doing 17 miles a day on flatish roads because of the old mountain bike I've been training on. I hope to get a new bike within a week though, so then I can get more serious. Time is tight, as time is booked off by my cycling partner at the beginning of September now.

Route is being planned by my cycling partner who is in the UK, so I'll put that up at some point for any pointers from peoples experience

 

[7kipling]

Just joined the forum and read this whilst at the office, which is a shame as my 4 friends are on day 6 of our JOG-LE. I was on day 4 and suffered severe pain in my right knee heading to Kendal from Moffat. Tried everything I could but in the end the pain and swelling was too much so had to hop on a train home.

Lots of advice/comments though;

Heading North to South BIG mistake especially due to the 80MPH gusts and constant driving headwind right through Scotland.

We managed to get a Motor cycle police escort right through Glasgow from Erskine Bridge, that was awesome and very needed

Panniers probably too heavy

Didn't take any long leg skins which I think contributed to my knee injury

No support car

Days took far longer than we thought due to the wind which meant we had to push it harder for longer with few/no stops, again probably caused my knee issues.

The 100 miles day after day was something new to us all (all Fred Whitton Vets) and the legs were getting used to it.

Full breakfasts in the morning at the B & B's always a temptation but found it made my starts a big sluggish. Porridge and fruits would have been better.

Will have far more feedback if anyone wants any.

Still very vivid in my mind and I'm gutted that I'd done 400 miles in awful conditions and will struggle to find the time to do it again. Final pain is that I'd sold my Champions League final ticket!!

Anyone doing the trip, train and eat hard and the very best of luck!

 

[Biscuit]

We managed to get a Motor cycle police escort right through Glasgow from Erskine Bridge, that was awesome and very needed

How / why ??