Charity cycling

[Arch]

Thats pretty awesome an amount of money. I suppose raising the money is the main acheivement


Interestingly I just found this: http://www.dailyecho...r_firefighters/

20 miles for crying out loud. I've been doing that 3 times a week before I go to work for 3 months. Its not a challenge. Or am I being too harsh..? Wheres the feeling of being Superman?

I suppose if you're never ridden more than 2 or 3 miles, it's a lot - think of how many newbies we get who are working up to 5 or 10 miles.

On the other hand, it ought to be possible, if you're averagely fit (and none of those guys looked very overweight or anything), to train up to that distance in a few weeks - just as one of us might train up to a 100k, or 100miler. So if they had any time to prepare, than it's not much of a one-off acheivement - although the training might have been something they struggled with a bit at first.

But yes, 20 miles is not much. But then I couldn't currently run more than half a mile. I like to think I could train up to a 10k readily enough though, if I chose to.

Sponsorship seems to have changed since I was at school. In those days, you were generally sponsored per something - lap, or length or whatever. I omitted to tell my Mum that I'd got moderately good at swimming before one event, and she pledged a quid a length, expecting me to struggle with 2, and I did about 10! Now it seems to be 'we'll pay if you do it' (whatever 'it' is) - or is it just the way it works for grownups...

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

,also the fnrttc took some working out

What??

I'd always thought that was the noise you made when trying to stifle a bad cough!!

 

[HJ]

I'm sure a lot of people here have been asked if they're doing "it" for charity when out and about .

End to end is a very definite achievement that is very identifiable to island dwellers and is something that a lot of people actually want to do. I'm not knocking you for knocking them though as I do see your point.

What has it got to do with island dwelling? Surely island dwellers are more likely to choose circumnavigatory routes around the periphery of the island. It is not even as if LEJoG is a true end to end, it goes to neither south most or north most points of the mainland...

 

[HJ]

I'm sure a lot of people here have been asked if they're doing "it" for charity when out and about .

End to end is a very definite achievement that is very identifiable to island dwellers and is something that a lot of people actually want to do. I'm not knocking you for knocking them though as I do see your point.

What has it got to do with island dwelling? Surely island dwellers are more likely to choose circumnavigatory routes around the periphery of the island. It is not even as if LEJoG is a true end to end, it goes to neither south most or north most points of the mainland...

It is really just lack of imagination.

 

[mcshroom]

Some of the celebrities seem to be moving on though. Nigel Mansell is just about to finish a 1100 mile ride for UK Youth and Lawrence Dallaglio rode from Rome to Murrayfield via the other Six nations grounds back in February - [link]

What annoyed me was with LD riding that ride, all the press coverage was for the Comedian JOGLE with the bus.

 

[longers]

What has it got to do with island dwelling?

On reflection, not a lot, it doesn't make much sense to me reading it back and it is more of a SW to NE route than strict South to North or vice versa, but wouldn't the time needed to do a circumnavigatory route and not cut corners make it out of the reach of most folk in their annual leave?

 

[Scruffy]

Hello,
Am new here so hope you don't mind me interrupting your thread. I've been reading it with interest because I am planning to do a solo Lejog in autumn for charity but as the time gets nearer I'm geting concerned that it's no longer a different thing to do and that, maybe, I should just design my own route.

I think Lejog is a tough challenge, especially for someone like me who has never done any distance like that before; I suspect many people who do it are in the same boat. I think it's a fantastic thing to do but worry that so many others are doing the same thing that people just won't want to sponsor it. Or maybe that's just a daft thought. When you raise money for charity you want to ensure you're doing the best you can and I guess make it a little different.

Sorry if this isn't a relevant post but the first post struck a cord with me and I just though 'bugger'.

 

[longers]

Hi Scruffy, I think you'll have no trouble raising sponsorship, it's more likely to be among a group of cyclists like this that you'll meet resistance to the idea due to it's perceived sameness. Every person who does any bike ride has a different trip to everyone else who does exactly the same ride.

Aperitif sums it up very well on a previous page.

 

[Scruffy]

Hi Scruffy, I think you'll have no trouble raising sponsorship, it's more likely to be among a group of cyclists like this that you'll meet resistance to the idea due to it's perceived sameness. Every person who does any bike ride has a different trip to everyone else who does exactly the same ride.

Aperitif sums it up very well on a previous page.

Hiya Longers,
Thanks for that! I've gone back and read Aperitif's very positive post. I think anyone riding for charity should be given credit where it's due. And your right about everyone have a different trip.

Personally, I shall consider my options.

 

[downfader]

Hello,
Am new here so hope you don't mind me interrupting your thread. I've been reading it with interest because I am planning to do a solo Lejog in autumn for charity but as the time gets nearer I'm geting concerned that it's no longer a different thing to do and that, maybe, I should just design my own route.

I think Lejog is a tough challenge, especially for someone like me who has never done any distance like that before; I suspect many people who do it are in the same boat. I think it's a fantastic thing to do but worry that so many others are doing the same thing that people just won't want to sponsor it. Or maybe that's just a daft thought. When you raise money for charity you want to ensure you're doing the best you can and I guess make it a little different.

Sorry if this isn't a relevant post but the first post struck a cord with me and I just though 'bugger'.

Hey Scruffy (cool avatar btw)!

Firstly, dont worry about what I said. If you want to do a LEJOG its none of my or anyone elses business. I'm just flexing my noggin. The added benefit I will say of LEJOG, regardless of my feeling it being uninspired is that the routes are tried and tested, and you will get a LOT of good advice. If you want to do it then go for it.

The main thing, that has already been said is that its for charity, and there aint no better reason than that! If you say Lands End to John o'Groats people will understand what it means and how far it is - you will have no trouble raising money.

 

[taxing]

There's something oldy worldy sounding about LEJOG. Land's End sounds like "here be dragons" country, and John O' Groats sounds like an old name too, not like a place that still exists. It sounds more like an adventure than doing Manchester to London or something.

Am I making sense?

 

[Arch]

On reflection, not a lot, it doesn't make much sense to me reading it back and it is more of a SW to NE route than strict South to North or vice versa, but wouldn't the time needed to do a circumnavigatory route and not cut corners make it out of the reach of most folk in their annual leave?

I dunno, I think the island thing is relevant. Whether you go end to end or widthwise, or round the edge, or zigzag, the point is that there is a physical barrier defining the end/edge. You could do end to end in Switzerland, but the ends would to some extent be arbitrary. Perhaps a Swiss citizen would feel differently about it, but to us as island dwellers, I think we perhaps regard a coastline as the most tangible border. After all, political borders can shift about at the will of the people/government.

 

[montage]

I wouldn't mind doing lejog....but then I would need to cycle home again which would be a good 700 miles

 

[downfader]

There's something oldy worldy sounding about LEJOG. Land's End sounds like "here be dragons" country, and John O' Groats sounds like an old name too, not like a place that still exists. It sounds more like an adventure than doing Manchester to London or something.

Am I making sense?

John o'Groats was rhyming slang when I was a kid.

 

[snorri]

I wouldn't mind doing lejog....but then I would need to cycle home again which would be a good 700 miles

Spare a thought for those who have to cycle 700 miles to the start.