Lands End to John O Groats?

[Ticktockmy]

Hello mcshroom

Thank you!

I want to do it in nine days - just hope am not aiming too high there. I'm looking at the B&B route - not sure about camping in March, although that would be good. I'm a big fan of camping.

I'm doing it solo and unsupported. So if people see a cyclist talking to herself as she rides along in the middle of March, that'll be me

March time the Northern most part of Scotland can be mildissh, but as you head North either from Fort William or Perth through the Cairgorms it can be really cold, personaly i would go for the B&B route, as for camping you will be looking for hauling a four season sleeping bag, although by then most of the main roads will have been cleared, also you must remember that by the time you reach Scotland, you will be starting to get Tired. Just a thought

 

[hubbike]

I did it in March 2008, it was very cold and wet... but there is nothing wrong with that!!

Critisising people is an easy and destructive passtime. Raising money for a worthy cause, on the other hand, is hard work and worthwhile: good luck!

 

[snorri]

I'm doing it solo and unsupported.

Now that's what I like to hear, particularly the unsupported bit.

Good luck on your challenge.

 

[Scruffy]

March time the Northern most part of Scotland can be mildissh, but as you head North either from Fort William or Perth through the Cairgorms it can be really cold, personaly i would go for the B&B route, as for camping you will be looking for hauling a four season sleeping bag, although by then most of the main roads will have been cleared, also you must remember that by the time you reach Scotland, you will be starting to get Tired. Just a thought

All of that makes sense and I'm already thinking that the b&b route would be good. I can look forward to a lovely warm bed that I haven't carried around

.

I'm going to make sure I'm dressed warmly so hopefully that will help but I am sure I will cool down. I will make sure I stop for warming cups of tea where possible.

Thanks very much for the advice!!!

 

[Scruffy]

I did it in March 2008, it was very cold and wet... but there is nothing wrong with that!!

Critisising people is an easy and destructive passtime. Raising money for a worthy cause, on the other hand, is hard work and worthwhile: good luck!

Thank you hubbike!

It's good to know someone else did it in March. How did you fine the ride generally?

 

[Scruffy]

Now that's what I like to hear, particularly the unsupported bit.

Good luck on your challenge.

Thank you very much Snorri

 

[hubbike]

Thank you hubbike!

It's good to know someone else did it in March. How did you fine the ride generally?

March is a wet, windy and still wintery month so take a raincoat

Great fun. I made a point to camp in pub beer gardens so I could have a decent meal and a pint at the end of each day.

I did some hard riding (150 miles one day) and had some tough headwinds... I approached it as a "challenge" and did it in 9 days (as thats all the holiday I could muster up). I several very cold camps in scotland. Highlights were scotland, cumbria, wales, west country. I used NCN routes, canal tow paths etc as much as you can for variety from roads...

If I were to do it again (and I wouldn't rule it out) I would take 2 or 3 weeks and go east of the pennines and stop and look at things...

 

[smith4188]

I want to do it in nine days - just hope am not aiming too high there.

Isn't doing it in only nine days a bit gruelling? These guys did it in 12 days and they were still mostly doing 100 mile days:

http://www.bpassoc.org.uk/HelpingUs/Fundraise/SponsoredEvents/BikeRide09

I've done the occasionally 100 miler but I wouldn't want to do it day after day. I know another poster has talked about completing it in that amount of time, but that included 150 mile days, which I think would be very tough even in the best conditions.

Anyway, however many days you decide, good luck with it!