LEJoG light?

[Bicycle]

I started an earlier thread asking for LEJoG fixed-gear advice.

At that time I was thinking B&B plus credit card.

Advice seems to indicate that B&B is best planned because of strong demand along the LEJoG route.

This leads me (if I ever get fit enough to consider it) towards minimalist camping.

But I'm still really not sure...

Anyone got any informative anecdotes about the pros and cons of lightweight camping or B&B-ing along the LEJoG route?

I'd probably be doing it in early July if I do it... haven't chosen a direction yet...

I'm still at the stage of seeing how easy it is to do mileage on fixed-gear and to get the thing up and down hills.

I like a challenge, but I'm not completely silly.

Anecdotes as outlined above will be read with thanks.

 

[delport]

Not exactly good on lightweight travel, i go the heavy way and pile the stuff on the bike.

In answer to camping, Scotland is fairly simple, wild camping no problem.Different rules to England.
I used forests in Scotland, also lay bys and parking areas with wooded sections right next to them.
And in John o'groats i just put a tent out in the open [here] JOG is straight down the road, next to the water.

as there weren't any trees in sight anywhere near JOG.

 

[hubbike]

Sleeping in a Bivvy bag is an option that time of year or minimal one man tent type thing, great if it is sunny, miserable if it rains. if it rains several days on the trot you will find yourself in a B&B drying out.

I wild camped in march 2008 when I did lejog but on a few nights I stayed in B&Bs, I hadn't booked and found no problem finding places.

Another option would be to book hostels? If you do book a night somewhere that gives you something to aim for that day, quite an incentive.

 

[willem]

I hate b&b's, hostel,s and hotels and I love camping, but that is a very personal thing. The facts are that camping is much cheaper in the long run, and that camping gear does not need to weigh much anymore. You can get a good tent, sleep system and kitchen for a total of about 3 kg, or even less. The ultimate minimalism would be a Terra Nova Laser or the solo version of the Vaude Power Lizard tent (some 800 grams), a Thermarest Neoair mattress (410 grams), a PHD minimus bag (some 400 grams) and an alcohol stove like the Caldera Cone (about 200 grams incl pot). Total about 1800 grams. Personally I would go for something in the 3 kg range for a bit more comfort, but that is roughly what you are talking about. My personal preference would be an MSR Hubba HP tent (the HP is important) at 1.4 kg, a warmer Thermarest Neoair All Season mat and a warmer bag (1200 grams together), and a more comfortable stove at 400 grams (incl pots).
Willem

 

[hubbike]

I hate b&b's, hostel,s and hotels and I love camping, but that is a very personal thing. The facts are that camping is much cheaper in the long run, and that camping gear does not need to weigh much anymore. You can get a good tent, sleep system and kitchen for a total of about 3 kg, or even less. The ultimate minimalism would be a Terra Nova Laser (£200) or the solo version of the Vaude Power Lizard tent (some 800 grams), a Thermarest Neoair mattress (£125) (410 grams), a PHD minimus bag (£200) (some 400 grams) and an alcohol stove like the Caldera Cone (about 200 grams incl pot). Total about 1800 grams. £50 Personally I would go for something in the 3 kg range for a bit more comfort, but that is roughly what you are talking about. My personal preference would be an MSR Hubba HP tent £250 (the HP is important) at 1.4 kg, a warmer Thermarest Neoair All Season mat and a warmer bag (1200 grams together), and a more comfortable stove at 400 grams (incl pots).
Willem

Here is a cheaper set up:
Tent: Ferino Lighttent at £80 and 1500g
Mat: Foam mat at £5 and 200g
Bag: Decathalon Quechua (5 degrees) at £40 and 1420g
Stove: mini trangia at £20 and 300g

Total weight = 3430g
Total cost = £145

The thing is that lightweight gear is really driven forward by mountaineering and hiking uses where weight is much more of an issue than it is for cycle touring. You can shell out the extra cash if you want but you won't be any warmer, better sheltered, well fed or notice any great difference on the handling on the bike.

 

[willem]

I did not concern myself with the budget when I gave the examples. I did not because spread over the 10-30 years that many of these things will last the annual cost of even top quality gear is pretty minimal, certainly compared with the cost of B&B's.
If I had to cut costs I would take an Exped Synmat Basic or UL Basic instead of the more expensive Neoairs or Exped Pump mats. And I would get an Alpkit Pipedream bag. I would not economize on a tent, as it is your principal defence against the elements. For a windy UK I would avoid the Trangia mini (might take it on a summer trip to France).
I have camped for much of the last fifty years, so I never had to buy my gear all in one go. Each year, we buy one or more new items because something old is worn, or very occasionally just too heavy compared to more modern stuff. By and large, we only replace what is worn, but when we do, we try to get something that only weighs half of what it replaces.
Willem