Return from Day 1 of LonJOG

[martint235]

I gather that a few people are only looking to complete the first day of LonJOG for whatever reason and rather than hijack the main thread, this one is to discuss getting back after day 1 which finishes in Bingham.

Option 1: the train. There's a station at Bingham itself and there's also a larger station with mainline services into London at Grantham. I believe the plan is to arrive in Bingham at around 3pm.

Option 2: riding back. To get to Bingham and back would be a ride of 260 miles. That's quite a toughie before even contemplating not leaving Bingham till at least 18 hours after you last saw your bed. So the obvious option would be to leave after breakfast at Wellingborough. This will be like a typical FNRttC and then SMRbtH. It will weigh in at around 150 miles.

Any thoughts?

 

[ceepeebee]

I'm having the night away and staying at the Belvoir Valley Inn before getting the train back from Grantham the next day. Depending on how fresh I feel I'll either schlep straight down the A52 or loop up and around for a bit more of a ride, possibly up the trent. Did think it'd be nice to grab a couple of beers that Saturday night - and the hotel is a bargain at 32 quid or so.

 

[Aperitif]

The 'up' ride will be somewhat dark and it might be nice to retrace the route in the daytime, to see what's what. I'm 'time-limited' whatever and, should I do the Friday night, will be heading vaguely South after breaking fast. Certainly not McSchlepping upwards.
Big M, you can easily do 24hrs without kip and easily a bit more. Just a question as to how to make the return 'exciting'. Make a triangle on the map? Head for somewhere interesting? Visit the site of Mrs Thatcher's parents grocers? I know the ride will be paying its respects on arrival there.

 

[martint235]

The 'up' ride will be somewhat dark and it might be nice to retrace the route in the daytime, to see what's what. I'm 'time-limited' whatever and, should I do the Friday night, will be heading vaguely South after breaking fast. Certainly not McSchlepping upwards.
Big M, you can easily do 24hrs without kip and easily a bit more. Just a question as to how to make the return 'exciting'. Make a triangle on the map? Head for somewhere interesting? Visit the site of Mrs Thatcher's parents grocers? I know the ride will be paying its respects on arrival there.

260 miles is still a big old chunk though particularly as I'll be back commuting on the Monday. I'm also thinking that although Wellingborough is a sensible point to turn around (and also would be Wellingborough to Welling), it is lacking a certain cachet: "What did you do on Friday?" "Oh I cycled to Wellingborough and back" is almost certain to raise alarm among colleagues.

 

[clarion]

I'm one of those going to Bingham, so thanks for the advice. Still not sure of my preferred return route, but it won't be cycling!

 

[TimO]

If I was doing just the first day (but I never got my act together, so missed that bus), I'd probably cycle the fifteen miles or so to Grantham and then get the train from there. It looks to be a fairly straight and not too hilly route (one little steep bit a couple of miles outside Grantham), so wouldn't be too bad after the rest of the ride, probably a bit over an hour with that far already in the legs.

I certainly wouldn't try and do the return, I know my limits. I can do the sort of distance involved to Bingham on the Kaffenback (and have in the past) so it would be easier on Red, but the return as well would probably kill me, and the sleep deficit would be getting significant at that point, especially since I don't really do snoozing prior to a night ride, so have normally been up for 16 hours before we even start!

 

[martint235]

I'm not sure how social the on-going riders will be feeling when they get to Bingham. If there was going to be a bit of a "do" I'd think about getting the train back.

I think that riding back from Bingham is probably beyond my capabilities too mainly due to the lack of sleep, like Tim I don't really get a nap before a night ride. So I think for me it's turnaround after breakfast or see where we are around 9am and come back from there.

 

[Aperitif]

Plot a route back after McBreakfast to include as many McDonalds (showing sympathy to the Northbounders in name only) as poss. and have photos taken at each one.

 

[martint235]

Plot a route back after McBreakfast to include as many McDonalds (showing sympathy to the Northbounders in name only) as poss. and have photos taken at each one.

Now that isn't as ridiculous as some of your past ideas have been ("No let's go this way to Marlborough" - being an example). At least it would make it an interesting trip back

 

[swarm_catcher]

I'm looking to get a train back from Wellingborough. Do we know what time we're expected for breakfast?

 

[Aperitif]

I'm looking to get a train back from Wellingborough. Do we know what time we're expected for breakfast?

Breakfast in Wellingborough? Northants!

 

[dellzeqq]

I'm looking to get a train back from Wellingborough. Do we know what time we're expected for breakfast?

at about 6.45

 

[Tim Hall]

I'm one of those going to Bingham, so thanks for the advice. Still not sure of my preferred return route, but it won't be cycling!

Clarion, have you got train tickets booked yet? And if so which train? Real Life has been getting in the way lately and I've done approximately this much ( ) of getting my act together.

 

[Butterfly]

Clarion, have you got train tickets booked yet? And if so which train? Real Life has been getting in the way lately and I've done approximately this much ( ) of getting my act together.

We haven't got our act together yet either.