LEJOG April 2025 - Land's End to John o'Groats in 11 days

How much training are we doing to prepare for this epic ride? Here's what I'm currently doing WEEKLY: 1 x large ride, approx 100km, on Saturday or Sunday, whichever day has the "least worst" weather! 2 x 45 min intense spin (indoor cycling) classes, Tues and Thurs evening. Our instructor, Savannah, is excellent! Er, that's about it for me at the moment. I recently gave Pilates a go for the first time ever, but  I wasn't as impressed by it as I thought I'd be. The classes are always packed at my local leisure centre, so it's hard to book in advance. We've got  just over 2 months to go before the start. 😱 Either I'll give Pilates another go, and/or I expect to partake in some targetted leg strength-building exercises. I'm annoyingly prone to leg cramps at night, in bed, after a big day of riding. Hopefully working on length strength will reduce the cramps. While I've got you, here's some info on spin classes: The term “spin class” is...

  I had a miraculous escape on one of our recent training rides. I was cycling downhill, at a moderate speed, on a combined cycle + pedestrian path. But, until it was too late, I didn't see a long crack in the path that 'perfectly' fitted my tyre width. I suddenly found myself well and truly in the groove. The miraculous part was that my bike and I were forced hard to the left and straight into a large bank of very soft ivy (see photo). Had I been thrown off on almost any other section of this path, in either direction, I've no doubt that myself and/or my bike would have sustained a potentially serious degree of injury. As it was, I just had to disentagle myself and the bike from the ivy, straighten my twisted handlebars, and I was on my way again.  Uninjured, and a little more cycling savvy. Thanks to Kev for re-enacting the incident on yesterday's ride on the same section of path. 😁 Naturally I've reported this to the local council, who will hopefully have it...

 *UPDATE 20th Jan 2025* Unfortunately, at least with my first attempt yesterday, these toe warmers DID NOT WORK for me. It appears that they require a reasonable amount of *ongoing* contact with air in order to give off heat, which (it turns out) is NOT sufficient in the relatively tight confines of my cycling shoes. I'll give them another go, but I'm not expecting them to work. Disappointing! I'll very likely have to find another solution. ---------- So far the only recurring, consistent discomfort I've experienced while cycling is very cold toes. Of course the winter weather is a major factor here. As to what the weather/temperature will be like in April '25 - who knows! Most likely highly variable. Another factor is the mild frostbite I got in my toes when climbing Pico Bolívar, the highest mountain in Venezuela, way back in 1994. It took 6 months for the feeling to completely return to my toes. Blood circulation (or lack thereof) in my toes has clearly been impa...

Why a Motorhome, Not YHA Accommodation? Initially, we considered booking YHA (Youth Hostel Association) accommodations along the route. The appeal of a warm bed, hot showers, and access to kitchen facilities was strong, but ultimately, the motorhome option won out. Here’s why: Flexibility in Daily Distances: One of the key advantages of a motorhome is its mobility. Unlike fixed hostel bookings, a motorhome lets us adjust our route and daily mileage based on weather, energy levels, or unexpected delays. This flexibility is priceless when undertaking such a dynamic challenge. Centralized Base: With a motorhome, everything we need—food, spare gear, and sleeping arrangements—is always with us. There’s no need to unpack and repack every night, saving time and effort. Comfort and Convenience: After a long day of cycling, having a space that feels like “home” is a big morale booster. A motorhome provides comfortable seating, space to stretch out, and a private area to rest and recover. Cost C...

  Prior to signing up for LEJOG, Gary was already a seasoned road-biker, but Kev and I were new to the craft. We've been life-long mountain bikers, and irrationally proud of it. So when Gary introduced us to cycling bibs, and not wearing underwear underneath, our first reaction was "eeeeeeuwwww!" But we rapidly became converts. On LEJOG we expect to take 3 bibs each (3 day rotation: wearing, washing, drying). 1. Improved Comfort and Fit No Waistband Pressure: Cycling bibs eliminate the need for a waistband, which can dig into the abdomen or restrict breathing, especially on long rides. The straps distribute the weight over the shoulders, providing a more comfortable and secure fit. Stay in Place: The straps keep the bib securely in position, preventing the shorts from sliding down or bunching up while riding, especially during intense pedaling or when shifting positions. 2. Better Coverage No Gaps: Bibs provide better coverage by extending higher on the torso. This pre...

Even though we're no longer spring chickens, we're quietly confident that, physically, we're up for this challenge, i.e that we CAN cycle an average of 90 miles per day for 11 days. We're confident that, with all our training and conditioning between now and April 18th, we will be in sufficiently good shape. What are the most likely things to stop us achieving our goal? Here are the big two: Repetitive strain injury (RSI) . It's unlikely that we'll cycle more than one or two back-to-back 90 mile days as part of our training. Which means that we just won't know in advance what might issues might niggle our bodies us after 3 or more days consecutive 90 mile days in the saddle. The challenge with RSIs is that they're very hard to treat or mask with pain killers. Some years ago, on a long mountain bike ride of 100km in one day, I suffered from iliotibial band syndrome, more commonly know as " IT band syndrome ". It's quite common amongst cyclis...

Which Gravel Bike Did I Choose, and Why? When it comes to finding the perfect (first) gravel bike for me, the search felt like an adventure in itself. After weeks of researching and evaluating various options, I’ve finally made my choice: the TRIBAN Men's Gravel Bike GRVL 520 Subcompact from Decathlon . Note that I chose a gravel bike over a road bike primarily because I know that we'll definitely *not* be on nice smooth roads all the time on LEJOG. Gravel bike forks allow for wider tyres than road bikes, which is important for more stability and control on off-road surfaces. The Very Close Contender: TRIBAN Gravel Bike Triban GRVL 520 Sram Apex During my search, the Triban GRVL 520 Sram Apex caught my attention as a strong contender. Its lightweight frame, SRAM Apex groupset, and thoughtful design made it a tempting option. I actually preferred the grey color of the Sram Apex over the burgundy color of the Subcompact, but the former only has a single chainwheel. Why I C...