LeJog Update

June/July 2010 seems a long way off, but I guess it's never too early to start to prepare for an adventure like the Lands End to John O'Groats cycle ride.

I now have a riding partner, possibly two, and have decided that the 60-odd miles per day organised events from companies such a Skedaddle is probably too leisurely, and that the 110 mile daily distances of the James Cracknel organised Ride Across Britain [RAB] are closer to what we should be aiming for. I had considered signing up for the RAB, but have decided against it for two reasons. Firstly, they're doing it in the wrong direction which would mean a strong possibility of a headwind for the duration, and secondly after a day in the saddle, I really feel I need a proper bed and shower, not a camp site with a mat on the floor of a tent.

So it very much looks like we'll be organising the trip ourselves. David - who I will be doing the ride with - is a regular Audax rider and has suggested we do it as an Audax Permanent event. This means 7 days riding of at least 200km (roughly 125 miles). We'd have a total of 14 hours (including breaks) to complete each 200km leg. Allowing for say 3 hours of breaks (very generous) that's an average of just over 18km per hour. My normal average speed on a long ride is between 24 and 26km per hour, so not too scary, except it has to be done again the next day. And the next day. And we'd have to ride all 7 days within a total of 10 days, which would allow one rest day. The downside of doing it this way is that we'd have to be self supporting and carry our clothes etc for the overnight stops.

Next step is to start the route planning, drawing on the resources of all those fools who have gone before us.