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Post by Deleted on Aug 1, 2013 12:40:38 GMT
You know that feeling when you have done something really, utterly, totally mad and are left thinking you are probably less sane than you realise? well - I've just done something like that...
As some of you know, I have not been well recently - major issues with my asthma amongst other things, and on top of that in February last year acquired up with a rather nasty leg injury that ended our world tour.
Well my OH decided it was time to commit to our summer holiday and me being me, madly suggested we tried that JOGLE we had been thinking about this time last year to see if my leg was OK for touring. Well last year we could not do it, it was simply not sensible.
So the question became what do we do and where do we go for our summer holiday. We were at our friend's holiday homes back at Easter in Scotland, but didn't really want to return there for 2 weeks in September. We know Ireland rather well, and to be honest at the moment it is out of our budget, so having almost all the equipment and certain more than enough bikes, I madly suggested we start a tour at John O'Groats and see how far we can get before my OH has to return to work AND then I will continue to Land's End by myself.
Well I did say "something really, utterly, totally mad". Does that qualify?
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Post by phred1812 on Aug 1, 2013 12:55:31 GMT
Hope it goes well for you Emma. Keep us posted.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 1, 2013 13:14:20 GMT
Sure you'll be fine and have a great time.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 1, 2013 13:16:43 GMT
Ill come and cheer you on when you get this far. Can provide lodging if required.
(Reasonable rates lol)
You're right it's totally mad lol
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Post by Radchenister on Aug 1, 2013 13:53:14 GMT
Fine, let me know if you pass this way, I'll ride some of it for the day and get a train back.
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Post by zoltansocrates on Aug 1, 2013 14:36:25 GMT
nutter!
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Post by Deleted on Aug 1, 2013 16:05:21 GMT
I would say fairly mental! You'll have to post us your route on the forum, then we can all stop by for a wave, even a mile or two.
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Post by bandit3 on Aug 1, 2013 16:19:20 GMT
When you have sussed it will you put the route on here  |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 1, 2013 17:48:11 GMT
thanks for the votes of confidence folks... offers of people riding with me may be taken up, as possibly accommodation... but we will see nearer the time - x many days on my own and you may not want to cycle with me! I could be a raving lunatic by the time I get far enough south....  mind you I could already be... OK, we are not aiming on a mad dash to Land's End... More a leisurely lets go this way approach - though certain parts of the country will dictate what we route we take, but currently the plan is a west coast route, defintely via Durness & the Cape Wrath area (been there before just never cycled it), possibly via the Applecross peninsular - time & weather dependant, probably via the Isle of Skye, Isle of Mull and Isle of Arran (need to prove to my husband Arran actually exists (see Day 35-38 of our 'big tour' link below) because all he saw of it was dense low cloud and torrential rain, but again we will see dependant of time/weather combinations. From there it gets more interesting, we both used to live in the Lakes and have mad ideas about the Kirkstone Pass (we used to live on the 'remote' side of Ullswater and have cycled it before) and we both went to uni in Preston so know that area reasonably well, despite the changes since we were there. Warrington is a foregone conclusion, given we need to pick up the A49 to get to home. The A49 between Warrington and Cuddington is actaully fine to cycle and one we both do regularly - it is wide and a retired 3 lane road, reduced to 2 lanes, decent hardshoulder and chevronned area up the middle... From home, my current plan is to head over towards Oswestry/Wrexham and come down through Wales... that may change on the day. So as far as plans - that is it. I will be taking the Garmin Edge 200 and also my SPOT GPS Messenger device so you will be able to track us once I have that set up - it will be password protected, so I will post that somewhere at somepoint... On the big tour we would only be able to tell you where we were staying that night, when that night and where we were staying had arrived.  I know some people need to methodically plan things, but we find life much less stressful when we don't - which is why having booked the car hire and the train tickets to get us to John O'Groats is so unusual for us! (a one-way car hire to Inverness worked out cheaper than getting us and the bikes there by train - there are 2 bike races the weekend we start, one in Glasgow and one in Edinburgh so both west coast and east coast trains are seriously limited on bike spaces on the cheap tickets (like only 1 bike at that was a 5:45am train - the next one that had one was the 5am train to Glasgow and we will have to cycle to the railway station an hour south of us!) or it was 4 times the price but can get both bikes on this train, but can't get anything for Glasgow to Edinburgh... so I gave up and hired a car for £100 plus 400 miles fuel At least I know I can get both bikes there that way! On the brightside of things the Inverness to Thurso train has only cost £37.40 including both bikes - there was a cheaper train later on in the day, but I would prefer to get to Thurso for 6pm rather than 10pm on a Saturday night! Now just to get his rear wheel rebuilt (rohloff hub), my saddle and stem changed, him with new mudguards, and get the chainring changed from the 38/17 combination it is currently on, to something more sensible for the UK (current set up was for world tour weight in the Pamirs, rather than 2 panniers and rackpack in the UK). I may go back to the original 42/16 combination or try 42/17, not sure. Oh and both bikes need an oil change... so there is a little work to be done on the tourers before we depart! |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 1, 2013 20:36:55 GMT
I wonder if the Toc collective could relay race you down through the journey.... That would be cool.
If you're going through Somersetshire I'll do my bit ;-)
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Post by Deleted on Aug 1, 2013 21:35:15 GMT
Fine, let me know if you pass this way, I'll ride some of it for the day and get a train back. Seems others have said this already, but I reckon there must be enough members now to be able to ride hopefully most of the sections with you - if you want that - and also offer you safe backyard camping or accommodation, SNSSO, again if you want that. Don't know if you'd head as far south as the coast in Dorset, but if so would happily offer you our facilities, wifi, chargers, etc, and tag along (if I could keep up!). |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 2, 2013 8:51:37 GMT
Fine, let me know if you pass this way, I'll ride some of it for the day and get a train back. Seems others have said this already, but I reckon there must be enough members now to be able to ride hopefully most of the sections with you - if you want that - and also offer you safe backyard camping or accommodation, SNSSO, again if you want that. Don't know if you'd head as far south as the coast in Dorset, but if so would happily offer you our facilities, wifi, chargers, etc, and tag along (if I could keep up!). I think (well I am certainly in the Bournemouth area, not 100% sure on yourself) I am down your way on the 14th to 16th of this month certainly with 1 bike, not sure at the moment if the T3 or my MTB would be the best option. Don't really want to put the rack on the car and bring both, so limited to 1 in the 'boot'. probably be the T3 I think... getting my OH's tourer's rear wheel rebuilt (free, curtusey of a CC member) Certainly think you will have no issues in keeping up with me. I am a slow rider... average is not actually that high! Have to pace myself at a sensible rate because of medical conditions... Just working out what I will be doing with myself for those 2-3 days I have... certainly some photography weather permitting... and definitely some riding. need to get fit again before 7th September...! |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 2, 2013 8:56:57 GMT
I am in the Bournemouth area, will PM you more specific details.
There are some great scenic (photo-friendly) rides to be had round here via the chain ferry and on to the Purbecks.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 2, 2013 16:39:38 GMT
OK - I have the journal up and running for this tour now (in my signature), and if you want to track me, our SPOT GPS device is up and running again and can be looked at here share.findmespot.com/shared/faces/viewspots.jsp?glId=1q0AaJe1Zi398CkFyTdjBZ29ZdxPqYHGfIt will ask for a password. It is (without quotes) "jogle2013". This is a restricted view of what we did at the weekend on the pre-jogle mini-tour and I have deleted a couple of gps points not wanting to link the bikes to our home or give away my in-laws home either. But once we are on the road and everything is up and running correctly should give you a good idea of my/our progress or lack of!  |
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Post by Big Brother on Sept 2, 2013 20:39:29 GMT
Emma, you are one crazy but extremely committed cyclist.
The very best of luck to you on your tour. I'm sure you'll see a lot and it will be a fantastic experience. Owing to me being over t'other side of the hill to you I shouldn't imagine I'll be seeing you. Sounds like quite a few of the members will be looking out for you and will help you along the way.
Some marvellous gestures and offers already offered. Truly heartwarming.
Above all though, enjoy your holiday Emma. You, if anyone, deserve an enjoyable break.
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mind you I could already be...
I know some people need to methodically plan things, but we find life much less stressful when we don't - which is why having booked the car hire and the train tickets to get us to John O'Groats is so unusual for us! (a one-way car hire to Inverness worked out cheaper than getting us and the bikes there by train - there are 2 bike races the weekend we start, one in Glasgow and one in Edinburgh so both west coast and east coast trains are seriously limited on bike spaces on the cheap tickets (like only 1 bike at that was a 5:45am train - the next one that had one was the 5am train to Glasgow and we will have to cycle to the railway station an hour south of us!) or it was 4 times the price but can get both bikes on this train, but can't get anything for Glasgow to Edinburgh... so I gave up and hired a car for £100 plus 400 miles fuel At least I know I can get both bikes there that way! On the brightside of things the Inverness to Thurso train has only cost £37.40 including both bikes - there was a cheaper train later on in the day, but I would prefer to get to Thurso for 6pm rather than 10pm on a Saturday night!
