This may seem like a but of a fiddle but the finished product is pretty much a one page map for each day that takes up less space and weight than one standard OS map.
Wednesday, 1 May 2013
LEJOG Maps
Having just spent a few hours on the GPS programming in some of the routes for my LEJOG ride, I gather some people love doing this type of pre-ride preparation, unfortunately I'm not one of them. I thought it wise to back up the GPS in case I ran out of batteries. This is unlikely to happen really in the English end of the ride, but some of the Scottish route is pretty remote and the challenge of finding some batteries on Rannoch Moor in the rain after an 80 mile ride doesn't really appeal to me. I still want the route map though when I have finished so the GPS needs to be on if at all possible. I thought it wise to have some form of basic mapping with me if the GPS wasn't available. The option of carrying a half dozen maps didn't really seem logical so found an old atlas, the type you find for £2 in the garage forecourt, and marked up the route then cut them out.
You can do this without the assistance of a Labrador retriever if you wish, it's probably easier.
Sunday, 28 April 2013
Training rides for LEJOG
I thought I better put some miles in on the bike. Two reasons really, the obvious one being my general fitness levels needed for loaded touring for two weeks. I've been running lately and this has limited my riding time. Whilst I'm reasonably fit all round at the moment I think I have slipped a bit on the cycling side. The other reason being I have swapped the bike about a fair bit and I want to get some practice in so I can set it up as I train. I had flat bars on the tourer which I find better for cycling in traffic and commuting, the problem is I can't really get out of the wind like you can on drops. So the drop bars are back on my tourer. The other change is the SPD pedals are back on the tourer, and I have changed from the heavy Schwalbe Marathon tyres to the lighter Continental Sports Contact tyres for the tour. I think I'm going off the Marathons a bit, too heavy and when they get a year or two old they feel really still and uninspiring to ride. Anyway, the training.
Last weekend I tried a local loop which worked out at just over 42 miles and took me about 3hr 30 minutes.
Climbing wasn't that much though with 2048 feet of cumulative climbing, I know this is a lot for some areas of the country, but the worst day on LEJOG will be day two with over 6000ft of climbing!.
I tried to find a hillier route this weekend, but unfortunately I was pretty worn out from a heavy week at work, and Friday night bottle of wine I could have done without. This dented Saturdays performance a bit. the weather was windy and I didn't feel like doing the ride but I went into auto pilot and just got on with it.
I pretty much repeated the latter half of last weeks route but in reverse, then I added some pretty challenging climbs into it. I saw wind, rain, sun, hail stones and then my saddle fell off ! The combined elevation saw me at 4042 feet in about 53 miles. It took me 5 hours on the bike which is more than it seemed. Can't complain given the circumstances though I suppose.
Before the ride I'd be happier if I can get in a 60 mile ride that hits 6000 feet of climbing. When I do that I'll be happier with myself. I'm typing this the day after the ride and I feel fine, no ache or stiffness so I think I'll be OK with the repetitive riding day after day... as long as the saddle stays on the bike.
Last weekend I tried a local loop which worked out at just over 42 miles and took me about 3hr 30 minutes.
Wednesday, 24 April 2013
Arthur's Seat
After 90 minutes on the train I stepped out of Edinburgh's Waverley station. To my genuine astonishment it was warm, not the usual 5 degree welcome I get whenever I come here. The station is still a building site, and as I walk up towards the Royal Mile I look back to see that Princess Street is still a JCB drivers dream too. The weather may change but the excavation it seems is the same. I'm here for two days for a conference related to my work so I'm all kitted up with IT gear that's already irritating me; mainly because I forgot to pack one of the chargers when I threw some essentials into my over night bag at 7am this morning. Unfortunately it turned out I threw in the not-so-essential essentials and left out the you-should-really-take-that essentials. No change there then.
By the time I get to my hotel about a 30 minute walk from the station I have answered four emails a handful of texts and tweeted a couple of times. I question my sanity with the never ending IT shadow in my life. A few years ago when FaceBook was exploding across the globe I shrugged it off, refusing to join the masses who thought the communication possibilities of the Internet could be distilled into a single click of a button that told the world you liked something. So fuck. I like lots of things but I don't need to post a picture of my lunch, or my dog looking cute (he struggles with that look anyway), or pictures of me in the 80's with really bad hair and white slip on shoes in homage to Crocket and Tubs. I check-in, declining the £13.50 continental breakfast, and slide the plastic key card into the door to my room. Typically under inspired with the worn out room I get changed and head across the road to walk up Arthur's Seat, the famed 824ft high 350 million year old extinct volcano. It's late rush hour so I'm fascinated by the sheer number of cyclist on the road, a sight I love to see and would never tire of.
The walk up is fairly easy if your a walker, a couch surfer may grumble about it though; they best stay at home. The whole place is so alive, it's pretty inspirational; joggers run up the hill past me huffing and puffing, dog walkers, tourists and students mill around chatting, plugged into iPods, phones and tablets. I say my usual late in the day greeting of "evening" to several people whom pass me by but only the tourists respond. It dawns on me that all of the others are probably only a 5 or 10 minute walk from their city homes so saying hello to everyone who passes you by isn't really the done thing. You probably wouldn't get very far most days if you tried it. I press on at my reasonable quick pace and pass several groups walking up to the top of the hill, I can tell I've been training lately as my breathing is even and steady; just a year ago my heart would have been pounding away if I tried this. The path meanders onwards and upwards and within 40 minutes or so of leaving my hotel room I'm at the top of the hill standing next to a trig point, there are eight others there with me and its nearly half six in the evening. I take a few snaps that remind me my camera is painfully limited; the camera on my phone gives it a run for its money, then I notice something. Everyone, every single person, out of the eight people on that crest next to me is on the phone, but its deadly silent. For a moment I feel self conscious, as if I'm missing out on something, like I'm the odd one out. I'm the oldest person here easily, there are three couples and two single girls, all head down texting, tweeting, updating profiles, or even checking their online bank balance for all I know. I join in and tweet a few pictures but it strikes me as a little odd that we all bothered to climb up here but I'm the only one who seems to be looking further afield than the four inch screen in my hand.
What are we all doing?
I hang around for ten minutes and no one looks up from their phone, I realise I'm spending more time looking at the people than looking at the view so I take it as a queue to leave. As I make my way down the hill I suddenly wonder if they all started to talk when I left. Was I intruding? Were they waiting for me to go so they could resume whatever they were all doing?
"Thank god he's gone, I thought he would never go!"
"Yeah, took him bloody ages to get the hint..."
I laughed out loud, then my phone buzzed in my pocket. Three unread texts, damn. I must have lost my phone signal when I was on the top of that hill.
By the time I get to my hotel about a 30 minute walk from the station I have answered four emails a handful of texts and tweeted a couple of times. I question my sanity with the never ending IT shadow in my life. A few years ago when FaceBook was exploding across the globe I shrugged it off, refusing to join the masses who thought the communication possibilities of the Internet could be distilled into a single click of a button that told the world you liked something. So fuck. I like lots of things but I don't need to post a picture of my lunch, or my dog looking cute (he struggles with that look anyway), or pictures of me in the 80's with really bad hair and white slip on shoes in homage to Crocket and Tubs. I check-in, declining the £13.50 continental breakfast, and slide the plastic key card into the door to my room. Typically under inspired with the worn out room I get changed and head across the road to walk up Arthur's Seat, the famed 824ft high 350 million year old extinct volcano. It's late rush hour so I'm fascinated by the sheer number of cyclist on the road, a sight I love to see and would never tire of.
The walk up is fairly easy if your a walker, a couch surfer may grumble about it though; they best stay at home. The whole place is so alive, it's pretty inspirational; joggers run up the hill past me huffing and puffing, dog walkers, tourists and students mill around chatting, plugged into iPods, phones and tablets. I say my usual late in the day greeting of "evening" to several people whom pass me by but only the tourists respond. It dawns on me that all of the others are probably only a 5 or 10 minute walk from their city homes so saying hello to everyone who passes you by isn't really the done thing. You probably wouldn't get very far most days if you tried it. I press on at my reasonable quick pace and pass several groups walking up to the top of the hill, I can tell I've been training lately as my breathing is even and steady; just a year ago my heart would have been pounding away if I tried this. The path meanders onwards and upwards and within 40 minutes or so of leaving my hotel room I'm at the top of the hill standing next to a trig point, there are eight others there with me and its nearly half six in the evening. I take a few snaps that remind me my camera is painfully limited; the camera on my phone gives it a run for its money, then I notice something. Everyone, every single person, out of the eight people on that crest next to me is on the phone, but its deadly silent. For a moment I feel self conscious, as if I'm missing out on something, like I'm the odd one out. I'm the oldest person here easily, there are three couples and two single girls, all head down texting, tweeting, updating profiles, or even checking their online bank balance for all I know. I join in and tweet a few pictures but it strikes me as a little odd that we all bothered to climb up here but I'm the only one who seems to be looking further afield than the four inch screen in my hand.
What are we all doing?
I hang around for ten minutes and no one looks up from their phone, I realise I'm spending more time looking at the people than looking at the view so I take it as a queue to leave. As I make my way down the hill I suddenly wonder if they all started to talk when I left. Was I intruding? Were they waiting for me to go so they could resume whatever they were all doing?
"Thank god he's gone, I thought he would never go!"
"Yeah, took him bloody ages to get the hint..."
I laughed out loud, then my phone buzzed in my pocket. Three unread texts, damn. I must have lost my phone signal when I was on the top of that hill.
Saturday, 20 April 2013
LEJOG Route - The Plan
Well, it took way more work than I expected but I have my route planned now. I'm camping most nights but the odd B&B has been included for logistical reasons. The bike will be posted to a B&B just a couple of mile from Lands End. Then I fly to Exeter from Newcastle upon Tyne where I live, this is cheaper than the train believe it or not. I then get a train to Penzance then a bus or taxi to the B&B. I'll build my bike up and then the next day head off after breakfast. The planned destinations and distance/climbed elevation are listed below.
LEJOG Route
Day 1: Lands End to Ruthernbridge (94km
/ 57 mile) [total ascent 811m 2661ft]
Day 2: Ruthernbridge to Crediton (112km
/ 70mile) [total ascent 1883m / 6178ft]
Day 3: Crediton to Brook Lodge Farm
(110km / 69mile) [total ascent 145m / 476ft]
Day 4: Brook Lodge Farm to Bishop's
Froome (120km / 75mile) [865m / 2838ft] B&B
Day 5: Bishop's Froome to Wrenbury
(120km / 75mile) [626m / 2054]
Day 6: Wrenbury to Cabus (120km /
75miles) [614m / 2030ft]
Day 7: Cabus to Carlisle (122 km /
76mile) [805m / 2642ft] B&B
Day 8: Carlisle to Lanark (128km /
80mile) [ 871m / 2859ft]
Day 9: Lanark to Beinglas (Loch Lomond)
(120km / 74mile) [702m / 2303ft]
Day 10: Beinglas (loch Lomond) to Fort
William (95km / 60mile) [802m /2631ft]
Day 11: Fort William to Dingwall (113km
/ 70mile ) [680m / 2228ft)
Day 12: Dingwall to Dunbeath (116km /
72mile) [927m / 3041ft]
Day 13: Dunbeath to JohnO'Groats /
Thurso ( 91km / 56mile) [ 588m / 1929ft] B&B
Ideally I would have camped every night but on the 4th night in Bishop's Froome there is no camping option and I can't find anything without a 20 mile deviation in my route which I could do without. The 7th night in Carlisle I'm in a B&B because my wife and kids are meeting me there for the night, this kids think its a great adventure so they are plotting my progress on a map while I'm away, Then the 13th night is my last night at Thurso and a B&B is the logical option if I'm catching a train the next morning very early. Wild camping was an option obviously, but to put it bluntly, I want the luxury of a shower after my days riding. The distances should be comfortable at around 70mile a day, the first day is pretty short but that gives me a chance to have a look around a bit, it's a long time since I have been to Cornwall and I'm hoping the weather will be kind. Last time I was there the tent nearly blew away and we woke up to severe weather warnings... a typical British summer holiday really.
Friday, 12 April 2013
LEJOG Planning
I'm not a planner. Well, that's not strictly true, but I do dislike the drudgery of planning routes because I'll inevitably see something along the way that will catch my eye...then I'll want to deviate from the route. Which I guess makes me question why I need to plan a route in the first place.... But it sort of feels like I should plan something.
I booked a flight from where I live (Newcastle upon Tyne) to Exeter airport. This is the start of it now I guess, I've committed to it. I'm doing the Lands End to John O'Groats cycle ride of nearly 1000 miles... in about 7 weeks time. I'm camping along the way so I have a tent to take with me, with the extra weight and all I have set myself about 80 miles a day to ride... hilly miles mostly. I'm going to book up some campsites in advance and I'm also posting my bike to a B&B the week before I go. Its the cheapest and probably the easiest way to do it from where I live. Looking forward to it !
Just got to get the bike serviced first.
Tuesday, 9 April 2013
LEJOG .... time to make some decisions
Its been a busy week for me with a lot on at work, home, on the bike, and in my head. The whole idea of LEJOG on a Brompton has come in with a bit of stick from most people I have mentioned it to. If I'm honest, the fact that nearly everyone criticised the idea probably made me more determined to do it but a few things have developed that had made me rethink my plan, or perhaps more importantly, rethink why I want to do such a ride for 1000 miles.
Why do you want to do this trip?
I need an escape to push myself, but also to enjoy myself. I want this at my pace so I can stop and stare, or hunker down and move the miles. I want to pedal my bike.
Simple so far. I want a cycle tour of sorts, but why LEJOG? I guess its iconic isn't it? the length of Great Britain starting at Lands End in the South West of England and ending in John O'Groats in the North East of Scotland. Most people know of it; its not like saying "I pedaled from Brighton to Duntulm" where everyone will just say "eh? ...Where?" (It's the Northern tip of the Isle of Skye). Even though I have no doubt that such a journey would be just as challenging and just as rewarding. I thought about just setting out from home on the bike and pedaling in a big loop for 1000 miles back to my front door. That actually did catch my attention, even though other people wouldn't be able to identify with it. But why does that matter? Should I really care if they can identify with it or not? Isn't this my journey and not theirs? The thought of flying to Paris and cycling home to Newcastle upon Tyne passed through my mind too...but I think I'll save that for another year.
My original plan developed around the loose idea of no ties, when I say this I mean I wanted to be self supported, no back-up car, no paid holiday tour, no pre-booked bed for the night to rigidly dictate my pace and route. I thought of taking a bivvi bag or maybe a small tent. Yes, definitely a small tent, the thought of cycling 1000 miles and bivvying in a field for 10-12 nights of rain would test me just a touch too far. I followed this to the extreme thinking of no hassle with booking bikes on trains (always a major pain in the UK), no arranging bike taxis at the end of the ride to ferry my kit home.
But it's not to be. It can't be that way for the simple reason I won't forfeit something else to accommodate this stubborn self-reliant plan that has slowly developed in my head. I have limited time and resources to play with. Like everyone else I need to plan my time, particularly holidays or annual leave. Other events in my life that I'm not willing to push to one side dictate that I make some practical choices. I need to compromise. I need to consider the facts and decide what I am going to do as I have a small window of time at my disposal if I'm going to do this in 2013, and it looming up quite quickly now.
Do you have the ability to pedal LEJOG?
Yes, I think so. I'm reasonably fit and a 70 mile ride on a fully loaded tourer is comfortable for me.
Do you have the equipment that you require to attempt pedaling LEJOG?
err...yes. Its all in my garage.
Do you want/need to do it on a folding bike that you don't actually own yet?
err... it would be novel. I like the idea, but its not the reason I want to do the journey so I guess the answer is no.
Do you want to sleep indoors or outdoors?
Err..either is fine if I'm honest. I'd like to take a tent and that gives me freedom to camp if I can or find a bed for the night, but it means I have to carry a bigger load.
Can you carry the bigger load on the folding bike?
Err.. no. not without spending some money on some lighter gear and specific luggage. All my gear is comfortable, not ultralight, but it fits on my touring bikes rack ok.
Is it impossible to arrange (in advance) transportation for your bike to reach the start of the journey?
No, that's easy. I can post it to a friends house in Exeter.
Is it impossible to arrange (in advance) transportation for your bike after your reach the end of the journey?
No. I just didn't really want to be tied to a pre-booked schedule, but I can't really be 2 or 3 days late either so I guess I can pre-book transportation home and adhere to a finish date.
In that case, if you want to ride LEJOG then you would be wise to post your touring bike to your friends house in Exeter, then fly down there, jump on your bike with your camping gear and pedal North for 10 days until you bump into John O'Groats where you will hand your bike over to a pre-booked courier who will post it home for you. You can get the train home.
Ok. That sound like a reasonable plan I guess.
So that's it so far. The Brompton idea was great but it just limited my options too much. I now need to commit to a schedule and get some transport booked. Looking good !
Why do you want to do this trip?
I need an escape to push myself, but also to enjoy myself. I want this at my pace so I can stop and stare, or hunker down and move the miles. I want to pedal my bike.
Simple so far. I want a cycle tour of sorts, but why LEJOG? I guess its iconic isn't it? the length of Great Britain starting at Lands End in the South West of England and ending in John O'Groats in the North East of Scotland. Most people know of it; its not like saying "I pedaled from Brighton to Duntulm" where everyone will just say "eh? ...Where?" (It's the Northern tip of the Isle of Skye). Even though I have no doubt that such a journey would be just as challenging and just as rewarding. I thought about just setting out from home on the bike and pedaling in a big loop for 1000 miles back to my front door. That actually did catch my attention, even though other people wouldn't be able to identify with it. But why does that matter? Should I really care if they can identify with it or not? Isn't this my journey and not theirs? The thought of flying to Paris and cycling home to Newcastle upon Tyne passed through my mind too...but I think I'll save that for another year.
My original plan developed around the loose idea of no ties, when I say this I mean I wanted to be self supported, no back-up car, no paid holiday tour, no pre-booked bed for the night to rigidly dictate my pace and route. I thought of taking a bivvi bag or maybe a small tent. Yes, definitely a small tent, the thought of cycling 1000 miles and bivvying in a field for 10-12 nights of rain would test me just a touch too far. I followed this to the extreme thinking of no hassle with booking bikes on trains (always a major pain in the UK), no arranging bike taxis at the end of the ride to ferry my kit home.
But it's not to be. It can't be that way for the simple reason I won't forfeit something else to accommodate this stubborn self-reliant plan that has slowly developed in my head. I have limited time and resources to play with. Like everyone else I need to plan my time, particularly holidays or annual leave. Other events in my life that I'm not willing to push to one side dictate that I make some practical choices. I need to compromise. I need to consider the facts and decide what I am going to do as I have a small window of time at my disposal if I'm going to do this in 2013, and it looming up quite quickly now.
Do you have the ability to pedal LEJOG?
Yes, I think so. I'm reasonably fit and a 70 mile ride on a fully loaded tourer is comfortable for me.
Do you have the equipment that you require to attempt pedaling LEJOG?
err...yes. Its all in my garage.
Do you want/need to do it on a folding bike that you don't actually own yet?
err... it would be novel. I like the idea, but its not the reason I want to do the journey so I guess the answer is no.
Do you want to sleep indoors or outdoors?
Err..either is fine if I'm honest. I'd like to take a tent and that gives me freedom to camp if I can or find a bed for the night, but it means I have to carry a bigger load.
Can you carry the bigger load on the folding bike?
Err.. no. not without spending some money on some lighter gear and specific luggage. All my gear is comfortable, not ultralight, but it fits on my touring bikes rack ok.
Is it impossible to arrange (in advance) transportation for your bike to reach the start of the journey?
No, that's easy. I can post it to a friends house in Exeter.
Is it impossible to arrange (in advance) transportation for your bike after your reach the end of the journey?
No. I just didn't really want to be tied to a pre-booked schedule, but I can't really be 2 or 3 days late either so I guess I can pre-book transportation home and adhere to a finish date.
In that case, if you want to ride LEJOG then you would be wise to post your touring bike to your friends house in Exeter, then fly down there, jump on your bike with your camping gear and pedal North for 10 days until you bump into John O'Groats where you will hand your bike over to a pre-booked courier who will post it home for you. You can get the train home.
Ok. That sound like a reasonable plan I guess.
So that's it so far. The Brompton idea was great but it just limited my options too much. I now need to commit to a schedule and get some transport booked. Looking good !
Sunday, 31 March 2013
LEJOG on a Brompton...doubt..
I don't know why but I'm having a lot of thoughts about this LEJOG trip, one minute I'm all up for it then the next I doubt myself and my motivation. There are many relatively minor things to plan out. Transport, time off work, money, leaving my family for two weeks and the childcare issues this creates for my wife.... all of which I can work around I'm sure. The main surprise is the response I'm getting from people about the bike of choice, not a typical choice I admit, but I just wasn't prepared for what can really be described as hostility. Which is a bit sad really.
Why did I think of a Brompton? Well, if I'm honest I don't actually know, I guess I just associated the name with a quality folding bike, and its British. I'm surprised I just wrote that, I'm not normally one for patriotism but I suppose it does make a bit of a difference to me. More importantly I guess is that I like the idea of making my own way to Lands End, maybe fly to Exeter then a train to Penzance...then start the ride. I can't do that on my tourer can I, not without significant planning, cost and hassle. The Brompton would just be "luggage" on the way to the ride, and the same on the way back. No messing about with bike trailers, posting bikes, getting lifts etc.. I guess what I'm trying to say it I would be self sufficient in the travel arrangements. Buses, taxis, trains and planes would all be fair game getting to and from either end of the ride, and part of the adventure for me. Yes, that's it really. I couldn't claim any of this on my touring cycle, its huge by any bike standards.
I know I can physically do the ride, I can cycle my tourer fully loaded through sleet and snow for 65 miles in a short day and repeat it several days in a row with generous helpings of beer every evening, so I'm sure I can manage 80 hilly miles a day in the British summer time with longer daylight hours and less beer (and no doubt some rain instead of sleet). I'm still not decided upon sleeping arrangements. One part thinks B&B/YHA where I can find them, but the other side of me thinks I could bivvi some of it with ease. That brings my other thought of doing it lightweight. I always take way too much gear with me and paring it all down would be part of my challenge. The biggest challenge at the minute is keeping my views positive when every 2nd or 3rd person I mention the trip too seems to explode with warnings of impending disaster if I even consider riding a bike "with a fucking hinge in the middle!!!" a mere 1000 miles.
That may sound cocky, a mere 1000 miles. But really, in the grand scheme of life, that's all it is. its only 80-odd miles a day for 12 days. I know I sit around 9.5 MPH average a day in hilly terrain on my tourer, that's including the breaks. If I set out planning for 12 days I could fall back onto 13 days if I'm tired, or speed it up to 10 days if I'm covering ground well. Hell, I could meet up with my family in the middle of the ride for a day off in the lakes if I wanted to. It's my journey, the challenge is for me to enjoy, not to compete race times, lightest bikes, or most scenic route with anyone else. I could do it on a Segway or a BMX if I wanted to. I'm not dead yet.
just typing that out has brightened my mood. I'm off to look at LEJOG routes now.
Why did I think of a Brompton? Well, if I'm honest I don't actually know, I guess I just associated the name with a quality folding bike, and its British. I'm surprised I just wrote that, I'm not normally one for patriotism but I suppose it does make a bit of a difference to me. More importantly I guess is that I like the idea of making my own way to Lands End, maybe fly to Exeter then a train to Penzance...then start the ride. I can't do that on my tourer can I, not without significant planning, cost and hassle. The Brompton would just be "luggage" on the way to the ride, and the same on the way back. No messing about with bike trailers, posting bikes, getting lifts etc.. I guess what I'm trying to say it I would be self sufficient in the travel arrangements. Buses, taxis, trains and planes would all be fair game getting to and from either end of the ride, and part of the adventure for me. Yes, that's it really. I couldn't claim any of this on my touring cycle, its huge by any bike standards.
I know I can physically do the ride, I can cycle my tourer fully loaded through sleet and snow for 65 miles in a short day and repeat it several days in a row with generous helpings of beer every evening, so I'm sure I can manage 80 hilly miles a day in the British summer time with longer daylight hours and less beer (and no doubt some rain instead of sleet). I'm still not decided upon sleeping arrangements. One part thinks B&B/YHA where I can find them, but the other side of me thinks I could bivvi some of it with ease. That brings my other thought of doing it lightweight. I always take way too much gear with me and paring it all down would be part of my challenge. The biggest challenge at the minute is keeping my views positive when every 2nd or 3rd person I mention the trip too seems to explode with warnings of impending disaster if I even consider riding a bike "with a fucking hinge in the middle!!!" a mere 1000 miles.
That may sound cocky, a mere 1000 miles. But really, in the grand scheme of life, that's all it is. its only 80-odd miles a day for 12 days. I know I sit around 9.5 MPH average a day in hilly terrain on my tourer, that's including the breaks. If I set out planning for 12 days I could fall back onto 13 days if I'm tired, or speed it up to 10 days if I'm covering ground well. Hell, I could meet up with my family in the middle of the ride for a day off in the lakes if I wanted to. It's my journey, the challenge is for me to enjoy, not to compete race times, lightest bikes, or most scenic route with anyone else. I could do it on a Segway or a BMX if I wanted to. I'm not dead yet.
just typing that out has brightened my mood. I'm off to look at LEJOG routes now.
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