Search found 241 matches

by althebike
15 Sep 2019, 7:22pm
Forum: Lands End to John O'Groats
Topic: Very tentatively considering JOGLE 2020 - ideas?
Replies: 32
Views: 4579

Re: Very tentatively considering JOGLE 2020 - ideas?

I stayed in Waterside house 3 Janet St Thurso.Owner is a keen cyclist. From the station, freewheel down the slope to the river, TL and it is a couple of minutes easy riding.If you plan to use Thurso, you get the opportunity to ride to JOG /Dunnett Head , back to Thurso and still have time and energy to explore the town, before setting off South the following day. Altnaharra hotel was full when I got there, it was expensive too, but they did do cheap bunkhouse accommodation, ( If you ask for it) Just before you arrive, there is a row of houses almost opposite, cheap "unofficial" B&b if they can fit you in. Assuming you can make Bettyhill by Lunchtime, you could also target the crask inn which would make your ride a bit more than 50 miles but doable. The crask inn would be unlikely to turn you away even if they are full. A tent can be provided, or bedding in the summerhouse all for the cost of "a donation"
by althebike
10 Sep 2019, 12:41pm
Forum: Lands End to John O'Groats
Topic: accomodation without booking
Replies: 15
Views: 2226

Re: accomodation without booking

https://www.mountainbothies.org.uk
I considered this, but the ones I looked out were not so suitable for road bikes, needing a walk to get there, great if you are on mountain paths. If you are a camper these would be great, as you are already in this self sufficiency state of mind. Other than B&B with water and food supplied. If you look hard enough you should find the ones you want.
by althebike
9 Sep 2019, 12:34pm
Forum: Cycle Camping sub-forum
Topic: The Scottish midge
Replies: 12
Views: 1422

Re: The Scottish midge

I was chugging up this hill at the Bridge of Brown last year, slow enough for them to get me. All I could imagine was this swarm flying in one ear, out of the other, being inhaled and hoping they were enjoying their feast, and maybe get blood poisoning for biting an Englishman.
by althebike
4 Sep 2019, 10:12pm
Forum: Lands End to John O'Groats
Topic: accomodation without booking
Replies: 15
Views: 2226

Re: accomodation without booking

It would mean planning a stop where there is a variety of bed options, if you stop in a small community and the few of places are full, then there is a problem. I would suggest that you plan to finish your ride earlier in the day than usual, so at least you have an option to get to somewhere else if your hoped for bed has no vacancy. Bring a list of possible b&b so you can go from one to another without wasting too much time. On my ride, a library found one place for me. I routed to roads that had a number of b&b in so I could just knock on doors, but if you leave this too late in the day, you may be less successful.
Good luck with the trip
by althebike
30 Aug 2019, 11:20am
Forum: Lands End to John O'Groats
Topic: LeJog on the NCN | Leaving in September | Is there ANYTHING else that I should know?
Replies: 42
Views: 7794

Re: LeJog on the NCN | Leaving in September | Is there ANYTHING else that I should know?

My Wahoo gps worked flawlessly, but I realised a huge oversight during my ride. If I had met a road closure I could have got into trouble, while I vaguely knew the route, I did not know many of the actual turns, and so a paper plan B would have been very sensible.
Power packs can get heavy, so I downgraded mine to a mid power model which was fine.By charging devices during breaks and charging the power pack at night, things worked for me. It is a good idea to chose one with more than one usb port so you can charge more than one device at the same time.
by althebike
28 Aug 2019, 12:52pm
Forum: Lands End to John O'Groats
Topic: Very tentatively considering JOGLE 2020 - ideas?
Replies: 32
Views: 4579

Re: Very tentatively considering JOGLE 2020 - ideas?

Right at the start of my ride, I met an oncoming vehicle in a narrow street, and had to dismount.I had to quickly reassess my goal of riding it all. I met riders pushing their laden bikes into a headwind . If you need to walk, then walk, there is no shame in that.
We ride to meet people, see places, enjoy the freedom and open air, for personal satisfaction, or any number of other reasons. So why not just enjoy it, being where you want to be doing what you want to do, and enjoy.Walking hard bits are OK.
by althebike
25 Aug 2019, 6:04pm
Forum: Lands End to John O'Groats
Topic: Very tentatively considering JOGLE 2020 - ideas?
Replies: 32
Views: 4579

Re: Very tentatively considering JOGLE 2020 - ideas?

last year I took the overnight sleeper London to Inverness, for £50. The train to Thurso was not expensive. I first days ride was an easy warm up ride to JOG and back to Thurso . I had a list of accommodation at about 25 mile intervals, at each lunch break I decided how much further I would ride, so my day distance choices were from 75-100 miles.If you are doing B&B you do not need to bring much, a change of clothes and a few bits and pieces, food can be purchased on the hoof .
I am sure if you invited company on your ride, you may well find someone happy to ride part or all of the way with you.
Good luck
by althebike
14 Aug 2019, 2:43pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: the North Coast 500: A Great Wilderness?
Replies: 71
Views: 7570

Re: the North Coast 500: A Great Wilderness?

I appreciate that the prefix letter of a road does not dictate whether it is paved or not. The reason I mentioned it on my post was to avoid suggestions that would divert me from an A road, and on to a dirt or loose gravel track.
Regarding the comments about the Altnarharra hotel. A landlady who lives almost opposite the hotel. told me they do cheap bunkhouse accommodation.
by althebike
19 Jul 2019, 11:21am
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Do I really need a Garmin GPS ??
Replies: 57
Views: 7641

Re: Do I really need a Garmin GPS ??

The last 3 garmins I owned have just left memories of constant shutdowns, u-turns, routing across ploughed fields and generally being more of a hindrance than help.I choose another brand now . With a GPS you can keep moving, have it warn you if you do take a wrong turn, and also supply lots of other data ,should you be interested. Paper routes are a good backup .Walking? I would choose paper every time, but cycling, give me a GPS.
by althebike
9 Jul 2019, 1:24pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: Why do drivers think this acceptable?
Replies: 60
Views: 10824

Re: Why do drivers think this acceptable?

tatanab sorry that was a typo, in both cases, I checked behind,signalled, moved into the right hand lane to do a right turn, and in both cases a car moved from the left hand lane to overtake me
by althebike
8 Jul 2019, 11:19am
Forum: On the road
Topic: Why do drivers think this acceptable?
Replies: 60
Views: 10824

Re: Why do drivers think this acceptable?

Twice on a recent ride I indicated to turn left, checked behind, clear, moved to right hand side of lane, waiting for a gap, checked behind saw car waiting, I acknowledged the wait as a sort of thank you for your patience, only to be overtaken by said vehicle. It left me wondering of my thank you wave was interpreted as an overtake sign by the other drivers.
by althebike
8 Jul 2019, 11:12am
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Garmin or Wahoo ?
Replies: 14
Views: 6379

Re: Garmin or Wahoo ?

Sorry softlips, I just realised my typo
by althebike
8 Jul 2019, 11:11am
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Garmin or Wahoo ?
Replies: 14
Views: 6379

Re: Garmin or Wahoo ?

I agree with everything hotlips mentions. I moved from Garmin to Wahoo.The garmin had better displays, maps easier to read and so on, and the pair I had both worked brilliantly for a while ,then they did'nt. Wahoo does everything , long battery life and much more stability.
by althebike
7 Jul 2019, 9:53pm
Forum: Lands End to John O'Groats
Topic: James's 8 day lejog 28th June - 7th July.
Replies: 73
Views: 13566

Re: James's 8 day lejog 28th June - 7th July.

James, you mentioned the river brothy , has anyone any experience of lejog by brothy? I took a brief look when planning a route but the ones I saw looked far off the beated track.