Cycle the entire mainland coast summer 2017

[AvaHil]

Hi there

I was wondering if anyone has cycled the entire 5000+ coast of Britain before?

If so, I am hoping to do so as a charity fundraiser in the summer of 2017. Thinking of starting in Pool and going clockwise. Unsure of accommodation but have read about people camping for part of the journey. My intention is to complete the trip in approximately 80 days.

Any tips or info would be hugely appreciated!

Thanks

[Paulatic]

A more recent account which springs to mind is Anna Hughes Eat Sleep Cycle
She blogged it at the time before the book but I can't find the link just now.

[Tiberius]

I've just cycled (nearly) 5,000 miles........It took me a year.......

[rjb]

This is a regular event, has been run on and off for a few years. http://www.thegreattour.co.uk/home.php

[Paulatic]

It's only 4000 mls according to Anna.

[ossie]

Thinking of starting in Pool and going clockwise.

Do you mean Poole ?

Clockwise will be extremely hilly to start with....its a mare around Dorset / Devon and Cornwall....you might want to build up those touring legs first by going the other way.

Sean Conway started out this way on his circumnavigation

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-35942554

[PhilWhitehurst]

Yep been done by a number of people before you. You won't be the first.

[mnichols]

Good luck. Sounds like a fantastic and challenging adventure

[khain]

The length of a coastline depends on how closely you follow it.

Take a mountain bike along coastal paths and it will be more like 10,000 miles. That could be a new challenge.

[ambodach]

One Man and His Bike by Mike Carter. In paperback Ebury Press.

[simonhill]

The first thing you need to do is set your parameters. Are you going all the way round the coast, or just following where roads allow. This will help define what other planning you will need to do.

You seem unsure about accommodation, this also needs careful consideration. It could become very expensive. Unless of course you think everyone should give you it for free because you are doing it for charity.

Do you have a bike and any touring gear? You will need something decent to ride. You will also need some good equipment as you can expect plenty of inclement weather on such a trip.

Your plan has you on over 60 miles a day every day, have you ever cycled anything like that?

Lots and lots of things to think about. Planning a trip like this is all part of the fun.

My advice is to sit down and really think what this will involve. Then look at maps, read books and then when your trip is firmed up you will be able to ask specific questions. Trying to answer ' any tips' is a bit difficult.

Good luck and enjoy the planning.

[robgul]

There's a book by Nick Sanders who rode the whole way round in 1984. He started at Blackpool and rode once as a recce before riding it again and setting a (record?) time of 22 days for 4,802 miles. The ride was sponsored by Vimto

It's a ride I have contemplated a few times but would do it in separate stages. I've ridden the bit from Exeter via the Isle of Wight to Whitstable so far - whether I will ever do more I don't know.


AND it just happens that I have a copy of the 96pp hard-back book in excellent condition (just a tear to the dust-jacket) - lots of pictures in colour and monochrome and indicative mapping that has enough detail to be able to plot your route for sale .... looking for £10.00 + postage (or collect from Stratford-upon-Avon) - please PM if interested

Rob

[Norman H]

Peter Maddern, one time of this forum I believe, did this anticlockwise in 2009.

http://petermaddern.weebly.com/around-the-coast-2009-penzance--r-thames.html

Sadly I believe he subsequently had to give up on long distance cycling.

[Heltor Chasca]

One Man and His Bike by Mike Carter. In paperback Ebury Press.

This was a good read. I liked it.

[Paulatic]

This guy walked it and slept rough the whole time
http://www.helpforheroes.org.uk/news/po ... tian-nock/
I recall him in our area and the last news item I can find is his arrival at Morecambe so nearly back to Blackpool
His blog is no longer open so I suspect a book must be in the offing.