JOGLE - Advice gratefully received

Specific board for this popular undertaking.
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simonwoodward66
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Joined: 20 Jul 2015, 1:54pm

JOGLE - Advice gratefully received

Post by simonwoodward66 »

Hi,
I'm going to be attempting my first End to End in June and would welcome any advice.
I'll be doing a JOGLE with a work colleague, we plan to take 14 days and will be camping as we go.
I'm most of the way through completing https://www.cyclinguk.org/british-cycle-quest so have a fair amount of experience of cycle camping. My buddy however, is a very fit and quick cyclist but has almost no experience of cycle camping (We did have 1 practice weekend in the Lakes). The route is approx 1000 miles and we have planned to stay off the main roads as much as possible.

As I said earlier, any advice would be gratefully received.

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/27583688
http://woodyandmal.com/
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robgul
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Re: JOGLE - Advice gratefully received

Post by robgul »

http://www.cycle-endtoend.org.uk has loads of resources and journals

Rob
E2E http://www.cycle-endtoend.org.uk
HoECC http://www.heartofenglandcyclingclub.org.uk
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Norman H
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Joined: 31 Jul 2011, 4:39pm

Re: JOGLE - Advice gratefully received

Post by Norman H »

Are you concerned that your colleague will set too fast a pace for you?

It's important that you go at a speed that is comfortable for you and which you can sustain. It's also important that you both enjoy it. You may find that with a camping load your colleague will be nearer to your pace anyway. One strategy might be to distribute the load so that he's carrying more than you. You need to discuss this with him.
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cycleruk
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Re: JOGLE - Advice gratefully received

Post by cycleruk »

Have you decided on your overnight stops and have you booked them ?
This may effect your length of days mileages. There are not that many campsites in Scotland and you are into the busy time of the year.
Your daily average is 70 miles (988/14) but there won't be a site exactly at these marks.

Route wise - Just before mile 491 turn left onto NCN 68. Much more pleasant, less climbing and rejoin your route perhaps around 498.
Howgills.jpg
You'll never know if you don't try it.
simonwoodward66
Posts: 35
Joined: 20 Jul 2015, 1:54pm

Re: JOGLE - Advice gratefully received

Post by simonwoodward66 »

Norman H wrote:Are you concerned that your colleague will set too fast a pace for you?

It's important that you go at a speed that is comfortable for you and which you can sustain. It's also important that you both enjoy it. You may find that with a camping load your colleague will be nearer to your pace anyway. One strategy might be to distribute the load so that he's carrying more than you. You need to discuss this with him.
You're absolutely spot on. I'm happy plodding all day at 10-12 mph avg. I find it incredible that he can do 75miles in 5 hours fully loaded.
I love cycle camping and as you've hinted, even if I could up my pace, it would cease to be enjoyable.
We are considering him zooming ahead and me meeting him at the campsite in the evening. Giving him extra weight sounds like a great idea.

I'm a trendy consumer. Just look at my MotoG3 using hovercraft full of eels.
simonwoodward66
Posts: 35
Joined: 20 Jul 2015, 1:54pm

Re: JOGLE - Advice gratefully received

Post by simonwoodward66 »

cycleruk wrote:Have you decided on your overnight stops and have you booked them ?
This may effect your length of days mileages. There are not that many campsites in Scotland and you are into the busy time of the year.
Your daily average is 70 miles (988/14) but there won't be a site exactly at these marks.

Route wise - Just before mile 491 turn left onto NCN 68. Much more pleasant, less climbing and rejoin your route perhaps around 498.
Howgills.jpg
We're not going to book any overnight stops. I find most campsites will take backpackers even when officially full. I am aware however that there are stretches of the route where campsites are limited.
Cheers for the route info.

I'm a trendy consumer. Just look at my MotoG3 using hovercraft full of eels.
Norman H
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Joined: 31 Jul 2011, 4:39pm

Re: JOGLE - Advice gratefully received

Post by Norman H »

Your 10-12 mph average, which isn't unreasonable for loaded touring, would result in 6-7 hours cycling per day on a 14 day schedule. With a reasonably early start that would see you finishing with plenty of time for all the day to day logistics.

When I did LEJOG with a friend I was the stronger rider and I was happy to go at his pace on the flat. On hills where he was much slower I either rode on his wheel at his pace or he was quite happy for me to set my own pace and wait for him at the top. This would inevitably mean I'd have a good rest whilst I waited but it's important, if you adopt this policy, to also let the slower rider take as long as is needed to recover at the top of the hill. I was also very much aware that it can be very demoralising to see your buddy disappearing up the road. So most of the time I was happy to take things easy.

Edit to add:

Just had a quick look at you route.

Your route through Devon is quite hilly. In particular the road over Exmoor and through South Molton, Umberleigh, Great Torrington, and on along the north coast. There are easier options further south through the M5 corridor towards Exeter or Crediton, then using the old A30 to Okehampton and Launceston to pick up your route at Camelford
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