Cornwall & Devon Coast & Borders

[Paulatic]

3.5 Kg of water I’d never dream of carrying that much. Earlier this year I was filling my bike bottle and flask before finding somewhere to pitch. Got me overnight and a hot flask for a second coffee mid morning.
No cemeteries, no farms, no garages, no houses, etc on your route?

Please avoid cemeteries, the last thing anyone wants are people assuming it is ok to camp in cemeteries, it is NOT

It was water sources under discussion not places to camp.

[NATURAL ANKLING]

Hi,
night mare from hell last night !!!!! I will explain in another post or this.

[NATURAL ANKLING]

Hi,
Port Isaac, 500 miles in 127 hours
Toes are permanently numb.In five days three hours.
Equals 123

[rjb]

Well done, nice pic of Lynmouth quay how did you find the climb to Lynton. Did you let the train take the strain. Those breakfasts look good, you've earned them and the ships biscuit.
I take my hat off to you sir.

[NATURAL ANKLING]

Hi,
Back in Tavistock for the second time.
I not quite done 600 yet.
Will update you later.
Just met a guy knows mick F, Well You don't know him he's out of him and his Moulten
He's got a frame needs identifying, Got his email.
Tendons around the knees is this just starting to feel a bit sore
I will be glad to be getting home tonight and get in the bed, and have a wash.

[NATURAL ANKLING]

Hi,
Linton, I've done that hill on the Torah, 18.5 inches, Sitting sort of.
But not on the koga 42".

We do more actor in later when I get home but it's a big but anybody got any bright ideas in doing this course need certifying

[NATURAL ANKLING]

600 in 6days 5.5 hours.
home soon well tonight
sleep in a bed
last night at 10 could not walk in a straight lines

[NATURAL ANKLING]

Hi,
Nearly home, knee is a bit sore now.

[NATURAL ANKLING]

Dartmouth.

Dartmouth.

Hi,
Finished in six days 11 and a bit hours.
At 9:30 in the evening started to waiver on the road.
10 o'clock last night so I missed out a couple of beach is right at the end.
Check mileage tomorrow the first 600 is 99.5+ percent accurate to the course.
Core seven the last 56.5 miles won't be much short of that.
Off to bed Core seven the last 56.5 miles won't be much short of that.
Off to bed

[NATURAL ANKLING]

Hi,
The day after the ride completed.
Woke up in the morning with a splitting head ache.
I'm Aching more than I did when I was on the ride.
I can't grip very well with my right hand, hold a knife Or use a clothed peg.
Both hands have lumps on.
Right calf stiff, ball of Foot numb and tingling, Big toe and two others are numb. Circulation defective in right leg, expect it will clear up later in the week.
not sure I could've managed another day.

I made the right choice in doing the ride, if I had put it off I might never have got round to doing it again, that's the trouble as you get older, None of us know what's round the corner.

Spent the whole day loafing around doing nothing.
Will try and add some more information about the ride as I remember it later.
I am not sure there is a recognised Devon and Cornwall coast route?

Some have posted that parts of the coast are quite pleasurable to ride.
This is very possible if you don't try to do too much at once.
Many of the hills which I think also our cycle routes are not just steep Just very dangerous.
Typically you can drop 600 foot without a single flat piece of ground.
unlike some long drops that are greater than that, where you can go all the way to the bottom without breaks, these particular drops on the coast and narrow twisting so no chance for a clear run.
On some of them I stopped several times, to make sure that the bike stays safe typically with a chance of overheating of rimsand tires.

On gears typically you're going to need a 20 inch bottom gear.
I was using 42 inch with a 21.5 kg bike, I also had a rucksack which started life at 5 kg.
That got lighter during the first day as I ate the food I took with me I drank the 1.5 kg of water.
The bladder in the sack with a back up with water which are used a couple of times after the first day.
Needless to say I did a lot of walking.
if you were day tripping you still going to need two bottles and carry a small amount of food between feeding stations, that's when they are open.
Garages co-op and spa shops Or a good place to get food, if a cafe is not available.

[skyhawk]

"Hi,
The day after the ride completed.
Woke up in the morning with a splitting head ache.
I'm Aching more than I did when I was on the ride.
I can't grip very well with my right hand, hold a knife Or use a clothed peg.
Both hands have lumps on.
Right calf stiff, ball of Foot numb and tingling, Big toe and two others are numb. Circulation defective in right leg, expect it will clear up later in the week.
not sure I could've managed another day."


Sounds like a really great holiday, not, why ?

[NATURAL ANKLING]

Hi,
Never was a holiday.
Bought the bike just after leaving hospital in 1983.
Had recently just refurbished it with all new parts.
apart from just training I've done nothing else for the last four or so years.
It doesn't help getting older, health goes downhill, every year I plan to do something but health issues keep knocking me back.

Despite struggling to cycle 50 miles Without pain and discomfort (that simply be a training run for me) I decided that if I did not do it now then I might not have a chance in future just to do a ride.

So off I went, and relatively happy with my consistent effort every day.
100 miles a day might not sound like much Like on an end to end ride , but –
I am 60
Bike was the minimum 21.5 kg food on top
42 inch minimum gear
Devon and Cornwall coast route.
Unsupported camping
solo
put it this way if I can do that then easier routes are simply going to be easier.
If my health was better I will already be planning and to end and return.
Soon as I can shake my medication problems, I will be off again, probably going to be June next year fingers crossed .

not doing the ride after planning/any ride even would've been disappointing.
That's all I can really say.

glad I did it I didn't give up and I now know that I can keep going on the move for 16 hours a day, Gives me some confidence.

[skyhawk]

Well at 61 my health isn't going downhill, perhaps I am lucky, never felt better, and I am not perfect, good luck

[NATURAL ANKLING]

Hi,
Edited some of the posts to add place names.

Five days later after ride, I cant use my index fingers well to clean teeth, clean bike, punch my card ID at shops, pick things up.
Left foot big toe slight numb, left foot all toes are still numb and tingling.
Hands feel like I have been digging a tunnel.
Tired at times and need to lie down mid-afternoon.
Walk a bit unsteady at times.

[Cyril Haearn]

Natural Aching?
Plus One for a great ride, reading about it is like reading about climbing Chomolungma