It's now or never ! (Done)

[mattfen]

Last week I resigned from my job and have decided to delay the start of the new one and do this thing !

The chances of getting permission to use 2 weeks of an annual holiday allowance to cycle E2E are slim to non existant but with a natural gap in employment it has opened up and been approved. (Thank you wifey !)

So I have 10 weeks to train, plan, organise, train, replan and panic !

Route wise I'm taking 13 days, will be doing LE and LP to DH and JOG, solo, unsupported, camping and B&Bs.
I'm based in West Yorkshire so have that 'fun' part to organise twice - getting to the start is done - train from Leeds to Penzance (direct !) - first class was only £30 more than cattle class - it wasn't difficult to justify a little luxury before the trip.
Getting back is a work in progress.

I've done several C2Cs, C&C, Rievers and Lon Las so I know my kit and trust it but I haven't ridden much for the last 12 months so training is the priority (along with route planning and transport !)

My first question is about cycle computers - I want to have more than my Cat-Eye - and am considering a GPS unit - is it a case of Garmin 810 or something else not as good ?

Matt

[Tigerbiten]

The first question to ask is on a long tour is how are you going the power/ recharge anything electrical.

If your Hotels/B&Bing the whole way, then it's easy. Just plug into the mains.
If your camping, then it's a bit more fun.

1:- A bike dynamo and an e-werks is probably the most expensive option.
2:- A big cache battery, recharged when possible, to keep the GPS internal battery charged. You can go 3-5 days between recharges that way.
3:- AA batteries. Use a couple of sets of rechargeables, recharged when possible, and Duracells when the rechargables are flat.

For a GPS, I've always gone for the third option. I always used a Garmin Vista Hc, the Garmin eTrex 20 is the new version of it.

[storksb]

Congrats on embarking on the E2E.

As for GPS are you looking for the mapping route guidance? If so the I would go with the 800 or 810. You can still get the 800's new and at a much better price than the 810 if you don't mind the slightly older feature set. If you are not looking for the mapping / route guidance and just want to record the route taken maybe look at the 510 or even the 200.

As for powering them you will certainly need to recharge daily. I am doing my LeJog in June and have decided to get a solar charge pack that I can strap on the top of the rear rack bag and charge the GPS if required during the ride. The solar charger also has a wall charger and can be charged up from the mains as required. I'll also be using it to charge my tablet and cell phone.

Hope this helps

Simon

[Tigerbiten]

Solars a bit iffy.
I used a Power Monkey Extreme last year.
I full direct sunlight it would charge the AA from my satnav in around 3 hours, ready for the next day.
If it was a bit overcast/cloudy it wouldn't charge them at all.
I was lucky last year because in 18 weeks on the road, I only had about 2 weeks adverse weather for solar charging.
The year before the times spent charging versus non charging would have been the other way around.

[Mark1978]

For charging consider one of these http://www.mophie.com/shop/universal-ba ... station-xl

[mjr]

For charging consider one of these http://www.mophie.com/shop/universal-ba ... station-xl

http://veho-uk.com/main/shop_detail.aspx?article=174 is cheaper, higher capacity and better-looking to boot! The only thing that the powerstation does better is charge two things at once. I like my pebble.

[storksb]

I was thinking of something like this Poweradd™ Apollo 7200mAh Solar Panel Portable Charger http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DLUYSPO/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=1G2TRZI0HEOPQ&coliid=I363HU3NS0J7M5

[mattfen]

I was thinking of recharging at the pub every evening !

My definition of cycle touring is bike and a great route during the day followed by tent and a pub at night ! I will probably duck into B&B's every third or fourth day to dry stuff out !

I have realised that my Garmin Etrex should do the trick regarding speedo functions and basic navigation and I will be taking a chopped up road atlas.

Just having a first stab at the route which I will upload to here this weekend for comment if you would be so kind !

Matt

[loafer]

hi matt
good on you for going for the e2e I have done it twice both lejog working on my third for next year but will be other way joggle (fancy a change) the hardest part is sorting all the route and accommodation the bike ride bit is easy just enjoy it its ment to be fun also don't look at it as a 1000 mile trip but more as 13 day trips just they follow on

larry
got one of these ... http://www.amazon.co.uk/13000mAh-Portab ... er+battery two friends used them and it also charges two things at once

[mattfen]

Ok - so route planning has been interesting ! Dragging and dropping dots to see if route B is 6ft less climbing than route A and then search for campsites near pubs....and repeat !

I appreciate that there are regular "what do you think " threads - indeed one has just been posted about 10 minutes ago ! but......

What do you think ?

See later post

I have no idea if I've cunningly avoided the best routes or routed myself along a motorway but the daily destinations are campsites / pubs for all but a couple of nights where I shall be B&B or TroubleInn ' ing it.

For taking the time - I thank you !

Matt

[bogmyrtle]

It looks to me as though you have used Google maps cycle directions. It takes you on unnecessary convoluted routes through housing estates when there are straighter less complicated options. On day 8, I think a lot of your proposed route follows cycle route 7 which isn't particularly well signposted.
Instead of going northwards on the A7, if you head south and take the first right (Harker) there is a road that will take you across the motorway and on to the road that runs parallel to the M6. This takes you pretty well straight into Gretna. Once you get to Gretna just stay on the B7076.

[mattfen]

Thank you - the route was done with RWGPS and is a work in progress - your advice is much appreciated. I'll update it now!

[dai_t75]

Just one quick one I noticed:

Day 2 - At about the 38 mile point why not head North East towards the Crowdy reservoir? Can easily join back up with your route at mile 44. We went that way and it was some lovely scenery. Can stay off the A39 then.

The rest of your ride is completely different to mine - which is the beauty of it! So can't really offer much else. Does look a bit convoluted at times - how are you planning on navigating?

[Tigerbiten]

From Altnaharra, unless you need to go via Tongue, turn right and go via the B873 past Loch Naver to Bettyhill.
You save about 5 miles and 1,000 foot of climbing.

[mattfen]

From Altnaharra, unless you need to go via Tongue, turn right and go via the B873 past Loch Naver to Bettyhill.
You save about 5 miles and 1,000 foot of climbing.

You beauty - my legs say thank you ! Route updated !!