November conditions

[michaeltownsendzac85]

Hi, am looking at cycling Lands end to John o groats to raise money for an amazing course in time for Christmas, has anyone experienced cycling the route in Beginning of November? Or has any advice for this time of year?
Many thanks

[Ron]

Weather could be wonderful (by winter standards) or dreadful, but shorter daylight hours are inevitable.

[Sandhouse]

Start in John O’Groats to maximise the chances of having reasonable weather in Scotland. You’ll also get a bit more daylight earlier in the month.

[TrevA]

Yes, I think daylight is going to be a problem at that time of year. It won’t be properly light until 8am and will be dark again at 5pm. That still gives you 9 hours max of riding time, if you don’t want to ride in the dark. Early frost/ice could also be a problem, if we get a cold snap.

[Paulatic]

It can be done https://www.cyclesprog.co.uk/blog/when- ... e-to-stay/
I think you need to be a strong cyclist and will definitely need to overcome short dark often damp days. Any sunshine will be short and weak. accommodation might be limited as some close for the winter.

[MrsHJ]

Be flexible. Look out for a week with a decent forecast rather than fixing yourself absolute to a set time- you don’t want to be battling a series of autumn gales. The weather can really make or break a long trip. How many days will you take?

[thirdcrank]

A single post then nothing else for some ten days so perhaps we'll hear no more. I'm bemused about how cycling LEJOG in November might raise £££ for what sounds like personal purposes by late December.

Hats off to contributors so far, who have been universally supportive.

[sjs]

A single post then nothing else for some ten days so perhaps we'll hear no more. I'm bemused about how cycling LEJOG in November might raise £££ for what sounds like personal purposes by late December.

Hats off to contributors so far, who have been universally supportive.

Well spending a couple of minutes giving a reply isn't much skin off anyone's nose, is it?

[PH]

I'm bemused about how cycling LEJOG in November might raise £££ for what sounds like personal purposes by late December.

It could be a typo "Cause" makes more sense than "Course".

[Dingdong]

Yes, I think daylight is going to be a problem at that time of year. It won’t be properly light until 8am and will be dark again at 5pm. That still gives you 9 hours max of riding time, if you don’t want to ride in the dark. Early frost/ice could also be a problem, if we get a cold snap.

I've cycled in Scotland in winter before. What I have noticed is even if it's dark at 5pm, the actual light starts to go at 3pm and you are pretty much in dusk by 4pm. It's similar I'm the mornings, so I would say for safety, and visibility you probably have only about 6hrs cycling time. Which isn't much if you want to put in say 90 miles a day.

[Pebble]

Yes, I think daylight is going to be a problem at that time of year. It won’t be properly light until 8am and will be dark again at 5pm. That still gives you 9 hours max of riding time, if you don’t want to ride in the dark. Early frost/ice could also be a problem, if we get a cold snap.

I've cycled in Scotland in winter before. What I have noticed is even if it's dark at 5pm, the actual light starts to go at 3pm and you are pretty much in dusk by 4pm. It's similar I'm the mornings, so I would say for safety, and visibility you probably have only about 6hrs cycling time. Which isn't much if you want to put in say 90 miles a day.

that is assuming cycling at night is dangerous, on quiet country roads it may well be safer as others will be able to see you sooner and clearer. I love the winters dark nights, looking forward to it. Just love late Autumn

Anyway here is riding in the scottish borders last November

[Dingdong]

Yes, I think daylight is going to be a problem at that time of year. It won’t be properly light until 8am and will be dark again at 5pm. That still gives you 9 hours max of riding time, if you don’t want to ride in the dark. Early frost/ice could also be a problem, if we get a cold snap.

I've cycled in Scotland in winter before. What I have noticed is even if it's dark at 5pm, the actual light starts to go at 3pm and you are pretty much in dusk by 4pm. It's similar I'm the mornings, so I would say for safety, and visibility you probably have only about 6hrs cycling time. Which isn't much if you want to put in say 90 miles a day.

that is assuming cycling at night is dangerous, on quiet country roads it may well be safer as others will be able to see you sooner and clearer. I love the winters dark nights, looking forward to it.

Anyway here is riding in the scottish borders last November

I quite agree, cycling in winter can be really amazing. But doing a point to point route, a large part of which will probably be on main roads, with heavy traffic, which are going to be quite unfamiliar, I still think your window of safety in Scotland in November is 9am-3pm. Especially if there is a group.

[Dingdong]

Fabulous sunset by the way!

[Pebble]

wonder how I managed that with different pictures ? something went wrong....

Anyway, yes if using busier roads then I too don't think riding at nights is good - but surely some must do the lejog using quiet country roads and enjoying the ride (can't understand folk riding on fast busy dual carriageways, but we're different in what we like)

[TrevA]

I think Sport Relief did JoGLE in the middle of winter, albeit probably with a back up car and crew. I remember Davina McCall falling off on the ice at night, near the north coast of Scotland.

We tried to avoid main roads on our JOGLE, though it’s difficult on the stretch around Wigan and Warrington.