Cycling UK Forum

Hi
Initial thoughts on easter lejog.
Wife has taken 2 weeks off at easter to visit parents which means I sit and play dumb for 2 weeks or I do lejog.
I hope to do it in 12 days with several rest days.

I want to know if Easter is too early in the year?

Fitness does not bother me as I am a fell runner.
Need spend more time on the bike though!

Will be staying at freinds through to glasgow and then lightweight camping the last few days to JOG. Cannot cost much money as she woud rather be in spain!!

Will be using my stevelio 7005 road bike -like a ribble winter bike.
R550 shimano wheels to home, bradford, West Yorks
36 spoke training wheels to JOG.
Rack pack and handlebars.

A30, West coast route
Any thoughts please.

Many thanks James

Nowt wrong with Easter - can have some good weather (although we had 4 inches of snow on my last Easter tour, but then a friend spent another Easter open-camping in the Orkneys it was so hot when he was there- you pays your money and takes your chance!), plus less holiday traffic than mid summer.

Definitely get bike fit first - running fitness is a bonus but I'd guess that your running uses large amounts of energy over a short period compared to the all day grind of the bike. Also, need to get used to the saddle, and make sure the bike is OK for long rides.

Hi

Thanks for those tips easter it is then,
at least the midges will be reduced!!!!!

I havebeen looking tthemaps and it seems that the Fort William, Inverness route istheroute I will go despite being a tad longer than the Edingburgh A9 route.

What isMick route through cornwall?

I have a stop planned for
LE to St Austell
St Austell to exeter
exeter to clevdon (Inlaws)
Rest day.
clevdon to shewsbury
shrewsbury to bradford (home)
Rest day
Bradford to Carlisle
Carlisle to clyde bank.
Rest day, visiting rellys
Clyde bank to Fort william
Fort William to Invernes
Inverness to JOG
Saturday return over night to Bradford.

How does this sound?

Yours James

Hi
Plans are firming up,
cannot spend much money so looking at cheap tents and micro sleeping bags.
Has any one camp toured with the bear minimum?
I.e,justtentand sleepping bag.
I figure that I will be staying with freinds 50% of time so cooking stuff is not really an issue, just cafe it each night.
I have a large old sadde bag and front bag,which I hope to getaway with.
Any thoughts
Yours James

Ok not much experience of bike camping but lots of walking expeds, a lot depends on how warm you sleep, Easter can either be really cold (we've woken up and its been -5 with ice on the tent) or it can be quite warm. If you're going with a lighter sleeping bag I'd advise taking a liner as well, if you can stretch to it a silk liner offers the highest warmth to weight ratio there is (http://www.backpackinglight.co.uk/product337.asp) that would easily add another season onto your lightweight sleeping bag. Tents, if you don't need to keep the bike in your tent then go for a low volume one if you can as it'll help keep warmth in, saying that I've also had some nights using just a tarp if you get a large enough one you can pitch it anything from a tipee to low tent to an open shelter, depending on the weather. The other thing to consider is protection from the ground, foam roll mats work but not that well (unless you use 2), a large proportion of your heat will be lost to the ground if you're not careful. Alpkit do an excellent range of inexpensive self inflating sleeping mats (http://www.alpkit.com/airic/) they also cheap headtorches, sleeping bags etc - and from experience the gear is good quality and the service excellent.

Hi
Just sorting out provisions,
In saddlebag;-
(Wearing one of each)
two cycling Jerseys

two pairs cycling shorts.

two mid layer tops,

One top layer thermal,

One waterproof.

Tent

Matt

Sleeping bag.

tools
multitool

Pump

allens,

tubes / levers

spokes???

oil and tape

In front bag

Camera

Phone,

Food,

Diary
Bible / books

Do I take cooking stuff or head for cafe during day.

Anything else I have missed

Also need route over penines to Bradford any ideas!!!!
Yours James

Jameslejog wrote:Hi

Anything else I have missed

A bike?

Jameslejog wrote:Hi
Just sorting out provisions,
In saddlebag;-
(Wearing one of each)
two cycling Jerseys

two pairs cycling shorts.

two mid layer tops,

One top layer thermal,

One waterproof.

Tent

Matt

Sleeping bag.

tools
multitool

Pump

allens,

tubes / levers

spokes???

oil and tape

In front bag

Camera

Phone,

Food,

Diary
Bible / books

Do I take cooking stuff or head for cafe during day.

Anything else I have missed

Also need route over penines to Bradford any ideas!!!!
Yours James

If I read your list correctly, you are taking shorts, but no tights or leg warmers. I'd suggest you think again as it can still be bloody cold at Easter time

Jameslejog wrote:Also need route over penines to Bradford any ideas!!!!
Yours James

When I did it I stopped off near Oxenhope at the western edge of Bradford). I'm not suggesting this is the best route (it certainly doesn't look the most direct) but I wanted to avoid Manchester so went north of it from Northwich via Leigh, Farnworth, Bury, Rochdale, Todmorden to Hebden Bridge where I turned left over the moor to Oxenhope. For Bradford. you could go on via Halifax and Queensbury (a bit of a hill I know but then downhill all the the way to Bradford!). I know the route through the Lancashire towns (usually the outskirts) may not be everyones cup of tea but it made a change from the rural rides of the previous days and I did find it a good run.

Exactly what kit you take will depend on how the weather is, best decided shortly before the off. I was on the trip across Easter 2009 and packed for bad weather, ended up in my sleeveless undervest and shorts, scouring the countryside for suncream!

On the other hand, it does snow as late as Easter fairly often - definitely no guarantee of good weather.

I suppose one thing to be aware of is the relatively short days, on my trip it was quite often dark by the time I got in.

hi
I did forget the bike!!!
As well as tights I have a new pair of quite warm ones made out of neopreme like material if you know the stuff you will know what I am on about so they will keep me toasty.
Also Helmet!!!!
Just looked at aroute that takes me south of manchester to Huddersfeild and then due north to Bradford Only one real hill beyond stone chair I think it is.
Will try and get out for ride tomorrow.
Many thanks yours James

Lights for bike and in tent?
Toiletries
Maps
Phone charger.
A good bike lock.

What do you usually have for breakfast.
I'm quite happy with cereals but I do like a cup/mug of tea.
On the other hand you may want to stop for a cooked breakfast.
I doubt you are going to cook lunch and then you will have to consider cost for your evening meal / cafe stops.
Personally I would probably take a small stove and pan, but then you would need utensils, plate,bowl etc.

Have you thought about a few continuous rainy days?
Wet feet, clothes.
There may be a big variation in weather from one end of the country to the other.

Easter 2010 = April 2nd. but you already know that.
Sunrise 06.30 Sunset 19.30