Cycling UK Forum

hello docker,
what time are you leaving Lands End on the 8th?

alans wrote:Co-incidentally I will be holidaying on business (IYSWIM) in Cornwall from 3rd to 12th May.
So except for 24th May,when I might be accompanying Mick F between Wrexham & Ludlow, I might be able to ride with you if you are near Stoke-on-Trent after 13th May.

You get about a bit, then!

If you're out and about tomorrow (4th), I'll be Choppering into the Cornish Alps again as a final fling before wrapping it up for transportation to Wick.

Cornish Alps?Is that St. Austell?

It's an expression made on here by someone some time back, and I suddenly remembered it. It sums up the terrain round here quite well.

Having been preparing for my JOGLE over the last few months, and chatting to folk about the route and hills, I always reply that the Cornwall/Devon legs are by far the hardest. Scotland is a breeze except for Berridale/Navidale, and even England has only Shap and the Mendips.

Cornwall and Devon have hardly any flat bits. Compare that to the bulk of the English legs. Shap is hard work, but from there north, the next hills are in the Scottish Southern Uplands and even they aren't much to write home about.

I've been lugging a concrete block in my trailer each and every time I ride out. Only on Sunday I dragged it up out of the valley and up Gunnislake Hill - a hill which is just about the hardest on any route you want to pick JOG to LE. I made it as usual, and as I can get it up there riding a Raleigh Chopper, I can get it anywhere.
(Though to be honest, I wouldn't like to take it up some of those China Clay waste tips!)

Mick F wrote::D


I've been lugging a concrete block in my trailer each and every time I ride out. Only on Sunday I dragged it up out of the valley and up Gunnislake Hill - a hill which is just about the hardest on any route you want to pick JOG to LE. )

I concurr.It was the only hill I walked up during my entire JoGLE last year

Today I shall be riding The Lizard

I always reply that the Cornwall/Devon legs are by far the hardest. Scotland is a breeze except for Berridale/Navidale, and even England has only Shap and the Mendips.

The only hill that caused me to stop for a breather part way up was in Cornwall too (going out from Tintagel, in land). Didn't really notice the Mendips - first climb after breakfast in Wells - out the saddle a bit and I was over.

<Goes off on a tangent....>

However, there is a hill on my (then) commute home - if you met it on your LeJog you'd probably not notice it. Yet it always made me ache on the way home after a hard day at work and 50miles of commute. As it happens my LeJog route took me up this hill. I thought that after the SW, Mendips, bit of the Cotswolds, etc I'd just breeze up it. But no, it felt like one of the hardest hills on the ride - 'spose I was just programmed to think of it as the major climb, funny the tricks that your brain can play on you on these long rides.

Si wrote: ...... funny the tricks that your brain can play on you on these long rides.

Agree!

There's a hill just west of Callington on the A390. Going down is wonderful, but coming up is a drag. I hate it, but it's not that much, just hateful!

I was in one of or local pubs at the weekend, and chatting to the barmaid I found out that she and some friends are planning JOGLE next Easter. We talked for ages, and one question she asked was "What's the hardest bit?"

I replied that road/route-wise it is obviously Cornwall/Devon, but as she's Cornish, she's well aware of that. Other than that, I say it's all in your mind.

One thing that was brought home to me when I first started touring, was that when you just commute or go for day rides, you always end up at home. Even if you rode for a day, stayed over and rode home, you still haven't been far. It's on a long tour that you suddenly become aware of the monumental task ahead of you. Even if you turned round and headed home, it would still be days of riding before you made it home.

It's all in your mind. Get over the idea that you're a long way from home. Get yourself in a mind-set of self reliance and self sufficiency. Be prepared for weather be it wet and cold, or hot and parched.

Be prepared for being tired and miserable and that the only way out of it is inside your head.

Mick F wrote:Be prepared for being tired and miserable and that the only way out of it is inside your head.

God, I was hoping all that was behind me after the last few miserable months

Sorry.

I remember my 2nd day on my JOGLE in '94. I was coming down to Inverness in the wind and drizzle and felt rather worried that couldn't make it to LE. I doubted my abilities and was starting to feel frightened by the distance. I pulled into a cafe and had a big pot of tea and a lovely meal.

Even though it was still cold and damp outside, I felt so much better after a sit down and a recharge of my morale. From then on, I was ok.

Only joshin'....it has been bad trying to train through the arctic winter up here in Scotland though.

I did 140 miles a couple of days ago and while I was pretty knackered, I wasn't too bad considering....the fags have defo got to go though!!
The worst thing for me mentally is the thought of finding camp sites at the end of my day's pedal....I'm planning on a 7 day lejog, and while I'd prefer the Hostel/b&b
thing, the thought of committing myself to be somewhere at the end of the day worries me...especially in strong headwind days...touch wood* there won't be

i know all about the highs and lows geographicly and mentally....i cycled spain east to west....cabo de creus to finnesterre.....and south to north....tarrifa to estace de bares....and i havnt done any big training mileages.....i prefer to advance with the journey....getting stronger day by day,,,stopping little and often is my way....a rest day here and there.......thanks for all the info

change....sleeper train to london thursday night due to volcano ash......as cant be sure to fly friday.....

I met with Docker yesterday at 1100hrs at LE & took some pics of him having his "official" photo taken at the famous fingerpost.Then off to Newlyn,Penzance,Marazion,Sustrans R3 to Hayle,Connor Downs,Cambourne & finally Redruth.50km.
A bit lumpy around Cambourne & Redruth.The expected SW wind was in reality North Easterly but the rain held off untill just after I left him looking for his B&B near the station & I called into the Bike Chain before going back to Coverack.

25.V.2010...JOB DONE.....THE FAT LADY HAS SUNG....