RAB event.... finishing same day as!

[juicerail]

I'm doing LEJoG in a couple of weeks and found out I'm finishing the same day, September 14th, as some ride across britain event of 850 or so cyclists.

I was unaware of the event as on the whole I'm not keen on busy events. I've also no intention or ability to alter my trip finish date.

my last day is melvich to Jog via Dunnet Head, about 42 miles I think. Theirs is 100 miles. I've decided to start at 5am to finish ahead of them and avoid a long que for the sign.

Problem is I've spoken with the organisers by phone who've been very unhelpful with my questions and seem to have claimed ownership of JOG that day entirely.

Is anybody familiar with what it'll be like there that day? Are the people genuinely friendly (I'm afraid of being laughed at, despite having done LEJoG the proper way) and does it become a very overcrowded place or is it all organised?

Any comments or information that'll help me enjoy my last day without worry would really help.

[NATURAL ANKLING]

Hi,
Well the last time I was in JOG, I went to take a picture and the little man in the booth jumped out and confiscated his signs
We did not know that they were his.
This was 25 + years ago.
When I went there in 82 it was a completely unspoilt place, wonder what it looks like now.
Someone who has been there recently will fill you in.
Good luck on the ride.

I think that a mass ride is called a challenge nowerdays..............................

[rualexander]

Yes the sign is only there when the photographer is there to charge you for taking your photo. Various other signs are in the vicinity though.

[cycloret]

Does the sign and photographer still exist at JOG to have your photograph taken?

Courtwood Minilab based at Sennan tel: 01736871313 used to have the franchise at both places but reports I found dating to last year suggest things have changed. There looks to have been some dispute. What's the latest?
http://www.johnogroat-journal.co.uk/New ... 082013.htm
http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scott ... ed-2237331

In 2010 the last day of my LEJOG coincided with the start of a Deloitte Ride across Britain at JOG. I only found this out 2 days earlier at Bonar Bridge. I didn't have much of a wait for an official photo at the signpost but the restaurant where we had hoped to eat in the evening was fully booked. I imagine if there are hundreds of cyclists wanting their arrival commemorated it could be very busy but is the sign still there?

I 2010 I phoned Courtwood Minilabs before my LEJOG to ask if the photographer could arrive early at LE which was then arranged. In the event I had my photo taken the day before so I could start early the following morning.

[bogmyrtle]

I don't know for certain but I wouldn't have thought an organised ride that is effectively a business could take over what is a public area. Certainly not all day. People will need access to the ferry that goes to Orkney and the bus loads of foreign tourists will need access to the gift shops to buy tartan tat made in China.
You could check if there are any formal restrictions with the local police.
I wouldn't bother getting out of bed early just to rush the final bit. You have every right to be there. Take your time and enjoy your achievement (also feel very smug that it didn't cost you £1600 pounds).

[puffin]

I was there about a fortnight back, there were two signs. One is a new one where the old one was which is free to use. The old sign where you pay for a personalised photograph with the lettering of your choice is now about 30 meters off to the right as you look out to sea. There are rumours of sharp practice by the new mega company which has come in forcing the photogrpahy company out.

[juicerail]

Thanks for your helpful replies!

However I think this thread is being hijacked to be about the sign itself, which is not my real fear.

[PH]

Is anybody familiar with what it'll be like there that day? Are the people genuinely friendly (I'm afraid of being laughed at, despite having done LEJoG the proper way) and does it become a very overcrowded place or is it all organised?
.

I'm going to laugh at you for thinking there's a proper way to do LEJoG

Enjoy your ride and accept that others are enjoying theirs, if there's a queue for a photo join it, I expect many on a group ride will be having group photos. You could always skip the dump all together and go to Dunnet Head instead, then you'd have been to the proper North point

[NATURAL ANKLING]

Hi,
Well I will dig out my LE photo and at 0.600 it was a deserted place at the last house ?
I was on two wheel of the motor type
It was an unspoilt place in the early eighties so was JOG.
But the Lizard was last time there unspoilt too.
Wont go back to LE again, too many bover boys waiting to snatch your cash for a car park................

[juicerail]

I'm going to laugh at you for thinking there's a proper way to do LEJoG

By proper I'd be referring to unassisted , with panniers

Agreed they'll have their ride too. But you can't fault me for being a tad concerned of how it may effect me

I'm going via Dunnet Head that day and do agree it's a nice place. May venture back there that evening too. Would be very peaceful under the circumstances!

[bogmyrtle]

I've just noticed an article in Thursdays Herald. It looks as though the Deloitte ride will be using the A82 between Crianlarich and Fort William (but not up the side of Loch Lomond). This is causing a lot of concern with regular users of the road, particularly in relation to the bit between Onich and Fort William where there isn't overtaking room. The number of riders quoted is 800. They will be set off in groups of 50 at 3 minute intervals.
I wonder if enough fuss is made this time, the police may start taking a bit more of an interest in the numbers and may start imposing restrictions in the future.

[cycloret]

Prepare yourself for poor weather at JOG though it may be fine. On the last day of my Lejog in 2010 it was foggy at Dunnet Head, raining and windy at Duncansby Head. Staying overnight at the JOG, the weather was much improved the next day and we returned to Duncansby Head to take in the views. By this time JOG was much quieter than it had been the previous day now all the RAB people had left.

With a choice now of two signs at JOG to be photographed against that should be better. I can understand the management having a dispute with the owners of the photo booth and sign. They were rather protective about the sign which after all was their property and source of their business.

The Ride Across Britain outfit seemed rather self contained though the JOG car parks were moderately full. I had no problem getting a hot chocolate in the café nor having our photograph taken, though I wouldn't like to be on the road cycling amongst hundreds of other cyclists. IIRC the signing off book was in the café. RAB cyclists seem to have had to sign up to some agreement whereby they have no copyright of any account of their ride.

Anyone done a RAB care to to mention what happens, at the start and finish in particular.

Michael's 2010 Lejog
http://www.cycle-endtoend.org.uk/index. ... &Itemid=93

[PH]

I'm going to laugh at you for thinking there's a proper way to do LEJoG

By proper I'd be referring to unassisted , with panniers

Camping?

[juicerail]

I wonder if enough fuss is made this time, the police may start taking a bit more of an interest in the numbers and may start imposing restrictions in the future.

Part of me hopes so. 800 is a lot, and next year they are talking about 1000. In my opinion that's too many (as is now). Most people who cycle LEJoG, or just cycle in that part of the UK, do so for the relative peace of destinations like that. Unleashing 800 people on John O Groats, plus sponsors, families, friends, catering, etc I can see causing untold levels of disruption in time. This only increases the amount of negativity to large cycle events.

But yes, if anybody here is familiar with RAB or has taken part, please comment on what it is like at the start/end.

[juicerail]

By this time JOG was much quieter than it had been the previous day now all the RAB people had left.

The Ride Across Britain outfit seemed rather self contained though the JOG car parks were moderately full. I had no problem getting a hot chocolate in the café nor having our photograph taken, though I wouldn't like to be on the road cycling amongst hundreds of other cyclists. IIRC the signing off book was in the café. RAB cyclists seem to have had to sign up to some agreement whereby they have no copyright of any account of their ride.

Thanks, that is quite reassuring. I take it when you say now all the RAB people had left, they'd finished the day beforehand and things were mostly normal again by the next day? I'm in JOG until late morning the following day anyway before pedalling back to Thurso for my (cycle space reserved) train early afternoon.

There seems to have been a mixed response on whether it's worth setting off so early on my last day. But as yourself, I'd not enjoy cycling amongst hundreds of others AT ALL.