Thorn Cycles Forum
Community => Cycle Tours => Topic started by: bikerta on May 21, 2014, 10:56:29 pm
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As many of you know I am hoping to complete a cycle from John O' Groats to Lands End this summer and I was wondering if any of you lovely people on this site would sponsor me for the trip. I am cycling in aid of Air Ambulance and as the trip is around 1,000 miles I thought I would aim high and try and reach a target of £1 for each mile so raising £1,000.
My train tickets have been booked and arrived last week. I am leaving here on the afternoon of Tuesday 29th July bound for London, where I will then catch the Caledonian Sleeper for the overnight journey up to Inverness arriving there at 8.30am. I then catch the 10.30 train up to Thurso arriving at 2.30pm, which leaves me a 20 mile cycle to John O' Groats where I will camp overnight. The ride will then begin on Thursday 31st July. Not really looking forward to the 24 hour journey up, but would rather face it at the beginning of the trip than at the end, plus I will have much more flexibility as I can then book the journey home from Penzance when I am a couple of days from Lands End.
I will be camping each night, providing the weather is fairly reasonable, but if faced with day after day of rain, then I may have to escape to a B & B every now and again to dry out my gear. I am funding the trip myself (hence why the price of my bike worried me so much) and am aiming to cover 40 to 50 miles a day. Luckily I can take my time and may even have a day off cycling if necessary. However, this is still a massive challenge for me as I have done very little 'serious' cycling and have only really started covering more miles since August of last year.
Any support you could give me would therefore be very much appreciated and if you could find a pound or so in your pockets, please log onto 'justgiving.com' and call up Jackie Yorke and you will see my page there where you can donate online.
Many, many thanks for all the help I have received from this site so far in the purchase of what I hope will turn out to be the ideal bike for this trip.
Jackie
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Jackie i never know how much to sponsor a person.one of the reasons is i'm stone broke on the fecking dole,but i could certainly muster up 10euro and post it over to you.i know its not a lot but its 10 euro more that you had 2 minutes ago and maybe it will start the ball rolling.
jags. ;)
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Jackie,
Will you be setting up a sponsorship web page where people can pledge on line, or some thing similar.
Peter
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Here's Jackie's Just Giving page link: http://www.justgiving.com/Jackie-Yorke
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jackie send me your address and i'll post a few bob over to you.
i dont have bank account.
very best of luck on this tour love to be doing with you.i sure hope you get great weather its going to be class.
make sure to take plenty of ics and an odd 20 minute video would be fantastic ;)
jags.
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Thanks for the link, the ball is rolling on turning back now.
The very best of luck.
Peter
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Hi Jackie,
Clear skies, tailwinds and happy days.
Best wishes ,Alfie
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I can't believe the generosity of you guys, especially considering I am a newbie to the site. Thank you so much, it is really appreciated. I know how hard times are at the moment as I work up to 60 hours a week to pay the bills myself. Jags, I will PM you with address, you are amazing. :-*
Hi Peter, many thanks and you are right there is no turning back now, that's a scary thought!
I have a couple of days off next week, so am hoping to string a couple of longer rides together to see how that goes and then after that I will have to start loading the bike up a little so I get used to the extra weight on the bike. It's all go from now on.
Things I still have to buy: Front Panniers
MIDGE NET!!!
Skin So Soft/Jungle Formula for Midges.
Phillips Navigator Atlas that I can cut up and use each day.
Could do with a new sleeping bag as have a very cheap Tesco down one, but not sure it's warm enough
otherwise I have a warmer bag but it's very bulky - think I will have to go without this though.
Waterproofs - though of course I am not going to need these. ;D
I have most other things from my motorcycle camping trips thankfully.
Thank you once again.
Jackie
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Your more than welcome Jackie it's a hell of a tour your undertaking fair play to you.
i would never get my head around doing a tour like that on my own,i'm an auld chatter box i like good company that i can have the craic with.
but yeah its very hard to find a touring partener,i cycled with bikepacker in the uk and ireland he brilliant to tour with, but a few other guys i toured with was a disaster ;D ;D
if i taught i would get away with murder i would have gladly killed one particular bloke here in ireland 7 in italy and another in france ;D ;D ;D
ah i'm a geek i know but i hate bullies with a passion.yeah solo is the way to go for most people but anto needs company.
sorry for rambling but theres nopthing worth watching on the tv. ;D
a nto.
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Hi Jackie,
I'm doing LE to JOG starting about 10 days before your launch date. Like you I'm going to camp as often as possible and plan to stay on the wee roads.
At Gretna, the plan is to turn left and cross from ardrossen to Arran, then up the west coast to Oban, cross to barra, up the outer hebs, take the ferry to ullapool, durness and across the top to JOG.
Good luck with the trip. If you need any info on the highlands, just ask, I live on Skye.
Ali
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I hope your preparations go well. I am sure you will find the Sherpa an excellent choice, more and more it seems to me the features that matter are good basic design and geometry, and simple but decent quality components.
I have just got back to UK from a sponsored London - Paris ride on the Ripio I bought last year. The 'tight' frame and low crossbar (sorry, top tube) of mountain bikes has always suited me, and the Ripio is probably pretty similar to the Sherpa, maybe a bit shorter in the chainstays.
There were 15 on the ride. All the others had modern dropped road bikes, some with tyres like rubber bands, others using hybrids. Mine was the only one with 26" wheels. It was the heaviest in the group, but in reality not all that much more than several of the hybrids - mine has 2" Supremes at present and solid Mt Tura forks, so the kit is much the same as your Sherpa.
How did it go?? The bike went faultlessly, rolled along the level and downhill just as well as the lighter bikes. And people were surprised at this - " My bike shop told me 700 wheels were much faster!!" Not true.
Yes, it was slower off the mark at junctions and so on on the urban sections, and slower up the hills, and I found my pace just a bit slower than others, which was frustrating as I either had to push harder than I like which knackered my joints a bit, ride alone, or feel I was holding others up. But that is down to me as much as the bike. At one time, the faster riders formed a pack around me and swept me along at 25 mph plus - what an experience!!! Riding alone, as I think you will be doing, and riding in a group, is a very different experience.
And my bike excelled, of course, on the more 'trail' parts of the ride, with gravel surfaces, where the others were in difficulties - though the Supremes, brilliant on tarmac, were not good on the slippery muddy bits at the sides of the tracks. Duremes much better for that. No punctures, brakes and gears all perfect . . . . . At all times I felt secure and in control.
So the Sherpa will look after you I am sure.
Lewis
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excellent review Lewis i'de nearly buy another sherpa ;D
jags.
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Thanks jags . . . . Talking about weight, I should have added that the Ripio, with Thorn rack, mudguards,pedals and 3 (empty) bottle cages and a mini pump weighs in at about 14.5 kg.
Perhaps on the high side . . . . but would saving around 230g on lighter wheels (Grizzlys at present) make much difference?? I'm not sure . . . I probably should lose it off my belly.
One of the helpers on the ride did comment that the bike felt very much heavier than the others. But with 3 full water bottles, I guess it was bound to!! Most of the others could only carry one.
Lewis
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ah if a fella could only shed a few stone the heavy bike would not matter one bit.
jags..
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Hi Anto, just to let you know that your 'donation' arrived in the post this morning. Many thanks for that.
With regards to losing weight off the bike, I have lost a stone since the beginning of this year. I reckon that means that I can now carry my tent, sleeping bag, Exped downmat and my stove/pots/cutlery for free ;D Mind you I can't seem to lose any more, maybe it's because I am starting to see signs of muscles in my legs and they weigh more than fat don't they?
Lewis, your Ripio sounds very similar in weight to the Sherpa. I'm glad your bike performed well for you on your trip. I have been very pleased with the set up of the Sherpa. I am not too worried about the speed as I don't usually ride with others, so I just keep my own pace. I agree that the bike is slower up the hills, but in my case I suspect a lot of that is due to the rider rather than the bike. ::) I am far more confident on the Sherpa than I ever was on the Dawes. It would be interesting to see what drop bars felt like on the Sherpa as I am not sure if it was the drops on the Dawes that made me feel insecure or the fact that the reach was too long and I was not quite in control.
Either way, I am very happy with the straight bars and bar ends that I have on the Sherpa.
Allywatt, how long are you expected to take to complete your LEJOG? We may pass somewhere along the route, that's if I ever get my route sorted. I am still debating which route to take through the middle of Scotland. I intended to go via Loch Ness, but the A82 is worrying me and you can't avoid all of it. I will dodge as much as I can, but hate riding on really busy roads. Alternative is to take the Glens and Lochs route following the old A9 through the Cairngorms. Sounds like a lot of extra climbing though, but at least you don't have to cycle on the main roads.
I love the idea of going via the islands, but doesn't this add a fair bit of mileage and time onto the trip. I have got up to 4 weeks, but I would like to make this a holiday not a marathon and really 4 weeks is just that bit too long as I would only just make it back to work on time. Also aren't the islands the worst place for the dreaded midges? Blimey, I sound like a right old moaner. I don't mean to be as I feel very lucky to be able to take on this trip and intend to enjoy every minute of it. Any help would be much appreciated.
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Ah good stuff Jacki not a lot i know but if i had it :-[
best of luck with the tour sure hope the weather is kind to you.
ah i hate being over weigh i'm 13 stone got a beer belly and i dont drink ;D ;D
but no will power to stay on a diet ive a sweet tooth which doesn't help.
have you got your sleeping sorted and your cooking,what tent are you using btw.
anto.
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Doesn't sound overweight to me.
Tent will probably be Vango Spirt 200+, not the lightest at 2.7kg, but has got a huge porch where all your panniers etc can go and I could also cook in there if weather not good. I could use a Terra Nova Voyager which is lighter at 2.1kg and I also like the way it goes up and is easy to stuff back into sack whether wet or dry, but has a much smaller porch which I would not cook in.
Sleeping bag - not ideal at moment - choice of cheap Tesco down bag, which is really light and small but not that warm. Ok for summer, but not sure about the North of Scotland temperatures. I am not a warm sleeper any more either. Other choice is a Mountain Equipment firewalker. Nice and warm (down to -5) but of course bulky and heavy. Could do with something in between like an alpkit pipedream 400 or Rab Ascent 500, but again it's all money.
Cooking, I have an MSR Superfly which I have had for about 5 years. Just a normal gas stove but it's been great. Pans are cheapie Tesco aluminium ones, but they do the job fine. Will take 1 larger cooking pot and the lid doubles as a frying pan sorted.
Clothing will be lots of thin layers that I can just add or remove depending on conditions. Will wash cycle shorts each night. Sleep in baselayers. Need light weight waterproof jacket and trousers though as I think my armoured BMW goretex motorcycle jacket and trousers may be a tad too heavy.
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Hi Jackie
Glad to hear all the prep for the upcoming trip is proceeding well.
Just a note of caution about cooking in the tent. It can easily lead to disaster. I know it can be very temting when it is pouring outside but having heard some of the horror strories of accidents that have happened i think I would either get wet or go hungry.
Best of luck
Andy
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Jackie,
Stay in the porch if it is raining, but stick the stove outside.
At the worst you will get a wet arm.
Taking a long spoon can help :D
Julian.
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Thanks for the advice Julian and Andy, you are probably right and I would rather a wet arm than a burnt one. Mind you I am not going to have any rain during the waking hours at all on my trip. ::)
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Of course, Jackie, rain is purely a matter of perception, not precipitation. And I guess people were probably more worried about you getting carbon monoxide poisoning than burning yourself! A number of campers still die each year from cooking in tents / campervans with no ventilation.
What gearing option did you specify on your Sherpa, by the way?? I think you can get low or ultra low . . . .
Lewis
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Stay in the porch if it is raining, but stick the stove outside.
Good advice, for sure. But -- one can have it all: ventilation, cover from rain & wind so one has a nice dry place for cooking, pondering, tea in late afternoon, etc. All you need in a quality lightweight tarp, as in the foto below, taken beside the Rhine a couple of years ago.
The tarp is an Integral Designs Siltarp, from MEC (Mountain Equipment Coop). This is the big 'un, 2.9 m x 2.6, about 500 - 600 gms. I was using only the flysheet of my tent, there being no bugs in Deutschland in Sept., so the fly + tarp weighed less than my full tent. We were two people, but the tarp covered 2 bikes, & most of the tent's fly, and left space for cooking. There is a smaller version of the Siltarp, 400 gms, well suited to one-person tents.
I learned about tarps from canoeing, but also from Colin Fletcher's books on walking. Wouldn't be without one now. The modern silicon-nylon tarps are crazy-light. One does have to carry a few more tent pegs, and likewise some extra QR rubber ties & maybe another bungee or two, but for me that weight is negligible against a tarp's advantages. Biggest adjustment is the ritual required for selecting a site with trees the right distance apart, with branches at the right height, etc. -- sometimes you find a handy clothesline left behind by an earlier camper -- and then rigging the lot. Requires maybe an extra 15 - 20 minutes at the end of the day. But in a late-afternoon rainstorm, it is soooo nice to pitch your tent under cover, boil & drink your tea ditto, etc.
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john is that the title of the book just googled john fletcher he has a lot of books which is best to buy on tips on tarps and camping in general .i'm still a major fred when it comes to camping. ::)
great ideas those tarps.
jags.
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Thanks, Anto. I have "The Complete Walker IV", by Colin Fletcher & Chip Rawlins. Mine is the 2002 edition -- don't know if there has been a revised edition issued. (Colin Fletcher was badly injured not long after the book appeared -- he was hit by an SUV while crossing a street.) Fletcher is a great writer -- technically informed, witty, and obviously in love with walking. His enthusiasm makes you just want to do it. CW IV has a section on tarps, including several pages by Fletcher on setting up a plastic home-made tarp (he used that for his JoG-to-Land's-End hike in the early 60's.) When the book appeared in 2002, the trick new sil-nylon tarps were just appearing, so that section is good, but short.
Amazon also lists a 2012 publication by Andrew Skurka, "The Ultimate Hiker's Gear Guide" -- expect that has more on tarps.
Might be worth looking at a few suppliers to see what they show. Here's MEC's link to tarps, for example: http://www.mec.ca/shop/tarps-and-light-shelters/50712/ (The two Siltarp items they offer are--wait for it--400 gms for the big one, and just 215 for the smaller.) Hilleberg also have a section on tarps -- theirs weigh a bit more.
For cycle-camping, I use the larger tarp -- I prefer to have more dry space than less, softie that I am. (The bike also serves as a support for the tarp.) (Works really well if you find a BMW airhead just nearby -- see below.) (Especially in a forest in Northern Ontario, with lotsa trees.) This isn't "minimalist", for sure. And, not everyone likes the extra step involved in setting up camp. Works for me, though.
Hope this is helpful. -- J.
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I like the idea of the tarp a lot, especially keeping your bike under there as well away from prying eyes. A place to sit, cook and be out of the wind. Unfortunately, in the UK (especially in the south) a lot of our campsites are just large open fields leaving it difficult to set the tarps up. Many people use walking poles, but of course you are restricted in height using these and of course you have the extra weight and bulk of carrying them. I guess if you are backing onto a hedgerow, you may be able to attach the tarp, or even a fence, maybe the more I think about it I'm sure you could find a way in most places.
Frogprince, I didn't realise that a copy of the helinox chair was made. £85 is a lot of money for a chair.
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John excellent set up, but yeah as Jackie said you need trees to use one,but handy to have one bottom of pannier. thanks John very impressed with your set up ;)
anto.
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if you are backing onto a hedgerow, you may be able to attach the tarp, or even a fence, maybe the more I think about it I'm sure you could find a way in most places
Thanks, jackie and jags. Yes, for sure trees are handy, and as you know we have lots in Central & Eastern Canada. But you're right, Jackie -- I managed quite well on my Rhine/Danube trip, even in the absence of trees. See the photo below, for example, taken in a crowded urban site beside the Danube a couple of days west of Vienna. In the absence of a fence, you could also put your bike square in front of your tent door (parallel to the tent or vertical to it), and use the bike (instead of a trekking pole or two) to support the tarp, with the rear two corners of the tarp going to the back of your tent.
One of the nicest campsites I had on that trip was in a farmer's field just outside Ottensheim in Austria -- the farm family also had a campground 50 metres away, with warm showers, etc. Lovely spot. Here's a link to a photo, which shows the tarp rigged between a tree and a big bush, with the bike ready to serve as a prop when I close up for the night:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/nv88o0177k0kitm/134%20-%20just%20%E2%82%AC5%20for%20space%20beside%20a%20river%20in%20the%20late%20afternoon%20sunshine.JPG
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What gearing option did you specify on your Sherpa, by the way?? I think you can get low or ultra low . . . .
Lewis
I have the ultra wide range gearing consisting of 26/36/48 chainset and 11-36 cassette. This seems to be a pretty good set up as the lowest gear gets me up most of the local hills. Occasionally I feel that maybe a higher gear would be nice if pedalling downhill, but I usually just coast downhill anyway to give my legs a rest.
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I have the ultra wide range gearing consisting of 26/36/48 chainset and 11-36 cassette. This seems to be a pretty good set up as the lowest gear gets me up most of the local hills. Occasionally I feel that maybe a higher gear would be nice if pedalling downhill, but I usually just coast downhill anyway to give my legs a rest.
Should be OK. I had 24/39/44 and 13-34 cassette when I visited the Picos d'Europa, same lowest gear and much lower top gear.
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Bikerta,
Regarding midgies, plenty on Skye and the small isles ( eigg, muck, rum and canna), but virtually none on the western isles (bara, uists, benbecula, Harris and lewis), flies can be a problem at times though.
There is a bit more mileage going via the western isles, but certainly no more than 100 extra miles ( I think!). There's also the ferry from Oban to bara and the onward connection to eriskay to consider, that, although not many cycling miles, will take you a whole day - chance for a rest? (Sorry, I've written this the wrong way round for you)
I would never ever cycle the a82 on the north side of loch ness, a real twisty turny, tourist infested death trap. If you must take that route, follow the Dores road on the other side of the loch. The glens route to the east is great, but as you say, the hills are a bit more of a challenge.
My main concern is how I'm going to cope with the traffic in the deep south; Birmingham, and the Manchester - Liverpool gap don't fill me with joy! I'm doing the trip with my sister in law, and we're planning to take 3 weeks, cycling between 50 and 100 miles a day, staying on the wee roads, and camping whenever possible. If you wanted the option to meet up en route, we could swap contact details nearer the time. It would be great to share stories over a glass of lemonade!
Regards,
Ali
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Hi everyone, just a quick post at the moment to let you all know that I have just returned from completing my John O Groats to Lands End challenge. 1170 miles in 3 weeks and 2 days, so averaging around 50 miles a day. I had a fabulous time with a few difficult moments but overall an amazing experience. I have met some exceptional people along the way who have gone out of their way to help in one way or another, and it looks like I will have raised almost £1,300 for Air Ambulance.
Feeling absolutely great with no aches or pains whatsoever, not even any saddle sores. If I had the time I would have ridden home from Lands End, but as it was friends of mine were in Newquay for the week and they were coming home yesterday. I arrived at Lands Ends at exactly the same time as they arrived to pick me up so brilliant. Very emotional at the end, couldn't believe I had done it.
The Sherpa was as brilliant as I knew it would be and coped with whatever I threw at it and NOT 1 PUNCTURE!!! Did lots of off road especially around the Fort William area and many canal paths and the bike was perfect for this type of riding. Weather wise it was a very mixed bag. Most of Scotland was not bad, with some heavy showers but nothing that spoilt the trip. One night of heavy rain overnight, but again nothing to spoil things. However, Hurricane Bertha hit as I arrived in the Lake District and caused all sorts of problems including flooding me out of my tent overnight and me having to sleep in my sleeping bag in an old armchair in a campers kitchen area (thank god the site had one). Arriving at the top of Kirkstone Pass to gusts of up to 70mph winds was quite exciting too!!
Midges only really caused problems on a couple of nights and were better than expected, mainly I think because there was nearly always a breeze.
Met a young lad on the Strawberry Line near Yatton doing Lands End to John O Groats on a Thorn Nomad and also 2 girls riding from Bristol to Lands End, 1 of whom was riding a Thorn Sherpa, red like mine but an older model and we camped next to each other. Camped most of the time, but had 1 night B & B when a camp site was not to be found, and 1 night in a Hostel. Have eaten loads, especially enjoying the local village bakeries goods, cornish pasties, and many variations on my morning porridge, but still managed to lose weight.
I will try and load some pictures and do a bit more of a report soon, but at the moment I have come home and the lead for my camera has vanished. My son has done loads of tidying up for me but doesn't remember moving the cable, but can't think where else I would have put it apart from by the computer. I'm sure it will turn up though.
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fantastic Jacki fair play to you girl your a star.really look forward to looking at all the photos.
jags
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Many congratulations - it sounds like a great ride.
Fraser
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Well done Jackie. I finished LEJOG two weeks ago (1117 miles in 18 days, Nomad mk 2). It's the only type of holiday I know of that you can eat all you can eat and still come home lighter! Any ideas of what challenge next awaits? All the best.
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Well done Jackie, sounds as though you had an excellent and adventurous time, also well done for raising all that cash for your chosen charity the air ambulance. Glad you're back safe and sound, and am looking forward to the photographs .
Regards Alfie
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Very well done I am very proud of you.
Peter
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Great stuff, was just thinking about how you survived the hurricane!
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Well done, Jackie! We're so proud of you.
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Fantastic Jackie, congratulations and a brilliant effort for the Air Ambulance.
Looking forward to seeing the photos and reading your report.
Brilliant!
Steve
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totally inspiring! I just love hearing stories like this! Congratulations and thanks for the report!
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Congratulations and glad you enjoyed the trip, where next?
Julian.
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Well done Jackie, fantastic achievement and for a good cause too.
Sounds like your Sherpa served you well. Can't wait to see some photos of your trip.
Regards, Neil.
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Hi Jackie - well done on your end to end ride.
I did it the other way earlier this year on my Thorn Raven - like you no problems whatsoever with the bike, just a chain clean and lube every 200 miles or so.
Check the link out - http://deesidewheelers.simdif.com
Bike weighed 32.6 kgs loaded up.
Raised over £5,000 for the Walton Neuroscience Fund in Liverpool.
Regards, Pete.
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Well done, Jackie! (and Pete, and everyone else that has completed this trip). Respect!!!
I am very impressed, humbled, and JEALOUS!
:D
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Hi Jackie - well done on your end to end ride.
I did it the other way earlier this year on my Thorn Raven - like you no problems whatsoever with the bike, just a chain clean and lube every 200 miles or so.
Check the link out - http://deesidewheelers.simdif.com
Bike weighed 32.6 kgs loaded up.
Raised over £5,000 for the Walton Neuroscience Fund in Liverpool.
Regards, Pete.
epic ride pete fair play to you the photos are fantastic,that scotland sure is one pretty place to ride a bike.
well done
jags 8)
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Well done on the ride. I don't think that I could have hacked it.
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Hi Jackie, congratulations on your ride, and thanks for your report on it too. You were returning just as I was setting out on my three-week trek through Denmark, Sweden and Germany; and then, my family and I took a few weeks of holiday in Europe after my cycling trip. We returned to Ottawa just a week ago, so I'm getting to your story only now. I reckon your trip was rather more demanding than mine, what with serious winds, and the UK road conditions and traffic. Well done! I'm very happy for you, and especially glad you enjoyed it all so much, that your bike performed so well, and that you were successful in your fundraising. I still have a LeJOG trip on my list, so -- who knows? -- in the next couple of years I may be in touch with you, Pete and Ally for advice on routes. Good luck with The next One, whatever & wherever it is.
Cheers, John