John O Groats to Lands End on a Honda PC50
Discussion
Evening all
Some of you might have seen the photo I posted in the photo thread a few months ago of my Honda PC50 that we was planning on doing the 1000 mile trip from John O Groats to Lands End well we are actually going to be doing it now and the dream (could end up being a nightmare) is going to become a reality and we have set a date, we have also decided that rather that just do it for a laugh we will do it for a charity that is quite close to my heart.
On the 28th July Myself, My Dad, My Grandad and Chris Long will be making the 1000 mile trip over 7 days from John O Groat's to Land's End on 50cc peddle and pop mopeds (Honda PC50's)
To complete the 1000 miles we will need to do approcimately 250 miles per day at 30mph, this equals to a approximately 9 hours riding per day, this doesnt include food stops, refuelling or any breakdowns that we will most probably encounter. Over the 7 days we will be camping in little one man tents anywhere we can.
The bikes we will be riding are 1975 Honda PC50 peddle and pops, they are started by peddiling like you do on a push bike hence the name "peddle and pop" they do a top speed of 30mph on the flat if you're lucky, up hill they are pretty useless so a lot of peddling will be done, especially in Scotland. Each ped will be modified to carry tents, clothes and anything else that we will need for the 7 days.
The charity that I have chosen is "baby unit fund" it is a charity close to my heart because my younges son Henry was rushed into Hull Royal Infirmary at 19 days old after he stopped breathing in the night and required 7 days intensive treatment to make a full recovery and was able to return home.
The excellent care and treatment Henry received from the staff and equipment they have available to the children saved his life, for this we will be forever grateful to this hospital.
We would like to raise any amount of money to go towards any new equipment that the hospital needs to continue the excellent job they are doing saving babies lives.
I will also keep this thread up to date with any planning we have, one of the peds is currently in a million bits so we can restore it to a better condition that it was in, if any of you are interested I could try and do a build update on it too?
Moderator edit: we don't allow charity donation requests, but please feel free to keep us up to date on your exploits.
Some of you might have seen the photo I posted in the photo thread a few months ago of my Honda PC50 that we was planning on doing the 1000 mile trip from John O Groats to Lands End well we are actually going to be doing it now and the dream (could end up being a nightmare) is going to become a reality and we have set a date, we have also decided that rather that just do it for a laugh we will do it for a charity that is quite close to my heart.
On the 28th July Myself, My Dad, My Grandad and Chris Long will be making the 1000 mile trip over 7 days from John O Groat's to Land's End on 50cc peddle and pop mopeds (Honda PC50's)
To complete the 1000 miles we will need to do approcimately 250 miles per day at 30mph, this equals to a approximately 9 hours riding per day, this doesnt include food stops, refuelling or any breakdowns that we will most probably encounter. Over the 7 days we will be camping in little one man tents anywhere we can.
The bikes we will be riding are 1975 Honda PC50 peddle and pops, they are started by peddiling like you do on a push bike hence the name "peddle and pop" they do a top speed of 30mph on the flat if you're lucky, up hill they are pretty useless so a lot of peddling will be done, especially in Scotland. Each ped will be modified to carry tents, clothes and anything else that we will need for the 7 days.
The charity that I have chosen is "baby unit fund" it is a charity close to my heart because my younges son Henry was rushed into Hull Royal Infirmary at 19 days old after he stopped breathing in the night and required 7 days intensive treatment to make a full recovery and was able to return home.
The excellent care and treatment Henry received from the staff and equipment they have available to the children saved his life, for this we will be forever grateful to this hospital.
We would like to raise any amount of money to go towards any new equipment that the hospital needs to continue the excellent job they are doing saving babies lives.
I will also keep this thread up to date with any planning we have, one of the peds is currently in a million bits so we can restore it to a better condition that it was in, if any of you are interested I could try and do a build update on it too?
Moderator edit: we don't allow charity donation requests, but please feel free to keep us up to date on your exploits.
Edited by jeremyc on Friday 15th November 20:00
That looks like a very good website you have found there. Nice looking ped :-)
I've just got off the phone to my dad and we are taking a trip to the white horse in the yorkshire moors from my home town, it's about 70ish miles up some pretty steep hills..... Nice little test for the peds :-)
John
I've just got off the phone to my dad and we are taking a trip to the white horse in the yorkshire moors from my home town, it's about 70ish miles up some pretty steep hills..... Nice little test for the peds :-)
John
aw51 121565 said:
My first moped was a Honda PC50 Graduate.
I rode from Hove to Bury on a Suzuki CS50 Roadie back in 1991.
On the first day I rode to High Wycombe (via Guildford, Brackness and Maidenhead) to see a friend then on to a Youth Hostel at Copt Oak near Coalville (via Aylesbury, Buckingham and Towcester where I picked up the A5 to Nuneaton then across to Coalville and finishing at the Youth Hostel adjacent M1 J22 and which is now closed). 185 miles in 7 hours' riding, average speed 26-ish mph.
On the second day I picked up the A6 at Loughborough and followed it to Chapel-en-le-Frith, then took the A624 across to Glossop, then on sundry roads through Stalybridge and on to Oldham then across to Middleton and 'cross country' to Bury. 120 miles in 5 hours' riding - the terrain was much more adverse this day, average speed 24mph. The moped struggled on the A6 near Taddington, overheating and the engine 'picking up' (starting to seize) but survived fine.
Average fuel economy for this trip was 120mpg, it cost a fiver for 2.5 gallons of petrol plus a quid for the Youth Hostel and a quid for a meal that night. (The train fare with Student Railcard was £23.10 for me and the same for the moped so it made economic sense!)
A PC50 is significantly slower than the CS50, being a four stroke - but it will be more economical...
Only thing to bear in mind is that you can't use motorways - but you'll soon realise that this isn't a bad thing, as well as how beautiful and pretty so much of the UK is!
Good luck
!
Thanks for the info about how long it took to do the miles :-) looks like we will be more likely to be doing 200miles a day if we ride for 9 hours do you think? How much slower is the pc50 do you think? I rode from Hove to Bury on a Suzuki CS50 Roadie back in 1991.
On the first day I rode to High Wycombe (via Guildford, Brackness and Maidenhead) to see a friend then on to a Youth Hostel at Copt Oak near Coalville (via Aylesbury, Buckingham and Towcester where I picked up the A5 to Nuneaton then across to Coalville and finishing at the Youth Hostel adjacent M1 J22 and which is now closed). 185 miles in 7 hours' riding, average speed 26-ish mph.
On the second day I picked up the A6 at Loughborough and followed it to Chapel-en-le-Frith, then took the A624 across to Glossop, then on sundry roads through Stalybridge and on to Oldham then across to Middleton and 'cross country' to Bury. 120 miles in 5 hours' riding - the terrain was much more adverse this day, average speed 24mph. The moped struggled on the A6 near Taddington, overheating and the engine 'picking up' (starting to seize) but survived fine.
Average fuel economy for this trip was 120mpg, it cost a fiver for 2.5 gallons of petrol plus a quid for the Youth Hostel and a quid for a meal that night. (The train fare with Student Railcard was £23.10 for me and the same for the moped so it made economic sense!)
A PC50 is significantly slower than the CS50, being a four stroke - but it will be more economical...
Only thing to bear in mind is that you can't use motorways - but you'll soon realise that this isn't a bad thing, as well as how beautiful and pretty so much of the UK is!
Good luck
!Did you do any changes to the seat or anything for the long distance? I'm thinking about making a bigger seat?
John
ds!Bit of an update
I went out for a little ride around my local village and first impressions is.... Bugger me it's slow!! I managed a constant 30mph on the flat until I hit a slight hill.... Down to 25mph she went.
I also had to tackle some slightly bigger hills and this was a bit more of a problem, down to 15mph.... I don't think this hill was anywhere near as big as the ones we came across in Scotland when we went up there a few years ago on the sp1, I think might have to have a look at changing the gearing for while we are up in the hills, the front sprocket is the easiest one to change quickly but what size should I go for do you think? 1 tooth smaller??
Riding it today made me want to do the trip now haha, they are such a laugh to ride even if they are properly slow haha
Thank you again to everyone for helping out ;-)
John
I went out for a little ride around my local village and first impressions is.... Bugger me it's slow!! I managed a constant 30mph on the flat until I hit a slight hill.... Down to 25mph she went.
I also had to tackle some slightly bigger hills and this was a bit more of a problem, down to 15mph.... I don't think this hill was anywhere near as big as the ones we came across in Scotland when we went up there a few years ago on the sp1, I think might have to have a look at changing the gearing for while we are up in the hills, the front sprocket is the easiest one to change quickly but what size should I go for do you think? 1 tooth smaller??
Riding it today made me want to do the trip now haha, they are such a laugh to ride even if they are properly slow haha
Thank you again to everyone for helping out ;-)
John
CO2000 said:
Good luck with the trip & good luck down and esp up here!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNjp7k0xmJ8
A wee bit of peddling may be required!!!
Thank you!http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNjp7k0xmJ8
A wee bit of peddling may be required!!!
Your video didn't work for some reason so I searched for another one..... Hmmm they are some pretty big hills! Well worth it though, the views look stunning.
We've decided that we are going to use my gopro to do a time lapse of the entire journey, with a bit of luck it will turn out good and will capture some of the views that we will see.
john
mybrainhurts said:
What are you selling them? Haggis would be a bad idea...
PS...you, sir, are mad...
My money's on third degree piles by the end of day two...
Haha yeah I think it is a slightly mad idea hahaPS...you, sir, are mad...
My money's on third degree piles by the end of day two...
I think I'm going to make a softer seat for it... I'm don't want to have grapes hanging out of my arse haha
This is mine with me and my son on it :-) , I'll get some better photos of it when I get home tomorrow.
My dads is exactly the same
this one is my grandads :-)
And Chris' is the in bits, that one needs quite a bit of work doing to it so will get some photos up of the build when we start doing it
My dads is exactly the same
this one is my grandads :-)
And Chris' is the in bits, that one needs quite a bit of work doing to it so will get some photos up of the build when we start doing it
LOH
Yeah will let you know :-) if we stop anywhere near you we could maybe go for a quick pint or two, I wouldn't mind taking a closer look at your mini, it looks really nice, I had a 2005 cooper s a few years ago, loved it to bits
DH01
Thank you so much for your sponsorship :-) means a lot.
Odyssey2200
Leg shields?? They sound interesting!! I might have to get a set of those haha, although the added drag could lose me a mile an hour or two haha
I need to sort out a mount for my gopro this week as we are going for a ride at the weekend and I wouldn't mind giving the time lapse a go, I'll post that time lapse up on Sunday for you all to have a laugh at.
Is anyone on here called Roger Tillotson? If you are on here thank you :-)
John
Yeah will let you know :-) if we stop anywhere near you we could maybe go for a quick pint or two, I wouldn't mind taking a closer look at your mini, it looks really nice, I had a 2005 cooper s a few years ago, loved it to bits
DH01
Thank you so much for your sponsorship :-) means a lot.
Odyssey2200
Leg shields?? They sound interesting!! I might have to get a set of those haha, although the added drag could lose me a mile an hour or two haha
I need to sort out a mount for my gopro this week as we are going for a ride at the weekend and I wouldn't mind giving the time lapse a go, I'll post that time lapse up on Sunday for you all to have a laugh at.
Is anyone on here called Roger Tillotson? If you are on here thank you :-)
John
aw51 121565 said:
Mine too... 
Incidentally, beanie1983, you've answered your own question about how much slower a PC50 is than a CS50 . Having said this, making sure the carburettor is tuned right and the plug gap is right etc will get the best from it - and make sure you use an unleaded fuel additive 
or you'll burn the exhaust valve and/or seat out in short order riding it on a long hard run 
.
I'd say to chill out and enjoy the scenery. 200 miles in 9 hours' riding is, I would say, probably achievable as an overall average over the whole trip - but with breaks you'll be looking at 11 or 12 hours a day (and no, I didn't modify the seat, but then a CS50 Roadie's seat is pretty luxurious compared to a PC50's so I'd suggest trying a day out and see how you fare plus from memory the PC50's seat was pretty slippery to sit on as well).
Yeah we've sorted the carb out and checked the plug gaps, we have also changed the points and given it a full service...Incidentally, beanie1983, you've answered your own question about how much slower a PC50 is than a CS50
. Having said this, making sure the carburettor is tuned right and the plug gap is right etc will get the best from it - and make sure you use an unleaded fuel additive or you'll burn the exhaust valve and/or seat out in short order riding it on a long hard run .I'd say to chill out and enjoy the scenery. 200 miles in 9 hours' riding is, I would say, probably achievable as an overall average over the whole trip - but with breaks you'll be looking at 11 or 12 hours a day (and no, I didn't modify the seat, but then a CS50 Roadie's seat is pretty luxurious compared to a PC50's so I'd suggest trying a day out and see how you fare plus from memory the PC50's seat was pretty slippery to sit on as well).
ah didnt think of using an additive, i will get some of that then.
i might see if a CS50 seat will fit onto it :-) they look so much more comfier than the pc's seat
GadgeS3C said:
You really need to do it in less than a week or you'll have been beaten by 2 guys on unicycles
http://www.redwelly.co.uk/end2end/wordpress/
Bloody hell!! That's some good going is that! No way can we be beaten by those haha http://www.redwelly.co.uk/end2end/wordpress/
LuS1fer said:
How are you going to average 30mph if it has a top speed of 30mph?
I appreciate the endurance aspect, having ridden my Honda SS50 from Chester to Cardiff back in the 70s. Not so different as I suspect the head gasket was on the way out.
Yeah that's a good point haha. all I know is the bike does 30mph and we need to get the trip done in 7 days :-) I appreciate the endurance aspect, having ridden my Honda SS50 from Chester to Cardiff back in the 70s. Not so different as I suspect the head gasket was on the way out.
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