John O'Groats to Edinburgh (or vice versa)
Discussion
I was thinking of taking a bit of time off work and going on a bike ride. My dad is up in Scotland and I like the place, so thought this might be a cool thing to do.
It looks like it's about 300 miles, but has 13500ft of climbing, as you need to go over the Cairngorm Mountains. I'm not an expert cyclist, but am not terribly unfit and can do a bit of training.
My idea was to get the train up to Edinburgh, spend maybe 4 days getting to John O Groats (75 miles a day average), see my old man, get a lift to Inverness and get the sleeper train back to London.
But...
Is 13,500ft of climbing going to kill me? Is it doable for an 'amateur'? There is about 12500ft of descent too, so hopefully swings and roundabouts.
I'd need to carry my own kit. I could travel light and would book hotels rather than camp. I wouldn't want to use a rucksack, so I'd need to use an undersaddle bag - is this the best way to go, or would I need panniers?
Has anybody done it? I appreciate it isn't a TCR level adventure, but would be a fairly big deal for me and perhaps the start of more like it, if it worked out ok!
It looks like it's about 300 miles, but has 13500ft of climbing, as you need to go over the Cairngorm Mountains. I'm not an expert cyclist, but am not terribly unfit and can do a bit of training.
My idea was to get the train up to Edinburgh, spend maybe 4 days getting to John O Groats (75 miles a day average), see my old man, get a lift to Inverness and get the sleeper train back to London.
But...
Is 13,500ft of climbing going to kill me? Is it doable for an 'amateur'? There is about 12500ft of descent too, so hopefully swings and roundabouts.
I'd need to carry my own kit. I could travel light and would book hotels rather than camp. I wouldn't want to use a rucksack, so I'd need to use an undersaddle bag - is this the best way to go, or would I need panniers?
Has anybody done it? I appreciate it isn't a TCR level adventure, but would be a fairly big deal for me and perhaps the start of more like it, if it worked out ok!
47p2 said:
13,500 feet of climbing on a 300 mile ride is nothing. I did 6000 feet on a 40 mile ride a couple of weeks ago, also 10,000 feet on 102 mile ride
Make sure you get enough training miles in before you start your quest
Perfect - thanks. My London rides normally have about 1000ft, so hard to gauge! Looks like I need a few days in the hills.Make sure you get enough training miles in before you start your quest
In terms of training rides, is the best thing to do to try and get a few back to back 75mile + rides in? I suspect the difference between managing 1 ride and 4 on the trot is considerable.
Maxf said:
Is 13,500ft of climbing going to kill me? Is it doable for an 'amateur'? There is about 12,500ft of descent too, so hopefully swings and roundabouts.
I have great news...John O'Groats is more or less at Sea Level, so there will be, give or take a few feet, depending where you start in Edinburgh, the same amount of ascent as descent!
Also, 75 miles a day as an amateur, even with a bit of climbing, is very doable, since you have nothing else to do all day. You should really enjoy it, have a good holiday!
To give you a bit of comfort, I did Land End to John O'Groats in 9 days, so almost 100 miles a day. I did some training, and was happy doing 50 mile rides when time allowed. But I never did anything special, and never did any 100 mile back-to-back rides before hand.
When you have no reason to be in a rush, great new scenery to see, and cafes and cake shops that need to be visited, you'll have no problem doing 4 x 75 mile days. Just drink plenty, eat plenty, and have a stretch whenever you stop.
In the meantime, if you can do a single 100 mile day, I don't see any reason why you should struggle. I'm a bit jealous.
When you have no reason to be in a rush, great new scenery to see, and cafes and cake shops that need to be visited, you'll have no problem doing 4 x 75 mile days. Just drink plenty, eat plenty, and have a stretch whenever you stop.
In the meantime, if you can do a single 100 mile day, I don't see any reason why you should struggle. I'm a bit jealous.
TwistingMyMelon said:
Make sure your bike fits you well
Wear decent clothes, cycling specific
Ensure you have suited gear ratios
I've got a compact chain ring, so should be OK I think, it will be my legs which let me down if anything does! Wear decent clothes, cycling specific
Ensure you have suited gear ratios
What I may do is get a bike fit - although seems like it may be overkill given the cost (£350 I was quoted).
Looks like I need to get a few longer local rides in, then get planning!
What way are ye going? First 2 days will be relatively flat as you're still in the central lowlands, but once you're into the highlands (Cairngorms etc) that's where I'd expect the majority of climbing to be. So although it's 13500 in 300 miles, at a rough guess, most of that could be on day 3.
I've only ever driven it though
I've only ever driven it though
simoid said:
What way are ye going? First 2 days will be relatively flat as you're still in the central lowlands, but once you're into the highlands (Cairngorms etc) that's where I'd expect the majority of climbing to be. So although it's 13500 in 300 miles, at a rough guess, most of that could be on day 3.
I've only ever driven it though
A quick look last night got me thinking I'd try and go parallel to the M90 up to Perth, then take the A9 to Inverness, then follow the coast road to Wick and John O'Groats. Indeed I suspect most of the climb will be Day 2!I've only ever driven it though
Stay off super busy roads would be nice, but probably impractical.
There is no significant climbing on that route. I cycled that as part of LEJOG, and in fact that is by far and away the best bit. Edinburgh to Perth - Pitlochry. Cycling over the firth of forth and looking at the rail bridge is pretty cool.
Then the cycle route follows the old A9, which is fantastic, as the old road is overgrown and reverting to nature with no motor traffic on. There are signs there warning of impending doom, but it's an easy ride.
On to Inverness, and across the Moray Firth and the Black Isle. You can follow the road from approx Evanton to Bonar Bridge, for a few great views and quiet roads.
Then comes the best bit - from Bonar bridge, via the Crask Inn to Tounge, and thus to Bettyhill. This is full of wild majesty and wonderful mountains, and hugely evocative. The road from Tounge to Bettyhill is equally as wonderful, and has the feel of a remote unspoilt coast. From Bettyhill,it's an easy ride to JOG. Do this rather than the more obvious coast road, which is busy, and full of traffic.
Also, around Bonar bridge, there is a wonderful hostel - a stately home, full of marble statues and huge rooms, and that's well worth staying in.
Go for it, it's a wonderful bit of Britain.
Then the cycle route follows the old A9, which is fantastic, as the old road is overgrown and reverting to nature with no motor traffic on. There are signs there warning of impending doom, but it's an easy ride.
On to Inverness, and across the Moray Firth and the Black Isle. You can follow the road from approx Evanton to Bonar Bridge, for a few great views and quiet roads.
Then comes the best bit - from Bonar bridge, via the Crask Inn to Tounge, and thus to Bettyhill. This is full of wild majesty and wonderful mountains, and hugely evocative. The road from Tounge to Bettyhill is equally as wonderful, and has the feel of a remote unspoilt coast. From Bettyhill,it's an easy ride to JOG. Do this rather than the more obvious coast road, which is busy, and full of traffic.
Also, around Bonar bridge, there is a wonderful hostel - a stately home, full of marble statues and huge rooms, and that's well worth staying in.
Go for it, it's a wonderful bit of Britain.
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