JOGLE - Next 2 weels

[One8Two]

Heading up to John O'Groats this fri to start the End to End. Anyone doing it or know someone who is over the next 2 weeks?

Bit nervous but looking forward to it, should be a good laugh!

Dan

[isv]

One8Two said:

Heading up to John O'Groats this fri to start the End to End. Anyone doing it or know someone who is over the next 2 weeks?

Bit nervous but looking forward to it, should be a good laugh!

Dan

I just finished - completed the Deloitte Ride Across Britain two weeks ago. What surprised me was the number of people also doing the end-to-end coming up from Lands' End. When in the quieter parts of Scotland I must have passed about 10-20 people a day coming the other way... one day I passed more oncoming cyclists than cars along one 50 mile stretch. I'm sure you'll meet plenty of others going your way at this time of year.

What route you taking? We ended up doing just over 1,000 miles in 9 days and included some monster climbs. The roads in some parts of Scotland are absolutely ste - I'd make sure you have your bike set up for comfort ;-)

Alan.

[Dudd]

isv said:

One8Two said:

Heading up to John O'Groats this fri to start the End to End. Anyone doing it or know someone who is over the next 2 weeks?

Bit nervous but looking forward to it, should be a good laugh!

Dan

I just finished - completed the Deloitte Ride Across Britain two weeks ago. What surprised me was the number of people also doing the end-to-end coming up from Lands' End. When in the quieter parts of Scotland I must have passed about 10-20 people a day coming the other way... one day I passed more oncoming cyclists than cars along one 50 mile stretch. I'm sure you'll meet plenty of others going your way at this time of year.

What route you taking? We ended up doing just over 1,000 miles in 9 days and included some monster climbs. The roads in some parts of Scotland are absolutely ste - I'd make sure you have your bike set up for comfort ;-)

Alan.

I also did it recently. Started Fri 18th June Finished 28th. 11 Days and 1040miles. Only met 3 other lots doing it actually.

I agree on the comfort settings. Its the sore arse that will really tire you out. Also drink plenty. Like huge amounts. More than you think you mean.

[mcgus]

isv said:

One8Two said:

Heading up to John O'Groats this fri to start the End to End. Anyone doing it or know someone who is over the next 2 weeks?

Bit nervous but looking forward to it, should be a good laugh!

Dan

I just finished - completed the Deloitte Ride Across Britain two weeks ago. What surprised me was the number of people also doing the end-to-end coming up from Lands' End. When in the quieter parts of Scotland I must have passed about 10-20 people a day coming the other way... one day I passed more oncoming cyclists than cars along one 50 mile stretch. I'm sure you'll meet plenty of others going your way at this time of year.

What route you taking? We ended up doing just over 1,000 miles in 9 days and included some monster climbs. The roads in some parts of Scotland are absolutely ste - I'd make sure you have your bike set up for comfort ;-)

Alan.

Be interested in your thoughts on the organization generally and any specific likes/dislikes of the whole RAB event if you would be willing to share? I'm committed for 2011.

[One8Two]

We're doing a slightly different route as we are stopping at 3 of our works sites on the way down, newcastle, cheshire and south wales, just to add a bit more distance! Still about 1000 miles though. Tried to eliminate as many big hills as possible using online route planners.

Looking forward to it, i'm all about the comfort though. No turning back now, have the charity leg wax booked in for Thurs eve too, not ideal prep i'm sure!

[isv]

mcgus said:

isv said:

One8Two said:

Heading up to John O'Groats this fri to start the End to End. Anyone doing it or know someone who is over the next 2 weeks?

Bit nervous but looking forward to it, should be a good laugh!

Dan

I just finished - completed the Deloitte Ride Across Britain two weeks ago. What surprised me was the number of people also doing the end-to-end coming up from Lands' End. When in the quieter parts of Scotland I must have passed about 10-20 people a day coming the other way... one day I passed more oncoming cyclists than cars along one 50 mile stretch. I'm sure you'll meet plenty of others going your way at this time of year.

What route you taking? We ended up doing just over 1,000 miles in 9 days and included some monster climbs. The roads in some parts of Scotland are absolutely ste - I'd make sure you have your bike set up for comfort ;-)

Alan.

Be interested in your thoughts on the organization generally and any specific likes/dislikes of the whole RAB event if you would be willing to share? I'm committed for 2011.

Well... hopefully you'll get feedback from others too, but as you asked...

Things were going brilliantly until people started falling sick. I noticed it during the first couple of days and generally assumed it was dirty bds not looking after themselves. But it picked up pace and within a few days people were puking up all over the place. I got hit at the end of day 5, within minutes was on my knees in the middle of the camp site. I lost an entire day's cycling - so did many, many others. The organisers told me it was 'norovirus-like' and it was spreading via the loos/filling stations etc. One of the medics told me that probably half of the riders got it. I recall being barely 5 miles from Lands' End and I passed a guy throwing up whilst trying to remain on his bike whilst he tackled the last hill.. I think about 100 riders never made it to the end - not sure why, but expect many caught the bug and never recovered sufficiently.

The loos were lovely on day one - within a few days they were terrible (think what they're like at the end of a rock concert and you wont be far off). The organisers did try and contain the bug and brought in measures and the loos were definitely better towards the end but I subsequently was told that people were falling ill even before we left John O'Groats... so I guess someone brought it with them (and spoilt it for everyone else). But with 700++ people in a roving campsite sharing loos/showers etc. this is the big risk...

The organisation was pretty good actually. The logistics impressive. The food/catering great. The medical team deeply impressive (especially the physios). Halfords provided mechanical backup on the road (some of the guys fantastic, others not so...). Apart from the bug the thing that really pissed me off was the camping. The tents were simple pop-up's, big enough, but I did get wet a few times. By the end of 9 days I'd really had enough and just wanted a decent bed to sleep in.

The route was 'interesting'. Being 1,000 miles it is obviously not the usual more direct route that most people take. Whilst it did take in many stretches of national cycling routes there was a lot of extra stuff thrown in. Each day there were several very significant climbs. Kirkstone Pass (1,500') at 7:00am on cold legs was tough. Many others struggled with the Long Mynd. A lot of these climbs were not necessary but obviously put in for a challenge. The training plan supplied was brilliant - I followed the 'club' programme religiously for 6 months and was glad I did so. The route was as arduous as I feared it might be... up to 130 miles a day with 10,000' feet of climbing was tough and not a typical end-to-end. I think it is best described as an endurance event and you really need to prepare for it.

I was a solo rider (one of 500-odd) whilst the rest were in relay teams of three, doing alternate days or each tackling one of the three daily stages. Hopefully you'll do it solo as I couldn't see the point in being in a relay (apart from the obvious benefit of not having to cycle so much).

Despite the bug I did enjoy it but I'm mad as hell about losing a day and now having to go back to fill in the gap. I'm not sure what changes they're going to make for next year - but worth asking... A friend of mine has cancelled her booking for 2011 as she wants a softer E2E. Overall, if you treat it as an endurance event and prepare yourself well then you should enjoy it too!