Time to plan this years rides!
My neighbour John tells me about some of his ex work colleagues who often say 'I wish I hadn't retired' or, 'I've got nothing to do' with a, ' Woe is me' and 'I'm bored!' That's hogwash. A much more positive ex-work colleague of mine said to me a couple of years ago and 10 years or so after his retirement, 'I just don't know where I ever found the time to work, Wayne.' Truly that's how it is. With a bit of enthusiasm and some wonky ideas from the less feeble minded, the World will always be our oyster.
So what am I planning?
I remember the day I started the LEJOG thing thinking 'oh hell what have I done!' The whole idea on day one of almost 1200 miles was just too big a challenge to comprehend. I had never done anything like it before unless on my motorbike and I recall just how the anxiety and trembles descended on me as it did during periods of hard stress just before retiring from work. Gives me the collywobbles just thinking about those days!
Funnily, I dreamt of my final days at work last night but this time as though it was a different time and place with other people, and of my emotions because of the well wishers who turned up to say goodbye. Strangely how in the mangled reality of my dream, I recall some senior folk who at the time I had no respect for being kind to me and of one ex-colleague giving me his car keys so that 'I could get home'. Or like the time I dreamt of my days as a child where I had won the World Cup for England in the street where I grew up, by kicking a football between the chimneys on the roof of the old family home. He scores! Then the sudden roar of the invisible crowds! I promptly woke up... Kathryn had a grip on my testicles and was snoring!
Funny how I have such imaginary detail projected on the back of my eyelids when asleep. I reckon some dream analysis is needed so I'll perhaps include a couple more of them in this blog as I go. Do let me know if you can help.
Anyway during the first day the shakes abated. It took me a good week to get into the groove of things and learn not to disrespect my body post my 'I'm broken' moment in Telford.
After all the highs and lows of the LEJOG thing I now know two things. Anything is possible - whether in the UK, in Europe, even around the World! Plus I think I now know how best to do this long ride malarkey... Famous last words, eh?
So here we go. My thoughts for the bike rides for this year (almost said next - where is the time going?) will probably be two out of these three:
Firstly, the Scottish North West 500. That's 500 miles of hill and mountain riding on everyone's favourite roads in everyone's favourite scenery - I’m thinking late May into June again. It will look something like this starting and finishing in Inverness...
This is my version of the Scottish 500 as I don't think the advertised one runs down as far a Fort William and Mallaig. From there take the ferry to Skye and continue up the west coast with the Bealach na ba pass as the 'high point'. Will I make it? Yes I will. Then continue up to Ullapool where I will take a rest day. Then further up the west coast via Unapool and Tongue but instead of going back to John O'Groats (been there, done that) I plan to cut back across the highlands to Helmsdale on the east coast then back down to Inverness...
I've done some outline planning to keep the days short as the weather could be bad and I do NOT want to rush this one so is 15 days including the day off and days travelling to and from Inverness. Proposed itinerary...
The biggest day is from Strathcarron to Torridon as this includes the Bealach na ba pass to Applecross. However if it is a crap day then there is a short cut avoiding the pass and significantly reducing the milage but that decision would be made on the day IF the pass was to be cold / wet and dangerous.
Then it'll be one of these (although I do quite fancy the second one). Either, a ride down the French coast. I’d probably start in Rotterdam taking the ferry from Hull to the Europoort and then ride down to St Malo. Probably 500 miles and again to take 2 weeks, this time in August something like this...
But I really do fancy this one. Another biggie. A ride to Vienna - yes Vienna!. So again from Hull on the ferry then ride along the river Waal, which becomes the Main, then the Rhine and via the shipping canal to the Danube all the way to Vienna. That's about 900 miles over 3 weeks in August which again works out to be about 50 miles per day with two days off in between. I’ve done most of the Vienna route from Regensberg with Kathryn (@300 miles) so I know that part of it quite well. It's nice and easy for cycling. The route looks like this...
It is less than the LEJOG thing with less than half of the ascent so it should be a breeze! This is not a loop so I've looked into return travel options. The best I've found is that Easyjet do flights from Vienna to Manchester for about 70 quid if booked in advance with a bike for 35 quid more. Also need to purchase a 'bike box' for 35 Euro's at Vienna airport to carry the bike in the hold. All seems pretty straight forward to me.
Right now it's minus something degrees outside most days. Slightly less cold days tend to bring the rain. There's not a lot better at misery making than being very cold or cold and wet on a bike. For now I'll continue to rack up miles and time on the magnetic trainer before I start to put some bigger miles under my belt starting March time.
Like last year, the time will fly between now and the start of things so, like DaVinci, I must get my finger out and make some detailed plans.
Here's looking forward to 2019 baby!
Ciao!
So what am I planning?
I remember the day I started the LEJOG thing thinking 'oh hell what have I done!' The whole idea on day one of almost 1200 miles was just too big a challenge to comprehend. I had never done anything like it before unless on my motorbike and I recall just how the anxiety and trembles descended on me as it did during periods of hard stress just before retiring from work. Gives me the collywobbles just thinking about those days!
Funnily, I dreamt of my final days at work last night but this time as though it was a different time and place with other people, and of my emotions because of the well wishers who turned up to say goodbye. Strangely how in the mangled reality of my dream, I recall some senior folk who at the time I had no respect for being kind to me and of one ex-colleague giving me his car keys so that 'I could get home'. Or like the time I dreamt of my days as a child where I had won the World Cup for England in the street where I grew up, by kicking a football between the chimneys on the roof of the old family home. He scores! Then the sudden roar of the invisible crowds! I promptly woke up... Kathryn had a grip on my testicles and was snoring!
Funny how I have such imaginary detail projected on the back of my eyelids when asleep. I reckon some dream analysis is needed so I'll perhaps include a couple more of them in this blog as I go. Do let me know if you can help.
Anyway during the first day the shakes abated. It took me a good week to get into the groove of things and learn not to disrespect my body post my 'I'm broken' moment in Telford.
After all the highs and lows of the LEJOG thing I now know two things. Anything is possible - whether in the UK, in Europe, even around the World! Plus I think I now know how best to do this long ride malarkey... Famous last words, eh?
So here we go. My thoughts for the bike rides for this year (almost said next - where is the time going?) will probably be two out of these three:
Firstly, the Scottish North West 500. That's 500 miles of hill and mountain riding on everyone's favourite roads in everyone's favourite scenery - I’m thinking late May into June again. It will look something like this starting and finishing in Inverness...
This is my version of the Scottish 500 as I don't think the advertised one runs down as far a Fort William and Mallaig. From there take the ferry to Skye and continue up the west coast with the Bealach na ba pass as the 'high point'. Will I make it? Yes I will. Then continue up to Ullapool where I will take a rest day. Then further up the west coast via Unapool and Tongue but instead of going back to John O'Groats (been there, done that) I plan to cut back across the highlands to Helmsdale on the east coast then back down to Inverness...
I've done some outline planning to keep the days short as the weather could be bad and I do NOT want to rush this one so is 15 days including the day off and days travelling to and from Inverness. Proposed itinerary...
| Day | Date | Leg | Route | Miles ridden | Feet ascended |
| Monday | Train to Inverness | ||||
| Tuesday | Inverness to Fort William | 64.9 | 1827 | ||
| Wednesday | Fort William to Mallaig | 42.4 | 1834 | ||
| Thursday | Mallaig to Strathcarron | 45.8 | 2431 | ||
| Friday | Strathcarron to Torridon | 53.7 | 4482 | ||
| Saturday | Torridon to Gairloch | 30.9 | 1102 | ||
| Sunday | Gairloch to Ullapool | 55.6 | 3504 | ||
| Monday | Day off in Ullapool | ||||
| Tuesday | Ullapool to Unapool | 32 | 2146 | ||
| Wednesday | Unapool to Durness | 35.5 | 2142 | ||
| Thursday | Durness to Tongue | 29.3 | 1657 | ||
| Friday | Tongue to Helmsdale | 52.3 | 1864 | ||
| Saturday | Helmsdale to Tain | 33.9 | 974 | ||
| Sunday | Tain to Inverness | 41.1 | 1047 | ||
| Monday | Train home |
The biggest day is from Strathcarron to Torridon as this includes the Bealach na ba pass to Applecross. However if it is a crap day then there is a short cut avoiding the pass and significantly reducing the milage but that decision would be made on the day IF the pass was to be cold / wet and dangerous.
Then it'll be one of these (although I do quite fancy the second one). Either, a ride down the French coast. I’d probably start in Rotterdam taking the ferry from Hull to the Europoort and then ride down to St Malo. Probably 500 miles and again to take 2 weeks, this time in August something like this...
It is less than the LEJOG thing with less than half of the ascent so it should be a breeze! This is not a loop so I've looked into return travel options. The best I've found is that Easyjet do flights from Vienna to Manchester for about 70 quid if booked in advance with a bike for 35 quid more. Also need to purchase a 'bike box' for 35 Euro's at Vienna airport to carry the bike in the hold. All seems pretty straight forward to me.
Right now it's minus something degrees outside most days. Slightly less cold days tend to bring the rain. There's not a lot better at misery making than being very cold or cold and wet on a bike. For now I'll continue to rack up miles and time on the magnetic trainer before I start to put some bigger miles under my belt starting March time.
Like last year, the time will fly between now and the start of things so, like DaVinci, I must get my finger out and make some detailed plans.
Here's looking forward to 2019 baby!
Ciao!
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