NC500 - Thoughts from Alan Walls (London Alan)

Here are the thoughts of London Alan.  I'm most happy that he is adding his words to this blog.  Thanks Alan!

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Well, here we are, back in York, where the journey with WT started (the WT500!). I was filled with trepidation and uncertainty before we began, as I think anyone would be who hadn’t ridden a bike for about 30 years, had just entered their 60’s, and had the route details as night time reading. But, as I saw it, the potential benefits from this trip where going to far outweigh any minor inconveniences (!) along the way. A few thoughts: 

The Landscapes. 

Wow. Majestic and motionless, apart from their cascading waterfalls and rushing rivers. On some days, looking pristine as if built by Disney and on other days shrouded in cloud and hiding their secrets. 

The Roads. 

The “proper” A roads breaking up and more suitable for a mountain bike. The single track A roads more rideable and in some places with recently laid tarmac. Oh joy! 

The Bike. 

We’ve loved and hated each other. Bits have fallen off her, she’s been sworn at, she’s been blamed for many things, but when we’ve freewheeled at 30mph+ down hills and powered our way along well made roads, we’ve both loved it. It’s back to the bike shop when I get home. She’ll need an extra lower gear added before I bring her back to the hills, and off course the bits that fell off will need replacing! 

The Clothing. 

In the Highlands you need to be prepared for all seasons. I was, mostly, apart from the supposedly 100% waterproof overshoes, which failed abysmally and not having waterproof clothes. The later fixed by a pair of large size marigolds! Scottish rain appears to be the ultimate waterproof test for kit. 

The Weight. 

Lightness is king as you drag yourself and a bike up steep hills, so at Ullapool (halfway) a pile of items where identified as luxuries or unnecessary and either posted home or binned! Oh. And if I have t lost any I’ll be a tad upset! 

The Emotions. 

Little did I realise as I set out on the journey how much anger would well up in me over the two weeks. Anger at drivers not waiting at passing points, anger at cars getting too close on narrow roads. Anger at the bike for not having a lower gear. Anger at all sorts of odd things. But the shear joy of being free on a bike far outweighed any short lived negative emotions. 

The Vegetation. 

At least three or four times a day I left the road and ended up in vegetation! No explanation found. Mind wandering perhaps? The bike thinking it’s an off-roader? No serious damage done, apart from a temporary shredding of Wayne’s nerves when I came close to the edge on some sheer drops! The shout from Wayne of “keep away from the edge” became a regular call! 

The Accommodation. 

Homely B&B’s to hotels that haven’t seen a lick of paint or maintenance since the 1970’s. The rough and ready “wooden box” at the Applecross campsite to the Bothy at Torridon with no electricity (truly off grid). 

Our Tour Leader - The Great Navigator. 

A superb and near perfect itinerary (the output of many hours of preparation). Next time a rest day please. The Great Navigator kept us going in the right direction, despite the best efforts of his “crapnav”! 

Our Tour Leader - The Great Repairer. 

He did a magnificent repair job on the bike (outside Ullapool), fixing noises that irritated the hell out of me. 

Our Tour Leader - The Great Snorer. 

The inventor of ear plugs needs mighty praise heaped upon them! 

Our Tour Leader - The Great Food Provider. 

The mysterious contents of his green bag kept us from bonking (please look up the meaning within the cycling fraternity!). 

Our Team Leader - The Great Encourager. 

He could tell when I was struggling and fighting with myself and the bike to keep going. Giving me words of encouragement (“we’re over a fifth of the way there Alan”!) and even offering to carry my panniers at one desperate moment! 

Our Team Leader - The Great Companion. 

If chatting were an Olympic sport I know where a gold medal would be heading! 

And the benefits? Too many to list. I’m fitter and slimmer, and maybe those key markers of health (blood pressure and cholesterol level) have improved too. 

Am I glad I did it? Absolutely. An amazing experience. Would I do it again? Yes, but only after the bike has a lower gear added to get me up the hills, particularly the “chevron” ones! 

And to finish my input to the blog, a few personal stats:

60 = age of participant
3 = number of months from bike delivery to WT500 completion
13 = days of cycling (no rest days) 😅

3 = days of heavy rain 😢

501 = miles completed (the distance from Lands End to just south of Carlisle) 👍

24,799 = feet ascended (that’s twice to the top of Everest from Everest base camp) 👍

42.5mph = maximum speed ( descending from Belach Na Ba pass - 10 minutes down, 3 hours up!)

3mph = slowest speed (ascending Belach Na Ba pass, not including pushing the bike up short stretches!). 

5,500 = average calories burnt per day

54 db’s = WT’s loudest recorded snore volume, from 1.5 metres. 

2 = number of bike parts lost from my bike

260 (estimate) = swear words and aggressive gestures to drivers of various vehicle types. 

1 = items lost down toilet

1 = attempts to shave using toothpaste

3 = average number of Tunnock’s bars eaten per day

5 = average number of fig rolls eaten per day

2 = very satisfied, jaded but happy bike riders