Yesterday was officially 2 weeks until the start of London to Gibraltar. We are on the final countdown. Paul is currently Carbo Loading in Spain, checking out the soaring temperatures and areas around the finish I believe. I have heard that he has been out on a bike with Simon to make sure he can remember how to ride, mostly he has been selecting wine for the finish party and making sure he has reserves of carbo hydrate for the journey. Matthew is assisting. Jeff is out riding the Surrey hills and making sure all is safe for Mark Cavendish and the others for tomorrows Olympic test event on Box hill in Surrey. Oscar is headed to town tonight for us to ride out tomorrow and catch some of the test event and notch up a few miles. I have no idea where Chris is or what he is up to but no fear, he will be fit whatever he is doing. He was last seen tying his bike into the boot of a car on Coombe Hill in Kingston!
I am fairly relaxed about doing too many miles now having completed Land's End John O'Groats (LEJoG) last week that was a big block of training for me and I can consider myself to be in a tapering period now. I may take up Paul's idea and do a bit of carbo loading even.
My bike is off for a service on Thursday next week with Adam at Birdie Bikes in Hampton. I am here trying to look at paperwork and what else needs to be done on the logisitics front.
Before I put to bed the LEJOG trip I have as promised written a post to help anyone else who may be interested in riding it.
The remainder of this blogpost is really meant as a helper to anyone planning or contemplating riding LEJoG and who may want to know some of the details of the logistics, route and accommodation of our trip. There are no pictures so dont bother reading on unless you want the hard facts and logistics!
I am fairly relaxed about doing too many miles now having completed Land's End John O'Groats (LEJoG) last week that was a big block of training for me and I can consider myself to be in a tapering period now. I may take up Paul's idea and do a bit of carbo loading even.
My bike is off for a service on Thursday next week with Adam at Birdie Bikes in Hampton. I am here trying to look at paperwork and what else needs to be done on the logisitics front.
Before I put to bed the LEJOG trip I have as promised written a post to help anyone else who may be interested in riding it.
The remainder of this blogpost is really meant as a helper to anyone planning or contemplating riding LEJoG and who may want to know some of the details of the logistics, route and accommodation of our trip. There are no pictures so dont bother reading on unless you want the hard facts and logistics!
I have written a few notes about each days ride we did and there is a link to the gpx data on Garmin Connect if you are interested or want to download it. I havent corrected the few areas where we might have made small errors or the getting lost in Warrington figure of 8. So its a case of 'caveat emptor'.
Our planning was pretty easy to be honest. I was given a Garmin 705 for Christmas a year or two ago and despite having used it regularly to record my rides I hadnt worked out too much about using it as a guidance system. Life has been busy this year and time to dedicate to planning this ride was minimal. However it came together pretty easily and didnt take too much at all.
I am a member of the CTC and had access to their PDF document with their recommended 3 different routes. We knew we didnt want to do the fast A roads route. We wanted to stay in B&B's or with friends so we opted for the B&B route and we had three main detours really. We had friends East of Shrewsbury, North of Preston and in the centre of Edinburgh. So minor amendments were made to detour off the route to accommodate these stops and mileage was dictated to a certain extent by these too. The day 7 route from Shrewsbury to Preston was totally off the B&B route but actually to my surprise was remarkably good even if I say so myself. It would have been perfect if we could have avoided Warrington. for reasons which I wont go into I didnt have this day programmed into the Garmin either so it involved more stops to check maps and iphones etc but we made it ok.
We sat down one night and looked at the CTC route and decided roughly how many miles we would do each day then looked for appropriate places on the route to stop so that we could fit in with our timetable.
We had to go to Penzance on the Saturday as we had to accompany my stepchildren to Plymouth that day. It was the first day of the summer holidays and although the CTC recommends a trip earlier in the year we didnt have any problem with accommodation during the peak of the holiday season. We booked the accommodation in about March time I think. I used the recommended listings or found places on the usual room booking websites. It took two evenings to sit and book them all until we had the whole route accommodation planned for. I made sure they all could accommodate bikes and that there was a way to access an evening meal close by or easy transport to food. I knew we wouldnt want to ride anywhere else after a shower. NB In Scotland especially we found that places stop serving food early. Often its finished by 20.30hrs so plan accordingly. The further north we went the earlier they shut.
I also set calendar dates for the train companues to call them on the dot of 12 weeks before the date we wanted to travel. Bike spaces are limited and I had to get the tickets for all of us and the places for the bikes. It was the most stressful part. Having booked travel to Cornwall having to wait 2 weeks for Scotrail to start selling. Their website makes tickets available exactly 12 weeks away to the hour. You have to book then call for the bike places. I got them fine though and the sleeper tickets cost us £90 each. I didnt see any sign of the cheap £16 tickets that are meant to be available. Cabins can interconnect so if there are more than 2 of you its possible to get interconnecting cabins. There is no power socket in them though so you cant charge mobiles etc. only a shaver socket. They were very comfortable though and I was pleasantly surprised. I would definately do this again.
So thats all we did for weeks until about 2 weeks before we were due to leave when I sat down and decided it was time to work out how to use the Garmin as a guidance system. There is nothing worse than having to constantly stop to check maps at every turn and using lots of small roads that would have been necessary.
I signed up for a Mapmyride.com account and sat and created routes for each day following the CTC written instructions. They dont seem to publish easily available gpx files that contain any meaningful data so I decided actually this was just the steep learning curve I needed to learn to use this gadget properly. I dont have anything but the basic pc map on it. Actually this was plenty.
I tell a lie there. We rode to Paris in early July and I used that as a first test bed having created routes in mapmyride I then exported the data files as .gpx or .kml files and used gpsies.com to convert them to course files (.crs). I then uploaded the .crs files to my Garmin and navigated to them in the menus each day to follow the course. It displays as a simple pink line on a map. If you go off course it alerts you and you can zoom in or out for more or less detail or orientation of the actual turns. I have to say on the whole it worked fabulously well and the there were a few minor glitches as all sat navs have where they think there is a road and its not its a track or no through road but it was pretty easy to navigate around the obstruction by scaling out and then using the compass or the map screen to guide us back on course. It probably saved us hours in terms of stops and map referencing not to mention having to carry all the maps required in enough detail. The iphone is great but battery power didnt meant it would never have lasted and I found I could read the screen on the Garmin easily in all light conditions. The odd file from map my ride gave errors in conversion but when it did I exported it as an alternative file format and tried again and it generally worked. hence the two file types .gpx or .kml. As long as you end up with a .crs it works fine. I also had the app for mapmyride on my iphone as a second reference guide which was useful at times. Its only irritation is that it only shows you the last 10 routes in the app. anything earlier and you have to use a standard browser to the website.
Anyway enough technical talk. What's else is there to tell you that may be of some use...?
Here are the route notes for each day and a link to our ride data. The speeds are slow as they include time for eating, photos, toilet stops etc and general faffing. Also not to mention the average speed was slow with all those hills!
LEJoG Route Notes
We took the early train from Paddington, cycle reservations were a must. People were turned away for not having them. Arrived into Penzance for 13.30hrs roughly and rode ½ mile to the hotel where we dropped our stuff and then headed out to Land’s End. Its less than 10 miles. Noticeable headwinds riding there are it’s the first of the west country hills! Land’s End is full of the usual tourist tat and you don’t have to pay car park or entry arrving by bike. There are cafes and places to sit and eat and drink while you have bikes with you. You have to take your photo of the sign carefully as they get cross if you don’t pay for it. We did the one at John O’Groats but not Lands End. That cost us a tenner but he also took photos for us on our mobiles.
This was our first real day of cycling. It winds along the coast with fabulous views of St.Michaels Mount before turning inland and taking the undulating hills across on small roads to Boscastle. You pass through plenty of small towns and villages and also Truro a larger town with all facilities. Its up and down all day long but a very pretty ride and avoids most of the main roads. We stayed on a farm outside of Boscastle up the hill. They gave us a lift into town to eat in the evening.
It was a very steep and narrow road into Boscastle and a steep one coming out on a busier road along the coast. A really pretty town worth visiting though. This part of Cornwall often suffers with sea mist and visibility can be poor for all or part of the day. The roads are narrow and the coastal road section is up and down with many slopes of 15-30% gradients. We walked numerous hills and made slow progress but it was a beautiful ride again. Turning in land the gradients lessen but the hills still come thick and fast. Great Torrington has a very steep hill into the town centre but there are cafes, banks and shops there and it’s a good stop for tea. Before South Molton you join a busy road with at least 2 monster hills of 25% and fast moving traffic so beware on that section.
In the morning theres a long gradual climb up to Exmoor and several hills during the day that are short and steep. However you then head east and ride along the ridge of Exmoor with views across to south Wales before a long gradual descent down and then the climb back up the Quantocks. These are long gradual climbs mostly and the views are fantastic. This was one of my favourite rides of the trip for scenery I think. Nice pub next to the church in Bishops Lydeard and Bridgewater is a large town for supplies etc. The last part crosses flat land is and is easy going on good tarmac.
This day started by climbing up out of the gorge which is perfectly manageable it’s mostly less than 10% and is a pretty road up through the gorge. Best done early before all the buses arrive, then the roads are easy and quiet skirting around Bristol. The section on the railway path is worth doing as there is the opportunity to see the steam train which runs in parallel along the well used cycle path. There are cafes and toilets etc along the path too. Then you cross the Severn bridge which is worth doing and the bike path is well signposted. The road after the bridge through Chepstow and on to Ross on Wye is quite busy and there are some sections of bike path. Its not the nicest bit but it then moves up the Wye Valley and becomes a lot prettier although still quite a busy road. The CTC route turns off onto smaller roads and goes up to St Briavels where there is the biggest and longest hill for seemingly no reason other than to climb a very long hill with lots of bends in it so you think you are near the top but it just kicks up and keeps on kicking! So you have been warned. There is a fabulous Gurka Restaurant in Ross on Wye. It’s definitely worth a visit.
This day follows the Wye valley at the start. Stunning scenery and a really lovely first few miles. There are a couple of steep hills again but hey you will be used to them by now and this route takes you up over the Long Mynd. Again fabulous scenery and views but you have to put the work in to enjoy them. There’s no such thing as a free lunch on the CTC B&B route. Where it says ‘scenic’ read ‘hilly’. Leominster and Ludlow are both really lovely and sizeable towns with supplies of most high st shops etc. Lots of quiet roads too of good quality mostly too.
This is a pretty easy flat ride and it skirts around most of the industrial areas that this area is heavy with. It does go through Warrington on the main roads so beware and we got a bit lost here turning to early so you will need to amend the gpx file to remove our detour. We stopped for lunch at the Hare & Hounds in Crowton. That was a real find. Fabulous food and they let me charge my mobile for free but I put a donation in the charity pot. They were really lovely. We sat outside with the bikes to eat. NB The gpx for this ride is split in two (my fault so the last part is here and we were staying north of Preston and just hammered around the by pass in favour of speed and time but you can navigate quieter roads through Leyland and Lostock hall if you want to.
This route will take you initially down what is actually a farm access road en route across the M6, rather than double back we walked along the public footpath with bikes to get to the road on the other side. You will have to carry bikes over a couple of stiles though. However pressing on saved us a few miles detour and soon we were back on quiet roads through the forest of Bowland. It’s a really pretty ride but it does then kick up and go over moorland before dropping down to Higher Bentham. I loved this ride for the scenery but It was the day that nearly broke Gary and actually I notice that we climbed almost twice as much this day as any other day on the trip including the Cairngorms and the ski station passes so bewarned. It was a very long day and you will be weary by the end. The are climbs right up until the end, a really pretty ride though and on mostly very quiet roads or less used main ones. If you have more time perhaps consider reducing the mileage on this section rather than cutting out the forest of Bowland as this was so pretty (in good weather). If its cloudy its best avoided to reduce the climbs. Fewer towns on this route too so carry supplies.
We left the CTC route to give Gary a break from climbing and decided to stick to the A7. It was such a fast road and quiet (it was a Sunday that we rode it), that we stayed on it all the way to Edinburgh. I don’t know that we compromised on Scenery in any way as I thought it was stunning riding up the valleys. A really fast ride in the city and relatively little traffic, nothing to make you tense and nothing like an A road in the home counties. There was a great cake shop called the cloudhouse café in Stow. You could sit inside and leave bikes in view if the weather is bad. Highly recommended.
It can be busy leaving Edinburgh and this route avoids most of the worst of the traffic. There is a hairy right turn off the main road onto the cycle path which heads into the Dalmeny estate. The cycle path is very rough in places and not best suited to carbon road bikes if you are precious about that or your paintwork. Its better suited to mountain bikes but we survived ok on our road bikes. Its certainly not impassable but just not ideal. This is a lovely route through parkland coming out under the Forth Bridge. There are lots of cobbles in Queensferry so beware if it’s wet. After the bridge there is a bike shop in Inverkeithing, very friendly and they have a pub they are happy for you to use if you need a top up of air. From Blairgowrie it climbs steadily up to Glenshee. Gradients are gentle but it’s a climb at the end of a long day. I am glad we did it though to reduce the next days climbing. Glenshee is remote and the weather can be harsh so be prepared. There isn’t much there though so also have stocks of food and drink from Blairgowrie. The road surface gets quite harsh and is draining as it sucks the energy out of you and the roads are sloping up so you will make slow progress here.
This day’s ride is remote! You are high and can be exposed to a lot of cold or wind. The climb over Glenshee isn’t bad averages about 10% or less and goes on for about 2km. it’s a wide road with some traffic, mostly trucks actually. Over the other side there is a long gradual descent so wrap up on the top before you head down as it goes on for miles and you will be cold by the time you reach the bottom. You then have a few miles of flat along through Braemar and to Balmoral where this road turns left and climbs again. These are mostly gently but the the climbs up to the ski station at Lecht is very steep in places >20%. They aren’t too long so its fine to walk them although actually that was a struggle too in some areas as they are so steep. The ski station at the top is not very friendly looking with signs everywhere warding you off the toilets should you dare try and use them without buying something. We planned to stop for tea but there didn’t appear to be places to leave the bikes securely and it was not very appealing and welcoming so we pressed on. Tomintul has a lovely little cake and tea stop where they are very welcoming. Its an old fire station. They didn’t even mind us being soaking wet and dripping on the floor. They just put the wet floor sign up (which I then promptly tripped over!). we could sit inside and see our bikes on the other side of the window. It was an easy ride from there to Grantown upon Spey with only one hill that I recall. Grantown on Spey, surprisingly has a lack of nice places to eat. The two main hotels that we could see wanted to charge a lot for what I suspect would have been crap service. We stopped for a drink in the bar of one and it was pitiful. There is an Indian restaurant the Sylet Brasserie or something I think and in desperation we went there. It was fantastic food. Totally delicious fresh cooked curry with fresh herbs and spices. Excellent.
OK. This was a day not be forgotten. We arranged to meet a friend in Nairn for coffee so veered off the CTC route and took the main road to Nairn. That was fine it was quiet and easy riding. However Nairn to Inverness is the busy A96. It was heavy with traffic and they were in a hurry. It was the most unpleasant road of the whole trip and best avoided by sticking to the CTC route which avoids all but half a mile of it. There is a large Tesco here before Inverness for supplies and toilets. Then the road continues over the Kessock bridge where there is at least a cycle route. Its worth dropping down to North Kessock on the cycle route and stopping to spy Dolphins. We saw them almost instantly frolicking in the water. We then decided to take the CTC route across the Black Isle and to the Cromarty Ferry for the crossing to Nigg. I checked it was running on the website and did wonder what a pain it would be if it wasn’t running as we road past the road bridge. It wasn’t running it had broken down and they were totally useless at keeping every one informed about what was happening. Having told us they would leave in an hour or so they didn’t bother and didn’t tell anyone until we went to ask why they missed the departure time they stated. We had no choice but to double back to the A9 road bridge and then take the B9176 road across to Bonar Bridge. Its actually a good road and the was one gentle climb nothing too bad and then it drops in a great descent into Bonar Bridge. The Land lady of the B&B there (Sheila at Kyle House) told us they are hopelessly unreliable on the ferry and they use the same excuses for not running all the time even though it’s a new ferry boat apparently. She would advise everyone to avoid it. It’s a shame but it was very painful that it didn’t run. I wouldn’t trust it again. Best avoided. PS The Crannag Bistro in Bonar Bridge is a must for a great meal.
Lots of people told us how lovely the road north up through Bettyhill is and I would have loved to have gone that way but time and hotel bookings etc were against us so we had to stick with the A9. It’s a busy road and does carry a lot of traffic. Its quite narrow in places and the day we rode it there was thick fog and wet roads so it wasn’t too pleasant. We couldn’t see what a beautiful coastline it was sadly. However the train back the next day takes a lot of the same route and we saw seal colonies on the beaches and all sorts so perhaps in fine weather it would be better. We faced tough headwinds too all the way to Wick. After Helmsdale there are two long ascents. Helmsdale is ok, long and about 10% gradual long climb in wide new tarmac but Berriedale a few miles on is steeper 15-20% and has hairpins on narrow roads so beware. After that its flatter and easier if the wind and rain aren’t against you. Wick is a fair sized town with all the amenities you need.
This was a short ride of 18 miles but we faced gusting winds of up to 30-40 mph I would estimate and it made it tough going. I overheard someone say they had seen a small child blown over before we left Wick so we were prepared but we had left bags behind so had lighter bikes more prone to being blown around. the visibility was better and there is less traffic especially after the Thurso turn off. When you get to John O’Groats village turn right to go 2 miles to Duncansby head the furthest road point from Lands End or straight on for the signpost and usual tourist tat. The man doing photos at the sign was a nice man and we paid here for a photo £9 and he took some on our mobiles too for us (his idea). He also gave us the number for a taxi. We got a lift back to Wick and the taxi man had no bother in his large saloon getting two road bikes in the back. I had a sore leg and it was so windy we opted out of the ride back. We signed the ‘End to End’ register in the coffee shop opposite the sign and then left after 20 mins as the weather was terrible and we had a train to catch so I didn’t see much more of John O’Groats sadly. There were rumours that it has been bought recently and is being developed more. Its about the same as Lands End but somehow more relaxed I think.
There’s a big Tesco in Wick to get supplies for the train back. I booked the trains as soon as the tickets were on sale 12 weeks before. Wick to Inverness is a small 2 carriage train and we had bike reservations. They ride in the carriage and we saw at least 6 bikes on that train at various stages. The guards didn’t seem to mind even though there were only meant to be 2 bikes per train. The same train called via Thurso too on its way to Inverness. At Inverness we had 45 mins before our train departed by the Caledonian sleeper was already there and ready for boarding. Despite being told there were only 2 bike bookings per train which I was sure I had secured the first 2 as I called 2 mins after the tickets were on sale. The guards van already had 3 bikes in it so we were shown to a disabled sleeper berth where they locked our bikes into. The next morning when we removed them it was clear another bike had been added as mine had been wedged with the tyre under the sink. Thankfully no damage but I wasn’t too impressed to be honest. The train itself was great though and it worked really well. Top tip, board the train, put your bags in the cabin. You can ask them to lock the cabin I believe and then take a seat in the buffet car to watch the scenery as you leave and the sun sets over the Cairngorms. The seats are limited and its first come first served.
Next is the accommodation - OK here is where we stayed. I am going to list them and I think you can find them all with this amount of info in any web browser. Costs are for the room unless stated.
This hotel is on the sea front half a mile from the train station. The room was lovely and I think we got an upgrade for free as they were busy to a seaview room. They stored our bikes in their function room overnight and we ate in the hotel. It was fine and they were friendly. We were able to check in about 14.0hrs and leave our bags to cycle to Lands End unencumbered.
This farm is on top of the hill outside of Boscastle. Its remote but they will happily take you to town for food and collect you (£5). The rooms were lovely and there is a lounge for guests. Very comfortable and lovely hosts. They stored the bikes in the barn for us. Phone reception upstairs.
Our room was in a converted chapel opposite the house, its just east of South Molton on the route and there is a quiet pub a few hundred yards away that serves food. It was a very comfortable room. Brakfast is served in the conservatory where there is Wifi. Lock bikes in secure garage.
Cheddar - Constantine Guest House - (01934 741339) £55
Lovely spot, all facilities. Secure bike parking. We ate at the Riverside Inn which was awful. It thinks its a fantastic gourmet place and is total rubbish. I had pasta that was overcooked and swimming in a gallon of cream. They brought us plates of hot food to our garden table then said "The cutlery is inside" Mmm Thanks, thats helpful when I need it here! Avoid it at all costs, it was one of the most expensive meals we have had and definately the worst food. Its about a mile walk to the town centre perhaps less. The town is a bit of a dump to be honest not very pleasant. This Guest house was lovely though and recommended
Ross-on-Wye - Sunnymount Guest House - £65
This was a charming spot. Secure bike storage. We were recommended the Gurka restaurant in town which was fabulous. Amazing food and a revelation after Cheddar's offering. Lovely host and a good breakfast. Its close to a Morrisons too for provisions.
Shrewsbury - Private with friends
Preston - Private with friends
Carlisle (Warwick Bridge) - Brookside B&B (0843 208 6513) - £60
We were originally booked to stay at the Corby Bridge Inn who cancelled us due to a flood (looked fine when we went past!) and rebooked us into the Brookside B&B. Our win. Deboarah was fantastic here and when we arrived late in the day she gave us a lift to find food. fantastic house. Immaculate and all details attended too. I cant recommned this one highly enough. Secure Bike parking and host who went out of her way to ensure our comfort. Brilliant. 10/10.
Edinburgh - Private with friends
Mike (AKA The Wing Commander) and Joyce Purdie run a fine establishment and reserve the room with the bath for walkers and cyclists! Heaven. Their home is beautiful and there is a conservatory for guests use. They will give you a lift to the hotel in the Spittal of Glenshee (dont expect much here!) to eat. Wifi is available and Joyce makes homemade jams and preserves for breakfast. Wonderful and hard to leave. Secure bike storage and a lovely wave and send off in the morning. I want to go back. It was like staying with your parents. :-)
We booked this at the last minute as the Willowbank Guest house retracked our confirmed reservation a few weeks before.We paid slightly more for the superior room but it was worth it. We arrived on a wet day and were soaking and cold. This room was at the top of the house and had a massive ensuite bathroom as big as the bedroom with a roll top bath. It was gorgeous even if Gary did persist in bumping his head on the eaves of the room. Lovely hosts and they make fresh waffles for breakfast as well as yummy yoghurt, fruit and Dorset cereals for breakfast. A real treat this one. Seucre bike storage too and wifi. Eat at the Sylet Bangladeshi restaurant for a delicious freshly prepared and tasty curry.
Sheila is the host at Kyle House and is fabulous, very accommodating. We had a room with a bath and she rang and arranged for the Crannag Bistro to stay open late so we could make it for dinner as we were so late arriving after the ferry debarcle. If you are ever north of Inverness you must stop here for a meal. You will not regret it. :-) Gorgeous food and hosts. Their is secure storage for bikes and large rooms.
We splashed out on a superior room here as it was the last stop and a celebration of a significant birthday and the end of our UK tour. It was worth it. After another day of riding in the wind and rain and mist we arrived to a stunning large room overlooking the estuary and a bathroom with a spa bath.. Need I say more? Heaven. The hotel were lovely and its a small hotel that feels very friendly and sociable. They stored our bikes in their function room and looked afte the bags when we rode up the next day to John O'Groats. We came back and they let us change before we had lunch in the Bistro and took the train home at 16.00hrs. The bistro serves great food and I had the best Asparagus tart ever (sorry mum). When the weather is bad its the perfect bolthole. The train station is right opposite too although far enough away that you dont hear any trains.
Lastly the Kit.
On the bike i replaced my Veloce standard double groupset with SRAM Apex (it has the spread of a triple crankset over a double). It was pretty good but tended to slip off the 32 sprocket when it was really needed. Bit irritating and Gary found the same but it worked well on the whole and I am glad I had it.
I had two bottle holders for obvious reasons and a Handle bar bag (Carradice) with map cover. This was reat and the fixing mechanism excellent but as per other reviewers for this product one of the poppers on the map cover broke after a week despite me being very careful knowing it was likely. It was useful to have the written route notes as well as the Garmin. I am a map and direction nerd (self confessed).
Then I had a rear mounted seatpost clamp rack (Topeak) I had to swap my carbon seatpost for a metal one.
on this I used the Topeak RX Trunkbag DXP with side panniers. Its not huge but I chose it for a reason, The bigger the bag the more you put in it and I wanted to travel light.
The strap is detachable but was really useful when carrying everything including water bottles to rooms in the evenings. I attached my saddlebag with tools, tubes, air cannisters etc under the rack.
I was pretty pleased with what I carried and didnt miss anything and didnt feel I carried anything I didnt use either. We rode in all weather conditions and had the right kit for these too.
It was a bit of a standing joke that we wore the same outfit almost each night but we only wore it long enough to eat and then were generally in bed early anyway so we didnt smell too bad at the end!
Here's a summary:
1 x bibshorts
1x bib 3/4 lengths
1 x cycle shirt
1 x longsleeve windproof
1x Gore lightweight rain/wind jacket
armwarmers
neoprene overshoes
1 pair lightweight socks
1 pair wool socks
Bike Helmet
Bike shoes (specialized) SPD Pedal system with recessed cleats
Tifosi reactalight lenses
fingerless gloves
Chamois cream
Toiletries
painkillers
Glasses
Nightshirt
underwear
1 x pair leggings
1 x pair flipflops
1 x long sleeved t shirt
2 x long shirt/tops
1 x cardigan
1 x vest
1 nightshirt
1 x gear cable
1 x brake cable
1 x inner tube
we bought a folding tyre in Scotland to carry through remote areas.
1 x tube zipvit tablets.
OK thats it for now. too much info for some of you but if you are planning a trip like this its useful to know so hopefully it might help others. Bon Voyage. I hope you enjoy it as much as we did.
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