End to End in 5 Days - Report

[Hal]

My idea was to ride end to end of the UK in 5 days rather than spending 5 days in the office. Ridings solo, unsupported, with as little kit as possible. The route was to avoid as many main roads as possible targeting B roads via scenic areas.

The only modifications to the bike were to change the saddle for a trusted old favourite, add a second speedo, a larger tool kit and handle bar bag containing a change of clothes and a pair of flip flops.

Monday 15th June
Lands End to Taunton
170miles, Max 49.9, Average 17mph, ride time 10:00, elapse time 11:45

An early start, good weather with cloud and showers forecast for the afternoon. I started well making good time enjoying the rolling Atlantic coast road. The first major stop was in Padstow for a couple of Cornish pasties to be eaten on the ferry across the estuary. There were some dark clouds looming on the horizon in the afternoon chasing me north east. I managed to avoid the worst of the showers but did get caught in one for half an hour or so, just as I got a puncture. Started to fade a bit over the last 25 miles but ate a little and pushed on. I arrived at B&B with some leg ache but generally ok, especially after a walk to the local pub for good meal.

Route:
Penzance
Redruth
Newquay
Padstow
Camelford
Holsworthy
Great Torrington
South Moulton
Taunton

Tuesday 16th June
Taunton to Whitchurch
177miles, Max 46, Average 17mph, ride time 10:30, elapse time 12:15

Again I started well enjoying the approaches to and ascent of Cheddar Gorge, before getting a bit frustrated trying to navigate through Bristol. I pushed on to meet my brother Ross on the Severn Bridge. He took some photos on the road towards Monmouth where we stopped for a sausage roll and a quick repair of a slow puncture. We carried on towards Hereford before Ross headed back home. The weather stayed clear and sunny all day as I headed north off the main road via Bishops Castle and into Shrewsbury. Stopped here to refuel and make the final leg of the journey, which was starting to become less enjoyable as I became less comfortable on the bike and my legs started to fatigue. I had more muscle ache, sore knees, and a twinge in my left achilles each of which was contributing some concern to progress in later days. I arrived in good time and settled into the evening routine of unpacking, showering, washing kit, eating, preparing maps, filling bottles, sleeping, eating, applying sun cream, packing…

Route:
Taunton
Cheddar
Bristol
Monmouth
Hereford
Bishops Castle
Shrewsbury
Whitchurch

Wednesday 17th June
Whitchurch to Carlisle
160miles, Max 38, Average 16mph, ride time 10:00, elapse time 12:45

Got going reasonably well in the morning to meet Pete from our Manchester office at the Runcorn Bridge. Just as we met at about 9:00 and crossed the bridge it started raining, we rode on in the rain through the northwest then Pete got a puncture. That fixed we carried on to Preston by which time I was getting cold and damp so decided to double up with my jackets and wear one on top of the other which worked well, we had hot soup and bread to refuel. I managed to lose one of my speedos somewhere in Preston which was a shame. As we headed north towards Lancaster Pete again punctured but this time with a split rear tyre, we tried to repair it with only a small amount of air in the tyre so it didn’t bulge too much. Pete was going pretty slow nursing the bike into Lancaster. I got a replacement speedo and we agreed I should head on up to Kirby Lonsdale while Pete’s bike was being mended. I had lunch while and Pete caught up. We both carried on northward together again in the rain (which had not stopped since Runcorn), Pete got another puncture. We carried onto Tebay where the weather started to clear but the wind shifted from behind to a crosswind. Pete was feeling the miles now and we again agreed that I would push on ahead to Carlisle to get into my B&B. The last 15 miles were really painful it seemed that my achilles was getting worse and my knees were both getting quite uncomfortable. Got into a hot bath and later went out for a takeaway pitza. Getting more of an appetite now especially for fatty foods. It had been a fairly slow day with weather and mechanicals meaning I had done less miles and spent more time on the road.

Route:
Whitchurch
Frodsham
Runcorne
St Helens
Preston
Lancaster
Kirby Lonsdale
Tebay
Penrith
Carlisle

Thurday 18th June
Carlisle to Ballachulish
188miles, Max 35, Average 15.6mph, ride time 12:00, elapse time 15:15

A really slow start, I was thinking that I would never make this stage as I could barely muster more than 14mph on the flat for the first couple of hours of the day. Slowly with a bit of oil from a garage in Lockerby things eased up and Glasgow looked achievable for a late lunch. I arrived into Glasgow with the rain and lots of it. Sat out much of the storm while having lunch and avoided some of the worst downpours sheltering where ever possible. The weather cleared as I reached Dumbarton and I got a good shot up Loch Lomond to Tarbet before it started raining again. As I rode over the pass at Cranlarich it was getting late the wind from the west was hampering my final few miles. I stopped in Tyndrum to muster the strength to go over Ranoch Moor into the wind and rain. I left at about 8pm and started on the 30 mile journey lights on head down. The first 15 miles were ok but as I turned down into Glen Coe the wind was straight into may face gusting at 30mph and I struggled to get any sort or reasonable speed from my tired legs. On what should have been one of the best descents of the trip from one of the highest roads in the country I could barely keep the bike moving at more that 15mph down hill but the motivation of a warm bath and hot macaroni cheese kept me going. Finally I arrived into Glencoe village and spotted Nigel standing by the edge of the road waving me on, what a relief, it was almost all over. Followed him to my cousin Hilda’s and the day was finally over at 10pm. My mind had forgotten some of the physical discomfort of the previous days as the bigger picture of arriving safe and well become more important.

Route:
Carlisle
Lockerbie
Larkhall
Glasgow
Dumbarton
Cranlarich
Tyndrum
Ballaculish

Friday 19th June
Ballachulish to John o Groats
204miles, Max 39, Average 15.6mph, ride time 13:00, elapse time 15:00

Felt so slow in the morning I had to stop 3 times in the first 12 miles and again could barely make the bike more forward. The idea of doing 200 miles was inconceivable. Out of Fort William I took a back road to avoid the traffic on the A82 and at the end of Loch Lochy made an irrational decision to stay on the quite road and then do part of the great glen way to join the A82 further down. After riding a few miles it occurred to me the stupidity of this decision Nigel had already told me that the path was not suitable for a racing bike but I was so fatigued that I was really only aiming for Inverness that day in my mind. When I arrived at the end of the road and the beginning of the track it was bumpy with a few puddles and rocks but fortunately rideable. I rode on praying I didn’t puncture and this boosted my adrenaline into gear so when I eventually made it back onto the A82 I as happy to stay on the main road and focus on getting the job done as quickly as possible. I took the road to Drumnadrochit then over the hill to Beauly (a great piece of road), scotch pie in Dingwall then to avoid the A9 up over a moor to Bonor Bridge into the wind for soup and bread. It was now 4pm and I had barely covered more than 100 miles with an average well below 15mph. I continued over another moor with a tail wind and back onto the A9 where I saw the first sign to John o Groats, 76miles. It was now 5pm. Some quick maths meant that it was possible to get in before dark, I could do this, I will do this. I stuck my head down closed off all voices of doubt and concentrated on pushing the pedals round. Loaded with Cadburys fruit and nut plus Irn Bru I continued. This is the first time I have been so focused on riding putting all discomfort out of mind just getting the next mile done. The A9 is not flat but hills were coming and going and the wind was coming out of the west giving me a gentle shove in the right direction. The road was closed at one point due to an accident so I had to climb over a fence walk through a field of stinging nettles before carrying on. By 9pm and I arrived at Wick aware of the change in direction of the road toward the prevailing wind and stuck in for the last 17 miles. This was going to happen but I really had to quell my excitement for fear of my legs giving up before the sun set. One false headland, then another, finally the headland with the lighthouse the end of the ride was in sight as the road headed down to John o Groats. A moments elation before the hunger, cold and tiredness hit and the YHA doors closed.

Route
Fort William
Drumnadrochit
Dingwall
Bonor Bridge
Brora
Wick
John o Groats

After the ride

At no point did I ever struggle up any of the climbs I would just ride out of the saddle and dance my way to the top, the tough sections were the long flat sections where I would become uncomfortable in the saddle and have to keep stretching out my legs and getting circulation in my hands and bum back. This was a real challenge with lots of really great riding through wonderful scenery. The crux of the trip was crossing Ranoch Moor in fading light into the wind and rain.

On Saturday morning I had to ride back to John o Groats to see that it had really happened, that I had really made it. I was tired and wanted to be back in a town so rode to Thurso into the wind to catch a train to Inverness. There I found a very nice B&B and relaxed for a couple of hours before heading out for a celebratory dinner and that Pint that had been illusive the day before.

On Sunday after a proper relaxing breakfast, I decided to ride the section of road between Inverness and Fort Augustus that I had missed on the way up, this is a really nice road along the southern edge of Loch Ness to the interesting town of Fort Augustus that I had fleetingly passed through 2 days earlier, tatties and mince for lunch followed by a cream cake. Back over the mountain I took some photos and video clips. I arrived back in town for a haggis supper before catching the sleeper train to London.

www.justgiving.com/mon-fri_out_of_the_office
www.re-cycle.org

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=9367&hilit=office

[Antloony]

Brilliant stuff, epic ride there Hal and an equally epic write up. Well done mate, I couldn't even begin to think about doing anything like that, I take my hat of to you. The sense of achievement when you finally reached John O Groats must have been over whelming.

[Andrew G]

An absolutely fantastic ride Hal. Thursday and Friday sound like they were a real test but it shows just what a classy rider you are in completing this in the 5 days. To do this solo and unsupported with just a bar bag is a monumental achievement, and you hardly opted for the flattest and fastest route.

Congratulations.

[Hal]

At Lands End - Looking cheerful
[img]http://i31.tinypic.com/141s0me.jpg[/img]

St Micheals Mount
[img]http://i25.tinypic.com/1z4g6tu.jpg[/img]

Fuel Stop
[img]http://i30.tinypic.com/2m5mmh5.jpg[/img]

Heavy Rain in Glasgow
[img]http://i25.tinypic.com/2n9yr7k.jpg[/img]

Wet Feet
[img]http://i31.tinypic.com/15qfadi.jpg[/img]

The road is long
[img]http://i32.tinypic.com/12677n6.jpg[/img]

Not much further
[img]http://i27.tinypic.com/33ndbwk.jpg[/img]

Arriving John o Groats with the setting sun
[img]http://i30.tinypic.com/sfhr39.jpg[/img]

The bike after 900 miles
[img]http://i25.tinypic.com/fa3hv4.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i32.tinypic.com/28mra0.jpg[/img]

It was all worth it
[img]http://i30.tinypic.com/15s57qv.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i27.tinypic.com/214cf9i.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i25.tinypic.com/2u618p0.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i26.tinypic.com/2rnjuj7.jpg[/img]

Sunday afternoon ride
[img]http://i32.tinypic.com/md32mh.jpg[/img]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IZlnXpiSouk

[Roy Green]

A very inspiring ride, Hal, and a report that puts us all right in the picture. The only way to see Britain! Sorry to hear you had so much rain, but that must fade from your memory with the sheer pleasure of your achievement. A great countrywide advert for the club!

[Andy K]

Hal,

Enjoyed the report and the photos - one hell of an achievement - very well done!

Its on a vague list of things I might do myself one day... but if I do(and its a big 'if') I'll need a lot longer than 5 days.

As Roy said inspiring stuff!

[adrian]

An amazing achievement, the difficulty of which your excellent report only hints at. For example, I bet that more often than not, you started the day in wet shoes, socks and shorts.

So, what next?

[Alan M]

Well done Hal - it must have taken great mental and physical effort and loads of calories.

[Toks]

When you told me about it last Week Hal iit sounded incredibly tough. Now you've added in those vital little details it make even the toughest sportiv sound like a three hour social ride. Incredible, well done once again

[Andy E]

That's the stuff of legends, truly awesome indeed. Chapeau Sir!

[quote]Loaded with Cadburys fruit and nut plus Irn Bru I continued...

[Rob Q]

Hal, all I can do is echo everyone’s praise. A great write up and one can only admire the effort that you put into this.
Rob

[Sylv]

Doped : - P

[Snoop Doug]

Epic. You're a superstar mate.

I've ridden through some of the places you visited and as well as enjoying your fabulous journey via the wrote up, you enabled me to reflect on some long-ish days of my own. Thanks.

[Grahame]

Did you enjoy it?

[Hal]

I did enjoy it.

I was always riding aginst the clock, trying to make it to where ever I was going so didn't get much time for sight seeing. However you absorb (especially when it rains) much of the scenery as you go along sights, sounds, smells etc. Plus, I do like riding my bike.

I'm certainly enjoying it now, looking back at the pics etc feeling a bit chuffed.

H