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Planning Lejog

The second my 27” x 1 1/4” wheels returned to English soil in 2013 I was planning my next adventure. France had cemented my absolute obsession with bicycle touring, but it had also been hugely educational. I had learnt that my bike and equipment needed a serious overhaul, that “ unforeseen circumstances “ is just another way of saying “ a day bicycle touring “….and I’m cursed by the Olympian gods. As a result, I decided that for my next odyssey the majority of my savings would be poured into sorting out my touring equipment, whilst the trip itself would need to be as low budget as Poundland. I therefore decided it would be sensible to do a tour within the UK and of course one ride called out like the Sirens calling Odysseus, the infamous route from John O’Groats to Lands End.

So here I am, writing up this blog entry, May 15th, just over a month away from departure. John O’Groats to Lands End was, in my opinion, the perfect choice. It’s fairly inexpensive and allows me to properly explore the spec of land I call home. Preparation has gone fairly well, I have transformed my beat up tourer (see the “ Shed “), got a set of Ortlieb Tourer panniers and got together a few other important pieces of kit. That said, there is still a list essentials as long as route sixty six I desperately need to ascertain and of course there’s the route itself….well I know I go from the top to the bottom. Oh and training…that’ll be done en-route. So there you have it, in true Bicycle Touring Apocalypse fashion I’m under prepared, under-funded, unorganised and under no illusion things might get interesting!

This ride will be raising money for Refuge, a charity that provides women and children with both support and shelter from domestic violence. As a guy I feel a huge responsibility to show my support for this cause and hope it inspires other men to do the same. If you have any money to spare please help me reach my £1000 goal, one hundred percent of the money goes to Refuge.

So there you have it, a quick update on my plans to traverse John O’Groats to Lands End in June of 2014. I expect to be attacked by wild dogs, get all my possessions stolen, lose my remaining clothes and wonder naked through the British wilderness like the hideous love child of big foot and Golem.