Lands End To John O'Groats Bicycle ride: Caledonian canal

The bike path of dooooom laddie!

Why LE JOG?

Well it's on my bucket list!! Lands end to John O'Groats is a traditional End to end cycle ride here in the UK. I'll be riding pretty much the tried and tested CTC YHA (cycle touring club/youth hostel association) route from Lands end to John o' groats. Having recently ridden across America on the Trans American bicycle trail, this summer is the right time for me to ride the United Kingdoms most famous ride, the End to End, or Le Jog. Once again I'll be unsupported, however this trip I'm going in relative cycling luxury, staying at youth hostels and Bed and breakfast accommodation along the Le Jog route. So, unlike the Trans American tour, or the European bicycle tour , this cycle tour will be done on a Bianchi Coast to Coast Via Nirone road bike, so no heavy panniers or tent etc!! Once again I ride not only for myself and my sanity, but for my Rock my Dad, and my perfect Mother RIP. http://www.justgiving.com/Trisha-Riley And for my wonderful son wherever he may be - "It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live"- Albus Dumbledore.

The gear

On previous cycle touring trips I carried a full camping rig
in four Carradice pannier bags, a bar bag an alpkit sleep mat, and a Quecha T2
tent. I even carried my own Trangia cook set! All that added up to Heavy. But
loaded onto my Dawes Galaxy Touring bike it wasn’t really a problem.
On this trip however I want to ride my Bianchi road bike. It
is lighter, faster and a totally different ride. So on this Bike tour I’m
travelling light. This is credit card touring, not cycle camping!

The bike

Bianchi Via Nirone C2C (coast to coast) Via Nirone alu carb Campagnolo
Veloce, group set 2010 frameset
This bike is fitted with a compact double chain set ( unlike
the triple chain set on the touring bike), a Campagnolo 10 speed chain
I have added shimano SPD pedals, Schwalbe Durano plus tyres,
and a Campagnolo quick release 10 speed chain link.
Other than that the bike is stock.

Other kit

I carry Cateye lights, Bianchi water bottles, a spare
schwalbe inner tube, multi tool, puncture kit, mini morph bicycle pump, dry
chain lube and a park tools tyre lever.
Navigation is in the hands of a Garmin GPS Map 60 CSX loaded
with City Europe mapping. The GPS map 60 CSX programmed with each stages GPX
track file, via http://www.bikeroutetoaster.com/Default.aspx .
Cycle clothing is limited to a Lidl base layer, Gore wind
stopper cycling bib longs (tights), Nike walkable cycling road shoes, neoprene
overshoes, Bianchi cycling jersey, Altura night vision hi vis cycling jacket,
cycling balaclava, Aldi fingerless cycling gloves, Altura night vision cycling
gloves, Endura Cycling bib shorts, lidl sports glasses, Bell cycle helmet.
Small wash kit and sports towel.
My HTC desire s cell phone (mobile phone) is loaded with
Google navigation GPS, My tracks, Bike doctor.
I'm riding with a hedcam to catch the rides (and any dangerous drivers!) on video.

I’m cycling with a cycling rucksack.

So, that's it, almost nothing!

Lands End To John O'Groats Bicycle ride

Thursday, 20 June 2013

Caledonian canal

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