Riding the length of Britain: 6 days and 1,000 miles

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Callum, Daniel, Jørgen and myself had known each other for a while before we’d even ridden together. We met through one of the dustier, more niche corners of the internet, Reddit’s cycling forum http://ift.tt/2g4qyMw. Despite coming from varied cycling backgrounds, we all had an appreciation and a longing for that one challenge that would test us. So when a reader suggested Land’s End to John o'Groats, I pitched the idea and without hesitation they said yes.

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For months the challenge didn’t feel real, even while trying to solve the arduous logistical puzzle of organising a week-long journey for six people. Then suddenly there I was, standing outside my front door with Jørgen awaiting the imminent arrival of our home on wheels that carried the rest of our six-person ensemble.

Starting at the End

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Leading up to our Land’s End grand départ, the weather had been fairly spectacular, which bummed me out. Not because I hate nice weather but because I knew it was only a matter of when, not if, the weather would turn. However, on the morning of Sunday 31 July, day one, the sun provided a pleasantly warm start to our 1,000-mile journey.

Three days of being at various degrees of damp to wet take their toll on enthusiasm. At times we did get a bit… snappy

Our planned route that day was just shy of 200 miles through Cornwall, Devon and Somerset’s steep, undulating hills, and was the day I was most worried about. Thankfully the wind was on our backs giving us a gentle push through the 15-hour day.

Arriving at The Caravan Club’s Burnham-on-Sea campsite as the clock ticked over into the early hours of the next day after 15,000ft of climbing was a real eye opener into what we’d got ourselves in to. We still had to deal with our post-ride routine (showering, locking the bikes up, laundry if required, eating, tidying up, charging gadgets and prepping for the next day). We finally got our heads down around 2am, after a brilliant meal cooked by our soigneurs-for-the-week, Don and Gwen, Daniel’s parents.

Harsh reality

Taking charge

We made it!

What started out with four blokes talking bikes on the internet ended with four friends having travelled the length of an entire country together

LEJOG in numbers (According to Strava)

• 1,018 miles ridden
• 50,048ft of ascent
• 60 hours, 26 minutes and 17 seconds total moving time
• 16.9mph average speed
• 37,656 calories burned
• 13.5°C average temperature

You can read more at BikeRadar.com

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