LEJOG Training Complete

With only 4 days left until the big day and setting off from Lands End to complete over 1000 miles in 9 days I feel as prepared as I think I can be, well physically at least….

In recent weeks I have completed a two sportives back to back in a tough weekend and have ridden 6 times in the US whilst on a work a trip.

My sportive weekend firstly consisted of the Wiggle Yorkshire Tour and driving over 250 miles on a busy Friday night to get there. Early on a beautiful sunny morning I left the shambolic bed and breakfast to join other like minded cyclists looking for the piece of the tour. Once off and spinning the route explored the best cycling Yorkshire had to offer. I cycled parts of the Tour de France ‘Grand Depart’ route. The route had a real mix from quiet undulating roads to the high exposed moors with their perpetual views and stunning landscapes. I started out from Thirsk Racecourse heading north heading out for the first section of endless rolling roads diving back south through Leeming Bar. After I dropped down in to Leyburn on the first swoop of Wensleydale, I headed back north east, linking with the Tour de France route for the first time. I then began to climb back out of Wensleydale and peeled off cutting directly through Bellerby Ranges, with its epic views,before dropping down to Swaledale to cross the magical river swale for the first time. After passing through Reeth, I hopped back over the river Swale for a second time, before leaving the tour route. Next up was the challenging climb up on to Summer Lodge Moor, passing some of the Dales disused mines on the way. When I reached the top of the moor the landscape unfolds, before the technical decent in to Askrigg, to rejoin the Tour Route. Back in Wensleydale I followed the River Ure before crossing at the Stunning Aysgarth Falls, to then head East at Leyburn for the final quick stretch back to Thirsk. This ride was not for the faint hearted as the moor is tough but the views more than made up for sore legs! I took on and completed my first category 2 climb on this ride too!!! 

After completing my Yorkshire tour a drove immediately down to the peak district for the WIGGLE PEAK DISTRICT PUNISHER. The Wiggle Peak District Punisher is a mid-season belter of a ride! Starting from the picturesque town of Bakewell, nestled on the edge of the Dark Peaks, I left the Agricultural Centre in the middle of town and climbed gradually up to the historic village of Eyam and over into the Hope valley. A quiet loop through Edale Village lead me to the first main climb, the ascent of Mam Tor, a real leg burner with exceptional views at the top! After this I continued my adventure out to the west of the park with some tough climbs and blistering descents rewarded with stunning views, open countryside and quiet roads. This was a real tough ride and pushed me to the limits with huge amount of climbing for the miles achieved.

The final part of my training was completed in the US. First up was Phoenix and then Las Vegas. The purchase of a new bike bag for my LEJOG trip, for when flying back from Inverness, allowed for a dry run to the US with the bag and the bike. I have never been so worried about my luggage arriving at the other end. All the what-ifs and maybes…

I had 3 rides in Phoenix and riding in the US is nothing like I have experienced before with large mundane flat blocks and lots of traffic lights - a far country from the beautiful undulating countryside of Hertfordshire and the Chilterns. The stop start was a little frustrating to say the least but it could almost be compared to the frustration of central London riding. I did however on one day get an insider’s tip from a local and took a nice route leading out to the Beeline Highway, which I was very grateful for. Bike bagged packed and the short flight in to Vegas lead to my next 3 rides. An immediate short burst two hours after arrival in Sin City was fun, the second added miles to the bank but was in scorchio 30 degree heat and the last took in a 90k route out to Red Rock Canyon national park which was absolutely stunning.

The last jobs of packing selection, routes and donations support are still looming large. The emotional side of things is another story all together. Let’s just say I am not exactly Johnny horizontal at the moment.