We're aware that some users are experiencing technical issues which the team are working to resolve. See the Community Noticeboard for more info. Thank you for your patience.
📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!

bucket list- Riding round the UK.. what to take?

Options
2»

Comments

  • Start with the CTC (Cyclists' Touring Club), who can offer a wealth of information to help you.
  • Richard53
    Richard53 Posts: 3,173 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    agrinnall wrote: »
    I think you are thinking of a straightforward Lands End to John O'Groats, although even that is 874 miles / 1407 km. The coastline of Great Britain is 17,820 km, a somewhat more challenging ride!

    http://mapzone.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/mapzone/didyouknow/whatis/q_12_69.html

    Edit: I've just realised (despite quoting it) that theEnd's post actually says 8000km, whereas I misread it as 800km, hence my comment about LE-JO'G. I suspect that by road rather than high water mark that 8000km is probably not far off. Apologies for causing confusion.


    I was considering doing the same on a motorcycle and plotted a route using Google maps and a Garmin/Tomtom utility called Tyre (Trace Your Route Everywhere).


    http://www.tyretotravel.com/


    Keeping close to the coast - which is the whole point - but not going down every single peninsula to the very end, I worked out a mileage of about 6000 miles. That's a long way on a bike! Even with 600cc of assistance I reckoned it would take me three weeks minimum.


    I wish you luck - it sounds like a great project.
    If someone is nice to you but rude to the waiter, they are not a nice person.
  • moxter
    moxter Posts: 105 Forumite
    Sixth Anniversary 100 Posts Combo Breaker
    Another discussion forum which might be useful is http://bearbonesbikepacking.co.uk

    That's more focussed on "bikepacking" - ie multi-day mountain biking trips, so more concentrated on camping, and generally people are talking about 2-3 day trips rather than several weeks! Even so, they're an intrepid lot and there are a LOT of really good tips and tricks to pick up by browsing the forum, and they'd be really excited to chat with someone taking on a challenge like this.

    Jealous - good luck!
  • moxter
    moxter Posts: 105 Forumite
    Sixth Anniversary 100 Posts Combo Breaker
    And lo and behold the first post on the BB forum today is linking to a VERY MSE-friendly blog post! http://tomsbiketrip.com/how-to-go-cycle-touring-for-the-price-of-a-round-of-drinks-part-1/
  • liz545
    liz545 Posts: 1,726 Forumite
    I read a book by a chap who decided to cycle all the way around the UK (well, except N.I); it's worth a read, if just for the list of hugely unnecessary stuff he ends up taking, and discarding en route: http://www.amazon.co.uk/One-Man-Bike-Mike-Carter/dp/0091940567
    2015 comp wins - £370.25
    Recent wins: gym class, baby stuff
    Thanks to everyone who posts freebies and comps! :j
  • Generali
    Generali Posts: 36,411 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    If it's 6,000 miles I reckon you could do that pretty easily in 120 days of riding. Add in a few rest days and you're look at about 5 months to do it in a leisurely fashion.

    It'll be a relatively flat ride, if undulating, so you could probably do it in 50 days of riding. Add a rest day each week and that's 8 weeks.

    So the time cost is likely to be 2-5 months if you don't want to stop in places to see them.

    I've done quite a few cycling tours and really enjoyed them. I've taken one set of 'civvies' which I wear off the bike, a set of waterproofs and 2-3 sets of cycling gear. I'd strongly recommend that you invest in a really decent set of panniers (Ortlieb Back-Roller wins every time - no connection other than a satisfied customer). There is little more miserable than setting off in a cold, wet set of clothing in the morning in the knowledge that you'll change into a set of cold wet clothes in the evening. With distance touring you need to take account of the mental side of things too.
  • moxter wrote: »
    And lo and behold the first post on the BB forum today is linking to a VERY MSE-friendly blog post!

    What a great find. Been browsing and reading up on Tom Allen's blog all day. Some excellent ideas here for a trip. Some of his explorations look amazing.
    liz545 wrote: »
    I read a book by a chap who decided to cycle all the way around the UK (well, except N.I); it's worth a read, if just for the list of hugely unnecessary stuff he ends up taking, and discarding en route.

    One Man and his Bike is a very good book IMO. Well worth a read.

    Round the coast is still something that I would really like to do (oh, and maybe reply with links).
This discussion has been closed.
Meet your Ambassadors

🚀 Getting Started

Hi new member!

Our Getting Started Guide will help you get the most out of the Forum

Categories

  • All Categories
  • 350.8K Banking & Borrowing
  • 253K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 453.5K Spending & Discounts
  • 243.8K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 598.6K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 176.8K Life & Family
  • 257.1K Travel & Transport
  • 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
  • 16.1K Discuss & Feedback
  • 37.6K Read-Only Boards

Is this how you want to be seen?

We see you are using a default avatar. It takes only a few seconds to pick a picture.