LEJOG: 03-08 JULY 2022

[FifeingEejit]

I met some Tandemists in the hostel in Thurso, they saved visiting LeJog until the next day (I'd got thoroughly drenched) after which they returned to Thurso with one of them taking the train bus to Inverness to get a hire van.

Doubt there's any chain van hire further north than Inverness.

[kevinsm]

Hertz are at Wick, I’ve had a quote from them.


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[kevinsm]

Hertz are at Wick, I’ve had a quote from them.


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But you’d probably have to book it


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[j.bob]

How many spaces we talking? (Man with bike)

[kevinsm]

That may be subject to interest and vehicle hired, also where you are located. There are options for MPV type vehicles or vans with several seats


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[George60]

Andy, entered LEJOG today. Please use georgeh@waitrose.com for communication  NOT my old Innes Johnston e mail address. Sorry for inconvenience. Many thanks, George Harper.

[Andy Corless]

I have your entry. The latest update will be going out very soon.

Andy Corless
Organiser
LEJOG AUDAX 2020

[Andy Corless]

Everybody who's entered should have by now been emailed the February update.

There's still some confusion over the drop-bag arrangements. Basically, each rider can simply fill two bags at the start (typically with clean clothes and equipment etc). Both of these bags will be transported to two of the selected overnight controls, either Sandford; Warrington; Paisley or Inverness. After you’ve passed through the control, we’ll collect the bag and transport it onto John o’ Groats. All the bags should arrive at JOG before any of the riders ready for collection. I've reworded and updated the event website.

I'll allow about 15 more entries. I'll be away this weekend but when I return next Tuesday I'll start to knock the route-sheet together so the first drafts should be appearing around early April. There'll likely be some amendments as I continue to build the event but these will be minor.

Andy Corless
Organiser
LEJOG AUDAX 2020

[klem]

I rode LEJOG as a solo perm end of Sept 2009.

Only after reaching JOG and booking into the Seaview late evening did I investigate the return to London, to find limited trains from Thurso and Wick and all bike spaces booked out for weeks.

However both were freely available from Inverness, so I cycled back there over 2 days stopping overnight at a pub in Brora, which made for a relaxing and hassle free end to the ride.

[Tomsk]

I rode LEJOG as a solo perm end of Sept 2009.

Only after reaching JOG and booking into the Seaview late evening did I investigate the return to London, to find limited trains from Thurso and Wick and all bike spaces booked out for weeks.

However both were freely available from Inverness, so I cycled back there over 2 days stopping overnight at a pub in Brora, which made for a relaxing and hassle free end to the ride.

My plan more or less, having ridden all th'blinkin' way to the top bit, is to take a more few days touring the Highlands, then get the train from Inverness. If I had more time I'd be tempted to go island hoppng across Orkney and Shetland.

[LMT]

There is a Halfords in Inverness. Get a box from there and fly back.

[Andy Corless]

It's been interesting following the various travelling patterns to/from Land's End and JOG. Most people (judging by emails) seem to be relying on the railways but the trains can only carry so many bikes. I'd be interested in riders posting their intentions on this forum. If you don't know already there's some travel advice on the event website at:

https://lejog1400audax.com/event-information/

A lot of riders have commented on the physical and financial restraints of travel to either end of the country although it is worth noting that as many Audax riders ride the end to end at some point during their cycling lives it is a challenge that you'll have how/whenever you decide to ride it.

Andy Corless
Organiser
LEJOG AUDAX 2020

[chrisbainbridge]

I am planning train down and then to courier service back so i can relax on the train.  Worst case, I will cycle back to inverness or even prevail on family to drive up from Aberdeen to collect me and get me to a bigger station.

[FifeingEejit]

From Inverness
12 trains to Edinburgh and Glasgow a day (6 each I think) - 2 bike spaces (Scotrail and Chieftain)
4 spaces on sleeper?
16 trains a day to Aberdeen connect to train to Edinburgh or Glasgow, another 2 bike spaces each


Roughly 60 bike spaces a day out of Inverness.

Split from Thursday to Sunday should be enough?

[Phil W]

I am planning train down and then to courier service back so i can relax on the train.  Worst case, I will cycle back to inverness or even prevail on family to drive up from Aberdeen to collect me and get me to a bigger station.

On another forum a regular lejogger recommends shipping bikes back by pallet. A quick look online indicates about £44 once you’ve sourced a pallet from somewhere.

Edit the pallet shipping  company I was looking at can also supply the pallet £12.50 plus VAT

[Ajax Bay]

My plan more or less, having ridden all th'blinkin' way to the top bit, is to take a more few days touring the Highlands, then get the train from Inverness. If I had more time I'd be tempted to go island hoppng across Orkney and Shetland.

Not riding but: Ferry across to Burwick (summer) or from Gills Bay (6km away, all year round, currently 1845 sailing) and then the midnight ferry Kirkwall (Orkney Mainland) to Aberdeen is efficient in time. Finish at JoG at 5pm and in 15 hours a rider can be at either Aberdeen train station (bike spaces available) or its airport for the journey south (cardboard box from bike shop). I flew back and was in London 'at work' (with my bike) the afternoon after finishing at JoG at 1515.
https://www.pentlandferries.co.uk/timetable-2/
I used the hostel in Kirkwall as a staging post: http://orcadeshostel.com/ (shower/snooze/food shop etc)
From Kirkwall to Aberdeen: Mon/Wed/Fri 2345-0700 (comfier than Newhaven -Dieppe and longer so decent time to sleep)
https://www.northlinkferries.co.uk/timetables/
Lots more flights from Aberdeen than Inverness.

[Wycombewheeler]

My plan more or less, having ridden all th'blinkin' way to the top bit, is to take a more few days touring the Highlands, then get the train from Inverness. If I had more time I'd be tempted to go island hoppng across Orkney and Shetland.

Not riding but: Ferry across to Burwick (summer) or from Gills Bay (6km away, all year round, currently 1845 sailing) and then the midnight ferry Kirkwall (Orkney Mainland) to Aberdeen is efficient in time. Finish at JoG at 5pm and in 15 hours a rider can be at either Aberdeen train station (bike spaces available) or its airport for the journey south (cardboard box from bike shop). I flew back and was in London 'at work' (with my bike) the afternoon after finishing at JoG at 1515.
https://www.pentlandferries.co.uk/timetable-2/
I used the hostel in Kirkwall as a staging post: http://orcadeshostel.com/ (shower/snooze/food shop etc)
From Kirkwall to Aberdeen: Mon/Wed/Fri 2345-0700 (comfier than Newhaven -Dieppe and longer so decent time to sleep)
https://www.northlinkferries.co.uk/timetables/
Lots more flights from Aberdeen than Inverness.

Note the kirkwall to Aberdeen ferry is not daily, only 3 times a week (mon, wed, fri)

[longflaps]

It's been interesting following the various travelling patterns to/from Land's End and JOG. Most people (judging by emails) seem to be relying on the railways but the trains can only carry so many bikes. I'd be interested in riders posting their intentions on this forum. If you don't know already there's some travel advice on the event website at:

https://lejog1400audax.com/event-information/

A lot of riders have commented on the physical and financial restraints of travel to either end of the country although it is worth noting that as many Audax riders ride the end to end at some point during their cycling lives it is a challenge that you'll have how/whenever you decide to ride it.


Andy Corless
Organiser
LEJOG AUDAX 2020

I often tag on a bit more cycling before and after long events to make more of a holiday out of it. With this in mind I'm considering cycling back down to Inverness or maybe even Glasgow after completing. Will probably use train to get to the start.

[Wycombewheeler]

Anyone planning on getting to the start  by air may struggle now as flybe are no longer operating.

[simonp]

It's only 300k to the start from here. Maybe I should cycle.

[kevinsm]

Hertz are at Wick, I’ve had a quote from them.


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But you’d probably have to book it


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Well that's us sorted-
Hire van through work, Notts to Sennen £47!
Hertz van Wick to Notts £120
not bad for two + Tandem.

[willpom gwraudax]

It's only 300k to the start from here. Maybe I should cycle.

Only 1100km back from the finish...

[quixoticgeek]

It's only 300k to the start from here. Maybe I should cycle.

Only 1100km back from the finish...

That would be quite an epic ECE...

J

[Andy Corless]

"It's only 300k to the start from here. Maybe I should cycle.....  Only 1100km back from the finish..."

I believe that Bob Garrett cycled from his home to Land's End; completed the LEJOG Permanent; paused for a couple of days before riding home whilst on his way to the 1998 individual championship which was apparently an equivalent distance to the Great Triangle (which is about 3400 km long). I don't know where he lived and/or whether he's still around. There might be more that's done the same or similar.

Andy Corless

[simonp]

It's only 300k to the start from here. Maybe I should cycle.

Only 1100km back from the finish...

I did notice.