Lands End to John O Groats - 2 days - no motorways - Charity

[skulkerboyo]

Well no motorways if route permits.

I'll be doing this for St. Peter's Hospice. Not asking for donations from anyone here - just some wisdom

Planned date is leave from Lands end on the 30th of April at sun up and hopfully make it past Newcastle before sun down. Up again and onto John o Groats.

Other than looking at the quickest non motorway route in google maps and setting the date no planning has been done yet. I'm aware it's a bank holiday weekend (Saves me chewing into holiday too much) but figure I'm heading away from the fun bits mostly so traffic won;t be that much of a concern. I'm a within the speed limits low risk rider anyway.

I imagine this is a well trodden route and many will have golden advice.

I've clocked up 750 miles in one day before on a far less comfy bike than my Transalp so not converned about daily mileage and planning to enjoy some Scottish scenic roads on the way back.

I'll add to this thread as the plan evolves.
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Zooooooom
Suzuki GP100, NSR250, RGV250, CB400, CB250, CB400, FZX750, FZR750, Honda Bros, Kymco zing 150 (was living in Asia for that one), NTV650, Bandit 600, ZZR600e, Transalp Xl600V.

[Ste]

[ScaredyCat]

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Honda CBF125 ➝ NC700X
Honda CBF125 ↳ Speed Triple

[CaNsA]

https://i.imgur.com/ZQ11dX8.png

[J4mes]

[pepperami]

No popcorn from me .

I`ve done LE-JOG three times without using motorways (sort of) and the quickest time I did it in was 27 hours.
If you want to learn from my mistakes , they are this.

If you leave LE early in the morning, you will arrive at JOG in the early morning and that means you will have been travelling through some very remote parts of Scotland in the middle of the night.
I can confirm that there are not a lot of petrol stations open in the middle of the night in rural Scotland.
That means you will need to have enough fuel to get to your destination from evening till early morning, that`s a lot of miles worth of fuel.
I ended having to wait for the petrol station to open to continue.
Also you WILL need to take a bit of a rest somewhere, so plan that in.

Pro-Plus and coffee will help
I found that it is not wise to eat a lot while the challenge is on because what goes in has to come out .
Not good if you are somewhere unfamiliar and need a poo!
However you still need to eat something, I ate a good few choccy bars.

Somewhere along the route, unless you are very lucky IT WILL RAIN!
It`s a challenge so you will overcome, but be ready for it.
A soft comfortable seat is a must, I lost time stopping because my bum hurt and I stopped.

You will be on your own so it is up to you to fix minor problems with the bike and your kit.
String is good as is tape.
Take water with you, not only will you want to drink it but your visor will get covered in midges and bity things.

This is my minor contribution
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I am the sum total of my own existence, what went before makes me who I am now!

[skulkerboyo]

I guess deciding on a good halfway point is my starting point for planning. Most I've done is 20 hours non stop save for petrol and a minor mechanical issue and it finished in freezing fog. It was hell but the best kind.

I've invested lots in kit since then.

I figured the Scottish leg wold be the iffy bit. I get 230km to reserve on the alp.

How far can I expect to get in one day and be sane and not welded to the bike by my arse and still pitch a tent. I can function on 6 hours sleep.

I must be able to make it past Newcastle, surely? Any ideas of a point to aim for?

I'll be looking for a more leisurely scenic way out of Scotland on the return leg.
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Zooooooom
Suzuki GP100, NSR250, RGV250, CB400, CB250, CB400, FZX750, FZR750, Honda Bros, Kymco zing 150 (was living in Asia for that one), NTV650, Bandit 600, ZZR600e, Transalp Xl600V.

[stinkwheel]

I'm going down the pub tomorrow night. WIll you sponsor me to drink beer?

Seriously though. You're asking people to sponsor you to ride a highly capable, large capacity Japanese touring motorcycle the length of this piddly island?

The only Challenge will be dealing with the boredom.

Why not just do circuits of the M25, it would be more challenging.
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[recman]

Christ, I'd need some music in my ears for that run.

[Omega]

Could just give the £250+ of petrol and B&B costs to charity instead.

[skulkerboyo]

I was doing the ride anyway.

The work charity committee asked if I'd do it as a sponsored event. Why the hell not I thought. If I only raise a tenner they'll be fine with it.

My company will also double whatever is raised.

I'm doing it with my money and time.

This isn't one of those sponsor me to jump out of a plane and essentially by sponsoring me you pay for to have fun type things so relax guys. I'd have been doing it sponsored or not.

I'm not here asking for donations. Just advice if there's any to be given.


I have a bluetooth helmet and plenty of terrible rock music to keep me entertained.
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Zooooooom
Suzuki GP100, NSR250, RGV250, CB400, CB250, CB400, FZX750, FZR750, Honda Bros, Kymco zing 150 (was living in Asia for that one), NTV650, Bandit 600, ZZR600e, Transalp Xl600V.

[pepperami]

Lands-End to Newcastle in a day, pah, easy peasy!
You really wont have much trouble getting to Newcastle in a day.
What bike are you using? any good sized modern bike will cope in spades
Do it on a Honda c90 that would make it more of a challenge.


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I am the sum total of my own existence, what went before makes me who I am now!

[GaryJM]

I would say carry as little as possible on the bike apart from selected tools, zip ties , duct tape etc.
Use foods that produce low bulk to keep you going. Hydration will be important.
As to having 6 hours kip why not just one of those cheapo hotels such as premier inn.
You see the adverts on the tele all the time for £21 a night.
Coming back I would imagine the route would be pretty similar as to going up in Scotland at least if you are avoiding motorways till you return.
My usual route to Scotland is M6, M74 till I get close to Glasgow or Edinburgh then it's non motorway after that.
I would imagine I've never gone the same way twice anywhere in Scotland on a pleasure ride.
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So long and Thanks for all the fish !
Triumph Sprint GT SE.

[skulkerboyo]

I'll be travelling light - Just a top box with tools and essentials. I usually just lash the camping kit over the rear seat in a kit bag. When I've toured before I've done kit overkill but that's more cos it was foreign soil.

You know - I was thinking about the C90 option on the way in to work just now.

I'll be using a 98 600 Transalp. Not the swiftest machine but solid as a rock. I could use the ZZR but want to put a few thou on the alp to get to know her ahead of a long trip I'm planning for November. I've only done commutes and a trip to Powys on her so we barely know eachother.

I'll have to set a halfway point in advance just so I have something to aim for or I'll over shoot then it'll be midnight, I'll be on some moors somewhere with howling in the distance.

I have to ask though - was the 27 hours in one stint with no sleep? 20 hours riding and I was barely awake and seeing purple sparkly penguins! I reckon I could do 15 and remain sane with the right mix of metallica and stimulants.
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Zooooooom
Suzuki GP100, NSR250, RGV250, CB400, CB250, CB400, FZX750, FZR750, Honda Bros, Kymco zing 150 (was living in Asia for that one), NTV650, Bandit 600, ZZR600e, Transalp Xl600V.

[pepperami]

[mentalboy]

[pepperami]

[skulkerboyo]

I'm familiar with the challenges those roads may present on particular days. For the first part I'm heading away from the fun I hope.

Could always move the date. Reckon I'll be Okay though . . .. ..

Hopefully TomTom quickest route with live rerouting is worth the quids.

If I get fed up with the lack or progress I'll just photoshop a selfie at JOG

The prospect of hitting a Deer though!!!

Had a run in with a dog once and a traffic island that I swear was moving sideways to confuse me.
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Zooooooom
Suzuki GP100, NSR250, RGV250, CB400, CB250, CB400, FZX750, FZR750, Honda Bros, Kymco zing 150 (was living in Asia for that one), NTV650, Bandit 600, ZZR600e, Transalp Xl600V.

[skulkerboyo]

Oh - on the run up it's non motorway only

approx route
a30
a303
a34
b430
a43
a45
a1
a614
a1041
a63
a19
a64
a1237
a19
a1 again
a90
some other roads then a9 til JOG


This is just prelim route and considering the bank holiday I may shift the travel two days forward to start on the 28th so I arrive Friday with the bank holiday weekend to mosey back at my own pace.

Like I said - still planning and open to advice.

Once I'm at JOG I'm sure there'll be roads that are a must see for the way back.
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Zooooooom
Suzuki GP100, NSR250, RGV250, CB400, CB250, CB400, FZX750, FZR750, Honda Bros, Kymco zing 150 (was living in Asia for that one), NTV650, Bandit 600, ZZR600e, Transalp Xl600V.

[mentalboy]

[skulkerboyo]

HEHE

Well I'm open to suggestions but the rule is no motorways unless it's impossible without - I think there are a couple of spots where I have no choice.

I'll be setting off on a Thursday though having thought about it.
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Zooooooom
Suzuki GP100, NSR250, RGV250, CB400, CB250, CB400, FZX750, FZR750, Honda Bros, Kymco zing 150 (was living in Asia for that one), NTV650, Bandit 600, ZZR600e, Transalp Xl600V.

[Ste]

I'd look around online to find what routes people recommend as opposed to going with the route TomTom says.

[skulkerboyo]

Yeah - agree totally

This is all in its infancy. I'd ask over at ABR but they'll insist I ride on hadrians wall and take some road that requires a snorkel.

Tom tom may say this route is fastest but often it is the direst. I used to use Sygic - seemed great in Europe but in the UK it had me going in circles in unfamiliar territory.

I've enough local knowlwedge to wing the first 25% or so but once I get past anything north of Cambridge I'm at digital mercy. An A - Z is always in the top box just in case.
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Zooooooom
Suzuki GP100, NSR250, RGV250, CB400, CB250, CB400, FZX750, FZR750, Honda Bros, Kymco zing 150 (was living in Asia for that one), NTV650, Bandit 600, ZZR600e, Transalp Xl600V.

[skulkerboyo]

So it's all planned except for the return.

If I'm in Scotland and have to get back to England I'd like the most interesting route back. On actual roads . . .. ...

I'll be looking at a definite route back that's scenic and liesurely because I won't be against the clock.

Im my head it goes something like - wake up - get on bike in JoG and head to england via the most interesting route that takes roughly a day.

So anyone have a preference for nice roads back from John o' Groats to England. I'llp retty much motorway once I get to England. There must be some must see roads that are accessible on the way back?
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Zooooooom
Suzuki GP100, NSR250, RGV250, CB400, CB250, CB400, FZX750, FZR750, Honda Bros, Kymco zing 150 (was living in Asia for that one), NTV650, Bandit 600, ZZR600e, Transalp Xl600V.

[pepperami]

Come back with pictures and a detailed write up including what problems you came across and how you solved them

I wanna know!, because I have a bee in my bonnet about this LE-to-JOG in 24 hours without using motorways thing.
Dont ask me why, cos I have no idea, I just want to do it and your write up could give me pointers and solutions? maybe? possibly?


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I am the sum total of my own existence, what went before makes me who I am now!