I'm Going to be Famous - Perhaps

I have just had my photo taken for a story in our local newspaper, the Gazette & Herald. I don't think I have ever been in a paper before. This may go to my head!

Luggage Weight and My weight

I did a test packing yesterday. The good news is everything fits in my panniers. The bad news, it add around 30lbs to the weight of the bike. That is 30lbs I am going to have to cycle up the length of the country. I set myself a challenge of slimming from 14 stone to 12 stone before this ride but I only succeeded in losing one stone. Boy, do I wish I had persevered and lost that second stone!!

My bike

I thought it was about time I showed the bike, so I got my daughter to take some photos.

Here is the bike without luggage:

And here it is with (OK, I cheated, the one without luggage was my son's bike):

And here is the what I'm going to be staring at for the fortnight of the ride. Complete with Satmap, speedo, light, mirror and Topeak T-bar.

Andy and Alex Langton's Charity

My co-rider Andy Langton works for the Architects practice Stephen George & Partners. Andy is fund-raising for Stephen George's Respect charity. You can read more about it and contribute here: http://www.stephengeorge-respect.co.uk/.

Fundraising for Dorothy House

I have set up a Just Giving Fundraising page here: http://www.justgiving.com/alexdewar
I'm delighted with how generous everyone has been, but more is always welcome!!

Kit List

Everyone with a LEJOG blog seems to publish a kit list, and I suppose it is useful for those that follow. This list is provisional because I have not tried packing yet and I suspect when I realise how much this lot weighs I will edit it down.

Bike:
Specialized Tricross Sport
Topeak rear rack
Altura Dryline 56 Rear Panniers
Topeak T-bar (provides extra mounting space for GPS and light)
Front rack (if I can find one to fit the bike)
Altura Arran 16 Front Panniers (not waterproof, but I will use for tools, tyres, tubes, etc.)
5 spare inner tubes
1 spare tyre (folding)
Tools and multi-tools including a chain splitter and a good set of Allen Keys
Puncture repair kit
Spare chain
Spare brake blocks
Spare batteries
Blackburn mirror
Topeak Panoram Computer wired fitting (because the wireless one won't work with the Satmap on the bike!)

Cycle Clothing:
2x Bib Shorts
1x Track Bottoms
3x dhb Base Layer (excellent value this dhb clothing)
Waterproof Overshoes
Sealskinz Waterproof Socks
Waterproof Jacket
Waterproof Trousers
Specialized Off-road SPD Shoes
Buff (to be worn under helmet, stops me getting striped suntan on my bald head through the helmet vents)
Cycle Gloves
1x dhb Long Sleeve Jersey
Cycle Glasses with Inter-changable Lenses
Tesco Hydration Pack (what a bargain)
Waterproof Helmet Cover

Other:
Phone
Camera
Small First Aid Kit
Printed Route
Printed Accommodation List
Multi USB Charger for Phone, Satmap and Camera
Compact Towel
Compass
Sponsorship Forms
Minimum Casual Clothes
Toiletries

Chemist Shop:
Ibulieve
Chamois Cream
Vaseline
Savlon
Daktarin
Jointace
Sun Cream
Autan (for the Midges)
Lip Balm
Antihistamenes
Anti-fungal Talc

Satmap Active 10

I decided to use a GPS for the ride, reasoning that it would avoid a lot of faffing around wondering where I was on paper maps and generally getting lost. I agonised over what to buy and in the end the choice was down to Garmin or Satmap and in the end I bought a Satmap Active 10. The availability of 1:50k OS maps for the entire UK clinched it.
One minor gripe which to be fair is probably with the Ordnance Survey rather than Satmap or Memory Map - I am very unhappy about having to buy the entire UK at 1:50k twice, once for Memory Map and once for Satmap. Come on guys, that is plain unreasonable!!
Having bought the Satmap I found most of the time while cycling I use a compas pointer to show me where to go next. But the ability to switch to a detailed map view is invaluable.
I made a typical newbie error when plotting my route initially, putting waypoints in the middle of every road junction. When following the route on Satmap I had to cycle right up to the middle of the junction before it told me whether to turn right or left. Not very smart. So I have just edited the route to chamfer off all the corners so that as I approach the corner the pointer shifts to the direction I need to follow after the corner, much better.
Yesterday I exported the entire 14 day route from Memory Map in .GPX format and loaded it into the Satmap. Satmap took the lot without a word of complaint - Excellent bit of kit!

Update after a long absence

Less than a month to go until the ride and I'm getting butterflies!
Since the last post I have gradually increased my weekend rides and started riding with luggage so now I am doing a weekly 66 mile ride with as many hills as I can find. Then when I get a chance during the week I do a shorter 13 mile hilly ride after work.
My wife Jehane has spent endless hours tracking down and booking accommodation in pubs, hotels, B&Bs and YHA. I am tremendously grateful and could not have got by without her.