Cycling from the most southern point of England to the most northern part of mainland Scotland in this epic 874 mile journey.
Thinking About Doing It?
If you want to experience the country from a different angle, then why not take the opportunity to cycle the entire length of Britain? The most typical cycling route begins at the most southern point of England, Land’s End, and finishes in John o’ Groats, the most northern part of mainland Scotland. Cycling the length of Britain is a journey is 874 miles long and usually lasts anywhere between six and fourteen days, but you are free to go at a pace that works for you. If you want to challenge yourself then you can definitely try and finish the route quicker than the typical average.
Starting at Land’s end, knowing the riders faced 874 miles ahead, was a daunting experience.
What To Think About When Cycling The Length Of Britain
Britain is known for its wild range of weather so you’ll need to be prepared for sun, rain and wind (probably all in the same day!). Also make sure you have enough warm clothes to get you through your trip. The dreary weather has the potential to dampen your spirits so it is definitely recommended to do this trip with friends rather than alone. This is so you can encourage each other through your struggles.
It is also important that you choose a great quality bike as this is no easy ride, so you need to help yourself out as much as possible. Ensure that your bike is comfortable and quick. Decent quality tyres are a must too(but have a puncture kit with you in case of any accidents!). It’s also recommended to wear gloves for longer touring rides to protect your hands. Injuries are common with long distance rides so go at a pace you are comfortable with.
How Long Did It Take?
Friends of Insanely Mad Adventures decided to do it in 6 days. This meant doing 170 miles a day. They decided to use the carbon synapse bike, which offered comfort, but at the same time kept the race tinge, which was needed if they were going to beat their time target.
They started in early August and the weather varied hugely. As they got further north, it got colder by about two degrees daily. The rainy conditions did dampen their spirits. However as they rode with friends it provided the moral boosts that were needed. One of the rider’s parents followed in a camper home which took time to acclimatize to.
Starting with four riders, this got wittled down to two riders due to injuries. Even now, three months later, one of the riders that finished still suffers from pain in his hand which he said was from not wearing gloves.
Cycling the length of Britain took eight months in planning and they rode a lot in preparation. During the ride, they climbed 50,048 thousand feet in elevation, spent 60 hours 28 mins in the saddle, averaged 17 mph and burnt 37,000 thousand calories.
Cyclists climbing steep slopes in Scotland.
