First long'ish run advice please

[Davel]

Ok and at the risk of getting some stick here, advice please?

Usually the longest runs that I've done on the Multistrada were about 200 miles'ish but now, having bought an R1200GS, I've opted to do a Land's End to John O'Groats trip with a mate, for charity.

I guess this means a round trip of about 2,000 miles in a week, using mostly 'A' roads and avoiding motorways as much as possible.

Don't know why I'm apprehensive and I'm really looking forward to it but any advice from you regular distance riders would be appreciated please!

 

[RobC]

1) Fill up with petrol from time to time
2) Stop for a pee from time to time
3) Keep away from main roads and dual carraigeways
4) Enjoy the scenery
5) Enjoy yourself

 

[GSmonkey]

-Take a GPS
-Take some cash for petrol (not all little stations in north of scotland take cards)
-Put a digital camera in your tankbag, you can then take piccies without getting off the bike.
-Take some oil - save trying to find the right spec oil in the middle of knowhere.

 

[Mr K]

Get bladdered and have an evening meal every night. Talk nonsense to anyone who doesn't escape in time. Have a full breakfast everyday. Watch out for police cars.......
...........and don't do it in 13.5 hours on a Triumph Sprint and arrive at John'o just in time for the restaurant to shut....

Mainly though: DO IT!

 

[Fanum]

Post your schedule and route here in a new thread.......people might well come and wave at you, ride with you for a distance, top up your tank for you or even offer a place to kip if you're lucky

Take a camel back, and drink regularly......dehydration is a nasty thing for any distance event, and on a bike it can be seriously nasty, creeping up on you unseen and lowering your awareness, reactions, judgement and enjoyment.

Borrow or buy a sheepskin seat cover.

Collect some contact mobile phone numbers.....wherever you are down the country, you'll never be more than a few miles away from a GSer who could help if you had a problem (EG need to get a puncture sorted in a strange place and don't know where to go).

Enjoy!!

 

[schnauzer]

alternative to a sheepskin saddle is wear a pair of cycling shorts ( the ones with a gel pad) under your kit. don't overload the bike with crap you'll never need, don't ride too far in a day, but do shorter mileage days in the scenic bits, and longer mileage days on the crappy urban/motorway bits, enjoy it, be carefull north of inverness as petrol stations get few and far between and some don't open on sundays, take a length of thin plastic pipe just in case perhaps? ( this got my bandit riding mate to the nearest petrol station that was open last summer)

 

[Wraithwrider]

It took me 52 hours to do JOG to LE.

I didn't use any fuel.

Mind it was on me pushbike and a few years ago!

It was a great experience. My mate reckoned it'd set us up for the time trialling season.

When I got home I put me bike in the garage and didn't cycle again for over a month!!

 

[Dolphin]

After riding from Sydney to Perth, and back again, all I can say is .. you have the perfect bike for touring.
Limited myself to 1000km a day max, and a sheepskin does help the softer regions.
And unofficially, with panniers, it will run off the clock at about 230kmh.

ENJOY..

 

[Davel]

Thanks - much appreciated.

Can't post the route as we're going to stick to 'A' roads as much as possible but might yake more direct routes depending upon progress each day.

Ideally planning to travel down on a Monday. Leave Tuesday and stop over at home, near Oulton Park, Tuesday night, then a night at Fort William, reach JOG and travel down to Aviemore area for a night before arriving home later on the Friday.

The intention is to take the more scenic 'A' roads and I've told my mate that there's no way I want to rush it.

I really want to enjoy my first long run.

The bit about dehydration and meals is useful cos I'm diabetic so I need to keep my sugar levels steady throughout the trip.

 

[Mr K]

It took me 52 hours to do JOG to LE.

I didn't use any fuel.

Mind it was on me pushbike and a few years ago!

It was a great experience. My mate reckoned it'd set us up for the time trialling season.

When I got home I put me bike in the garage and didn't cycle again for over a month!!

You averaged 16mph on a pushbike for 52 hours????

I bet you were gagging for a pint?