So I’m signed up to ride the Deloitte Ride Across Britain in September as part of the Dulux Peloton. That’s 969 miles in 9 days from Land’s End to John O’Groats (LEJOG)!
As part of Team Dulux, we’re raising money for The Outward Bound Trust. Given how much I enjoy being out in the countryside, I’m proud to be raising money to help others experience some of the places and activities I’ve enjoyed over the years. Please help me reach my fundraising target by supporting this cause.
Cycling the whole of LEJOG is quite an undertaking, and I will be putting a lot of miles in by way of preparation, and have a number of intermediate “training targets” already committed.
January
- Wild Wood CX – Weather forecast was apocalyptic, and it didn’t disappoint with plenty of mud, flooded roads, rain and general nastiness. A good day out!
February
March
- Eden Valley Epic – this has become a regular event. 100km around the Eden Valley from Penrith. Trip report here.
April
- Ronde van Vlaanderen – a trip to Belgium, riding the cobbled pavé around Flanders. Should be a memorable event with the 100 years since WW1 commemorations. We also get to watch the professional Tour of Flanders on the Sunday. My trip report can be found here, with some nice photos and videos!
- Hell of the North (East) – a new ride designed to capture the ethos of the Paris-Roubaix (AKA Hell of the North), but around Newcastle on cobbles, wagon-ways and other unsuitable surfaces. Trip report here.
- Daffodils Sportive – a trip around the North Yorks Moors, including the fearsome Blakey Bank about half-way around. Trip report here.
May
- London Revolution – two days circumnavigating London, including crossing the Chilterns on day one, and Box Hill and Leith Hill on day two. Trip report here.
June
- Three Peaks Classic Sportive – a trip around the Yorkshire Dales.
- Virgin Money Cyclone – into Northumberland. This promises to be a big event for AkzoNobel employees, as we have a fair few from Slough and Felling taking part.
July
- Newcastle Triathlon
- Etape Pennines – a bit shorter than last year, but with an additional big hill from Stanhope to Eggleston added in…
August
- Prudential Ride London 100 – I’m so lucky to have been accepted for a place this year. The Olympic Road Race route, closed roads – fantastic.
September
- Deloitte Ride Across Britain – the big event that all the training has been for. Twenty Team Dulux riders pedalling from Land’s End to John O’Groats raising money for The Outward Bound Trust.
Saturday, 6th September
Riding from Land’s End to Okehampton riders will cross the edge of Bodmin Moor and skirt around Dartmoor, taking in a number of short sharp climbs and descents that Devon and Cornwall are so famous for. This is a tough start to the Ride with some of the most relentless ups and downs of the entire route but views of St. Michaels Mount, the world famous china clay pits and rugged coastline all make it a fantastic start.
Sunday, 7th September
The ride from Okehampton to Bath continues to provide a number of significant steep climbs and descents as riders continue to skirt the edge of Dartmoor and then cross the Quantock hills, prior to a magnificent climb of Cheddar Gorge on the way to Bath. Being built on an extinct volcano offers no respite as the route climbs up to the basecamp via Brassknocker Hill. Scenery on both day 1 and 2 will be magnificent but the climbing will be a challenge. Riding at a steady, consistent pace throughout will ensure that the views can be appreciated
Monday, 8th September
Riders will leave Bath via the south west edge of the Cotswolds prior to the superb crossing of the Severn Bridge into the beautiful Forest of Dean. There will be a long steady climb up from the River Wye in Chepstow prior to entering Herefordshire on the more undulating run into Ludlow via Leominster
Tuesday, 9th September
On the ride from Ludlow to Haydock Park the route crosses the edge of the Stipperstones prior to entering the Shropshire and Cheshire Plains during the middle part of the day. Day 4 is the least amount of climbing of the whole Ride and after an undulating start to the day it will flatten out considerably before Knutsford. The approach to Haydock Park for the end of the stage is in slightly more suburban surroundings as the route dissects the land between Manchester and Liverpool, passing over the Manchester ship canal via a toll bridge.
Wednesday, 10th September
Riding from Haydock Park to Hutton-in-the-Forest (Penrith), riders will have passed through Wigan and Preston with the scenery becoming more pleasurable with fantastic views across the Fylde coast to Blackpool Tower and inland to the edge of the Pennines. Prior to joining the A6 the Ride travels in a northerly direction just before Keswick. The route then takes in the world famous Shap Climb from the steep side, providing great views of the Lake District prior to a great finish to Hutton-in-the-Forest.
Thursday, 11th September
Riding from Hutton-in-the-Forest to Hamilton the riders will pass through Carlisle and then through Gretna Green, Lockerbie and the Annan Dale, providing fantastic views of the Lowther Hills. It is upon the approach to Glasgow and the Clyde Valley that you will stop for the night at Hamilton racecourse, on the southern edge of Glasgow.
Friday, 12th September
Riding from Hamilton Racecourse to Fort William is probably on a par with the first two days of the Ride with regard to toughness. The day begins with riders tackling the Glasgow suburbs to the East of the city, prior to crossing the Campsie Fells, skirting the edge of the Trossachs and passing through Glen Ogle. Then, the route will cross Rannoch Moor and the famous Glen Coe Pass before finishing for the night at Fort William. The final ten miles of the day are flat! However, this is the longest stage on Deloitte RAB at just short of 130 miles. It should be noted that the climbs in Scotland are much less steep but tend to go on longer.
Saturday, 13th September
Riding from Fort William to Kyle of Sutherland begins by riding through the Great Glen and past the memorial of the unknown soldier prior, to the first pit stop of the day at Fort Augustus. The route then follows alongside the banks of Loch Ness before cutting inland through Beauly to ride alongside the Cromarty Firth and ending up at Kyle of Sutherland.
Sunday, 14th September
The final day is long awaited by all the riders and it doesn’t disappoint. The stage is an undulating ride through the remotest part of Scotland taking in some of the best riding in the UK. Riders climb up from Kyle of Sutherland to the two highest points of the day Cnoc Staign and Strath Vagastie and then the route winds along through the stunning Strathnaver valley before reaching the fierce North Atlantic coast and the final miles to the finish line at John O’Groats.
A Cycling Journey 
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