Cycling, Land’s End to John O’ Groats

An ambition of mine since I was at school is to cycle ‘End to End’. It’s 874 miles by road, but more like 1,000 miles if you cycle avoiding major roads, and aprox 1,200 if you walk it.
The first person did it pushing a wheelbarrow, then it became popular by motor vehicle. Celebrities (eg. Jimmy Savile, Ian Botham) high profile walks have made it famous. Most people prefer cycling because you can do it in 2 weeks, rather than the 2 to 3 months to walk it.

I plan to start training for this once I’ve got my running challenges out of my system, so hopefully May 2010, after London (or Edinburgh) Marathon and a couple of weeks rest. I’ll train for 3 months, starting off about 40 mp/week building up to 140 mp/w. The longest training cycle might be 70 miles.
I’ve begun researching equipment and intend travelling light. I’ve also sketched out a rough route and penciled in the hotels and inns I’ll be staying in.
Apparently the challenge is the weather, not the distance.
I’m really excited about this. I hope to do this with my sons, creating and sharing a memorable experience, and seeing this country in a unique way. You can follow my daily progress on Twitter.