The Fridays Tour 2012

[Moodyman]

I'm in for the 2012 LEJOG.

I've wanted to tour for a while, but didn't like the idea of doing it solo.

Would definitely do the Central to Northern England section of the LEJOG.

Prefer camping to keep costs down, but will equally consider cheap hostels. Anywhere with shower facilities will be nice.

 

[frank9755]

Roscoff to Nice is a great ride. Diagonal North West to South East across France. About the same distance as LEJoG. Mostly quiet roads and some spectacular scenery.

Ferry over to Roscoff from Plymouth at the beginning, and fly or train back from Nice. If the van was big enough to fit most of the bikes in, that would simplify the return considerably.

Dave

Roscoff to Nice sounds good. Roscoff is a great starting place - a different league from English ferry ports - and Nice a good destination.

Last May I did Dieppe to Montpellier. It was fabulous. I chose the route mainly from ease of logistics and just planned day by day. I was camping (€3-8 per night and €15 in Montpellier. Whole trip including ferry and Easyjet home cost <£500 and I wasn't trying not to spend money). I mostly used D roads, which are often completely deserted. While I did the odd bit of main road too, and it was fine on my own (and sometimes great fun) I'd recommend the D roads for a group and with a modicum of advance planning that would be easy to achieve.

The weather got better every day as I got closer to the Med, there was hardly any traffic, the towns and villages were great, wonderful food, friendly people, great scenery, and so on.

The highlight was the Massif Central. Some great climbs then drifting dreamily through meadows full of millions of little daffodils, with no traffic on the roads. If there was a heaven it would be modelled it on those Alpine meadows of the Massif Central. Unless they did it on the gorges du Tarn, the descent into St Enemie....

But there weren't really any lowlights.

I did a write-up for my club mag, which I've copied in here.

 

[LouiseL]

I'm definitely interested apart from anything going over the Alps. My hill climbing ability leaves a lot be be desired and I'm nervous around sheer drops. The view ascending Glen Ogle on Lejog was wasted on me as I concentrated resolutely on the tarmac in front of my wheel! I got some nice piccies though by pointing the camera one way and looking in the other direction!

 

[mmmmartin]

Friday night ride to the amalfi coast!
Sounds wonderful; I'd be up for it.

Well if Frank is going I had better come along as well, just to keep an eye on his breakfasting habits.

 

[Eurygnomes]

After finally realising that this is planning for 2012 *phew*, I'd like to sign up - tentatively - for LeJOG with B&Bs (maybe one or two nights in a tent). I'm going to be doing some professional exams etc. around that time, so it would depend a bit on timing. And it's before the nightmare of the Olympics starts, for which I'm not allowed to leave the city in case there's some awful outbreak. Happy days!

Of course, first, I have to replace my front wheel...

(little steps, little steps).

 

[redfalo]

I'm definitely interested in doing the LeJoG next year.

 

[StuAff]

I'm not entirely sure about doing the whole thing, but a few days would be good. Particularly involving York, that offers a splendid opportunity to visit my dearest chum in that neck of the woods.

 

[StuAff]

And it's before the nightmare of the Olympics starts, for which I'm not allowed to leave the city in case there's some awful outbreak.
Of course, first, I have to replace my front wheel...

(little steps, little steps).

There will be awful outbreaks. Of hyperbole, hype, bull...

What happened to your wheel?

 

[wanda2010]

Not read the whole thread and hills are not my friend (I'm trying, really I am) but I'm in, subject to dates, finances and new bike

 

[HelenD123]

Ooh, only just seen this thread. I've been well and truly bitten by the touring bug and this sounds fun. I'm even learning to travel light so might manage 80 miles a day. I've no idea what I'll be doing next year but might be interested in any of the options, except SFNY!

 

[Becs]

I've got 3 buddies that are interested in LeJOG too. Looking forward to it!

 

[CharlieB]

A definite for me. I just need to convince the powers that be at work that they can manage without me during what is a prohibited holiday week in any month for my department.

 

[TimO]

I've also only just got to this thread (as is the norm with me!), but all of the options sounds quite promising.

I must admit, if I was doing an end-to-end (or other longish ride), most of the luggage taking an alternative route, would be preferable to lugging it around on a touring bike for a week or three.

I can live with most options, accommodation-wise, but camping and sleeping in a tent for more than a handful of days can be a bit sub-optimal if you then want to get up and do 80 miles or more. It could also be problematic if a night ride was involved, since in the summer months, assuming warm weather, tents during the day can be unbearably hot, but you'd need somewhere to crash out at some point!

 

[theclaud]

but camping and sleeping in a tent for more than a handful of days can be a bit sub-optimal

I can think of a less polite term...

 

[Aperitif]

"In tents heat, and its effect on the sub-optimal cycle" A discourse by Tim Oddy, published by Jonathan Cape Canaveral.