The Great North Ride

[JonnyBlade]

I am part of a small team that will be running the Great North on the 18th September in aid of Combat Stress. 2 of us however will be cycling the 660 mile round trip from Hampshire to run the race. We leave on Friday 16th and cycle for 2 days (approx 11 hours per day) run the race on the 18th then make the 2 day journey back.
I just wondered about the possibility of meeting a larger group of riders like yourselves as a kind of welcoming end to the finish of our first leg of the cycle ride? It would be around late evening on the 18th when we arrive in Newcastle and I am looking at alternatives to try and raise the profile of our event. I know it's something that will be harder said than done but I have this vision of being supported by cyclists along the route

Any suggestions you might have would be greatly appreciated.

Jonny

 

[zacklaws]

Start planning a detailed journey plan of where and when you will be at various locations enroute and post it so others can see at what points they can tag on with you for a while. I've checked my calender for those dates as you would probably pass close by but I see I am working that complete period of time.

 

[JonnyBlade]

Great advice Zack and thanks for the input. I'm on the case and we already have the route so it's a case of making it a little more informative

 

[zacklaws]

Also, I do not know if your going to have a support vehicle, but if not, start working out where roughly distance and timewise you need to feed and get water etc so that you do not have to overburden yourself with extra weight. Once you've got an estimation of these facts, then you can post these details up too, and hopefully get recomendations from forum members of any supermarkets, cafes etc actually on the route, so you do not have to deviate off route. Knowing from my experience's in my local area, many rural villages do not have a shop of any description so you cannot plan on them having one unless it can be confirmed prior to the ride. Googles your best friend, and once the info you need is found, then google Earth and Google streetview then becomes your friends to locate the shops etc so you know exactly where they are. And if you have a Satnav, these points can be input as waypoints.

Another thing to plan, is the closest LBS's on route, for those emergencies when you need one.

A tip I got last year regarding water if your desperate for it, is to look for the local cemetry, they usually have stand pipes, whether its drinkable though is another thing, but its better than nothing, and if they don,t, at least your in the right place to finish the trip

 

[JonnyBlade]

Zack, we have a support vehicle driven by one of the Guys that will be running the Great North with us. At present we are a group of 3 but are close to the essential 4th team member to add the feminine touch and keep us all under control

This is the happy band http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/lifesty...on_men_add_cycle_route_to_challenge_1_2378208

Andy the young fella is a seasoned Triathlete and Martyn, the handsome one in the middle has completed so much you wouldn't believe it. He's completed desert marathons, the Freedom trail (The Great Escape) etc I'm just a seasoned Marathon man that has found a passion for the bike! We're already working on routes and have regular meetings to discuss avenues for funding, timescales, spares, whether it's time to panic yet but I like your idea ref Google streetwise and I'll be banging on about that one tomorrow. Satnav will be used of course although I do like the adventure of discovery, 330 miles to Newcastle is a bit of a distance to attempt without perfect planning

 

[shippers]

You're clearly insane. Have you got a justgiving or similar page? Facebook group? Stuff like that will raise the profile of your madness.
330 miles in 2 days, twice, with a half marathon in the middle?

Good effort.

 

[JonnyBlade]

Thanks Shippers We are in the process of setting it up at the moment