Preparations

Things are beginning to take shape:

Bike:
Firstly the bike which had a new pair of tyres, brake blocks and alloy seat tube ( for the rear rack) fitted over the weekend. Monday saw a final ride out to Ramsbury loaded with new rear rack and bag along with my old handlebar bag.

Then it was dismantled, boxed up and taken down to Interlink Express for them to send to Alan and Cath (thanks Pete!) near Bowermaddon Crossroads between Wick and Thurso. Hopefully I didn't leave anything out, a last minute thought from Suzie meant the tools to put the bike back together were squeezed inside the box just in case they're not allowed on the plane.

Route:
A good chat through the route with Rob Hall from Swindon Road club (SRC), means this is a bit clearer, Youth Hostels are now booked at JOG for day zero and then at Loch Ness for day 1. Tonight I contacted Keith in Glasgow and Alison in Carlisle who are both now pencilled in OK for the following 2 nights. If this goes to plan then it will mean 2 big days 140+ miles to start, followed by a shorter 100 mile day into England. For Carlisle to the Welsh borders it sounds like I just need to remember "A6" and "A49" and I'll be Ok. Need to decide about whether to book any accomodation for the later nights yet or leave it open. I like the sound of the route that Rob had taken for day 1 of going West from JOG to Betty Hill before then dropping down to Lairg on the quiet B road. This will add a bit to an already long first day but sounds like a great road to cycle on.

Fitness:
I've just worked out that my average weekly bike mileage has been 134 miles over the past 10 weeks, on top of this there's been 15 miles a week running. Longest ride was 165 miles with the SRC down to the south coast, also there was a ride to Cambridge, 120 miles, followed by a ride back 2 days later. Is this good enough preparation for averaging 120+ miles for 7 days on the trot?