A quick Google search for Land’s End produced a wealth of information. Firstly, the usual route is from bottom to top due to the prevailing winds. Secondly, they won’t be alone. Around 4000 (yes, count the 0’s) people do the trip each year one way or another and many are sponsored. Many a happy hour have been spent being both impressed and deeply moved by some of the cycling tales. Impressed by the record for the 875mile trip being 1 day 20 hours and 4 minutes and 19seconds. And the guy kept going between John O’Groats and Thurso to clock up the record for 1000miles non-stop! Deeply moved by the group from the Douglas Bader Foundation that did it with 6 lower limb and 1 upper limb amputees and 2 handcyclists. One thing has become clear, it is a perfectly feasible trip taking between two and three weeks given good preparation, training and determination. Oh, and a good saddle!!

Having read many reports on the trip you learn an awful lot from others mistakes, and we thank the authors for sharing them with the world. Simple things such as the ‘scenic route’ involves going up every hill to admire the view from the top. Keep the weight to a bare minimum, one guy took a large college text book to read at night only to send it home after 5 days unread. Take time to enjoy the countryside, its probably the only time you’re going to do this.

Despite their age the word ‘youth’ in Youth Hostels is not a barrier. They’ll be staying in Youth Hostels and independent ‘backpacker’ hostels, with the odd B&B thrown in where no hostel available. They will be taking pot luck along the way by only booking the start accommodation and then seeing where they end up each day. This said the trip should take about two and a half weeks.

Bikes:
His – a Dawes Horizon with 24 gears
Hers – a Dawes Sterling with 21 gears

Luggage:
A pair of Altura 40 panniers and an Altura Dryline bar bag per bike. Hopefully enough to carry everything they will need for two to three weeks cycling.