Wednesday 27 September 2017

The North Sea Cycle Route?

I've been fidgety. Two years ago I cycle camped Lands End to John o'Groats. I took a month and, though challenging, I did enjoy the experience and found it utterly satisfying. Since then I've wondered about other long distance cycle routes and, some time ago, discovered this and found the idea intriguing:

 
The Guinness Book of Records has recognised the North Sea Cycle Route (NSCR) as the longest cycle route in the world. I think they mean longest defined or waymarked route. As the name implies it's a circuit of the North Sea and is around 3600 miles, depending on the route, which can vary from place to place.

Here's where I start hedging. I MAY do this next summer. Research so far tells me an old fart like me should allow about 100 days. I don't do rushing. I don't do big daily miles. IF I do it, I think I'd go anticlockwise. As with LEJOG I'd carry all my gear on the bike to allow camping. So, I'd set off from home on my beautiful Thorn Sherpa, heading south-eastish to hit the coast somewhere in Lincolnshire probably. From there it's south on National Cycle Route (NCR) 1 to Harwich and a ferry to the Hook of Holland. Then it'd be north through the Netherlands, Germany and Denmark before a ferry across to Sweden. After this I'd follow the coast of Sweden and Norway to Bergen. From Bergen, the plan is a flight (two per week in the summer) to Lerwick in Shetland. Now riding south I'd cross to Orkney and then mainland Scotland to rejoin NCR1 south before turning south west across my beloved Yorkshire and back home to the Peak District. Phew! See how easily it trips off the typing finger (I still one-finger type). 

There was nothing on LEJOG which totally threw me and I can't see any physical reason why I couldn't cycle for three months. The only nagging doubt? It's a long time. Longer than I've ever been away from home. Alone. Am I mentally capable of this? I don't know. But the time aspect is the only barrier...and over the last 24 hours, since first discussing it with Chrissie, I'm coming round to the idea that yes, I might be able to get over that barrier. Chrissie, bless her, is completely supportive, so that's not an issue.

A Twitter message I put out last night, retweeted by many, got no reply from anyone out there who'd done it. I've since found one person on there who I've DMd today.

Many have done it of course, though not a lot of Brits. It officially opened back in 2002. One lady from the UK wrote a book about, but that's now out of print. There's no guide book and the website you see above is closing at the end of this year.

I'm currently telling myself I could bail out at any point on the route. There's little in the way of commitment. I wouldn't book a flight to Shetland until I was sure of my arrival in Bergen. Ferry tickets for a foot passenger and bike can just be bought without any notice I'd expect. Maybe considering failure is the wrong attitude, but I'm dealing with self doubt right now.

I want to do it. I believe I could do it...I think. It'd be a big achievement I reckon.

Indecision...

Any thoughts are welcome.






20 comments:

  1. Wow. When I saw your original tweet I just (!) thought the route would be a couple of hundred miles along the English coast!

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  2. Hi Geoff,
    I finished the NSCR this year on a red Thorn Sherpa! Let me know if you need any advice. Also see www.trailplanner.co.uk. I plan to write more about the trip when I get time.
    It is a brilliant trip, with great, safe cycle paths.
    Martyn

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    1. Hi Martyn. Yes, found your blog. Excellent spreadsheet! I sent you a direct message on Twitter. I'd be grateful for any help.

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  3. And who will apply the Compeed to your buttocks, eh?
    That's a blooming long way, Sir!
    The very best of British to you, Geoff!

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    1. Thank you Alan. I'll contact you about Compeed application when I get back.

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  4. Go for it! It looks a wonderful route and idea. I'm pretty sure I couldn't stay in the saddle that long. Doping it alone would be a real challenge. Best of luck with the planning and hope it all comes together

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    1. Thanks Andy. I'm actually becoming quite excited by the idea. Need to start a list...

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  5. You write Maybe considering failure is the wrong attitude . . . You are not considering failure, sounds like you are being a sensible experienced outdoors person and being aware of your bail-out options (a cycling version of the TGO Challenge FWAs?) and the like. Where is it written that you have to keep going, regardless? Isn’t that how potentially unnecessary mountain rescue call-outs happen?

    Good luck to you, if you decide to do it. Who says it all has to be completed in one go? Rather than three continuous months, could you do three one-month excursions perhaps with Chrissie and the van going you or two six week trips?

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    1. You're very kind Jayne. I've pretty much decide to go for it...in one shot. But I appreciate the spirit of your comments. Thanks Jayne.

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  6. That's a big yin Geoff, but you'll regret not going for it mate. Life's too short and all that. As you say, no need to go for crazy miles every day. Maybe I'm just being selfish because I will want to see your picture gallery. �� The seed is planted mate. Better get into training....Good luck. ��

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    1. A big yin indeed Andy. Just arrived at our favourite site in Hawes...the road bike's on the back 👍

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  7. Just do it. If you are concerned about the length away, split it in two with a break....nobody says it has to be done in one go. Crazyguyonabike.com is a valuable resource for research and there has been a recent journal by Truls Asdal detailing his journey. I am sure there are more.
    Jen

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    1. Thanks Jen. It seems more of a challenge in one, elegant journey but I appreciate your thoughts. Currently I'm gonna go for it. And thanks for those links. I'll take a look.

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  8. Check out crazyguyonabike.com - there is a recent

    journal by Truls Asdal who rode the route.

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  9. That is a long way Geoff. By the looks of it the rout passes close to here. If I can assist in any way, give me a shout.

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