Supported Lejog providers

Has anyone done a fancy supported Lejog ride?

Looking at one next year, 1100 miles over 13 days, hotels for overnight, but can’t make the dates work for me, so wondering about other providers to look at.

Cheers

Yeah, I ride lead on this one:

https://www.rideacrossbritain.com/packages/general-entry/

CTC / Cycling UK do a few as well although it seems rather piecemeal – almost like some of the options wait for enough people then announce they’re going ahead.

I did the Deloitte sponsored / ride across Britain LEJOG. 9 days and about 110miles per day. Very well organised. Very good food and plenty of food stops. One night at Bath Uni and the rest of the nights in one man tents. Which would have been better if it didn’t throw it down with rain every day!

I don’t fancy the camping aspect of RAB, to be honest.

Cycling UK have closed their travel business, though i think some of their ride leaders have gone independent.

I used to do some post-ride logistics for Peak Tours Lejog trips. They seemed well organised and riders all seemed to have a good experience. I don’t know if it’s still the case but they had a Cape Wrath option too.

I did my Lejog with a supported group for Marie Curie Cancer Care. I think they still do those trips if you fancy supporting a cause while you’re at it.

A couple of folk have suggested Peak Tours, I’ll check them out later, thanks

Friends of ours have done several trips with Peak Tours in the UK and Europe, theyre supposed to be very good. @crazy-legs does some stuff with the RAB, but I’m with you,  I don’t do tents

If you’re using hotels, then you really don’t need to carry much to do it unsupported. Worth thinking about…

Question would be why LeJog?

High likelyhood of crap weather, shitty roads and other road users who wouldn’t care less if they kill you and get to round off each day with crappy hotel food.

I imagine you’d have an all round far better experience doing a multi day ride somewhere like France.

Would love to do a supported lejog

Not done lejog with them but a few European trips which were good.

https://www.discoveradventure.com/

Not done LEJOG with them but Skedaddle have been doing the route for years and are usually well organised

I don’t fancy the camping aspect of RAB, to be honest.

RAB do a hotel option.

I did an unsupported le-jog ride back in 1997 and followed the Cicerone guide book which was excellent. Updated version is available at the link below.

https://www.cicerone.co.uk/cycling-lands-end-to-john-o-groats

I did not book anything in advance and used B&B’s where I could and camped where I couldn’t.

Not booking gave me freedom to push on on days where I was going well and then have an easy day the following day. Did not take any cooking stuff so ate in pubs most evenings.

I would recommend this approach over an organised trip. You might need to book ahead in popular locations to ensure accommodation but that would be easy enough to do with a smartphone. Doing it by yourself can seem daunting but you will meet people along the road.

Question would be why LeJog?

High likelyhood of crap weather, shitty roads and other road users who wouldn’t care less if they kill you and get to round off each day with crappy hotel food.

Sounds like you could do have a few days away on a nice relaxing European cycle tour 😉

I completed Lejog in May with  a couple of mates and can unreservedly recommend the updated Cicerone route. The way it navigates you the length of the country taking in the amazing scenery but avoiding exposure to anything but minimal traffic is a work of art. We chose to carry camping equipment as it gave us maximum flexibility and had arranged it at fairly short notice. Cost was a smidge north of grand each and I’d do it again tomorrow given half a chance.

@drew good to know that the Cicerone guide is still good. I really enjoyed their route when I used their 1990’s version of the guide.

Would recommend chatting with Alan at Cycle Britain.

I haven’t ridden with him as a paid ride, but he gifted us his route, advice and planning for a charity Lejog over 14 days the other year.

His route was excellent, mainly quiet roads for the entire length of the country and some brilliant planning.

https://cycle-britain.co.uk/

I was going to say skedaddle. I hear good things but haven’t done a trip.

Also why lejog? Way back I looked at this and ended up doing the Raid Dolomites with Marmot Tours. 9 days, dolomites, great roads, monster climbs, epic views, great hotels. It was amazing!

Looking at st Malo to Nice at some point.

We did with Chris,

A great route all on minor roads.  Not too big mileage days either which is good if you have the extra time.

Link here.

https://www.bikexplore.co.uk/About-us/Chris-Ellison#ContactDetails

We were given the route gpx and you tend to go at your own speed and regroup at cafes etc, he tagged along in van.

He use to do 2 or 3 trips a year.

We did it with him quite a while ago now.

He does other trips as well. or did !

Four mate’s did it last year (or year before). Un-supported, and they just planned ahead and booked the B&B’s. Travelled light, and mastered the technique of ringing out washed shorts in a towel so they were dry for the next day. Seemed to go really well, and they even had lunch provided free at a few stops when the owners realised it was a charity ride (they did that bit themselves with a just giving page). Paid all the accommodation/food costs etc etc themselves, and anything raised was 100% for charity, unlike some ‘organised rides’.