Bikes and equipment

Bikes

Paul built both bikes, which I think are kind of the same. He has been in the process of trying out and change parts since he started building them, and if I know him well the process will never end :) However, so far we have:

Training for the Great Divide

We don't know yet to which extent the Great Divide will test our limits, but we know it's going to be challenging, both mentally and physically.

As for the mental training, we think we are very lucky to have been training in Scotland, nothing can be worst than Scottish weather right? ...or maybe not mmmhhh...

As for the fitness, we are both reasonably fit and tough. We cycle regularly to work and around town , and we cycled one of the usual+100k routes once a month over the last year, and the below trips in the last month.

The planned schedule

While Paul is in charge of the bikes, I'm on planning duties. The main resources for planning have been:

• Cycling the Great Divide - 2nd Edition, by Michael McCoy
• Adventure Cycle maps
• Advevnture Cyling webpage
  http://www.adventurecycling.org/routes-and-maps/adventure-cycling-route-network/great-divide-mountain-bike-route/
  
• Inspiring and useful blogs including
  

Time is ripe


I have been longing for a long haul cycling trip for years, and it never worked out. Spring would colour the Burgh and bring some hope, but it was always a false start. Autumn would follow soon and I never managed to join the migratory birds in their fly to warm places. It was just not time. To be fair up to 3 years ago I couldn't even conceive the existence of such adventures, and then I started to hear the endeavours of some crazy nomads, and there was an instant inner call, something that I had to do, to write down in the "done" list.

Nepal - Annapurna Circuit October 2014


When the mountains call, you have to go.


After putting off this trip for years, it could no longer be delayed, it was holding back all the other plans and it had to be done. Flight booked, got 3 weeks off work, packed and gone.


I originally planned to leave on 11 October, but decided to put off the trip 1 week so to run the Pentlands Skyline on 12 October, and this race may have saved my life, or at least a long trip for nothing:


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_Nepal_snowstorm_disaster


The news coming from Nepal were scaring, the Thorong La Pass was officially closed until the situation would get better. I didn't know if I would manage to walk all the circuit, but there was only a way to find it out, go there and see what the situation was like.

Pentlands Skyline Race 2014

12 October 2014


Described as “a 17mile hill run with no medals or T-shirts. It's a race against the terrain, the elements and most of all against yourself” this race had to be run and 2014 had to be the year.

The Pentlands have been a good training ground for the previous marathons, but I only knew part of them as my running route never passed in their Western side. I had no clue how the terrain conditions would be there, I just assumed they couldn't be very different from the other side...how wrong was I!

Cycling (hilly) day routes around Edinburgh - 2014

The following are a few long rides for when spring arrives and the days get longer. They are among my favourite rides: hilly, beautiful landscapes, and all reachable directly from Edinburgh.

Before heading off, I'd consult:

Weather forecasts – This is Scotland so that I wouldn't have many expectations, but it's always good to check out the forecasts, especially the wind...

http://www.yr.no/

National Cycling Network - To check out the cycling paths
http://www.sustrans.org.uk

Route profile – You can use this website to check the distance and the profile, it's always better to know in advance where the big hills are!
http://www.bikehike.co.uk/mapview.php