Long-distance cycling takes varied forms. In the UK the “LEJoG” or “JoGLE” (Land’s End to John O’Groats and vice-versa) is perhaps the most well-known challenge and one that many riders want to achieve and add to their cycling “palmarès”.
The actual route itself is not set with the options available as numerous as the tracks and roads available in the UK; the key-point to the route is the start and finish location. Many riders are happy to complete such a challenge over a number of days, weeks and even months, but there are as many who want to complete the route in the quickest time possible – Gethin Butler holds the current men’s “End to End” record on a conventional bicycle with an incredible 44 hours, 4 minutes and 20 seconds over 874 miles, set in 2001.
Lynne Biddulph holds the women’s record at 52 hours and 45 minutes, but Jasmijn Muller is aiming to break that record in September this year and continue cycling to beat the 1,000 miles record which currently stands at 64 hours and 38 minutes.
Another facet of long distance cycling is “Audax” riding. Audax, derived from the word audacious, is an area of cycling that attracts a particular kind of rider. I know several audaxers who would be the first to admit that, in the already idiosyncratic world of long-distance cycling, they are particularly eccentric.
One woman I know, upon completion of a 174km ride, decided that she needed to continue for another 26km around the hotel car park to reach the magic audax figure of 200km while we all sat down for our evening meal.
Audax riders usually take part in pre-arranged long-distance events such as London – Edinburgh – London, but riders can log their general ride mileage on the Audax UK website based on specific regulations. Each ride is awarded points and riders can measure themselves up against their fellow “audaxers”. My car-park riding acquaintance from above, at the time of writing, was topping the points table for women with 46 points so far in 2017.
Such peculiarities in the world of cycling are not uncommon and it is that diversity in the world of two-wheels that makes it such a wonderful and interesting movement to be part of.
Cycling long-distances is already a challenge, but to do it at speed and without a break takes a positive mind-set. Jasmijn Muller has already shown that tenacity by breaking the “Zwift Distance Challenge Record” which meant she rode over 1627km on a static turbo-trainer in her front room.
I struggle to cycle indoors on my turbo trainer for more than an hour, so for Jasmijn to break such a record shows she has the spirit, resolve and chutzpah to succeed in her LEjoG attempt. You can find out more about Jasmijn at: https://www.lejogrecord.co.uk/zwift
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| Where to Ride? | Inchture to Abernyte |
| What is it? | Hilly road climb |
| Distance: | 8 miles
Climbs: Abernyte – 2.8 miles at an average 3.7% gradient |
| Description: | One of my favourite climbs near Dundee is the climb from Inchture up to Abernyte.
Head north from Inchture, over the A90 and onto the B953. After half a mile you will start climbing. Carry on through Abernyte until you come to a fork in the road. At this point turn right towards South Latch and then right again, downhill past Newton Bank. At the T junction turn right and follow this road back towards Abernyte |
