First - timer, what equipment?

hi, google earth has a couple of tools to measure distance and elevation profiles, if you use them carefully then the results are quite
accountable for. your estimated distance is already respectful to deal with,

i would use front and back panniers. you also need

1) the tent, a small inflatable matress under your sleeping bag, a carry on small stove and some carry on pots, a thermo, a flahslight,
2) 4 or 5 tubes, patches, 1 extra tyre, basic tools, extra spokes, maybe spare links for your chain, grease, a cadenas and padlock
3) clothing depends largely on the weather, but blue jeans are not good on any situation, they are too bulky and impossible to dry when raining
4) your picture camera and a music device, like an ipod, for those long hours inside your tent.

thats about it, before departure test your self at home loading your bike with all your stuff on,

thanks vspa, according to google maps my route will only be 430 miles. what should i estimate as a typical mph? how much time should i allow for sections that are very hilly/mountainous (small mountains)? in terms of training mileage... what should i be doing in terms of daily or weekly miles to ensure that i can cover 430 over 4, 5 or 6 days? I have read that you can typically do 3 X your regular daily mileage when attempting a century ride... but what about consecutive days of riding?

thanks.

430 miles is already a good distance, remember that you will carrying 50 to 60 pounds in luggage, at least, so don't think about it as "only".
i think you can do 10 to 15 mph on hilly but paved roads. As for training anything "daily" will do, try to jump on your bike every day for at least 2 to 3 months before your tour. If you are young you will make it anyway, i have seen guys with the most basic of equipments and no planned training whatsoever doing nice holiday tours succesfully.

i had hoped to avoid camping... let's just say a lone camper in the remote parts of trinidad would not be a recommended activity by the local residents or authorities. however, I may encounter setbacks where i am no where near accommodation in the evening so i want to be prepared. i won't be carrying cooking equipment because my routes will take me through enough villages where cheap, good food is readily available and there is an abundance of fruit. i also only intend to carry riding clothing. although the rain here can come down hard and heavy, the climate is generally hot so i would hope to carry light clothing with a rain proof jacket.

currently i am doing about 100 - 150 miles a week.... training to the point where i can do at least 1 century ride a month.

as for young enough?!! lol... is 36 young enough for ya?!!! lol i am not in the greatest shape right now, but i expect by the time i am ready... i'll be good to go. i have given myself a 4 month time frame with the end of june as my planned date. if this is successful i am planning a John O'Groats to Lands End ride later in the year or next (top of Great Britain to the bottom).

to carry camping stuff just for emergencies is not a good idea, since that would be the biggest amount of weight and volume in your touring bike.
is MUCH MORE EASIER to go with the less POSSIBLE amount of luggage: if you can avoid camping then go ahead and just carry with you basic tools and spare parts for your bike, and 10 to 15 pounds tops in clothing. Mechanicals will also drop significantly with a less loaded bike, and yes 36 is young
enough !

Quoted post said:

Originally Posted by socajunkie [IMG]/img/forum/go_quote.gif[/IMG]

. if this is successful i am planning a John O'Groats to Lands End ride later in the year or next (top of Great Britain to the bottom).

You need to start at Lands End and go to John O'Groats - unless you like riding about 950miles into a headwind.

When you're riding through places like Wick you really need to be out your box and thoroughly f**ked otherwise, if you're too fresh (from starting at John O'Groats) and still mentally aware, you'll believe the world is coming to an end when you see all those grey houses. Depression will set it and there's nothing more to do than blow your brains out in an attempt to put yourself out of your mysery really, really quickly. Either that or you'll drink two bottle of Buckfast really quickly and life as you know it will change. You'll achieve honourary "Ned-dom" instantly.

I did a google search for Wick and A99 and the leading advertisments were for Manic Depression, Alcoholism and Suicide avoidance.... The only image you'll ever find on Google of Wick is the scenic 400 yards of the main street that goes through town.

The roads north of Wick have some tough coastal roads that are made significantly easier with a nice tail wind.

Start at Lands End.

lol thanks swampy, hilarious post. funny i always thought JOG to Lands End was all downhill or something!!!! Or perhaps going North to South is easier cos of gravity...or something stupid like that!!

Anyway I'm sure we'll take your advice. Have you completed this ride yourself? Sounds like you're talking from experience.