“The only way to know the limits of the possible is to go a little beyond them and into the impossible”
Arthur C Clarke
Over two years ago I decided to sign up for one of the events that had been on my bucket list for many years – RAB LEJOG. The route of the event starts at the southernmost point of Great Britain, Land’s End in Cornwall, and ends at the northernmost point, John o’ Groats in Scotland. The entire route is just under 1000 miles, or about 1600 kilometres. Along the way it passes such gems of the British landscape as Cheddar Gorge, Severn Bridge, Shap Fell, Glenshee, The Lecht, Lake District and NC500, which adds up to almost 20,000 metres of climbing – all in the space of 9 days.
When I signed up, did I think I knew what I was doing?
Of course! Ride Across Britain organizes this event every two years, so I had a lot of time to prepare physically, mentally and to gather the right equipment. Was it really? Time flew by, and I started intensive preparation only a year before the event, increasing the intensity of training. The biggest test for me before LEJOG was the Rapha Manchester to London event – 350 km in one day, which I managed to ride according to plan. It is worth mentioning that this event is a logistical masterpiece. Throughout the event, RAB provides all participants with accommodation, food, showers, toilets, luggage transport, physiotherapy, washing and drying clothes, bike mechanics, chaperones, bike washes and many other services. All you have to do is show up at the start line and finish. Well, that’s where the first difficulties began…
Did reality brutally verify my plans?
Absolutely! First, you had to get to the start line, and after reaching the finish line in Scotland – somehow get back home. And then the bike and luggage. Another problem – I could only take 20kg with me. In order: I sent my bike to the start line by bus a few days before the event. The organizer worked with a transport company to handle this. My journey started the day before the start – first a train to Penzance, then a bus to Land’s End. I picked up my bike, got a tent, a beer, something to eat and I could get ready for bed.
The first day of the rally was a typical “sportive” – 170 km, which I had done many times before. The real challenge came the next day, when I had to get up and ride it all again. OK, after the first day it was a bit sore, but I was still quite fresh, so the second day was quite nice – good pace, great route, great company. The climb through Cheddar Gorge was no disappointment, but the finish in Bath finished my legs. And here another problem arose – I had no time to get tired. After each stage the routine was the same: wash the bike, collect the tent, luggage, unpack, shower, dry clothes, physiotherapy, food, briefing, prepare food and drinks for the route and sleep. Wake up in the morning, pack, eat something and hit the road. I was starting to understand the real difficulty of this event. It wasn’t just the cycling, but everything that happened outside of it.
After four days my willpower was running out. At this stage I had no injuries or problems with my equipment, but sleeping in a tent was not comfortable, which made recovery very difficult. This could have been the moment when I said “enough”, I was very close, but I didn’t give up. I used Uber and Booking.com, and spent the fifth night in a hotel. This was allowed by the organizer. I managed to sleep another two nights in the hotel, which helped me a lot to get through the difficult period in the middle of the event.
The last three days were in Scotland. This is where it started to get “downhill” – the finish line was in sight. Scotland rewarded me for all my hard work so far. The views were breathtaking, the climbs were long and steep, but they were rewarded with wonderful views and great, long descents. Despite knee, Achilles and neck injuries, each kilometre I covered brought me more and more satisfaction and filled me with new energy. The last kilometres were intense, I couldn’t wait for the finish line, which was a wonderful view after these 9 days – the promised land! I did it!
Would I do it again?
Without a moment’s hesitation! From the perspective of the experience I have gained, I know that I was not fully prepared for this event. I was ready to ride it, but at times I was at the limit of my endurance. This event is more than just riding – it is a celebration of cycling at its best. At LEJOG you are surrounded by people from all over the world who share the same crazy idea and overcome the same challenges as you every day. The route is demanding, but definitely worth the effort – it cannot be compared to any other event in the UK. If you are reading this and wondering, what if… don’t hesitate, do it, it’s really worth it!
English (UK) 
Polski