Profile

My name is Martin Carter. In May/June 2006, I’m planning to cycle from Land’s End to John O’Groats in aid of the Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS).

I’m 47 years old and I’m married with 4 children. I live and work in Cumbria. I started cycle touring a year ago, having been involved in endurance sports for all of my adult life. I have pursued long distance swimming, long distance walking and I have spent the last 15 years exploring old mine workings, wielding a pick and shovel to clear roof collapses deep underground.

Sponsorship

Great North Air Ambulance Service

There are many worthy causes which rely on charitable contributions and one of those is the Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS).
It is my aim to cycle from Land’s End to John O’Groats to try and raise funds for this very important service, to help keep the aircraft operational and to help raise the profile of the ambulance service which exists to ensure the majority of the population of the North East, North Yorkshire and Cumbria are within ten minutes of air ambulance cover.

Please log onto the Great North Air Ambulance Service at:

www.greatnorthairambulance.co.uk

The web-site covers the history of the service, together with the benefits to the public and life saving service that is provided, information about the helicopters that are used and the highly trained Trauma Team that run the service.

In the Beginning

The challenge of travelling from Land’s End to John O’Groats has been nagging away at me for a long time now. When I was younger I wanted to do it on foot, having walked many of the official long distance footpaths like the Pennine Way, Offas Dyke and Wainwright’s Coast to Coast. The idea was there, but for one reason or another, the timing was never right and eventually it was put on the back burner when I moved to the Lake District in 1989. Thereafter, I simply indulged myself in climbing the fells and exploring the mines and I never really thought about it any further.

The turning point for me was suffering a severe ankle injury whilst walking in the Lake District in 1998, the only time that I’ve been taken off the fell on a stretcher. Although I recovered to resume my outdoor activities, the ankle has never been the same and a fell walk now is always a compromise between the pleasure of being out and the pain that I suffer along the way.

In 2001, when Foot and Mouth closed the countryside, I took up cycling as the only way to explore the Lakes under my own steam and I realised immediately that on the bike I suffered no pain at all from my ankle. I suppose it must be the constant flexing of the ankle-joint that matches the movements that I did during physiotherapy, as each turn of the pedal stretches the ligaments to good effect.

The next few years saw a gradual shift, from walking to cycling. It wasn’t immediate but the trend was there. Eventually, the penny dropped and the bike became all important. I suddenly realised that I could explore the Lake District from a different perspective.

I also started to think about travelling further a field and wondered about replicating my backpacking days by cycle touring instead. The obvious challenge had been staring out at me all along as the C2C route passes right in front of my house. Over the years I have seen hundreds of people cycling past.

In 2005, I decided to follow them. My younger brother came up from Bedfordshire and together we did the C2C and the Reivers Route. We started at my house, cycled east to Sunderland, along the coast to Tynemouth, before completing the return journey via the Reivers Route to Whitehaven. We then cycled the remaining part of the C2C back home again. We did about 350 miles in 7 days, a self supported camping trip.

So here I am, a year later, planning to cycle from Land’s End to John O’Groats. I’m wiser now, a bit more experienced and I’ve got a good idea what cycling is all about. I’m on my own this time, however, but I’m confident all the same. It will be another camping trip as it wouldn’t be in my nature to do it any other way.

The Route

It didn’t take me long to figure out a route for myself. I’d read a couple of books and looked at the routes suggested by the Cycle Touring Club, but none of them satisfied my own style. I wanted to avoid as many cars and roads as I could and the obvious way to do this was to look at the official cycle routes that criss-cross the country and see if I could link them up together. The focal point of my route was to try and incorporate the Pennine Cycleway into the plans, as on a personal note it will be 30 years since I first did the walking equivalent, the Pennine Way, which I did with my father in 1976.

I used the Sustrans web-site to gather most of the information that I needed and purchased a set of maps that cover the dedicated cycle routes that I would be following. The result is a superb trip in prospect, longer and hillier than most people would choose, but perfect for me!




Here is a list of the cycle routes that I have linked together with approximate mileages:

The Cornish Way. Land’s End to Padstow. 76 miles.
The West Country Way. Padstow to Chew Stoke. 229 miles.
The Avon Cycleway. Chew Stoke to the Severn Road Bridge, via the Clifton Suspension Bridge. 38 miles.
Link from Severn Bridge to Bromsgrove via back roads. 100 miles.
West Midlands Cycle Route. Bromsgrove to Etwall. 70 miles.
Pennine Cycleway (Peak District). Etwall to Holmfirth. 73 miles.
Pennine Cycleway (South Pennines & the Dales). Holmfirth to Appleby. 124 miles.
Pennine Cycleway (North). Appleby to Renwick. 25 miles.
Link from Renwick to Innerleithen via back roads. 100 miles.
Coast & Castles Cycle Route. Innerleithen to Edinburgh. 138 miles.
Edinburgh to Aberdeen Cycle Route. Edinburgh to Kinross (B916). 33 miles.
Link from Kinross (B916) to Perth via back roads. 20 miles.
The Salmon Run. Perth to Pitlochry. 32 miles.
Lochs & Glens Cycle Route (North). Pitlochry to Inverness. 100 miles.
Aberdeen to John O’Groats Cycle Way. Inverness to John O’Groats. 170 miles.

The total approximate distance is 1328 miles, which I am hoping to complete within 3 weeks. Obviously, this is a very challenging route and I am mindful that there are many ups and downs in terms of the terrain involved, especially with a fully laden bike with all the camping gear.

Nutrition

I have been experimenting with all sorts of different meals and snacks, trying to target foods that are high in carbohydrates, particularly those that are starchy, rather than sugar based, for sustained energy.

I have read that endurance cyclists need to be consuming up to 700g of carbohydrates on a daily basis, in order to replenish the glycogen stores that are converted into energy. This is a phenomenal amount of food and when taking into consideration the fact that the cyclist is always on the move, it becomes a real problem in finding the time to eat.

There are other practical issues at stake, insofar that I have chosen to camp which involves having to carry a lot of my food to last for several days. The food has to be transportable and it needs to be fresh. It also has to be relatively easy to prepare.

I have been eating different foods as part of my training regime, trying to gauge the relative benefits, both during and after exercise. After much deliberation, I have finalised the following list of food and drink that I will be using:

Scott’s Porage Oats (Old Fashioned)
Marvel Dried Skimmed Milk
Drytech Real Expedition Meals
Quaker Oat Bars (Original)
Bananas
High5 Energy Source (4:1)
SIS Rego Recovery
Horlicks Light Malt
Water
Other

The list can be detailed as follows:

Scott’s Porage Oats (Old Fashioned)
Breakfast was a choice of either porridge or muesli. I used to eat muesli in my backpacking days and it is certainly easier to prepare in a tent as there is no cooking involved. But porridge is an excellent staple diet and is better for sustained energy. It will provide me with a very good start to the day and there is the option of eating further portions after that. The cycling day will be spread over 12 hours, so there is always the need for more porridge.

Nutritional values: 11% protein, 60% carbohydrate (of which sugars 1.1%) and only 8% fat.

Quantities: 1kg (Scott’s Porridge is sold more or less everywhere, so supplies can be readily replenished).

Marvel Dried Skimmed Milk
Dried skimmed milk is used solely for mixing with the porridge. I will mix it all in before I set off from home and will have to purchase more when I’m due to replenish the porridge.

Nutritional values: 36.1% protein, 52.9% carbohydrate and less than 1% fat.

Quantities: 200g (I will need to purchase a small tin when I replenish the porridge).

Drytech Real Expedition Meals
I discovered these expedition meals last year, sold at George Fishers mountaineering shop in Keswick. I used them for last years ride and I cannot fault them in any way. They provide a wholesome evening meal and have the important benefit of being freeze dried and therefore are light to carry. They are very easy to prepare, as you simply add boiling water to the bag. There is a choice of several different menus, but my favourite is pasta vegetarian.

Nutritional values: 11% protein, 65% carbohydrate and only 2% fat.

Quantities: Each bag weighs 100g, so I will start with a maximum supply of 14 meals. I am hoping that another outdoor shop will sell them en route, so that I can bolster my supply. If not, I will have to see what else is on offer!

Quaker Oat Bars (Original)
These are my favourite cereal bars, as they contain less sugar than most other bars and are therefore better for sustained energy. I will be looking to eat these quite regularly and will be a slave to finding retail outlets that sell them.

Nutritional values: 7.2% protein, 64.4% carbohydrate (of which sugars 16.7%) and only 9.4% fat.

Quantities: I will aim to set off with about 3 boxes (15 bars), but they will be consumed rapidly).

Bananas
Bananas are the best choice of regular snacks between meals. They are the superman of all exercise foods as they provide a great boost of energy and are naturally very healthy too.

Nutritional values: Bananas are made up primarily of water and about 23% carbohydrate, with absolutely no fat.

Quantities: Bananas do not travel well, unfortunately. So it will be a case of buying ripe ones at every opportunity, consuming them more or less immediately.

High5 Energy Source (4:1)
Energy Source 4:1 is a specialist sports drink made in powdered form, to which you simply add water. It is an advanced fuel for use during exercise and contains 4 parts carbohydrate to 1 part protein. This will be vital for keeping up my energy reserves, as it is quickly absorbed by the body and will help to stave off the effects of dehydration.

Nutritional values: 20% protein, 77% carbohydrate (of which sugars 10%) and no fat.

Quantities: 1.3kg. It is recommended to use 75g (750ml) per hour during intense activity, but in reality I’m sure that I will use much less. Most food shops tend not to sell specialist sports drinks of this nature, so I will be reliant on outdoor shops for replenishment. If I cannot restock, then I will buy Lucozade Sport drinks that are an adequate alternative, although I would have to drink these more or less immediately due to the weight.

SIS Rego Recovery
Like Energy Source, Rego Recovery is a specialist sports drink made in powdered form, but is designed for use after exercise. It provides rapidly absorbed protein and carbohydrate, together with vitamins and minerals, to help rebuild and repair muscles.

Nutritional values: 26% protein, 59% carbohydrate (of which sugars 14%) and only 1.3% fat.

Quantities: 500g. It is recommended to use 100g (1ltr), which I will aim to drink immediately before camp. Obviously with only 5 days supply, I will need to be on the lookout to replenish supplies, but if that is not possible then I will just have to do without.

Horlicks Light Malt
Horlicks is my only chance of a hot beverage as I do not drink tea or coffee. It has excellent nutritional values and will help to induce a restful sleep, which is not guaranteed when camping. The Light version is simple to make, as you simply add hot water.

Nutritional values: 14.8% protein, 70.3% carbohydrate (of which sugars 41.2%) and only 3.8% fat.

Quantities: 500g. I will aim to use less than the recommended serving of 32g per cup, drinking only 1 cup per day and would hope to make this last for the whole trip.

Water
Water is the one thing that I cannot do without. It is vital. It is the one ingredient that I will need to replenish on a constant basis, which will mean having to be extremely resourceful. I will be looking to buy it in bottle form, or will need to beg for it at houses, farms etc. The need to keep hydrated cannot be underestimated. I will also need water to add to my sports drinks, Horlicks and for adding to my evening meal and porridge in the mornings.

Quantities: I will be carrying 3 x 700ml bottles that attach to the frame of the bike and will be looking to top up at every opportunity. I will also be carrying a further 1 x 750ml bottle to use for the sports drinks only. Each powdered drink will be made up and consumed immediately and the empty bottle stowed away in the panniers.

Other
There will be times when I cannot find the right shops to replenish my supplies, or that I will choose to vary my diet. Quick-cook pasta would be a good alternative to the Drytech meals, perhaps adding dried onions and primula cheese. Wholemeal bread rolls are rich in carbohydrates, as too are oat and rice cakes. Brazil nuts and dates are also a good choice, although nuts are best left until the end of the day - the high fat content will slow digestion during exercise. A small carton of orange juice is an instant source of carbohydrates and dried fruit has all the sustained energy benefits of fruit without carrying the extra weight of the water content. Lastly, I have read that rice pudding is an excellent end of day food, with plenty of carbohydrates as well as protein to help with muscle repair for the next day.

I certainly won't be relying on chocolate bars, which serve only to provide a surge of energy, followed by a state of exhaustion caused by the depletion of glycogen in the muscles.

Training

When I started training for the C2C and Reivers Route, last year, I was recovering from a severe bout of influenza. I was laid up for about three weeks in February, which left me only two months to prepare physically for the ride. In hindsight, I should have delayed the journey until later in the summer, as it wasn’t until July that I had fully recovered.

My training for this year has been much easier, as I my fitness levels have increased steadily over the past twelve months. I have become a better and more committed cyclist, utilizing my free time to ride and also commuting to work.

I enjoyed some really good rides through the Lake District up until the end of October, racking up the miles with relative ease. During the winter months, I pedalled on the bike-to-nowhere at the local gym with the emphasis on building stamina and conditioning the legs for turning the pedals. After years of hill walking and working underground wielding a sledgehammer and pickaxe, I ignored all the other weight training equipment and just sat on the bike and concentrated hard on working through programmes such as rolling hills, cross country and aerobic training. It doesn’t equate to riding on the bike proper, but it has kept my fitness levels high throughout the winter and I would say that by March I was already 75% fit enough to start Land’s End to John O’Groats.

I’ve now finished at the gym. All my training now is on the bike. The weather hasn’t been very good, but for training purposes there is no better preparation than to brave the elements and contend with the rain and the wind however miserable it might be. When I plan to go for a ride, I do so the night before and therefore I am committed to the task and I take the weather as it comes.

My aim is to start at Land’s End knowing that I have already trained in torrential rain, blustery winds and freezing temperatures and will therefore be prepared for anything. Obviously, it’s nice when the sun comes out, but I’d rather it rained now than in May, when I start the ride.

I’ve read a lot about training methods, from professional riders through to rank amateurs. Some people seem to start at Land’s End without having done any training whatsoever, whilst others take it much more seriously. I want to be fit enough to be able to enjoy the ride and to be physically prepared in order to give myself a fighting chance. At 47 years old, carrying up to 20kg in equipment, cycling over very undulating terrain at around 70 miles a day for 3 weeks, I need to be at my very best, fitness wise.

There is a great need to rest between training rides. It isn’t about going out on the bike every single day. It’s about measuring the approach, gradually building up the muscles and the stamina, resting between exertions, sleeping well and eating the right foods. This isn’t always easy, not when trying cope with all the usual stresses of going to work and helping to bring up a family.

I’ve been cycling to work as part of my preparations. I use the bike every other day. It’s a 30 mile round trip if I take the same route, longer if I decide to come home a different way. Those 30 miles are what I call real miles, as again there are no easy routes anywhere in Cumbria. It’s always an undulating journey, whichever direction. I keep reading about the steep hills in Devon and Cornwall, where all routes seem to follow a switchback course, plunging into steep valleys and climbing out the other side. I’m trying to replicate that in my training rides, conditioning myself to cope with the same type of terrain, so that nothing will come as a complete surprise.

I’ve been varying my routes to make training a pleasure instead of a chore. I’ve explored the back roads around Bassenthwaite, cycled to Caldbeck via the big hill out of Uldale and returned through Ireby and Cockermouth. I’ve been down to the far end of Thirlmere, riding along the superb lane that follows the length of the reservoir, returning via St John’s in the Vale and Castlerigg Stone Circle. I’ve been over the Whinlatter Pass many times and have also struggled over Newlands and Honister.

Each training ride is like a trip down memory lane, as I cast my mind back to the days when I swam the length of lakes such as Coniston and Derwentwater. The scenery is full of memories of all the fells that I have climbed, many of which I have camped out on at various times in my life. Then there are the mines. I usually stop the bike and rest on the handlebars, looking up at the old lead and copper mines where I have spent so many fantastic days underground. Every part of Lakeland has such a special place in my heart and now I’m adding to it all by seeing it from a new perspective.

It’s now mid April and there is less than 6 weeks to go before the start. I’m able to cycle about 50 miles in a day without feeling too tired or too stiff the next day. I’m carrying about half the weight that I’ll be starting with. I’m riding with all 4 panniers and a bar-bag to replicate the real thing, getting used to the load and the handling of the bike. Barring injury or illness, I’m on course to peak at just the right time. Then and only then, will I know what I am able to achieve.