The Challenge Awaiting us....

After the team had got together and digested what they had just committed themselves to, the route and duration of the ride was actively discussed!

Should we take 10, 12, 14 days or even 5 (suggested by one of the slightly crazier members of the team). Given that we all have young families and would be away from them during their summer holidays - we decided to go for the demanding 10 day option. I am sure Ali would have approved of setting ourselves an aggressive target that would require full commitment to achieve. 10 Days it was.

Next we had to decide on the route. Clearly a no-brainer - as everyone knows it is downhill from John O'Groats to Lands End. This was compounded by the fact that Ali's Dad and one of the riders is Cornish - so would be cycling towards our homeland! The route has been designed to avoid main roads where possible and clearly to go round the really big hills! 866 miles in total:

	Start Date	Start	Finish	Kilometers
A - B	Friday 16th July	John O Groats	Inverness	196
B - C	Saturday 17th	Inverness	Pitlochry	138
C - D	Sunday 18th	Pitlochry	Edinburgh	121
D - E	Monday 19th	Edinburgh	Carlisle	153
E - F	Tuesday 20th	Carlisle	Ormskirk	180
F - G	Wednesday 21st	Ormskirk	Church Stretton	142
G - H	Thursday 22nd	Church Stretton	Bristol	139
H - I	Friday 23rd	Bristol	Exeter	154
I - J	Saturday 24th	Exeter	Truro	148
J - K	Sunday 25th	Truro	Lands End	56

(Click on any of the dates for more details of the legs - elevation, gps etc.)