 You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more
Which way would you go and why?
South to North to get the prevailing wind behind you
What Edric says.
I had tail winds every day and it made a huge difference.
Oh,and I come from the North 😉
south to north to get the bastid hills out of the way first.
South to North to get the prevailing wind behind you
Over the course of 7-10 days, the wind direction can be pretty much anything, the "prevailing wind" myth is largely just that - mythical.
I've done LEJOG three times (early Sept each time) and each time we've had a mix of headwinds, crosswinds and tailwinds. That said, the weather has mostly been very good - this year we had half a day of rain, the previous year we did the whole thing without a drop of rain although the final leg into JOG was done with one hell of a head/cross wind. 🙂
South -> North the scenery just gets better and better all the time but you do end up with the two toughest days being right at the start. Cornwall and Devon are really rather lumpy.
Based on what we see [url= http://www.johnogroatsbiketransport.co.uk/ ](we do a cyclists and/or bikes transport service to/from JoG)[/url] I'd say it's about 2:1 in favour of LEJoG. As crazy-legs says, the prevailing wind thing is pretty much irrelevant - and he's also right about the lumpiest days being in the South.
Don't be tempted by the A82 through Scotland, even though it's the shortest route. It has some of the very worst roads for cycling. also - try to avoid the A9. There's really no need to include it and some of the best cycling can be found on the alternative routes.
The arguement for JoGLE is that you end up in a reasonable place to spend a few days relaxing after your endeavours. I'm not sure JoG provides that.
Oh - I think it also makes a difference where you live. Most folk prefer to make the longer journey to the start point and the shorter one from the end.
Having said that, we do often take folk back to Inverness Airport for the Bristol flight.
North to south obvs so you're going downhill, just take your feet off the pedals like a small boy through a puddle....Weeeeeeee!
Yep I agree with the wind comments, the amount of times I've had a headwind the whole way round a circular ride makes me believe it will never come from the direction I want so no point planning for it!
Fair points about the scenery getting better heading north, that's probably the best reason I think.
I hadn't realised the biggest days would be in the south, I've never really been to that area, but assumed the hills would be further north. I guess most roads skirt the hills/mountains rather than piling over them though.
Looks a good service scotroutes! I'll keep it in mind. Doing it LEJOG way will put me closer to home at the end so guess that makes sense too.
The arguement for JoGLE is that you end up in a reasonable place to spend a few days relaxing after your endeavours. I'm not sure JoG provides that.
JOG itself is a bit of a dump although the new hotel there is very smart. However further along the coast you've got Dunnet Head (most northerly point of mainland) and some amazing beaches. Maybe I've just been lucky but every time I've been to JOG the weather has been beautiful (although occasionally very windy!).
It's worth spending a few days up there just to take it all in, maybe do some island hopping. Not sure you can say the same about Cornwall, it's just...busier. Although it does have much better cream teas, I'll give it that.
North to South - it's downhill that way...innit!!!
Actually South to North is probably more sensible as the prevailing wind in the UK is from South West (is that a south westerly?)...however, North to South would get the nastier hills out the way sooner...
Either way isn't a walk in the park, but there are pros and cons either way.
I've also got an uneducated suspicion that there are more places to stay further South so if you expect to be more tired and shorter distances nearer the end of your ride, then heading South might provide more options for sleeping.
Prevailing wind doesn't mean that it [i]always[/i] blows from that direction: However, in the UK South-Westerlies are the most common and when they blow they tend to be stronger than a North-Easterly. It's meteorolgy innit? For that reason, your best chance of a tailwind is a LEJOG, although there are no guarantees.
However, in the UK South-Westerlies are the most common
Correct. As anyone who lives near an airport can tell you. Glasgow for example has a runway aligned SW-NE. The landings and take offs are almost always into the prevailing SW wind.
That said when I went from Hastings to Inverness in May one year I got a headwind every day.
In general though a SW wind is likely. Birmingham for example ...
The annual wind rose for Birmingham airport (Elmdon) is typical of open, level locations across the region, with a prevailing south-westerly wind direction through the year.
[img] 
[/img]
I've done JOGLE twice.
Because I'm based in Bristol, it felt both times as if I was working my way home and I valued the psychological world downhill effect. I also found the Scottish terrain a bit easier..or at least less demoralising than some of the Devonian / Cornish ups and downs!
It's also worth noting that the trip to Scotland can be a worthwhile experience in itself and I'd rather end in Penzane than Thurso (where I started both times).
Lots of happy memories!
- eating an uncooked supermarket curry in desperation
- watching a rubbish Star Trek film at the Tivoli cinema in Tiverton
- the old gents of Ludlow doing a collection around the pub for our nominated charity, once they heard what we were doing
- the driver, collecting my bike from Inverness to put in his van instead of putting it on the train to Thurso, telling me point blank to stop being so suspicious because "this ain't England" (left it waiting for me in unlocked cupboard on Thurso station!)
Final tip: don't do it in a hurry and so do take in some Sustrans routes, which made the trip far nicer in 2009 than 2001 - what's the point in doing such an amazing journey if you miss all the best bits by being in a hurry? I'd make sure your tyres are a little more up for Sustrans gravel than mine were, though.
LEJOG. Save the nicer bits for when you are tired and the novelty has worn off.
Who the hell would rather spend time rounds LE than JOG. Mind boggles.
Ice cream excluded.