Stage 1: Land's End to Newquay

Starting Out: Kernow

Distance: 58.56 miles

Climb: 4,715 feet                                                                                                                                  


So, here we are! After all the preparation, training and anticipation, we made it to the start. An "easy" day to get us into the riding mood, but still more than we would do on an average ride with friends.

Making sure we get off to a flying start we're accompanied by fellow local cycling enthusiast, also called Richard. 

Only 10 miles in and we'll hit our first climb. Lamora is only 217 vertical feet but 15.3% at its steepest point.

At 24 miles we pick up more pals in Penzance - brothers Andy and Vince - before heading towards St Michael's Mount, northwest towards St Ives, upwards to Redruth, Truro, then onto Newquay. 

Post-Ride Debrief

Despite observations by the Cornish cohort, a wonderful first day’s route with only 24 climbs and 20% off-road! Only one deviation: caused by stumbling into a murder scene and being turned back by the local constabulary. 

Wall-to-wall sunshine necessitated sunblock reapplication at the garden centre lunch stop, where Jacqui and Teresa had set up camp in the car park. A good opportunity for Richard II to purchase WD40 to fix his braking issue, and for the rest of us to ogle the world’s most expensive BBQ.

Bring on Stage 2 – the hard yards…

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Fun Fact: Messrs Blackwell and Harman of Canonbury Bicycle Club completed an early end-to-end cycle ride. They covered 900 miles (1,400 km) in 13 days back in the summer of 1880.

Richard and Paul start their Land's End to John O'Groats charity cycle challenge

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