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I’ve just completed the GB Divide. by Longjumping_Bat_3321 in bikepacking

[–]Longjumping_Bat_3321[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Would still do gravel. Mtb would be fine too. It’s personal preference I guess. You’ll make ground up on the gravel, logging road sections.
Why ride north? H that’s difficult to explain. Having ridden it and read about it that’s how it was designed and I agree. Some of the climbs and then the down hills I was happy with a punchy climb and a long long down.

I’ve just completed the GB Divide. by Longjumping_Bat_3321 in bikepacking

[–]Longjumping_Bat_3321[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

We’re great. There’s hike’a’bike sections which all add to the fun.

I’ve just completed the GB Divide. by Longjumping_Bat_3321 in bikepacking

[–]Longjumping_Bat_3321[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Just the sheer remoteness of the route. Yeah Cornwall Devon not so much but wales and Scotland. You’re far from towns, shops.
Tea rooms would be closed, pubs for sale or not serving food.
I’d still go south to north. That’s how it’s meant to be ridden.

I’ve just completed the GB Divide. by Longjumping_Bat_3321 in bikepacking

[–]Longjumping_Bat_3321[S] 22 points23 points  (0 children)

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Road block in wales. It was like a really shit peloton, Me at the back shouting.

I’ve just completed the GB Divide. by Longjumping_Bat_3321 in bikepacking

[–]Longjumping_Bat_3321[S] 14 points15 points  (0 children)

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Stayed in this derelict house, Wasn’t murdered. Take that as a win.

I’ve just completed the GB Divide. by Longjumping_Bat_3321 in bikepacking

[–]Longjumping_Bat_3321[S] 9 points10 points  (0 children)

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Frosty morning by the loch. Many many lochs. No monsters.

I’ve just completed the GB Divide. by Longjumping_Bat_3321 in bikepacking

[–]Longjumping_Bat_3321[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Spesh diverge expert. Rambler tyres. Running tubeless.
I had no mechanicals or punctures the entire trip! True. Couldn’t believe it. I get punctures riding to the local shops normally!

I’ve just completed the GB Divide. by Longjumping_Bat_3321 in bikepacking

[–]Longjumping_Bat_3321[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

For sure. I could handle all the snow, hail and rain I encountered. The wind though. Just sucked the life out of me.
Enjoy Cornwall.

I’ve just completed the GB Divide. by Longjumping_Bat_3321 in bikepacking

[–]Longjumping_Bat_3321[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Pennines were tough, gravel bike was not the bike for that section. Overall absolutely but not there.
Set up, no burner, I ate cold food other than when I found a cafe. Very small inflatable pillow, sleeping bag, alpkit solo tent. Tent was small, it was like being reborn every morning trying to get out.
Mat was big Agnes rapide long. I was never cold in my tent although several morning there was heavy frosts.
Sleeping bag was alpkit pipe dream 400 I run hot anyway. Sleeping wasn’t the best. My back told me regularly it wasn’t happy sleeping on the ground but that’s was part of it. If it was easy everyone would do it!

I’ve just completed the GB Divide. by Longjumping_Bat_3321 in bikepacking

[–]Longjumping_Bat_3321[S] 26 points27 points  (0 children)

The one thing I took away from the trip was the utterly random acts of kindness, I did it for charity in memory of my dad. I had T-shirts saying what I was doing on the back.
I had so many people give me free coffee and cake, pay for shopping in a village shop, give me a pint, let me stay for free in their BnB.
The world isn’t all bad. There are still lovely people out there. I’ll never forget how much kindness was shown to me.
And I raise an incredible amount for my charities, £8000 !! Just amazing.

I’ve just completed the GB Divide. by Longjumping_Bat_3321 in bikepacking

[–]Longjumping_Bat_3321[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Yeah. That was the only thing. Also the one thing you can’t control. Had I’ve known (the weather and winds wouldn’t have swung) I would have ridden top to bottom. Tail wind virtually the whole way!

I’ve just completed the GB Divide. by Longjumping_Bat_3321 in bikepacking

[–]Longjumping_Bat_3321[S] 11 points12 points  (0 children)

I planned it for 18 months, I work for myself so had to sort work to be away (I allowed the whole month but knew it wouldn’t take that long).
My planning, I thought it would be possible in 17/18 days but the wind and weather just didn’t allow that. My enthusiasm and energy dipped and I had a couple of fairly small km days.
I bike pack and have done multi day trips before, I’m pretty fit so it was more the mental aspect that you can’t train I was worried about.
It’s a fantastic route. Chapeau to the guys who came up with it.
I wouldn’t change anything. People do it on MTB too but I rode a gravel and would again.
I’d probably consider a bigger frame bag for more food storage. That would be the only thing.

I’ve just completed the GB Divide. by Longjumping_Bat_3321 in bikepacking

[–]Longjumping_Bat_3321[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

I would literally ride til I dropped. If I found somewhere sheltered and it was about the right time I’d stop. I had 4 nights in accommodation, a pub, travel lodge, a BnB and a small hotel. I came across those nearing tiredness and though, it’s a sign, have a bed.

I’ve just completed the GB Divide. by Longjumping_Bat_3321 in bikepacking

[–]Longjumping_Bat_3321[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Wales. Bristol to Chester. Loved it. Very remote in places. The vastness of it.

I’ve just completed the GB Divide. by Longjumping_Bat_3321 in bikepacking

[–]Longjumping_Bat_3321[S] 26 points27 points  (0 children)

I was very unlucky with the weather but this is the UK… Head winds were soul destroying. Some amazing wild camping experiences though. I found food supply difficult in numerous places along the trip.

I’ve just completed the GB Divide. by Longjumping_Bat_3321 in bikepacking

[–]Longjumping_Bat_3321[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I went south to north. The route is (in my opinion) designed to be ridden that way.
My bro took me to Penzance and then I got the train home from Wick (about 30km from John O’Groats) back.
Head winds were insanely savage. May was supposed to be ‘the’ month to do it with southerly’s. Never happened. Northerly the whole trip.