Truro to Guildford: The Cycle Route.

(Click on any of these maps to view them in full page, click the back button on your browser to go back to the blog).

Stage 1: Truro and across Bodmin Moor.

This is going to be a tough section although I will be fresh and hopefully raring to go, it is all unknown territory.I can remember driving down the A30 through Cornwall years ago, there are some steep long climbs. An early start will also be a benefit as there should be less traffic and not too warm, although on current form it could be snowing.


39 Miles down, 201 Miles to go!









Stage 2: Launceston to Exeter.

Again this will be new territory for me on the bike, but at least I will know that once I have passed Exeter I will be on familiar ground. I hope to get through Exeter around the five hour mark, although I will have to really pace myself for the first 100 miles.I think there is a long slow climb up to the Exeter turn, then it's a straight cut across town and out the other side.


88 Miles down, 152 Miles to go.




Stage 3: Exeter to Yeovil.


Now I will be getting in to more familiar territory, having done the route from Honiton to Guildford, on a training ride, I will be far more prepared for what the road has to throw at me in terms of hills and surface. Its amazing how a bad road surface leaves a marked impression not just on your backside.
There is a nasty hill going through Chard, the downhill has hairpins in it, so I won't be able to get the full benefit of going down it, and the uphill is very long and steep, I seem to remember having a fly breakfast on this section on my training ride through here.

137 Miles down, just 103 Miles to go.




Stage 4: Yeovil to Salisbury.

This is a good section, my favorite, it's fast and the road is good, generally downhill or flat with a few short steep climbs. Here is where I can expect to make up time and up my average speed.
Robbo (Andy Robbins,) former Old Actonians rugby player/coach will be joining me somewhere en-route through here. No doubt he will be running along side carrying some scaffold poles and bellowing at me to keep up.

179 Miles down, only 61 Miles to go!!!




Stage 5: The Final section Winchester to Guildford.

You may have noticed I have not mentioned getting from Salisbury to Winchester, there is a reason for this, I will be catching a train! No only kidding, Salisbury will be approximately the 170 mile mark.

My longest training has been 157 miles. The run from Salisbury to Winchester is uphill and then another 10 mile climb beyond. There is great significance in this, as I enter unknown territory of over 160 miles, well over the ten hour mark I also start a long hard climb, so I will ignore it. This section is Winchester to Guildford and that is all I have to say about that!!!
I will be going around Winchester and staying on slightly higher ground to reduce the climb up to Four Marks on the A31, then the last 25 miles or so is flat or downhill. So if I can get to Winchester I have a good chance of finishing.

240 Miles down, where's the Bar!!!!!