Cycling Sisters Across the Nation: Ride Without Lycra
Bikepacking Adventure: Janet Lewis and Nessie's 1,700-Mile Journey
Janet Lewis and her sister Nessie embarked on an extraordinary bikepacking adventure, pedaling their electric bikes from Cornwall to Caithness, covering a distance of 1,700 miles. The pair, both in their 60s, encountered various challenges along the way, including strong winds, road closures, bad weather, and mechanical faults. But they also met numerous women of similar age who admired their adventure and shared their own stories.
The sisters used a combination of paper OS maps and Google Maps for navigation, with Janet preferring the traditional paper maps and Nessie using the OS map app. They found relief in seeing little blue and red signs along their route, indicating cycling-friendly areas. Occasionally, they stopped during the day for a recharge at cafes or pubs.
Janet shared several practical tips for a bikepacking adventure similar to Land's End to John o'Groats (LEJOG). Her advice includes deciding on sights to see rather than miles to cover, planning accommodations, getting comfortable panniers and a bike seat, wearing high-vis and extra lights, and considering electric bikes for longer trips. She also emphasized the importance of traveling at their own pace and enjoying the scenery around them.
The stretch between Edinburgh and around Stirling was one of the standout cycle-friendly bits for them. They did not do any camping during their trip, instead staying in various accommodations like camping pods, hostels, hotels, and Airbnbs. They recharged their e-bikes' removable batteries overnight at their accommodations.
The sisters faced unexpected challenges, but they agreed that the people they met, the natural sights they saw along the way, and the time to bond further with each other were among the highlights of the adventure. They also noted down cycle repair shops along their planned route and pre-booked a service for their bikes for halfway through their trip.
Some women mentioned feeling intimidated by cycling due to scary roads, potholes, and a lack of separated cycleways. The sisters, however, emphasized the sense of achievement and camaraderie they felt during their journey. They encouraged others to give bikepacking a try, offering their advice and encouragement to those who might be considering a similar adventure.
Janet's younger sister, Anthea, helped them by sacrificing her bike's computer to Nessie so they could continue their journey. In the northwest of Scotland, they encountered strong winds that caused Janet to be blown off her bike and Nessie's bike to be blown over. Despite these setbacks, they continued their journey, determined to complete their epic bikepacking adventure.
During their bikepacking adventure, Janet and Nessie discovered the benefits of integrating their lifestyle with travel, as they transformed their home-and-garden hobby of map reading into a useful skill for navigation on their journey. Reflecting on the sports aspect of their adventure, they have been encouraging other women to embrace the sense of achievement and camaraderie that comes with bikepacking, even on intimidating roads or across long distances.
