Help! Challenge ride ideas welcome. 10/01/2012

Recently I’ve been plotting with the fantastic Crossroads Young Carers about their summer charity fundraiser. Jill, who manages the project is a keen walker, and is planning on walking the Hadrian’s Wall Path with a small group of young carers, over 6 days.

Keen to support them and their flourishing Bike Club, I thought I could add some spice to the occasion by riding it too, an bit like a tortoise and hare race, with me and perhaps a foolish friend or two, (Gav?) starting from Bowness on Solway on day 6, just as the walkers are leaving Heddon-on-the-Wall, a mere 15 miles from the finish at Wallsend. That’s a nice round 100 miles if you follow the National Cycle Network’s route 72, the Hadrian’s Cycleway

However, I’ve uncovered a small problem with the plan. Apparently some marathon runners who are friends of the project are also considering running the whole 84 miles in a day. WOW! 3 and half marathons in a single day! That would make my efforts on a bike look rather puny. So the only solution is to ramp it up. And that’s where I need your help. If you have any suggestions to make my ride that bit more epic and noteworthy (without killing me…) then pop them in the comments below.

Folding bikes perhaps- I crossed England on mine last summer…

Or perhaps do as my brother did when we rode the route as part of a tour one time, and attempt to ride his singlespeed along the World Heritige Site itself?

Ideas please!