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C5Alive General Category => C5 Chatroom => Topic started by: Bonesy on 15, March, 2009 - 10:34:40

Title: Land's End to john o'groats on a C5!!!
Post by: Bonesy on 15, March, 2009 - 10:34:40
A C5 with trailer, 4 Batteries and Solar Charger. Possible?

Has anyone attempted this ridiculous feat before? Any ideas about what it might entail and how long it could take?

An excellent way to raise some money for charity and promote the C5?

Hmmmm.... ??? ::) ;D

Bonesy
Title: Re: Land's End to john o'groats on a C5!!!
Post by: noonoo on 15, March, 2009 - 17:39:15
Already been done  ;)

Rotarians in the Club helped and supported the running of a Sinclair C5 from John O'Groats to Lands End in 1987, this helped raise £10,000 for Leukemia Research Wales and also paid the Club's money due for the Polio Plus campaign. The Club was entered in the Guinness Book of Records for five years after this  successful run.

..from c5Martins site
http://www.c5martin.co.uk/sinclair_c5.htm
Title: Re: Land's End to john o'groats on a C5!!!
Post by: minimin on 15, March, 2009 - 18:21:33
A C5 with trailer, 4 Batteries and Solar Charger. Possible?

Has anyone attempted this ridiculous feat before? Any ideas about what it might entail and how long it could take?

An excellent way to raise some money for charity and promote the C5?

Hmmmm.... ??? ::) ;D

I've got a wee solar panel that I use for my iPod/BlackBerry. Its pretty rubbish in the winter but in the summer its like a power station!  Its called Solio, or something....
Mark

Bonesy
Title: Re: Land's End to john o'groats on a C5!!!
Post by: Retro Andy on 15, March, 2009 - 18:56:38
More than one person has climbed mount everest, give it a go it would be great as the c5 is approaching its 25th anniversary.

Retro Andy
Title: Re: Land's End to john o'groats on a C5!!!
Post by: Bonesy on 15, March, 2009 - 21:02:22
Definately preferable to Climbing everest too!

I've seen some info on Chris Crosskey, does anyone know if he ever made it? looks like there were plenty of attempts, it would be great to speak to him and find out what rig he was using!
Title: Re: Land's End to john o'groats on a C5!!!
Post by: Karl on 15, March, 2009 - 21:17:56
I've spoken to him in the past and I still have his email address.

He wasn't able to complete the journey, even after a few separate attempts, and has quite a few stories to tell of scary moments tackling those huge hills in Scotland  :o 

Personally, having done the London-Brighton run I've no wish to tackle any more long distance C5 journeys.   They are expensive to organise and very demanding, both mentally & physically. The logistics are an absolute nightmare.

But this doesn't mean you shouldn't give it a go - especially if it's something that's important to you . Completing such a trip would give you an amazing sense of achievement and top bragging rights  8)

Title: Re: Land's End to john o'groats on a C5!!!
Post by: alan1310 on 16, March, 2009 - 10:26:16
lets give it ago bonesy anybody else stupid enough to do it
Title: Re: Land's End to john o'groats on a C5!!!
Post by: Umpa on 16, March, 2009 - 12:07:07
I'll take a rain check on this one I think. I doubt I could take the time off work. I'm all up for other 'shorter runs' though.
Title: Re: Land's End to john o'groats on a C5!!!
Post by: Karl on 16, March, 2009 - 14:44:03
lets give it ago bonesy anybody else stupid enough to do it

I've mentioned this to Chris and he is happy to offer his advice, drop me an email and I'll forward it on to him - then you can get down to some planning  8)
Title: Re: Land's End to john o'groats on a C5!!!
Post by: Bonesy on 16, March, 2009 - 18:31:22
Nice one!

lets give it ago bonesy anybody else stupid enough to do it

It's definately worth thinking about al! I'll give you a call soon for a Rattystatic update!

lets give it ago bonesy anybody else stupid enough to do it

I've mentioned this to Chris and he is happy to offer his advice, drop me an email and I'll forward it on to him - then you can get down to some planning  8)

Nice one Karl, I'll drop you an e-mail soon, not tonight though, up at 0430 this morning and driven 400 miles after 3 hours sleep! Was thinking how much nicer it would be driving a C5 in the sun!
Title: Re: Land's End to john o'groats on a C5!!!
Post by: minidaz on 25, March, 2009 - 17:08:24
I think if i had:
1 : A C5
2: A reliable C5  ;D
3: Was a bit fitter
4: Could arrange the time to do it

Then i'd probably be up for trying something so silly  ;D
I've climbed Ben Nevis twice, but can't afford the £1200 minimum for Kilamanjaro, so long distance on a C5 could be the way forward  :D :D

Daz
Title: Re: Land's End to john o'groats on a C5!!!
Post by: Karl on 25, March, 2009 - 19:48:39
Daz,

Chris reckons it is still "do-able" and is passing on some advice to Bonesy.

I'd love to see them complete such a trip, it would be quite an achievement  8)
Title: Re: Land's End to john o'groats on a C5!!!
Post by: pabunce on 25, March, 2009 - 21:38:01
I have done it on a bike, 950 miles, and I wish I had access to a C5 on some of it!!

The hills in Scotland are not as bad as the ones in Devon and Cornwall, I would of thought 24V for the hills, and a support van charging the next battery is all you need-keep the weight to a minimum.

Apart from that the main problem is the posterior, ok on a saddle, but a C5 seat is not very ergonomic, perhaps a moulded pad fitting your needs would avoid the sore bits.

Remember lots of people have done it on recumbants.

Paul



Title: Re: Land's End to john o'groats on a C5!!!
Post by: minidaz on 26, March, 2009 - 16:42:10
According to this website, it was done in a C5 in 80 hours

http://www.pmjphotography.co.uk/lejog/index.html (http://www.pmjphotography.co.uk/lejog/index.html)
Under ' useless facts about the journey '

Title: Re: Land's End to john o'groats on a C5!!!
Post by: Karl on 26, March, 2009 - 22:47:31
According to this website, it was done in a C5 in 80 hours

http://www.pmjphotography.co.uk/lejog/index.html (http://www.pmjphotography.co.uk/lejog/index.html)
Under ' useless facts about the journey '



..the best bit for Bonesy is that there is a ready made route shown  ;)
Title: Re: Land's End to john o'groats on a C5!!!
Post by: Umpa on 27, March, 2009 - 06:40:08
Assuming you keep at it for 12 hrs a day - non stop it will take you a week. But allowing for the fact that you wont get 12 hrs from a battery, perhaps not even one if its hilly - you might be an old man by the time you get back - lol

Title: Re: Land's End to john o'groats on a C5!!!
Post by: alan1310 on 27, March, 2009 - 07:49:32
this is sounding better and better by the min i am well up for it but for todays challage is to move 2 c5s without pods or control boxes 4.5 miles bonseys is still a bit stiff as well so dont fancy peddeling that
Title: Re: Land's End to john o'groats on a C5!!!
Post by: minidaz on 08, April, 2009 - 19:22:50
While searching on some random C5 bits i found this :

http://archive.oxfordmail.net/2002/8/5/35985.html (http://archive.oxfordmail.net/2002/8/5/35985.html)

Not sure i fancy the ' twisted knee ligaments ' though  :D

Daz
Title: Re: Land's End to john o'groats on a C5!!!
Post by: Bonesy on 25, April, 2009 - 16:39:25
Hey, How's it going?

Here's the info i got from Chris...

OK…. From the top….

 

The only batteries I would use are carbon-fibre cells, more amp-hours for less weight than the equivalent leisure cells…. Unless you can sort out something based on NiCd or lithium ……

I had a pair of them connected in parallel and use a 20-amp switchmode smart charger. Basically every time I stopped I’d try to get someone to let me plug in.

Spares: 3 wheels/tyres./inner tubes. Spare axle (always a bugbear on my machine) spare motor..Toolkit capable of stripping the whole thing down (not as big as you’d expect) plus I put a 12V takeoff on my battery pack so that I could run phone charger etc and I’ve got an electric tyre inflator as the C5 tyres run pretty  high pressure (I used Schwalbes at around 50-60psi)

My C5 has a trailer hitch on the bracketry that holds the Sturmey-Archer gearhub that acts as a gearbox on my pedals.

Started at John O’Groats because if I had a problem in Scotland I had all the time booked off work to deal with it…. Down south I could get out of a bail-out problem quickly, in Scotland there’s a lot of space between things…. The basic route is to try an davoid hills but you’re also stuck on trying to keep the route short too…. Basically head from JOG to Thurso , turn down through Sutherland (it avoids Berriedale because that is a horror story on a C5) that takes you out to the East coast of Scotland, to Inverness, Aviemore, Perth, Edinburgh, down through the borders to the eastern edge of the Lake District run down between Manchester and Liverpool, west of Birmingham, turn the corner at Bristol, trying to find a flat route in Cornwall was hard, but I figured I would be a lot fitter by the time I got there J

 

It’s been done by one C5 shared between a team of people, don’t think it’s ever been done solo…. If you have two of you then you’ll have a support vehicle which will make life a lot easier, I was towing the trailer with all my camping gear/Spares etc in behind the C5…… On a good day I was getting through 50-60 miles, with a support vehicle I would expect that to go up a bit but having done a 100 mile day on the Glastonbury trips I don’t think going over 50-60 miles a day is very good for you, that’s 5-6 hours riding a day and on mine that means pedalling nearly all the time…..

 

chrisc

 

Title: Re: Land's End to john o'groats on a C5!!!
Post by: minimin on 25, April, 2009 - 17:02:09
If you pop into Liverpool, don't forget to say hello!
Marl
Title: Re: Land's End to john o'groats on a C5!!!
Post by: alan1310 on 30, April, 2009 - 14:54:00
well now bonsey has pulled out due to being a twa*t and selling it i am looking for some one mad enough to do it  :) :) :) :) :) :)
Title: Re: Land's End to john o'groats on a C5!!!
Post by: minidaz on 30, April, 2009 - 15:50:54
Give me some time to get fitter ( or should that be get fit  ;D ) and i might consider it  :D
Certainly something a bit mad, but i guess it's the chance to raise a shed load for charity that appeals.

Just aslong as your not planning it for this year  :D

Daz
Title: Re: Land's End to john o'groats on a C5!!!
Post by: Karl on 30, April, 2009 - 17:48:28
I'm full of admiration for anyone attempting LEJOG , whether on a C5 or any other form of human powered transport. I'm too much of a chicken to try it myself....the London-Brighton run was enough for me  :P
Title: Re: Land's End to john o'groats on a C5!!!
Post by: Karl on 09, May, 2009 - 15:49:09
A gent from the BVS is trying LEJOG on an electric moped;
 http://www.batteryvehiclesociety.org.uk/forums/viewtopic.php?t=1966

It's his third attempt , so fingers crossed  8)
Title: Re: Land's End to john o'groats on a C5!!!
Post by: minidaz on 02, August, 2009 - 21:14:21
I'm actually thinking of giving this a go, either next year or the year after.

Been doing, and still doing, lots of research :  checking lots of sites, reading how other people on bikes / trikes / walking have got on, what's best in terms of accomadation, what equipment etc etc

My current plan is , once August is out the way ( busy busy month ), to start building up the miles on my C5, gradually getting used to longer and longer distances  ( my furthest drive to date is around 8 miles  :D )

We'll see how it goes, but atleast i should get fitter in the process  ;D

Daz
Title: Re: Land's End to john o'groats on a C5!!!
Post by: Nitrowing on 03, August, 2009 - 00:06:28
How many calories a day have you figured on consuming? I think you're going to need a good 3500 - 4000 calories, which is quite a bit of food to take with you...
Title: Re: Land's End to john o'groats on a C5!!!
Post by: minidaz on 03, August, 2009 - 08:21:39
Most places have shops , pubs etc, so ( and it seems to be quite normal going on what i've read ) you don't actually need to load up with food. Maybe just enough to get you through to the next location.

Daz
Title: Re: Land's End to john o'groats on a C5!!!
Post by: Karl on 03, August, 2009 - 13:33:30
The gent that completed LEJOG on his electric moped was at Amberley, you could have had a chat with him.

The logistics will take some planning ,as well as all the other preparation, but I reckon it is possible.

Go for it mate, it will be something to tell your grandkids about  ;D
Title: Re: Land's End to john o'groats on a C5!!!
Post by: minidaz on 03, August, 2009 - 15:39:23
Quote
The logistics will take some planning ,as well as all the other preparation, but I reckon it is possible.

That's exactly why i'm looking to the next year or 2  :D

I think it's fun to have a bit of a challenge  ;D

Daz
Title: Re: Land's End to john o'groats on a C5!!!
Post by: Umpa on 03, August, 2009 - 18:08:18
What about London to Brighton September 2010 to celebrate 25 years of the Sinclair C5 ?

It will give you a tenth of an idea of what you will be up against.

I'm hoping to generate some interest in an event like this.
Title: Re: Land's End to john o'groats on a C5!!!
Post by: minidaz on 03, August, 2009 - 18:19:31
Sounds like a great idea ... count me in  ;D

Title: Re: Land's End to john o'groats on a C5!!!
Post by: Karl on 03, August, 2009 - 20:42:18
Another L2B ? ..my knees are already complaining, and my legs are aching just at the thought of it.. :-X


I'll have to give this some serious thought - I vowed never to put myself through it again after the last time  :o.

(..bit like women and childbirth  ::))
Title: Re: Land's End to john o'groats on a C5!!!
Post by: minidaz on 03, August, 2009 - 21:51:55
So we'll see you there then Karl  ;D

Title: Re: Land's End to john o'groats on a C5!!!
Post by: Umpa on 04, August, 2009 - 13:09:22
I hope we do it - C'mon its the

25th25th25th
Title: Re: Land's End to john o'groats on a C5!!!
Post by: radiomarty on 04, August, 2009 - 13:21:22
L2B- I think I'm up for this - will see if work (Corus) would be intrested in sponsorship - perhaps we can we do it for a particular charity ? as well as a 25th celebration run.
Title: Re: Land's End to john o'groats on a C5!!!
Post by: Umpa on 04, August, 2009 - 14:55:47
That would be a cracking idea

Corus who are they ?
Title: Re: Land's End to john o'groats on a C5!!!
Post by: alan1310 on 04, August, 2009 - 17:04:29
they do steel i think l2b sounds cool i have a charity
Title: Re: Land's End to john o'groats on a C5!!!
Post by: minidaz on 04, August, 2009 - 17:16:56
Doing it for charity sounds like a great idea  :)

Umpa, seems like there's atleast 3 of us interested in your idea ...4 if you include Karl  :P
Maybe you should start a seperate thread / post : make it easier for other people to spot, and maybe join in if they're mad enough  :D :D

Daz

Title: Re: Land's End to john o'groats on a C5!!!
Post by: radiomarty on 05, August, 2009 - 10:15:26
Corus - formerly known as British Steel - now owned by TATA - confussed ? try working there !!
Title: Re: Land's End to john o'groats on a C5!!!
Post by: Retro Andy on 05, August, 2009 - 21:24:55
Dont Tata make pickups ?  as they might come in handy if a C5 breaksdown.

Retro Andy.