I researched into Audax riding which ticked several of these boxes (getting through the website and regulations is challenging enough) but many of the routes feel too arbitrary. There isn't a lot of romance in Aylesbury - Reading - Aylesbury and collecting receipts from garages. I've signed up to Audax UK anyway and look forward to trying the various events but the 300km+ rides might have to wait for another year.
The Coast to Coast could be repeated but this wouldn't really be such a challenge second time round. Now that I know I can do it the drive to repeat it just isn't there. Also, after such a perfect day on a bike I wouldn't want to swap out the sun soaked images in my mind with rain sodden grinding through Yorkshire. None of my riding partners from that trip wanted to return either.
I needed something new. Something big. Something to get others interested in coming along for the ride. Quite surprisingly it was my brother who inspired the solution. He was preparing for that charity standard: The Three Peaks
The Three Peaks - A Moral Dilemma
I have been a long time critic of The Three Peaks, the challenge of climbing all three of Great Britain's highest peaks in the shortest time possible. The issues are well documented, such as increased traffic on heavily used paths, the arrival and departure of large crowds at unsociable hours, the time pressures leading to inexperienced walkers tackling dangerous areas in bad weather and at night. I usually offer mild encouragement to those taking on the challenge while muttering foul invective under my breath.
But what if we could remove some of those negative issues. What could be more efficient as a means of transport than a bicycle. What could be more sensible than to arrive at each peak at a civilised time. Tim and Ben, my partners on the Coast to Coast are also experienced hill walkers, as am I. Maybe this could work.
A rough sketch out of the route and the timings suggested it could be possible.
Day 1: Climb Ben Nevis and ride approximately 60 miles
Day 2: Ride 120 miles
Day 3: Ride 60 miles, climb Scafell Pike and then ride another 20 miles
Day 4: Ride 120 miles
Day 5: Ride 60 miles and climb Snowdon
This looked like a big enough challenge, something recognisable but done in a better way, something to aim for.
I continued to develop the plans, confirmed Tim and Ben as willing accomplices and brought on board a couple of other team members. Dates have been booked, GPX files created and spreadsheets shared. The Three Peaks by Bike is a go.
And by extension, so is project Ember...
