John ‘o’ groats to Lands end on 125cc motorbike bikes what were we thinking!!
14th June 2022
Last weekend Nigel and some friends completed their John ‘O’ Groats to Lands End challenge in aid of The Stroke Association.
Neil Batty one of the team gave his account of the event –
Well we did it!!! 
1253 miles in 3 days, on our special little machines the Honda grom msx 125cc!
1253 miles in 3 days, on our special little machines the Honda grom msx 125cc!No breakdowns no mechanical problems!!
The weather was majority good to us besides later in the day Saturday where storm Alex smashed us and tried to drown(dampen) our spirits! It failed! We trundled on!! .
. 
Aches, pains & sore as expected
as expectedAll in all an amazing trip!
Wednesday- Steve and Neil set off on the train from Newark to Inverness thanks to Chris for the lift to Newark!
Nigel and Kev loaded the van with out us
Thursday:- Nigel and van support Kev travelling up with the bikes in the van, all planned to meet in Thurso 6pm.
Steve and Neil’s train was delayed then cancelled amazingly the stars aligned the van and the bikes were passing trough Inverness we made the plan for the bikes to come out the van and start the ride early 115 miles and 2hr 15 mins extra and we all got to the planned hotel!!
amazingly the stars aligned the van and the bikes were passing trough Inverness we made the plan for the bikes to come out the van and start the ride early 
115 miles and 2hr 15 mins extra and we all got to the planned hotel!! 
Friday:- set off from John ‘o’ groats 6am starting as planned
A stunning ride along the north coast of Scotland perfect weather all is good!! First fuel stop and breakfast chat changes from, wow what amazing roads and weather too, have we seen the weather forecast (storm Alex!!) It’s ok at the moment let’s crack on!!
We headed south within 40 mins it’s raining ….. hard quick stop under a tree and fight to get the water proofs on! we rode on for hours of wet weather and seriously wet miserable roads!!
quick stop under a tree and fight to get the water proofs on! we rode on for hours of wet weather and seriously wet miserable roads!!This still didn’t detract the appreciation of the surrounding we were in!!
As we traveled in and through the amazing scenery of the Scottish highlands back towards the familiar Inverness area joining the lochs and lower lands, we didn’t see Nessie, but some the views made up it! Then along too Fort William just stunning! Turning inland over glen coe the weather started lifting just showers to deal with now!! still plugging along keeping some good pace up!! !
back towards the familiar Inverness area joining the lochs and lower lands, we didn’t see Nessie, but some the views made up it! Then along too Fort William just stunning! Turning inland over glen coe the weather started lifting just showers to deal with now!! 
still plugging along keeping some good pace up!! !Another beautiful loch, loch Lomand, this time! Can you tell Scotland Is rather pretty and besides the rain was a pleasure to ride in!
We carried along skirting Glasgow and down to 1st night stop in Kilmarnock! 13hours with only a short stop for lunch and fuel stops aching and start of the sore well in place!!
well in place!!Saturday:- Another early start on the road by 6.15 and we’re away.
showers forecast for the day and cold temperatures, we decided start with waterproofs to beat the soaking! Rattled off the mileage flying along good progress early on to Dumfries and Carlisle, a much anticipated stop at Gretna green for ‘I DO’s’ we were enjoying the easy start cruising eating up the miles out of Scotland onto the lakes, heading to someone’s favourite place ‘Cockermouth’ couldn’t resist not mentioning it
we were enjoying the easy start cruising eating up the miles out of Scotland onto the lakes, heading to someone’s favourite place ‘Cockermouth’ 
couldn’t resist not mentioning it 
We planned plenty of twisty roads as we took on Buttermere, Honister pass and all the surrounding areas gorgeous and a match for the previous days riding in the highlands, quality riding, only stopping when needed to grab fuel and snacks and rest the ! We dodged the showers as we headed towards Windermere and Kendal, the groms were superb and suited perfectly for the small twisty roads we felt we like we were on our own tt circuit
only stopping when needed to grab fuel and snacks and rest the ! We dodged the showers as we headed towards Windermere and Kendal, the groms were superb and suited perfectly for the small twisty roads we felt we like we were on our own tt circuit 
On towards kendal and Lancaster! Things were turning out well weather wise! We were dry and past the forecast showers we took a chance and took off the waterproofs and zoomed on towards Preston then Liverpool crossing the rather excellent Mersey bridge taking in the amazing landscape we nipped neatly past most city traffic the most we’d seen so far! Then onto Chester and our overnight stop Oswestry ’s sore after 12 hrs in the seat today but happy we’ve covered miles well and had the most fantastic roads to ride!
we took a chance and took off the waterproofs and zoomed on towards Preston then Liverpool crossing the rather excellent Mersey bridge taking in the amazing landscape we nipped neatly past most city traffic the most we’d seen so far! Then onto Chester and our overnight stop Oswestry ’s sore after 12 hrs in the seat today but happy we’ve covered miles well and had the most fantastic roads to ride! Sunday :- A lay in today a 6.30 start pure bliss
Starting with a 40 min ride on dual carriageway and main roads we thundered along heading due south past Shrewsbury and onto the twisty small roads again, along the sleepy back roads our groms being the wake up call for many a village on a beautiful Sunday morning ‘shhh’ …..crossing in and out the welsh border many times Along the Ross valley as we followed the river wye, this is again fantastic! The roads, the surroundings
‘shhh’ …..crossing in and out the welsh border many times 
Along the Ross valley as we followed the river wye, this is again fantastic! The roads, the surroundings ‘shhh’ its still early Sunday morning 
We crossed the phenomenon of engineering the Severn bridge and cruised onto the last leg spirits high after the last stint couldn’t forget the sore but it helped us along the way!!
couldn’t forget the sore but it helped us along the way!!We zipped and squeezed through Bristol and scooted along into Somerset picked up the coast road things were busy and slow campers, lorry’s, caravans loads of cars, road works we had it all and didn’t have the speed to pass any ..so we had a look and plan changed the route slightly just away from the coastal tourist routes, slightly sad but ….omg…. did this pick the day up we were back on empty small roads the groms play ground was perfect for the next 2 hours just dodging the odd tractor we rattled along with gusto it was epic!!!
campers, lorry’s, caravans loads of cars, road works we had it all and didn’t have the speed to pass any ..so we had a look and plan changed the route slightly just away from the coastal tourist routes, slightly sad but ….omg…. did this pick the day up we were back on empty small roads the groms play ground was perfect for the next 2 hours just dodging the odd tractor 
we rattled along with gusto it was epic!!! down side we realised at this point we were low on fuel eeek for the 1st time we were worried about running out!! started coasting down hills feathering along finning on what we though was fumes sat nav said 10 miles ….. we made it filled up to the brim did we really just average 150 mpg’s 
!!! We got cracking along again.Directions now heading for Bude. A quick stop in Bude giving sore ’s a rest grabbed some extra fuel, knowing this would be the last we needed. 80 ish miles 2 1/2 hrs to go back onto the main tourist routes traffic was tough and we just didn’t have the speed to pass where needed just the odd roundabout we could slip past and through the queue’s……thought’s had turned to who would make it to the lands end first. With about an hour and 20 to go, steve got 3 cars in front that’s all but opened up enough of a gap, even slip streaming up hill and down dale the gap just got bigger he nipped past the odd car and where Nigel and Neil couldn’t quite match his cunning!!
’s a rest grabbed some extra fuel, knowing this would be the last we needed. 80 ish miles 2 1/2 hrs to go back onto the main tourist routes traffic was tough and we just didn’t have the speed to pass where needed just the odd roundabout we could slip past and through the queue’s……thought’s had turned to who would make it to the lands end first. With about an hour and 20 to go, steve got 3 cars in front that’s all but opened up enough of a gap, even slip streaming up hill and down dale the gap just got bigger he nipped past the odd car and where Nigel and Neil couldn’t quite match his cunning!!Signs started showing Penzance and lands end all sorts of emotions popping trough our heads, steve was now out of sight! must be something to do with his Rossi helmet
must be something to do with his Rossi helmet ……5pm 10 hrs in The final approach yes there was steve at the sign post proud as punch Well played sir!!
Well played sir!!We got our self’s together a quick hug and cruised into land end car park! We had made it!
how amazing Steve’s neighbours had made the finish to cheer us in along with kev our ever faithful van driver What a welcome Thankyou!!Beers supplied and appreciated
These 3 little machine had carried us the full length of the country and more we had mastered slipstreaming like the pro’s, raced them, rolled with them all under 60mph what fantastic little bikes!!
what fantastic little bikes!!We must say massively thanks to Kev the van driver made the trip so much easier with support along the way!!
Also M.R.S for sponsorship for fuel massively generously given the current climate!
A personal thanks to Amanda from bum butter!!
Our long suffering other half’s for letting the boys out to play!
And more importantly…. all of you that have donated to the cause, Stroke Association , at the time of writing you have raised £1495 which is mind blowing…. Thankyou!! Let see if we can squeeze it up over the next few days!!
, at the time of writing you have raised £1495 which is mind blowing…. Thankyou!! Let see if we can squeeze it up over the next few days!! We have enjoyed the challenge and can’t deny what’s next for the groms was mentioned!!
