2024 Hebridean Tour - final preparations!

Though it's still some way off, there were a few things than needed checking before we head north on our cycle tour. Firstly, there was the question of our fitness for several consecutive days of cycling, and more specifically my ability to sit on a bike for long periods. Secondly, we recently replaced our creaky 2014 Ford Focus with a newer 2023 model - would our tandem fit inside, or would we need to sort out roof bars?

Dealing with the second point first: since 2013, our touring tandem has been a Thorn Discovery Raven Twin. Notably, this tandem was specced with S&S couplings which allow the bike to be split into two parts. The rear section is the larger part. The photograph below shows the old car loaded for our 2023 Normandy holiday - including the Thorn tandem and my Cervelo P3C time trial bike.

2014 Ford Focus with our luggage for 10 days in Normandy, including a tandem and a TT bike.

Each time Ford change the spec of the Ford Focus, the measurements seem to change, so despite carefully measuring the new car before deciding to buy it, we really did want to check we could get the tandem in. Fortunately, we can. I suppose if there wasn't enough space, we'd have had to chase down roof bars and fittings for a tandem, though those are not exactly cheap. And of course the reason we went for S&S coupling was to avoid putting our backs out getting a tandem on a rook rack!

As to the more pressing (literally) issue - following my recent minor op, I was concerned that sitting on the tandem for many hours might not be possible. Over the last week or so, I've been doing turbo sessions and even a 10 mile time trial, and everything seemed OK, at least on the weird split saddles I now favour. But the tandem has a relatively conventionally shaped saddle - a Brooks Cambium - and I thought it might be prudent to undertake a long-ish ride.

So yesterday we took the tandem out on an easy ride on a loop into Bedfordshire, and after about 3.5h I'm happy to say I was confortable throughout.

Over the next few days we'll be checking we have all the tools and spares needed, along with making sure we don't forget anything vital. It's been about 7 years since we were cycle touring!