Hi. I took a small cafe lock with me for short stops during the day to buy food etc. I also chose to buy food at small places where I wasn't far from the bike parked out the front. At the places I stayed I either asked them to store the bike in a locked garage or shed, or I kept the bike in my room. All in all, with these precautions it wasn't an issue I worried unduly about. I was more worried about potholes, mechanicals and getting sick en route!

Good luck on your ride!

@@ClanMacqueen thanks for taking the time to reply.

Yes indeed! I even had a spare quick link in my bag! I panicked a bit rather than using my head...

I followed this route www.cicerone.co.uk/cycling-lands-end-to-john-o-groats

For the most part I felt this was a good route. Certainly quiet in terms of traffic. There were times in built up areas (Industrial North West, Glasgow) where the going was slow on canal towpaths and shared-use pavements, and I would have preferred to just ride on B roads. The route tries to steer quite a direct path while also avoiding too much climbing. I think that's a good aim, but it did mean that it sacrificed a bit in terms of the most scenic places. For example it steered between Cumbria and the Dales, where going through either would have been more scenic, but involve a lot more climbing.