Coast to Coast (Whitehaven - Newcastle)

[con101193]

Hi, I am doing the coast to coast in August this year but I am just an occasional cycler I sometimes do about 40 miles every so often which has a few hills that are relatively steep. But I am going to start training with someone who does not cycle and can probably only currently do around 10-15 miles.

If you had to recommend some things in terms of training I.E. when to start training, how frequently and how far and what type of tracks would you say is the best.

My plan was to do a few rides about 11 miles to Wylam from Newcastle there and back (fairly flat, very few hills) maybe 2-3 times
then move onto Ovingham which is about 15 miles from Newcastle there and back (this has a few more hills nearer Ovingham) then moving onto a 20 mile ride to Stocksfield this has a fair few hills which are not too challenging then continually working the way up to Haltwistle which is around 60 miles round trip and does have a fair few hills in it and doing this a few times then on consecutive days.


Any recommendations or advice for this? the person I am doing it with is not currently in the best fitness state and nor am I to what I used to be.

Thank you in advanced for any answers

 

[weely]

how many days are you doing it over ? if its 3 days then you will be fine .... 2 days it will be a hard slog !! and all depends on what bike / tires you try to do it on-its all mainly on road so be careful of tire choice.

 

[buggi]

i was support driver for this and my poor car struggled up Hartside (but it is VERY old car and had ALL the luggage in it LOL). The lads i was with were on mountain bikes as they wanted to do some tracks and all were riding triple chainsets.

3 days is best, as it's only about 50 mile a day so plenty of time for rest stops, if you're new to cycling. Beside Hartside, the only other bad bits were Crawleyside, and then there was a bit through a little town that was REALLY steep but a shorter climb than Hartside and Crawleyside. Then again, i was in the car so i had it easy, but i am a cyclist also, and i know those were the 3 bits that stood out.

I think it depends what route you're doing too.

 

[coyote72]

I will let you know as I am booked to do the route on the 15th April. My mates did it last year on Mountain Bikes, they have all got Hybrids this year, so went and got a GIANT CRS 3 for it as didn`t want to use my new Scott Speedster S20, got to say I really like the GIANT.

 

[addictfreak]

Con

The earlier you start training the better. Build up slowly as you say, it not a race so just enjoy it.

If your in Newcastle area, you could easily ride part of the route as training. Use the Derwent Walk up to Consett and then on to the Waskerly Way. Tea and cake at Parkhead then a nice easy roll back down hill.

Its up hill all the way to Parkhead but its a fairly gentle gradient but still up hill for about 20 miles.

 

[mcshroom]

This lot were from Consett so not massively far from you. I think they started from a low cycling ability and slowly worked at the training. The write up can be funny as well

 

[Paulus]

I did the C2C a couple of years back, Whitehaven to Tynemouth, and as stated, there are a couple of big climbs. Hartside Ridge is probably the best of the lot. I did it easily in three days, stopping in Braithwaite and then Allenheads. The Allenheads Inn is to be recomended, book ahead. There is nothing too taxing about the route so you should enjoy the trip.

http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_...ds_Inn-Allenheads_Northumberland_England.html

 

[con101193]

Thank you all for your comments and tips, I am doing it over 3 days, staying in Penrith the first night then Allenheads the second night (@Paulus thank you for thumbs up on the B&B should hopefully a good place, maybe for the stars at night to! )

I have been thinking of doing the Derwent cycle route for some time now however never got round to it when I used to do a fair amount of bike riding out west.

And thank you all for pointing out the different hills i will look them up on some OS maps and try and find some of a similar gradient in the local area to keep practising on during or after a ride.

Thanks again
Connor

 

[Spinney]

Thank you all for your comments and tips, I am doing it over 3 days, staying in Penrith the first night then Allenheads the second night (@Paulus thank you for thumbs up on the B&B should hopefully a good place, maybe for the stars at night to! )

I have been thinking of doing the Derwent cycle route for some time now however never got round to it when I used to do a fair amount of bike riding out west.

And thank you all for pointing out the different hills i will look them up on some OS maps and try and find some of a similar gradient in the local area to keep practising on during or after a ride.

Thanks again
Connor

I cheated and took the A road up Hartside. The C2C route takes smaller and steeper roads, whereas the A road usually isn't too busy and is not too steep.

 

[elan2011]

did hull to blackpool and back over a long weekend many years ago in group of about 7 or 8 cyclists.

i would join the local ctc club and do some of there sunday club rides, which i think is the best way for some one not used to long distances to build up the mileage.

and i don't think the milage is much to worry about, but sitting on the bike, without pain from several days in the saddle is your biggest problem, so you need to get used to riding several days in a row, even if only 5 10 miles etc.