Coast to Coast

[Sonofpear]

Me and 3 friends will be riding coast to coast this weekend. One friend has done it before but it will be a first for me. I know it's going to be hard but I'm really looking forward to it. I've had a look at the profile and it looks like there are some canny climbs on the route. Hope my climbing legs are in good shape for Saturday.

 

[Strick]

Good luck with it, and ENJOY!

 

[Andy_R]

hope you've done some training. when i did it a couple of years ago, i didn't do any training and ended up halfway through day 1 sitting cross legged outside the visitor centre at whinlatter, swearing my head off, trying to ease the cramps in the bottom of my quads. luckily there was only my riding buddies around to hear my foul spouting of profanities! i still get some stick off them about it. enjoyed every moment though, and hope you do too.

 

[Jezston]

What route are you doing?

 

[Sonofpear]

Yeah andy I've done a decent amount of training I think/hope. About 30 miles 3 times a week then longer 70-80 mile rides on weekends. Although my riding has been slightly hampered by a dislocated toe.

 

[Sonofpear]

What route are you doing?

Workington to Tynemouth. Are you familiar with it?

 

[Jezston]

I'm afraid not!

 

[Paulus]

I did the Whitehaven to Tynemouth a few years back, and it is a really good ride. Myself and my mate did it in 3 days stopping at Greystoke the first night and Allenheads the 2nd. You will enjoy it, there are a couple of really steep/long climbs though.
http://www.c2c-guide.co.uk/

 

[SquareDaff]

I did Workington to Sunderland a few years back. It's all pretty easy except for the middle section which has 3 killer climbs in it. Not sure if it will affect you on the Tynemouth route - but if it's Grouse hunting season then add the worst climb I've ever ridden to those 3!!

 

[carolonabike]

I've just done Whitehaven to Sunderland, finished on Sunday. It was my first time and I had a fabulous weekend. We stayed at Greystoke on Friday night and Rookhope on Saturday. I would thoroughly recommend the Boot & Shoe for a meal at Greystoke but you'll need to book in advance, it was heaving last Friday and from what I could gather is always busy. The Rookhope Inn was nice but was let down a bit imo by having no drying facilities, a bit of a disadvantage from a cyclist point of view.

We followed the main route (not off road) and I did it on a road bike with 23mm tyres and the only rough bit was the Waskerly Way but even that wasn't too bad. As far as the hills are concerned, on the first day Whinlatter is a bit tough, Hartside on the second day is nowhere near as bad as you expect but Garrigill and Nenthead are horrible! although I admit my vision may be coloured by the driving rain we were in at the time . On Sunday we went up Crawley bank in Stanhope which is really steep but not too long. The views are ample compensation though.

With that amount of training you'll be fine, certainly fit enough to enjoy it.
I would do it again this weekend if I could

Don't forget a jacket for at the top of Hartside, it's always windy and quite often cold and wet, even in July.

All in all, fabulous.

 

[moxey]

I'm doing Whitehaven to Tynemouth this weekend too.

Fingers crossed for some decent weather

 

[Sonofpear]

Were doing it over 2 days. Were all on road bikes aswell. Mate did it in 3 last time but says 2 days is well within us. I hope he's right haha. I like to think I'm pretty fit and the training I've done will stand me in good stead for the climbs. I know the first day is gonna be hard but looking forward to getting stuck into it.
Maybe see you on route moxey, have you had a look at the weather forecast, don't think it's gonna be the best.

 

[Fnaar]

Me and a friend did it in 2 days, stopping at Alston. First day hampered somewhat by waiting for 3rd friend... he told us to go ahead, as he was finding it hard going, and we said we'd wait at various places for him to catch up. Eventually he didn't catch up, we waited...and waited... and phoned... and phoned... eventually he got in touch to say he was pulling out (bit off more than he could chew) and had booked into a B&B... by this time it was getting on a bit, and we arrived at our pub much later than we had wanted to. Apart from that it was a great ride. Not boasting or owt, but I thought we'd missed Whinlatter... didn't find it that hard!!!

 

[Sonofpear]

Yeah Alston is where we will be staying. Struggled getting somewhere as it was kinda short notice spur of the moment thing but found something in the end.

 

[addictfreak]

You will enjoy it, as someone else said the middle bit is hard going. I found the climb out of Garrigil a real killer. But once your over Crawelyside its all down hill.

sounds like your riding is going well, especially as your new to road biking.

Have we spoken on another forum?