From Hull and back(apologies to Only Fools....)

[515mm]

'afternoon.

Has anyone cycled from Hull to Stoke on Trent? If so, what's the terrain like? My nephew wants to do it on his 'slicked up MTB.

Ta in advance like....

 

[marinyork]

Well if you're going more or less in a straight line it is flat as a pancake, then rolling hills, then fairly hilly. About 50% is very flat and 50% hilly. Unless you're one of these crazy people that can do 15mph on a mountain bike with nobblies or it's a very fast MTB I don't see the point.

 

[515mm]

Thanks for the headsup

The point of doing it? My other sister likes in Stoke and is a great cook.
The point of doing it on an MTB? He ain't got a road bike.
The point of the Q? He's in racing snake shape (swine!) but has never gone more than 20 miles from home by bike.


515

 

[marinyork]

No I understand that, some of the peaks hills might be seen as a swine though. You pass through some great places. My point about the MTB was the first bit is very flat so someone on a faster bike whose body is conditioned for the flat would post silly average splits for the first bit of the journey (20mph plus). The later bits are very hilly in comparison and MTBs don't climb well.

It would make a good journey. Someone who was superfit on a road bike could do it in a day and then stop over and go back with few problems. MTB, not so sure.

 

[ASC1951]

Has anyone cycled from Hull to Stoke on Trent? If so, what's the terrain like?

I'm with marinyork. Waving a mouse over Tracklogs makes it about 120 miles each way, depending on which route you take. For me on a road bike that would be a whole day each way. Your racing snake nephew will be decades younger and pounds (even stones) lighter, but on an MTB that is going to be a big ask without a stopover even on slicks.

From Chesterfield onwards it will be hilly - Yorkshire Wolds gradients on the main roads, but some of the main roads are very busy. I personally wouldn't ride far on the A53 Buxton-Leek, for instance. The more northerly route will be hillier than Mansfield-Ripley-Alfreton, but if he wants to avoid the busiest roads he will get more climbing, more distance and probably enough dicking around with the map* to make it impossible in a day.

He could always get a train to Donny or Lincoln and start from there. I like going over the Humber Bridge on the bike, but after that it's a tad dull for 30 miles.

*For rides like that I use the OS Northern England @1:250,000, except that it doesn't go quite far enough south. Second choice would be pages torn from an out of date road atlas, usually £1 from your local market.

 

[craigwend]

So why the start in Hull (Is it for the joke?)

The slicked up MTB is it full suss, hardtail, rigid, other?
(hardtail or rigid preferrably for a longer road ride -I commute on a hardtail with 'slick' (will big fat crap ones) and pannier and average about 16mph)

I suspect as other above it's very 'doable', maybe more 'enjoyable' over two days?

Finally as a first big ride? at 15mph average, 8 hours non-stop...

 

[gavintc]

Linking future Premier Div relegation towns by any chance? Perhaps you need to include Liverpool.