Coast Busters

An early warm-up for the upcoming French Alps and Lejog tours and an ambitious route was planned to get some real miles into the legs.

The plan was to head for Richmond, then down towards Leyburn and Askrigg, turning off to tackle Buttertubs pass before heading for Kirkby Stephen and finally back over Tan Hill to Reeth.

The weather wasn’t too bad as we set off from the Bluebell on Saturday morning but it worsened as the lads rode towards Richmond with rain showers are a very cold wind. Once at Richmond it’s just a short hop to Reeth normally but the plan was to go the long way round.

Disaster struck for Billy as they approached Askrigg as he touched wheels with Wagga and took a tumble into the nearest dry stone wall. Fortunately his helmet saved him and he just got a slight cut above the eye. But he’d also yanked a thigh muscle and was out of action and into the the car with me.

On to Buttertubs pass, a really tough climb and in a hail storm the lads struggled up to the summit. It’s a nasty one and has a wicked climb after the point where you think you have hit the top.

Then it’s a fast downhill to pick up the B6270 and then hang a left to Kirkby Stephen and another 35 miles with Tan Hill in the middle. Or you can hang a right… and go the 12 miles downhill to Reeth.

It was a tough decision but with this being the first big ride of the season the lads decided to give Tan Hill a miss and we headed into Reeth to get ready for the FA Cup Final.

In Reeth we stocked up on bacon, eggs and beans for the morning and decamped to the digs. A fairly large cottage which is used by a local school as an outward bound centre. There are 3 bedrooms with bunk beds and they are all kiddie sized but I’m surprised to see all the lads cram themselves into one room.

So I take a room for myself and make myself at home. It’s bloody cold in here though…

Off to paint the town red we head for the Buck Inn for refreshments and watch the Cup Final. Excellent meal but a dodgy decision gives the cockneys the final.

On to a tour of Reeth’s night life … well the other pub. A good night was had by all and it’s back to the digs.

The lads are cosy in their room with the heater but my room’s really cold and apparently it’s haunted!! By a little boy who was drowned in the nearby river…

I do get woken in the night but it’s only Billy sneaking in to get away from Wagga’s snoring. We get through the night without further interruptions but I keep dreaming about running water… and in the morning after getting out of bed I find the floor’s soaking wet.

There’s a great big puddle in the middle of the floor. Was it the ghost or has someone not gone to the place they should have?

Billy cooks a big breakfast which is appreciated by all and we leave Reeth and our watery friend behind. The lads add another climb over High Moor to Ravensworth and then it’s on to Hurworth, Yarm and home.

Another great weekend! You can see more pictures from the trip on the Reeth May 2012 page.

Its a cold start to the year as we meet at the Coronation Hotel at 8am on Good Friday, the plan is we get dropped off in Consett and peddle home via NCN 14 to Durham then pick up the NCN 1 along the Castle Eden Walkway to Stockton then home, 50 miles. This is a reconnaissance mission for the C2C in July as this our route home from Newcastle on the last day.

Its freezing in Consett (as usual) but we’re soon under way picking up the route along an old rail line to Durham, a couple of wrong turns one of them putting us in a farm yard ! We are soon in Durham and stop for coffee. Out along the river to Haswel looking for NCN route 1, another wrong turn so we finally get the map out, a quick recky and we’re back on track.

The route is fast and by 1pm were at the visitors centre at Thorpe Thewles, another Coffee then its the final leg through Stockton. Still time for a wrong turn and we end up back in Thorpe Thewles! After realising our error we’re off again sprinting through Roseworth and on passed Holme House prison to the Tees Barrage then home.

Here we go again and I can’t wait! We’ve now arranged our overseas trip for 2012. Dates: 16th – 23rd June 2012

Unlike previous trips this time we will be based in one place, Bourg d’Oisans which lies at the foot of the famous L’Alpe d’Huez which featured in the Tour in 2011.

The emphasis this time is on classic climbs which regularly feature in the Tour de France.

We will be tackling a different climb each day and the riders will be pushing hard to claim the polka-dot jersey for King of The Hill each day and the overall King of The Mountains!

Find our more details about Jura Alps 2012 here.

As usual I’ll be adding pictures to the relevant website pages and updating the blog as we go along.

First hint of the trip for 2012….

Destination, Bourg d’Oisans near Grenoble in the French Alps.

Looks awesome!

Plenty of climbs starting in the town and more in the area.

Extracted from an e-mail received today:-

Dear Everyone

On behalf of the individuals and families we support across the UK, I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who was involved in the 180 mile Coast to Coast cycle ride in July this year. Thank you also to the team who tackled two stages of the Tour De France. An amazing £4,129.00 has been raised, so on behalf of all the families we are able to support thank you for all your hard work and generosity. Please also thank all those who kindly sponsored you for taking part in this challenge.

Up to 500,000 people living in the UK today have had viral or bacterial meningitis. Those who survive may be left with debilitating after-effects including deafness, blindness, limb loss (where septicaemia has been involved), learning difficulties, memory issues and behavioural problems. We are here to help everyone affected by the disease for as long as they require it providing support for life.

It is only through your valuable support that we can continue to help those struggling to cope with the impact of meningitis.

Once again, thank you for all your efforts and for your contribution to the work of the Meningitis Trust.

Yours sincerely

Matthew Clarke

Community Development Co-ordinator

Meningitis Trust

A late entry in the events of the recent Coast to Coast:-

This was the lads’ good deed of the weekend.

They came across these gals on Saturday morning 5 miles out of Kendal, they has a puncture and little idea how to fix it or even use a bike pump !

The lads soon had them up and running and as promised the ladies later donated £10 to our charity!

Thanks Girls!!

We all assemble in the square at Barnard Castle ready for the off at 9.30. All except Johnny G (who only arrived yesterday to pick up the final leg).

John has overslept…

But we’ve got to crack on to Whorlton where there is a photo opportunity on the rickety bridge.

Rickety isn’t the word for it. This thing shakes when a car goes over it and there is only one car allowed on it at any one time.

Bit hairy in the van. I catch the lads and get some snaps then head back to Barnard Castle to get John.

He jumps in the van with me to the first meeting point at Hurworth.

The lads arrive and after a quick snack head on to Great Ayton.

After that it’s the fast downhill in to Saltburn and I race ahead to get parked and get on the steep bank at Saltburn to get more snaps.

I’ll add more photos to the website over the next couple of days so look out for those.

Well done to the lads for another excellent effort!

Click here to see more photos from this leg

We had a great night in Kendal after we had all met up at the local Weatherspoons. On to another pub for a game of Killer on the pool table which Farley won.

Then we found a place playing live music with a pretty good band on who did a whole range of covers from the Beatles to Bowie, the Rolling Stones to The Jam.

Everyone had a great night!

Up early and away by 9.00am this morning as we have a good 60 miles to do and some big climbs over the Pennines.

Off to the first rendezvous as Beck Foot which is just under the M6 and has a classic old viaduct. Everyone arrives safely for the photo shoot. Except for Stoz that is. The lads head off on their route under the viaduct which I can’t follow as the track is too narrow.

I head off for Orton via a different route and as I meet the next junction I spot Stoz and point him the right direction towards Tebay.

Everyone arrives at Orton OK though some took a short cut. Another stewards inquiry later. No sign of Colmer and Dean though.

Unfortunately Colmer’s chain had snapped and they were stuck in a tiny village called Roundthwaite. I managed to find them and once Colmer had grabbed the spare bike (its Johnny G’s who arrives today) the were back on route.

On to Kirkby Stephen and the dreaded climb up to the Tan Hill inn (1700+ ft). I pass Coxy part of the way up and wait nearer the summit for action shots.

Once he goes past, Steve K is not far behind followed by Ade and Spenna.

I get some good shots of all the lads coming in which I’ll put in the site later.

The lads split on the way down from Tan Hill. Those with nobbly tires take the off road route while the bulk go the long way round by road.

And what a road! It’s all down hill from Tan Hill we think… except it isn’t. This road is the closest thing to a rollercoaster I’ve ever driven on and very tough going for the lads. Harder than the climb up to Tan Hill according to Steve K.

All now in our digs at Barnard Castle and we are meeting up at the The Old Well Inn where the bulk of the lads are staying.

An easier day tomorrow? It must be…

Click here to see more photos from this leg

After an uneventful trip by van and coach from Middlesbrough we arrived at Walney Island at around 10.00am. The weather was quite cloudy and chilly at the start but it picked up during the day.

First stop was Ulverston, a 13 mile ride for the lads through picturesque scenery and woodland. For some reason, best known to the Sat Nav, I went the coastal route and managed to miss the lads at the first stopping point. Not a good start.

On then to Grange-Over-Sands over some fairly tough climbs for the lads and some very tight single track lanes for me. Glad there was nothing coming the other way.

All the lads arrive within about half an hour of each other with and we link up after a bit of the usual searching for each other.

That is’ all except Dean. No sign of him at Grange and no-one had seen him for a while on the route. We’re in Grange for around a hour for lunch and still no sign of him.

Johnno gives him a bell and he’s only in Kendal already! Yellow Jersey for Dean? I think there will be stewards enquiry in the pub later.

We meet again at Matland, a tiny village just outside Kendal and then I follow the lads into the digs. We’re staying in four separate places, two pubs and two B & Bs but they are all pretty close so we’ll rendezvous later this evening.

A tough day ahead tomorrow including the dreaded Tan Hill.

Click here to see more photos from this leg