FNRttC Friday Night Ride to the Coast - suggestions for 2011 please

[theclaud]

For a cross the border fnrttc how about Edinburgh to Berwick-upon-Tweed.

I did this last week, and went Portobello, Musselburgh, Prestonpans, Cockenzie, then took Giles's favourite road - the B6355 from Tranent via Gifford across the Lammermuirs. Lovely, and just shy of 60 miles. A few big climbs in the middle, as one might imagine, but otherwise flat, and I bet the windfarms look amazing at night . Serious mechanicals could be a worrying out in the hills, though - it's a long walk to anywhere...

 

[rich p]

"My death, my life!" (Go to France rich- celebrate football success in Avignon et seq! )

I looked up the French mots pour 'the antics' of Les Bleus and it comes out as bouffonerie which conjures up an image of trying to get my new hairdo into a helmet.

 

[Arch]

Well yet another unsurprising contrarian disagreement on what was one of my favourite places and on my training run.

Sorry. I just happen to find Stockton rather dull and I've had one or two close shaves there with passing traffic and a left hooking minibus - I avoid it now by looping round Holtby and Warthill, adds a mile or two and avoids the village.

I'd hoped the would imply good natured disagreement.

 

[Danny]

Sorry. I just happen to find Stockton rather dull

That's the politest comment I have ever heard made about Stockton.

 

[marinyork]

Sorry. I just happen to find Stockton rather dull and I've had one or two close shaves there with passing traffic and a left hooking minibus - I avoid it now by looping round Holtby and Warthill, adds a mile or two and avoids the village.

I'd hoped the would imply good natured disagreement.

Yes, well I like Holtby and Warthill so that's fair enough . Don't suppose it matters no the FNRttc if we take the A166 we'll be quickly past the bits that give minor problems in day time.

That's the politest comment I have ever heard made about Stockton.

There something I don't know about the place ?

 

[Arch]

Last time I went out that way, I passed a couple on a tandem training for a charity ride - I passed them just before the T junction where I go right to Holtby and you'd go left to Stockon, from the road out of Merton.

Having been to Holtby, passing the first turn for Warthill on the way and then swinging back towards Warthill at the second turn, they emerged from that first turn, so I got to overtake them all over again and make tongue in cheek remarks about shortcuts......

Pride comes before a fall though, as shortly after that I was overtaken by an old lady on an electric bike, who well and truly thrashed me up the hill.

 

[Christopher]

hi Simon
I'd be willing to help with a Manchester - Morecambe ride, esp navigation from ~Bolton onwards. There'a a nice A-road through Belmont, tres scenic.

Another possibility is Manchester-Formby. Formby has a nice sandy* beach and Merseyrail connections to Liverpool. It also has a Waitrose for homesick southerners. Might not be far enough for you though - 80 kms or so.

*it does get everywhere though!

 

[iZaP]

These night rides, they are usually for more experienced people I reckon?

Or is anyone welcome?

 

[mcshroom]

They are open to anyone (although you do need to register in advance), I wouldn't class myself as massively experienced (and definitely not fit) but I managed the Cleethorpes ride without problems.

IMHO The best advice would be to read the FNRttC booklet, especially the "The Basics" and "Questions, Questions, Questions" pages. Hopefully it will cover most of the stuff.

Simon did a write up for the Guardian (here) as well

 

[craigwend]

Soltydog has spotted some maps for York > East & North Yorkshire coast that may be of use for the routes to Brid / Scarborough (Via Beverley would be nice )

http://mediafiles.thedms.co.uk/Publication/YS-EY/cms/pdf/Cycling Wolds routes map 2010.pdf

&


http://www.realyorkshire.co.uk/sports/cycling-downloads.aspx

 

[TimO]

how about exeter to somewhere like torquay, with a sizeable dogleg through dartmoor national park? i think it would be tough but rewarding...

Has Tim O got a defibrillator in his bag as well?[/QUOTE]

That was my thought as well! Although you could do a ride over a more moderate, but much steeper distance. I think it would be rather a killer for a lot of people (possibly literally), so doesn't really seem to fit in with the intention of attracting more people out cycling greater distances.

Funnily enough, it's the land of my birth. My parents live in Exeter, and my Brother in Newton Abbot, so it would suit me for both ends.

Exeter does have pretty good train links, so it wouldn't be bad start point, but I'm not sure where to go to. How about the opposite coast, so somewhere like Weston-Super-Mare (although I have no clue how good the rail links are to there).

 

[StuAff]

As a possible continental jaunt, how about via the ferry port handily located (for me at least) a short distance from chez moi? Caen, Cherbourg, Le Havre, St Malo, Jersey & Guernsey all served.....
Also, I know the rides to West Wittering & Bracklesham Bay haven't been repeated due to lack of suitable breakfast stops. Firstly, did you ever ask the tea shop at Bosham harbour (you might well have done..)? Secondly, any further thoughts on mangaman's offer from last year of breakfast/tour of Fishbourne palace?

 

[Amanda P]

I am now realising that the Cleethorpes ride was full of people I felt I knew from this forum. But I didn't know who they were in person.

Can we have T-shirts with our forum names on the back in future, please?

(OK, it's not the kind of suggestion you were after. But it is a suggestion).

 

[Landslide]

Or little race numbers nameplates just behind our headtubes?

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Exeter does have pretty good train links, so it wouldn't be bad start point, but I'm not sure where to go to. How about the opposite coast, so somewhere like Weston-Super-Mare (although I have no clue how good the rail links are to there).

Not Boscastle. Did it last summer. Thank God there are no rail links there as it was the toughest 100km of my current incarnation as a cyclist. I swear there isn't a flat piece of road once you cross the Tamar. The Col de Launceston simply announces what follows. Lovely ride though.

Exeter Weymouth would be nice I reckon. Ignoring Dell's apparent dislike of the South West.....

Birmingham - Gloucester via Kidderminster/Stourport etc., has its attractions and would draw in a London and a Brum contingent who can get home easily.