Mr 8 Year OId wants to do a cycle Challenge for Children In Need - Recommendations

[Tom B]

Mr 8 (just) has been inspired and decided he wants to do a cycling challenge for Children in Need next year.
Say what you want about the cause, I'm just happy he wants to do something good and cycle.
It has now fallen to me to come up with a plan!

He can relatively confidently cycle 25 miles on a flattish course, he's fine, Padstow to Bodmin and back on the camel trail, or doing the Preston Guild Wheel.

He said initially that he wanted to cycle 100miles which a bit of a stretch too far for him.
We are thinking 50 -60 miles or slightly more perhaps over two days might be achievable and sensible.

I was hoping to find something a bit more exciting than twice around the Guild Wheel, perhaps combing some of Peak District trails?
More than happy to turn it into a mini-bike packing trip

We are based in Lancashire - but are happy to travel within reason.

Can anyone recommend any routes / suggest anything - ideally traffic free or minimal traffic routes?

 

[Animo]

https://cycle.travel/route/coast_and_castles

 

[roubaixtuesday]

Mr 8 (just) has been inspired and decided he wants to do a cycling challenge for Children in Need next year.
Say what you want about the cause, I'm just happy he wants to do something good and cycle.
It has now fallen to me to come up with a plan!

He can relatively confidently cycle 25 miles on a flattish course, he's fine, Padstow to Bodmin and back on the camel trail, or doing the Preston Guild Wheel.

He said initially that he wanted to cycle 100miles which a bit of a stretch too far for him.
We are thinking 50 -60 miles or slightly more perhaps over two days might be achievable and sensible.

I was hoping to find something a bit more exciting than twice around the Guild Wheel, perhaps combing some of Peak District trails?
More than happy to turn it into a mini-bike packing trip

We are based in Lancashire - but are happy to travel within reason.

Can anyone recommend any routes / suggest anything - ideally traffic free or minimal traffic routes?

When our kids were little, they would happily cycle very long distances as long as not bored. 50 miles or 100km in a day is likely well within your little one's capabilities.

The difficulty is your traffic free hope...

The coasts and castles above is an great suggestion. The Peak district trails are excellent, but pretty much impossible to link without big hills, busy roads or both.

A left field suggestion: at the same age we did a circle on Mull from Craignure which is ~50 miles, spectacular and not too hilly on mainly deserted single track road. Great place to go for a week, take a boat to Fingals cave on Staffa.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Is he hoping to do it in Children in Need week and hence November?

 

[Tom B]

When our kids were little, they would happily cycle very long distances as long as not bored. 50 miles or 100km in a day is likely well within your little one's capabilities.

Agreed, for him its more about keeping the interest and the stamina of staying on the bike, like his mum he often complains of numb hands.

The difficulty is your traffic free hope...

Low traffic is a key desire, the guild wheel crosses many roads and uses some on pavement cycleways.

The coasts and castles above is an great suggestion. The Peak district trails are excellent, but pretty much impossible to link without big hills, busy roads or both.

A left field suggestion: at the same age we did a circle on Mull from Craignure which is ~50 miles, spectacular and not too hilly on mainly deserted single track road. Great place to go for a week, take a boat to Fingals cave on Staffa.

Added to the list to look at

Is he hoping to do it in Children in Need week and hence November?

I'm probably thinking Autumn, depending on what it is maybe the October Half term week.

 

[Electric_Andy]

I was going to suggest camel trail but you've already done it. However, could be a good shout doing it with a theme such as dressed as a squirrel, or wearing clown shoes. The fact that it's far away and requires a mission to get there, might make it more fun. Or do it whilst covered in baked beans

 

[Sharky]

Anything in the Lake District?
I think you can ride round Windermere or Coniston using a mixture of roads and trails.

 

[Jameshow]

Mr 8 (just) has been inspired and decided he wants to do a cycling challenge for Children in Need next year.
Say what you want about the cause, I'm just happy he wants to do something good and cycle.
It has now fallen to me to come up with a plan!

He can relatively confidently cycle 25 miles on a flattish course, he's fine, Padstow to Bodmin and back on the camel trail, or doing the Preston Guild Wheel.

He said initially that he wanted to cycle 100miles which a bit of a stretch too far for him.
We are thinking 50 -60 miles or slightly more perhaps over two days might be achievable and sensible.

I was hoping to find something a bit more exciting than twice around the Guild Wheel, perhaps combing some of Peak District trails?
More than happy to turn it into a mini-bike packing trip

We are based in Lancashire - but are happy to travel within reason.

Can anyone recommend any routes / suggest anything - ideally traffic free or minimal traffic routes?

Leeds Liverpool canal? 126 miles over 2 days?
Liverpool to home / home Leeds??

 

[figbat]

Some or all of the Peddars Way?

 

[blackrat]

Mr 8 (just) has been inspired and decided he wants to do a cycling challenge for Children in Need next year.
Say what you want about the cause, I'm just happy he wants to do something good and cycle.
It has now fallen to me to come up with a plan!

He can relatively confidently cycle 25 miles on a flattish course, he's fine, Padstow to Bodmin and back on the camel trail, or doing the Preston Guild Wheel.

He said initially that he wanted to cycle 100miles which a bit of a stretch too far for him.
We are thinking 50 -60 miles or slightly more perhaps over two days might be achievable and sensible.

I was hoping to find something a bit more exciting than twice around the Guild Wheel, perhaps combing some of Peak District trails?
More than happy to turn it into a mini-bike packing trip

We are based in Lancashire - but are happy to travel within reason.

Can anyone recommend any routes / suggest anything - ideally traffic free or minimal traffic routes?

Mr 8 (just) has been inspired and decided he wants to do a cycling challenge for Children in Need next year

Good for him. You must hope he maintains that interest in the needs of others the rest of his life. The world needs more of that ilk.

He said initially that he wanted to cycle 100miles which a bit of a stretch too far for him.

Or, maybe a bit of a stretch for you?

 

[annedonnelly]

Anything in the Lake District?
I think you can ride round Windermere or Coniston using a mixture of roads and trails.

You can ride round Kielder Reservoir off road. I think it includes riding along the top of the dam.

 

[Animo]

You can ride round Kielder Reservoir off road. I think it includes riding along the top of the dam.

Yep, only 26 miles though

 

[DCLane]

@Tom B - bear in mind he'll be a year older and stronger.

Would he be carrying kit or can you organise a back-up / transport vehicle. That makes quite a difference if there are hills involved.

If you've support then a coast-to-coast option over a few days such as these - Trans Pennine Trail , part of Hadrian's Cycleway such as Silloth-South Shields (I'm considering this next year as it goes past the house son no. 2's moving into in Brampton) or C2C. I did the latter with my youngest when he was 12 for a sponsored fund-raiser, noting that we carried our stuff but at that age he was a competent and racing cyclist. Ours was two-and-a-bit days; Workington-Keswick, Keswick-Alston, Alston-Sunderland but for someone younger you could extend it.

 

[Tom B]

Thanks for all the suggestions, theyve pretty much all gone in the mixing pot.

I think we are going to try a few bits and bobs before coming up with a firmer idea of a route in Spring

I was going to suggest camel trail but you've already done it. However, could be a good shout doing it with a theme such as dressed as a squirrel, or wearing clown shoes. The fact that it's far away and requires a mission to get there, might make it more fun. Or do it whilst covered in baked beans

He's already raised the idea of fancy dress!!!! One step at a time! He's quite keen on the distance aspect of the challenge - something I can wholeheartedly appreciate being someone who usually finds what's sensible and then pushes the envelope in some direction.

Leeds Liverpool canal? 126 miles over 2 days?
Liverpool to home / home Leeds??

Thats certainly on the list, or certainly canals are. It ticks a few boxes, but i just dont like canal towpaths for some reason!.

Some or all of the Peddars Way?

For some reason that one had escaped me. I have a friend who has walked it and told me about it as a decent starter for multi day distance walking and id just mentally written it off as a walking route. At 50 miles it certainly hits the spot as a possible for a 2 day there and back. I need to look into it more!

If we dont ride it, i might walk it and its a part of the country I have rarely visited and have always wanted to do more!

Mr 8 (just) has been inspired and decided he wants to do a cycling challenge for Children in Need next year
Good for him. You must hope he maintains that interest in the needs of others the rest of his life. The world needs more of that ilk.

I am very proud and very keen to maintain the interest before he forgets about it.
He is very keen on nature and the outdoors.

I am itching for him to get strong enough to do some of the big ticket routes and rides - King Alfreds Way, Cantii Way, Rebellion Way, West Kernow and so on. Its just a bit of a pain we in the Northwest are in a bit of a desert of such routes.

He said initially that he wanted to cycle 100miles which a bit of a stretch too far for him. Or, maybe a bit of a stretch for you?

Having kids has curtailed my cycling and i havent done a hundred miler for a few years now... Still knocking out approaching 200 miles a week on average!

You can ride round Kielder Reservoir off road. I think it includes riding along the top of the dam.

I wasnt aware of that, I'm trying to avoid laps for this ride, but Keilder is certainly on the mini-camp / mini break list - this may have pushed it up the list!

@Tom B - bear in mind he'll be a year older and stronger.

Would he be carrying kit or can you organise a back-up / transport vehicle. That makes quite a difference if there are hills involved.

If you've support then a coast-to-coast option over a few days such as these - Trans Pennine Trail , part of Hadrian's Cycleway such as Silloth-South Shields (I'm considering this next year as it goes past the house son no. 2's moving into in Brampton) or C2C. I did the latter with my youngest when he was 12 for a sponsored fund-raiser, noting that we carried our stuff but at that age he was a competent and racing cyclist. Ours was two-and-a-bit days; Workington-Keswick, Keswick-Alston, Alston-Sunderland but for someone younger you could extend it.

Its very much very open as to how we do it. We also have a 4 year old (who will then be 5) who wont be able to manage anything anything approaching the needed distances and at that point she'll probably be over the limit for the Hamax seat (she might be now) and i dont think she'll have the staying power for a tag along. Mrs B has said she could either stay home and look after Small or provide a support vehicle meeting up at campsites or hotels. Nanna's have a campervan and cycle so they might want to come along (but they are looking at changing the camper to a caravan and big ebikes to folders) so that would perhaps impact on terrain.

Ive been looking at a couple of the C2C promoted routes too.

Transpennine, Coast to Coast and Hadrians are all on the consideration lists. We Holiday near to Brampton often see Hadrians Cycleway that and walking the walking route is on the list / bucket list.

 

[Drago]

I was going to suggest a northern C2C, some new grips and dedent mitts.

Whatever you decide I wish him the very best of luck!