Pale Rider
Legendary Member
A few of us are riding from Sunderland to Parkhead in County Durham along the C2C track.
The ride is an out and back round trip of about 70 miles.
In the unlikely event we arrive at Parkhead in good time and are feeling keen, we might nip down to Stanhope - an extra mile or two involving the stiff road climb of Crawleyside on the return leg.
Apart from Crawleyside, there are no hills worthy of the name.
The ride is a steady railway gradient pull for most of the way out, a usually wind assisted descent on the way back.
The C2C path is a mixture of cinder, hardpack, and asphalt - suitable for any bike.
The ride is 95% or more off-road, so suitable for even the most traffic phobic cyclist.
Leaving at about 9am, we ought to make Parkhead for 1pm.
Possible short stop on the way out at Annfield Plain at about 15 miles.
There's a small Tesco beside the path, handy for comestibles and for the toilet.
Lunch at Parkhead Station, which is one of the main stops on the C2C route so they are used to serving cyclists.
Stanhope loop or not, our journey home will be much quicker due to it being mostly downhill and often with a tail wind.
Leaving Parkhead by about 2pm ought to see us back in Sunderland by 5pm.
We do have a few miles to cover, so I would like to start at 9am or soon after.
Start point will be the car park of the Comfort Inn (formerly Premier Inn) on Timber Beach Road, Sunderland.
There's a grill and a gym on the same site, and parking is unrestricted.
The entrance is on the north side of the Wear next to Sunderland's new bridge, which we will be taking on the way out.
The hotel, Liberty Brown bar, and DW Fitness are marked on the Google maps link.
Participants so far are me, possibly my mate Paul, @EasyPeez, @Julia9054, and her partner @Almartino.
Queries, expressions of interest, etc, please post on the thread.
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place...b4f6e431df8e7088!8m2!3d54.918353!4d-1.4279122
The ride is an out and back round trip of about 70 miles.
In the unlikely event we arrive at Parkhead in good time and are feeling keen, we might nip down to Stanhope - an extra mile or two involving the stiff road climb of Crawleyside on the return leg.
Apart from Crawleyside, there are no hills worthy of the name.
The ride is a steady railway gradient pull for most of the way out, a usually wind assisted descent on the way back.
The C2C path is a mixture of cinder, hardpack, and asphalt - suitable for any bike.
The ride is 95% or more off-road, so suitable for even the most traffic phobic cyclist.
Leaving at about 9am, we ought to make Parkhead for 1pm.
Possible short stop on the way out at Annfield Plain at about 15 miles.
There's a small Tesco beside the path, handy for comestibles and for the toilet.
Lunch at Parkhead Station, which is one of the main stops on the C2C route so they are used to serving cyclists.
Stanhope loop or not, our journey home will be much quicker due to it being mostly downhill and often with a tail wind.
Leaving Parkhead by about 2pm ought to see us back in Sunderland by 5pm.
We do have a few miles to cover, so I would like to start at 9am or soon after.
Start point will be the car park of the Comfort Inn (formerly Premier Inn) on Timber Beach Road, Sunderland.
There's a grill and a gym on the same site, and parking is unrestricted.
The entrance is on the north side of the Wear next to Sunderland's new bridge, which we will be taking on the way out.
The hotel, Liberty Brown bar, and DW Fitness are marked on the Google maps link.
Participants so far are me, possibly my mate Paul, @EasyPeez, @Julia9054, and her partner @Almartino.
Queries, expressions of interest, etc, please post on the thread.
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place...b4f6e431df8e7088!8m2!3d54.918353!4d-1.4279122