Up north..100 mile ride to the coast and back

[italiafirenze]

I'm looking to count myself in for this one, just need to make sure nothing unexpected comes up. Though I would look to meet the group at Bond's around 11.30 then I would ride the route probably as far as Scorton and turn back for home after one of their lovely mochas. Although also popular nowadays is the Barn, directly opposite.

Having looked at the route only a small section of the promenade will need to be navigated around near the town centre, but I will be happy to do this.

As for trams, they're not running, the ongoing works are replacement of all the tracks. But you do have to watch out for Tram tracks, especially when using the traffic free pedestrian/cycle paths of the prom as you need to cross over them. Some little bits of Pave in between too for those looking forward to the spring classics.

The only point I would make about the route is to avoid the A585 at Fleetwood on the non-ferry route. It's a single carriageway with quite wide lanes so there's always something overtaking something else, but never quite enough room. It's probably one of the few roads around here I would always choose to avoid, no matter what sort of hurry I was in.

How will I recognise the group at Elswick? Will ColinJ be wearing the sunglasses from the picture?

 

[ColinJ]

I'm looking to count myself in for this one, just need to make sure nothing unexpected comes up. Though I would look to meet the group at Bond's around 11.30 then I would ride the route probably as far as Scorton and turn back for home after one of their lovely mochas. Although also popular nowadays is the Barn, directly opposite.

Sounds good!

Having looked at the route only a small section of the promenade will need to be navigated around near the town centre, but I will be happy to do this.

As for trams, they're not running, the ongoing works are replacement of all the tracks. But you do have to watch out for Tram tracks, especially when using the traffic free pedestrian/cycle paths of the prom as you need to cross over them. Some little bits of Pave in between too for those looking forward to the spring classics.

The only point I would make about the route is to avoid the A585 at Fleetwood on the non-ferry route. It's a single carriageway with quite wide lanes so there's always something overtaking something else, but never quite enough room. It's probably one of the few roads around here I would always choose to avoid, no matter what sort of hurry I was in.

I'd be pleased to make use of your local knowledge to guide us through that bit. My GPS is great for sticking precisely to a known route, but not good when I have to start to improvise with diversions (it doesn't have any maps built in, I just follow a pre-planned route).

How will I recognise the group at Elswick? Will ColinJ be wearing the sunglasses from the picture?

We'll be singing the CycleChat song and doing the special handshake!

It would be nice to have weather nice enough for sunglasses but I will probably be wearing clear or amber glasses depending on conditions. I'm not hard to spot - 6' 1" with a beer belly. I'll probably have my new DHB 3/4 length bibs on and I will be wearing a blue & black MET helmet with a peak.

I'll be riding my blue steel-framed Basso with a little brown camera bag on the stem and a yellow Etrex GPS on the bars. Like this ...

(The wheels have been changed since then. They are now Mavic Aksiums.)

 

[skudupnorth]

I'm on my Boardman fixed with retro Karrimore under saddle bag........and legs out !

 

[italiafirenze]

I'll be on a Cervelo of some description and wearing black. Probably licking an ice cream. I'll aim to be there for 11.30 so i'll wait from then. Hopefully you wont have left before!

 

[skudupnorth]

I'll be on a Cervelo of some description and wearing black. Probably licking an ice cream. I'll aim to be there for 11.30 so i'll wait from then. Hopefully you wont have left before!

I like sprinkles on my ice cream, ta !

 

[italiafirenze]

As long as it's not raining I'm definitely in. I really don't like the rain, and I've no mudguards.

I'm now looking at getting a lift to the starting point and riding as far as Scorton, from where I can ride home for the ton.

We'll need to be getting that Ferry though because it will be really hard to ride past my house after 60 miles and not just stop!

 

[ColinJ]

I'm seriously considering riding my Cannondale since I don't normally get the chance to do long flattish rides on it these days. I'd have to nick the back wheel off my Basso and swap cassettes though. (The Cannondale's rear hub is out of action; the Basso is 9-speed and the Cannondale is 10-speed.)

The forecast is currently not looking too bad but it can always change in 3 days.

I'm looking forward to the ride too, Skud!

 

[potsy]

Been keeping an eye on the forecast, looks like it should be an OK day if not quite as nice as it has been all week.
I don't mind it being cool as long as it's not wet and blowing a gale.
Can I get my excuses in early? I have a bit of a sore back, was hurting towards the end of Sundays ride and I have been taking Ibuprofen this week in the hope of it recovering for the ride.

 

[skudupnorth]

I'm as ready as i'm going to be,had a blast on the slicked MTB tonight on top of the commute stuff.If it's cool then it will be fine,wind will not be fun unless it's curry induced !

 

[ColinJ]

Can I get my excuses in early? I have a bit of a sore back, was hurting towards the end of Sundays ride and I have been taking Ibuprofen this week in the hope of it recovering for the ride.

I'll join you in that one! My back is still a bit stiff and sore but it eased up when I went for a 30 minute stroll today so perhaps it is made worse by sitting in front of the PC or TV for so many hours a week.

I'm as ready as i'm going to be,had a blast on the slicked MTB tonight on top of the commute stuff.If it's cool then it will be fine,wind will not be fun unless it's curry induced !

I'm not sure I fancy the sound of curry-induced wind! Perhaps I'll take advantage of the flatter terrain and get to the front for a change ...

 

[skudupnorth]

I will stay at the back if it's Mrs Skuds top notch stuff the night before but i have ordered the traditional Indian dish of pasta on Saturday night so there should be no wind issues !

 

[Pennine-Paul]

Looks like I'm gonna be tail end charlie cos the Mrs is having a curry night on Sat

I'm probably getting the train back from Blackpool,still recovering from the

lurgy i picked up last week,if my lungs are back in full working order I might try for the

whole distance,at the moment i sound like an asthmatic donkey

 

[ColinJ]

The forecast is still okay - 9-10 degrees, sunny, not too windy! It will probably be a bit nippy when we set off though because BST 09:30 will be equivalent to the day before's GMT 08:30.

Looks like I'm gonna be tail end charlie cos the Mrs is having a curry night on Sat

I can see there being about 6 riders at the back, spread out across the road because none of them want to ride behind the other wind-producers!

I'm probably getting the train back from Blackpool,still recovering from the

lurgy i picked up last week,if my lungs are back in full working order I might try for the

whole distance,at the moment i sound like an asthmatic donkey

It's nice having the bail-out option, though hopefully none of us will need it.

 

[potsy]

Possibility I might be pulling out of this now, bike is not well, gear changing has been ropey last few weeks so I thought I'd have another go today. Majorly bad idea, I now have no idea what I've done and no tension in the gear cable.
Can only think I have unlodged the gear shifter end of the cable and can't get at it, tried the 2 localist bike shops which are both too busy to fix it.
Don't really fancy a 100 miler on my heavy hybrid

Will keep trying and ring round a few more later

 

[SlowerThanASluggishSloth]

.
Dave, have you thought of putting a description of the problem in the CC Know How forum?