Cycling Thread + Log
Cycling Thread + Log
I've been an avid cyclist for many years, so I want to share some of my routes and get a few in return. There arent too many sites around for the north east. I guess we see if anyone but me cycles, but here we go. I'm omitting trips to and from my front door, so all routes will start at Metrocentre Transport Interchange, for instance sake.
#1 (Road/Path) (45.6 Miles - 4h 25m) Metrocentre - Scotswood Bridge - Lemington - Newburn - Prudhoe - A695 - Stocksfield - Riding Mill (Pub) - A68 - Whitenstall - Ebchester - Shotley Bridge - Blackhill - Derwent Walk - Tanfield Railway Path - Metrocentre
The main roads are safe, the only places to watch is the A68, for which you will need to keep a decent speed. Everywhere else is safe because it's all open road. Whitenstall bank is a real killer, so is Blackhill. The Derwent Walk back is all down hill and takes just 45 minutes. Loved this one!
#2 (Road/Path) (29.1 miles - 3h 20m) Metrocentre - Tanfield Railway Path - Sunniside - C2C - Whickham Golf Course Derwent Walk - Rowlands Gill - Derwent Walk - Blackhill - Consett - Dipton - Harelaw - Catchgate - Annfield Plain - Greencroft Industrial Estate - Maiden Law - Lanchester - A691 - Delves Lane - Consett - Blackhill - Derwent Walk - Blaydon - Metrocentre
This one is a big loop, enjoyable if you are brave enough to endure the 691 uphill for 5 miles. Love going through Lanchester and Derwentside, though.
#3 (Road) (55.5 miles - 5h 0m)
Metrocentre - Teams - Swing Bridge - Dean street - Roundabout over Central Motorway with metro radio thing - Quayside - St. Peter's Basin - Tyne Met - New York - North Tynside Hospital - Whitely Bay - Coast to Tynemouth - North Shields - Ferry (Passenger Tunnels are off until 2018, have to pay for this ferry!) - South Sheilds - Whiteleas - The Boldens - Primrose - Wardley - High Heworth - Wrekenton Bank - Team Valley - Dunston - Metrocentre
This one is a cracker on a sunny day, especially going down the coast. Not many hills, either. Will be my favourite when the public cycle tunnels open again!
#4 (Road/Path) (46.2 miles) Metrocentre - Tanfield Railway Path - Sunniside - C2C - Whickham Golf Club - Derwent Walk - Blackhill - Consett - Dipton - Flint Hill - Catchgate - Annfield Plain - Stanley - South Stanley - Craghead - Sacriston - CLS - Penshaw Monument (break on the hill at monument) - Fence houses - Shiney Row - Sunderland - South Shields - Whiteleas - The Boldens - Primrose - Wardley - High Heworth - Wrekenton Bank - Team Valley - Dunston - Metrocentre
Great trip around Derwentside and across all of south Tyne and Wear. Great views from Penshaw.
#5 (Road/Path) (31.1 miles) Metrocentre - Tanfield Railway Path - Sunniside - C2C - Whickham Golf Club - Derwent Walk - Blackhill - Consett - Dipton - Flint Hill - Catchgate - Annfield Plain - Stanley - South Stanley - Craghead - Sacriston - CLS - A167 - Angel of the North - Wrekenton - Gateshead - Bensham Bank - Dunston - Metrocentre
This one is a decent one, but I only use this as a variation route.
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Depending what you are in to, there's loads of little off-road sections around Penshaw and Fatfield alongside the river. A big chunk forms the C2C. Obviously you have the C2C stuff from Washington that sticks with the old railway lines towards Consett and beyond too.
(09 Dec 2016, 11:15 am)Andreos1 Depending what you are in to, there's loads of little off-road sections around Penshaw and Fatfield alongside the river. A big chunk forms the C2C. Obviously you have the C2C stuff from Washington that sticks with the old railway lines towards Consett and beyond too.
(09 Dec 2016, 11:15 am)Andreos1 Depending what you are in to, there's loads of little off-road sections around Penshaw and Fatfield alongside the river. A big chunk forms the C2C. Obviously you have the C2C stuff from Washington that sticks with the old railway lines towards Consett and beyond too.
Me! My last cycle was a holiday to. Done a 6 day tour in 3 days of Yorkshire. Now that was some climbing to.
I swore at a few roads and fell off on a gradient of 33%. Mind some fantastic downhill sprints to - including one at 55mph.
I tend to go 4 times a week if work permits. Unfortunately I'm ridiculously busy in December.
When is this cycle lane on John Dobson Street supposed to be opening? Is the one on High St West in Gateshead fully operational yet?
Given the cost of these infrastructure projects, for what seems to be such a short stretch of road at a time, do cyclists feel that they make a difference?
(09 Dec 2016, 6:28 pm)Adrian When is this cycle lane on John Dobson Street supposed to be opening? Is the one on High St West in Gateshead fully operational yet?I don't cycle through that area because it doesnt go anywhere useful for me.
Given the cost of these infrastructure projects, for what seems to be such a short stretch of road at a time, do cyclists feel that they make a difference?
(09 Dec 2016, 6:28 pm)Adrian When is this cycle lane on John Dobson Street supposed to be opening? Is the one on High St West in Gateshead fully operational yet?I don't cycle through that area because it doesnt go anywhere useful for me.
Given the cost of these infrastructure projects, for what seems to be such a short stretch of road at a time, do cyclists feel that they make a difference?
(09 Dec 2016, 9:56 pm)idiot Thing is will the cycling infrastructure be worth while? Most of it isnt in this country.Most of the roads are decent enough, and the odd path. You can get most places here on roads which aren't excessively busy.
(09 Dec 2016, 9:56 pm)idiot Thing is will the cycling infrastructure be worth while? Most of it isnt in this country.Most of the roads are decent enough, and the odd path. You can get most places here on roads which aren't excessively busy.
#6 (Road) (13.2 Miles - 2h 05m)
Metrocentre - Teams - Riverside - Swing Bridge - Quayside - St. Peter's Basin - Byker - Wallsend - Percy Main - Middle Engine Lane - Wallsend (Main Street) - Byker (North) - Newcastle (Civic Centre) - Quayside - Swing Bridge - Riverside - Teams - Metrocentre
A shorter one which can be done. Personally, I cycled up Dunston, then up Dunston Bank in one go, then Whickham - Sunniside - Tanfield Railway Path - Teams - Metrocentre.
I can see how others would want to avoid Dunston Bank, especially after doing a few miles before hand, but it's a challenge I'd like to set all cyclists.
If you manage Dunston Bank a few times, try Whickham Bank. It's less steep, but so much more enduring. If you can get yourself up Whickham Bank in one go after doing 15 miles beforehand, you can cycle on literally any road or path.
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Just posted this in tender thread a few moments ago.
Tfl are actively trying to reduce incidents with pedestrians and cyclists.
Positive measures?
http://northeastbuses.co.uk/forum/showth...p?tid=1919&pid=219071#pid219071
(16 Jul 2018, 9:10 am)idiot Interesting read.
Unfortunately until pedestrians and cyclists are given priority over vehicles it will never be completely save.
(16 Jul 2018, 9:10 am)idiot Interesting read.
Unfortunately until pedestrians and cyclists are given priority over vehicles it will never be completely save.
Last years strava stats for me weren't too good. But I had a few health issues (mainly physical and not mental) which prevented me commuting.
Next week I'm teaching Bikeability at Silksworth Primary so will be cycling from Stadium of Light there. The route is road bike friendly and mainly off road to.