C2C route

"Ben" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hi,

Me and a couple of friends are doing the C2C in a couple of weekends
time from Whitehaven to Tynemouth. We could just take B roads almost
all the way, but Sustrans claim to have a route as well. I've never had
a good experience with them (lots of ending up in the middle of run
down housing estates, or in ploughed fields), and can't find any info
on the route. Can anyone shed any light as to whether its worth looking
into?

Cheers,

Ben

There is a Sustrans map (available from the online shop) - and a web site
dedicated to the route

I did the route in 2002 and the map worked fine. There are a few bits
through "run-down housing estates" (where the signs seem to get removed, and
there's broken glass) and a couple of "challenging" off-road parts ... but
in general I would say the route is do-able on any sort of bike except for
an out-and-out road machine with <25 tyres.

I doubt that I would do it again, but if I did I think I'd create a route
combining the Sustrans route with some road alternatives here and there ...
some of the off-road and barriers made progress slow ... although the
scenery is pretty stupendous!

Make sure you stop at the cafe at the start of the Waskerley Way and say Hi
to Terry ! (they do overnight accom too)

Usual disclaimer!

RG

Ben said:

Hi,

Me and a couple of friends are doing the C2C in a couple of weekends
time from Whitehaven to Tynemouth. We could just take B roads almost
all the way, but Sustrans claim to have a route as well. I've never had
a good experience with them (lots of ending up in the middle of run
down housing estates, or in ploughed fields), and can't find any info
on the route. Can anyone shed any light as to whether its worth looking
into?

Cheers,

Ben

Check out > http://www.c2c-guide.co.uk/
Did the C2C two years ago using Sustrans with no problems, I used the
coach road which requires a mountain bike but there are alternative
routes avoiding the off road sections. The Waskerley Way is a cinder
path so would be tough on a bike with narrow wheels but fine on a
tourer. I second the visit to the "cafe" caravan at the start of
Waskerley Way, a great, friendly fuel stop.

Malk wrote on 11/08/2006 11:08 +0100:

Quoted message said:

Check out > http://www.c2c-guide.co.uk/
Did the C2C two years ago using Sustrans with no problems, I used the
coach road which requires a mountain bike but there are alternative
routes avoiding the off road sections. T

I did the Old Coach Road with someone riding a touring bike and he
managed it just fine. The proof is:

http://cycling.raven-family.com/C2C/Old-Coach-Road-1.jpg
http://cycling.raven-family.com/C2C/Old-Coach-Road-2.jpg
http://cycling.raven-family.com/C2C/Old-Coach-Road-3.jpg

--
Tony

"Anyone who conducts an argument by appealing to authority is not using
his intelligence; he is just using his memory."
- Leonardo da Vinci

"Malk" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Ben said:

Hi,

Me and a couple of friends are doing the C2C in a couple of weekends
time from Whitehaven to Tynemouth. We could just take B roads almost
all the way, but Sustrans claim to have a route as well. I've never had
a good experience with them (lots of ending up in the middle of run
down housing estates, or in ploughed fields), and can't find any info
on the route. Can anyone shed any light as to whether its worth looking
into?

Cheers,

Ben

Check out > http://www.c2c-guide.co.uk/
Did the C2C two years ago using Sustrans with no problems, I used the
coach road which requires a mountain bike but there are alternative routes
avoiding the off road sections. The Waskerley Way is a cinder path so
would be tough on a bike with narrow wheels but fine on a tourer. I second
the visit to the "cafe" caravan at the start of Waskerley Way, a great,
friendly fuel stop.

The caravan is no more - the old station has been refurbished and is now the
cafe/B&B accom ... and is superb

RG

Tony Raven said:

Malk wrote on 11/08/2006 11:08 +0100:

Quoted message said:

Check out > http://www.c2c-guide.co.uk/
Did the C2C two years ago using Sustrans with no problems, I used the
coach road which requires a mountain bike but there are alternative
routes avoiding the off road sections. T

I did the Old Coach Road with someone riding a touring bike and he
managed it just fine. The proof is:

http://cycling.raven-family.com/C2C/Old-Coach-Road-1.jpg
http://cycling.raven-family.com/C2C/Old-Coach-Road-2.jpg
http://cycling.raven-family.com/C2C/Old-Coach-Road-3.jpg

Yebbut them's not off-road sections, them's just not-
quite-tarmacced road, and a bit of a boneshaker.

IME the real offroad is where you see more tourers than MTBs,
'cos the average MTB rider thinks they're too hard.

You got some good scenery though. And the effort that implies!

--
not me guv

Nick Kew wrote on 11/08/2006 13:16 +0100:

Quoted message said:

IME the real offroad is where you see more tourers than MTBs,
'cos the average MTB rider thinks they're too hard.

You'll not get too many tourers being ridden down here:
http://cycling.raven-family.com/Calderdale/ZigZags.jpg
http://cycling.raven-family.com/Calderdale/Calderdale.jpg

--
Tony

"Anyone who conducts an argument by appealing to authority is not using
his intelligence; he is just using his memory."
- Leonardo da Vinci

Tony Raven said:

Nick Kew wrote on 11/08/2006 13:16 +0100:

Quoted message said:

IME the real offroad is where you see more tourers than MTBs,
'cos the average MTB rider thinks they're too hard.

You'll not get too many tourers being ridden down here:

Whyever not? Neither of them looks like the kind of mud
or fine sand/dust that would be a problem for tourer tyres!

--
not me guv

Nick Kew wrote on 11/08/2006 18:37 +0100:

Quoted message said:

Tony Raven said:

Nick Kew wrote on 11/08/2006 13:16 +0100:

Quoted message said:

IME the real offroad is where you see more tourers than MTBs,
'cos the average MTB rider thinks they're too hard.

You'll not get too many tourers being ridden down here:

Whyever not? Neither of them looks like the kind of mud
or fine sand/dust that would be a problem for tourer tyres!

Didn't say it couldn't be done, just that you won't see many doing so.

--
Tony

"Anyone who conducts an argument by appealing to authority is not using
his intelligence; he is just using his memory."
- Leonardo da Vinci

"Malk" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Check out > http://www.c2c-guide.co.uk/
Did the C2C two years ago using Sustrans with no problems, I used the
coach road which requires a mountain bike but there are alternative
routes avoiding the off road sections. The Waskerley Way is a cinder
path so would be tough on a bike with narrow wheels but fine on a
tourer. I second the visit to the "cafe" caravan at the start of
Waskerley Way, a great, friendly fuel stop.

It's not a caravan anymore. Terry and Lorraine have now a beautiful B & B
called Parkhead Stationhouse B& B and Tea Rooms. Can't recommend it enough,
best B&B I've ever stayed!

Sustrans also has a C2C Accommodation and Route Guide book that you can buy
on-line.

--
Vivian
-------
"We learned more from a three minute record than we ever learned in school".
No Surrender

Ben said:

and can't find any info on the route.

Take the service from Fenchurch Street and change at Upminster :-P