C2C on a Road Bike

User said:

Hi

I am going to try and complete the C2C this year from Whitehaven to Sunderland, and I have bought
the Sustrans route map and the guide book to help me plan the route.

I am not sure how rough some of the non-road sections are ?

Is it feasible to complete on a road bike (as opposed to a mountain bike) and does anyone have any
recommendations for which bits of the official C2C to miss out and do by road (i.e. Mungrisdale
loop looks silly on the map !!)

The whole route is is easily done on a road bike, though a racing bike with very narrow tyres may
not be the best choice for some sections.

The rough off-road sections all have alternative road routes marked on the Sustrans map. For
instance, the Rookhope Incline section is fairly rough and steep but it can be avoided by using
Crawleyside bank out of Stanhope, not rough but bloody steep. Some off-road sections are fairly
smooth and easy, the Waskerly Way for instance. There is one bit through a forest, which I forget
for the moment but can check later, where I would have taken the road if I had known, though even
then it was doable.

The whole route is designed as a pleasant tour if you want to avoid some of the loops then that's
your choice but if all you want to do is to get from one side to the other then the A66 would be
quicker. Take your time, take the loops and enjoy the trip.

Colin
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User said:

Hi

I am going to try and complete the C2C this year from Whitehaven to Sunderland, and I have bought
the Sustrans route map and the guide book to help me plan the route.

I am not sure how rough some of the non-road sections are ?

Is it feasible to complete on a road bike (as opposed to a mountain bike) and does anyone have any
recommendations for which bits of the official C2C to miss out and do by road (i.e. Mungrisdale
loop looks silly on the map !!)

Any advice gratefully received.

You can read about my ride a few years ago by clicking the link at the bottom. One of our guys was
on a road bike and he did have to walk some sections.

It is certainly feasable on a road bike you may have to walk a little more than some other riders,
the long former railway tracks are doable with ease, I am thinking of the Waskerley Way here but the
Old Coach Road wouldn't be, nor the off road route to Hartside.

--
The Reply & From email addresses are checked rarely. mseries.freeserve.co.ukmseries.freeserve.co.ukOpen ↗

Hi Dave,

Quoted message said:

I am going to try and complete the C2C this year from Whitehaven to Sunderland, and I have bought
the Sustrans route map and the guide book to help me plan the route.

With the book and the map, there's not much planning left to do :-)

Quoted message said:

I am not sure how rough some of the non-road sections are ?

Bits to avoid with a road bike -

Rookhope Incline - use Crawleyside Bank, aptly named and a killer hill Old Coach Road - my pals
advised me to give it a miss as thye found it challenging with mountain bikes. Forestly commision
path to Winlatter (I think) The off road section to Hartside summit - looks like a short cut but is
rubble strewn and would have been easier to push the bike on the road.

Quoted message said:

All of the bits that use old railway track beds are fine though there was a section on the Waskerly
Way last year where pushing was prudent as it had been dug up for some unidentifiable reason.

Quoted message said:

Is it feasible to complete on a road bike (as opposed to a mountain bike) and does anyone have any
recommendations for which bits of the official C2C to miss out and do by road (i.e. Mungrisdale
loop looks silly on the map !!)

I'll admitt to missing out Mungrisdale as it seemed superfluous and as you said, downright silly!
As for doing it on a road bike - I did it as a 20 stone or so lardy rider on a 12 speed Raleigh
Equipe fitted with a rack panniers, full camping gear and 700 x 23 tyres. Two or three punctures. I
was envious of the riders who had granny rings on their bikes as I had to get off and push on more
than one occassion. Mind you even when I was pushing I was only marginally slower than those
peddling uphill.

You can read my account, recorded as Vernon Lacy at the following URL must get the site owner to
adjust the links.

c2c-guide.co.ukbits vernon lacy.htmOpen ↗

I say go for it. If you are of average build and fitness you should find it a breeze. I'd take
longer if I did it again as there are things and places to see en route that I missed out on first
time round.

Good luck

Vernon Levy

vernon levy said:

The off road section to Hartside summit - looks like a short cut but is rubble strewn and would
have been easier to push the bike on the road.

I did once see a maniac /driving/ down this bit...

--

Dave Larrington - legslarry.beerdrinkers.co.uklegslarry.beerdrinkers.co.ukOpen ↗
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Editor - British Human Power Club Newsletter
bhpc.org.ukbhpc.org.ukOpen ↗
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Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

The off road section to Hartside summit - looks like a short cut but is rubble strewn and would
have been easier to push the bike on the road.

I did once see a maniac /driving/ down this bit...

Twenty years ago I did something similar when crossing Ilkley Moor from the Keighly side to the
Ilkley side...the metalled road deteriorated to a boulder strewn track and to this day I'm amazed
that I got my girlfriend's Allegro Vanden Plas down in one piece and without grounding it on any of
the rocks. She was white knuckled at the time snd refused to speak to me for several hours
afterwards. Marriage to her has not annulled the resentment and I doubt that I'll ever be forgiven
for the act of sheer recklessness...driving the car over the moor that is, not the marriage :-)

Vernon

Everyone

Thanks for all the advice - I will be doing it on a racing bike with narrow tires, but it sounds
like I shouldn't have too much difficulty if I follow the guidance given.

Many thanks - I hope to add my own account to the c2c guide when we get back (planning to go August
/ September)
--
David Mossop