Mountain Biking the Coast to Coast 2011

[foxy mars]

Well, after my successful Coast to Coast walk done this week. It is decided for next year, early days, I know. That I'm planning a mtb Coast to Coast, probably do it in 6 days. I also plan to use youth hostels and b&b, due to the high passes of the lakes, meaning carrying the bike on the shoulders and camping is out on that score.

However, being early days yet, I could adapt to plan B, using a touring bike, that means using the roads and if that was the case, then camping will be used instead of youth hostels or b&b.

But, saying all that, I would prefer the mountain biking and get some Lakeland Passes done. I do have a rough plan of the route, I hope to keep to the Wainwright's Coast to Coast route where possiable, keeping to permitted tracks and bridle-ways.

One idea is take the Ennerdale Valley, over Scarth Gap Pass into the Buttermere Valley.

Then up and over Honister Pass into Borrowdale, then tackle the Greenup Gill upto Greenup Edge and down the Far Easedale Valley to Grasmere.

Next would be Grisedale Pass to Patterdale, then to Howtown, The Cockpit, Askham fell and using the back lanes to Shap.

Again, using the back lanes to Crosby Ravensworth, Orton, Mazon Wath and Brownber.

Here, there is a useful bridle-way to Smardale Fell, again using back lanes to Kirkby Stephen.

from Kirkby Stephen, I will aim for Tan Hill Inn and then use the Pennine Way to Keld and Gunnerside, then again on back lanes to Reeth.

From Reeth, I will aim for Nun Cote Nook and seek out any bridle-way's to East Applegarth farm and thru Whitcliffe Woods down into Richmond.

Here, there is not many bridle-ways, but will use the tarmac roads to Osmotherley.

Now, back to mountain biking - The North Yorkshire Moors. Here, I will pick up a track to Scugdale, into Chopgate and up to Urra Moor, Lion Inn, Trough House and down Glaisdale Rigg into Glaisdale and Grosmont.

The final bit is tricky terrain, that's means getting to Sleight's Moor and to York Cross, Blea Hill Rigg and on to Robin Hood's Bay.

Now all that's sound harder than the walk, but mtb is good fun. So, I need to get the OS maps and get some serious planning done.

[foxy mars]

Well, some bad news, that the Coast to Coast on the mtb is now being scrapped. However, this is the good news, that there is a new coast to coast cycle route just opened up on 11th September and it is called the Way of the Roses.

This is a 169 mile route starting at Morecambe to Bridlington, going via Morecambe Bay, Lune Valley, Forest of Bowland, Yorkshire Dales, Nidderdale, Vale of York and the Yorkshire Wolds.

This would make a nice double coast to coast cycle ride with the other being the Walney to Whitby cycle route, in which case, I would naturally start at Saltburn-by-the-Sea down to Whitby. However the Whitby to Walney is only a 151 mile route. So, what I may do is cycle from Whitby to Orton and instead head to Whitehaven via the Lake District and down the west coast to Walney and so on to Morecambe, this would add some extra miles on the route and would still get to do the Lakeland terrain, barring the lakeland passes.

Seeing I will be camping, I will use the touring bike using the normal camping kit and not the mountain bike as originally planned, so the Way of the Roses map is ordered and should hopefully get a rough idea on my overnight stops and seek out any campsites en route.

Looking good.

[foxy mars]

After some thinking and somewhat enjoying my recent coast to coast walk, I've decided to do the Wheelwright's coast to coast mtb in late spring and why not. The double double coast to coast is to be in August and that is to be on the trekking bike (road)

Anyway, the Wheelwright's mtb coast to coast is a pretty much tough bike ride and not for the faint hearted. What I mean is lugging a bike up and over the Black Sail Pass, which makes Loft Beck a stroll.

The rest of the ride is typical of Lakeland passes and moorland, it does get a bit more easy on the Vale of Mowbray section, only to meet the North York Moors, which is home to the Mountain Biker.

I, said about camping it , but I'm against the idea. Mainly due to the extra weight and having to carry a bike over the passes, which is hard work. I suppose I could take the bivi tent and carry very lightweight gear and that would be the basic minimum gear.

But, saying all that, I would prefer the youth hostels or maybe a couple of b&b. When I did the coast to coast walk, I had booked into a few hostels in the lakes and boy, I did I enjoy them. Good hot showers, drying rooms and really good filling meals. Yeah, camping is sort of freedom man, next to nature, starry skies.

Anyway, I have been on this other forum and this guy, who, believe it or not, had done the coast to coast walk in 5 days. I mean that is 45 miles a day, crazy eh. Anyway, this guy wants to cycle the coast to coast on the mtb and wanting some company. I replied, count me in, I think 5 days would be my limit. Although, one could cycle 80 miles in a day, well I could. The trouble is, the mountain passes are not roads, just dirt tracks. So for the lakes section, a reasonable distance of 15 miles in such terrain would be ideal.

But, I did 20 milers on one of the days in the Lakes, from Black Sail to Grasmere. So, surely on mountain bike, I'm sure you could do more, say 40 miles.

Now crazy this may sounds and you may think I'm going total nuts. But doing the coast to coast mtb ride in 3 days, that is 66 miles a day.

Mmm, that is going to take some doing, I guess. I need to suss the maps out.

[foxy mars]

Been down to Middlesborough this morning and got a Karrimor 30 litre rucksack for the mtb c2c, So, that is one item underway. Also, got a new Karrimor cycling jacket, so that is another item.

I need to start to get a draft itinerary for the route, however, this is only a week's cycling from St. Bees to Robin Hood's Bay. I was thinking of including Scarth Gap Pass, but I'm having second thoughts on this. I may instead decide to head for Buttermere and over to Borrowdale via Honister Pass. Then probably to Keswick for the Old Coach Road to Pooley Bridge and to Shap. The rest of the trip will be worked out.

I think that most of the gear is sorted, I did see some lovely Shimano spd goretex mtb shoes, but were a bit pricey at £80. So, keeping a eye out for some cheap mid-boots.

[PMG]

....... how I admire your enthusiasm and your energy how I wish I had ever been capable of contemplating such things - it must be really wonderful to be able to think .... I'll do it this way ....... no I'll do it that - cos that will be harder and bit more of a challenge against myself. If I have a regret (what only one?!) its that I've never been really physically fit You go for it - revel in it and don't forget descriptions and piccies so that folks like me can admire and enjoy from our armchairs

Pauline

PS Its all got me thinking in these wee small hours ....... my last big walk was over 20 years ago when I climbed Blencathra via Dodd Wood .... I was only nature watching in the wood but that particular day I wasn't 'winded' going up the track so I went out on the moor and then thro the screes and without much effort (or so it seems looking back) I was on top! I came down via the valley and foot slogged back down the road (that was the awful bit) I knew about it next day tho!!!

PPS And my last decent bike ride (a touring road bike) was from Muker up round Tan Hill back down to Kirby Lonsdale to the 'hill' at Nateby where my legs gave out and I needed a sleep! My parents came past in the car and saw me, so dad emptied the back of the car, laid the seats down and put me and the bike in, leaving mam sat at the side of the road with a load of boxes, while he ran me to the top! They then followed me back to my car parked near the waterfalls. Dad said I hit 26mph on that straight stretch ........ those were the days .........

[foxy mars]

Originally Posted by PMG

....... how I admire your enthusiasm and your energy how I wish I had ever been capable of contemplating such things - it must be really wonderful to be able to think .... I'll do it this way ....... no I'll do it that - cos that will be harder and bit more of a challenge against myself. If I have a regret (what only one?!) its that I've never been really physically fit You go for it - revel in it and don't forget descriptions and piccies so that folks like me can admire and enjoy from our armchairs

Thanks for that, Pauline. I must admit, I'm slowing down a bit myself nowadays. I did find the Coast to Coast Walk a bit more harder this time round, is it age or simply the lack of training beforehand.

I've always had a bike since I was 10 years old and just loved the feeling of the fast flowing air on my face and my Grandfather (Dad's side) was a keen cycle tourist and a long time youth hosteller.



The walking came later when I was 12 years old and again loved that.

The trouble is with the walking, is I work now on Sundays and can't get out with the local walking club, although I could get a train into the Esk Valley and do my own walking and also I don't have a car. So, that reason, the training for long distance walking is never going to be there for me. So, back to the cycling.

The Coast to Coast mtb (Wheelwright's) I did many years was a tough one and one that went over the high lakeland passes, such as Black Sail Pass. So, this time around, I will be using the minor roads and lowland bridle paths. But, saying all that, I will include the Old Coach Road and the upland North York Moors.

I'm not camping on the route, but using the youth hostels. I may yet use the Packhorse to transfer the rucksack from hostel to hostel and just use the rack pack to carry the waterproofs, food and maps. So, that would make the cycling more enjoyable. But, I need to get some training done in the coming months and only 6 more months at that.

Yes, Pauline. Life's too short and one has to make the most of it, afterall, we are all on this planet in such a short space of time.

[foxy mars]

Been looking at the maps and have a rough idea on the route. In the meanwhile, been doing some cycling in my local area and had to get the cyclist crossing the Infinty Bridge in Stockton on Tees and I thought despite the spur of the moment -"Quick get the camera out". It came out pretty good.

[foxy mars]

Sorry this should be on this thread

Been busy with the maps and have come up with a draft route. I've decided to include a few lake land passes and some off-road stuff.

I'm using youth hostels.

St. Bees - Egremont - Ennerdale Bridge - Croasdale - Ennerdale Valley to Ennerdale.

Ennerdale - Scarth Gap Pass - Honister Pass - Borrowdale - Greenup Edge - Grasmere - Great Tongue - Grisedale - Patterdale.

Patterdale - Hartsop - The Knott - High Street - Loadpot Hill - Keld Head -Bampton - Shap - Oddendale -Orton - Mazon Wath - Brownber - Smardale - Waitby - Kirkby Stephen.

Kirkby Stephen - Barras - Tan Hill - Keld - Muker - Gunnerside - Reeth - Grinton.

Grinton - Marrick - Richmond - Brompton on Swale - Catterick Bridge - Bolton on Swale - Danby Wiske - Ellerbeck- Osmotherley.

Osmotherley - Scarth Nick - Scugdale - Raisedale - Urra Moor - Lion Inn - Glaisdale Rigg - Glaisdale - Grosmont - York Cross - Fylingthorpe - Robin Hood's Bay.

[Farplace]

Looks good, Foxy. Have you got a date fixed yet?

[foxy mars]

Hopefully, in May or June. But, this is only a draft route. Depending on how arrange the hostel overnights.