Cycling Coast 2 Coast in 3 Days

Well I'm just back from Cycling across the whole of the UK in 3 days with my pal Paul.
The C2C trip is a signed route of tracks, roads and off road sections and covers 150 miles. We started in Whitehaven and ended in Sunderland with ceremonial wheel dipping at both the Irish and North Sea - quite a trip.

I'll post a few pictures once I've got them from Paul but for now I though I'd post a few tips for anyone considering doing the same to give you a head start:




Questions and Answers

1. Can anyone do it? Yes but only if you're fairly fit and and can climb hills on a Bike, it's a fair ride and 3 days makes it comfortable. Only try it in a shorter time if you are exceptionally fit and keen. I cycle 3/4 times a week with distances of up to 27 miles and I found it fairly easy and didn't need to walk an inch. Take 4 days if you're not fit and take it easy and walk up the hills.

1. What sort of Bike should I take? A Hybrid Road Bike is best in my opinion. I did it on a Specialized Sirrus Sport. i.e. one with some tread on the tyres but not a mountain bike or out and out racer. Unless you want to go up and down the mountain trails, which we avoided, then a mountain bike would be a drag due to the extra weight and energy lost through suspension (although some may argue it'd make a comfier ride) None of the journey is really severe enough to require a mountain bike though, other than the optional off road sections.

1. How did you get your luggage across? We used the services of The Sherpa Van project which picked up and dropped our bags at each of the guesthouses then ran us and our bikes back from Sunderland to Whitehaven in around 3 hours. An excellent fuss free service.
2. Where did you stay and were they any good? Night one we stayed at Motherby House then one night at The Rookhope Inn which both did great breakfasts and offered a friendly place to sleep.

1. Memorable moments? Glass on the track at Whitehaven, getting to the top of Hartside and Black Hill which are both 2,000 feet above sea level. Kids with airrifles shooting into the river on the way into Sunderland - needless to say we sped up and got out of range quickly, whizzing along at up to 40 mph on some empty tracks, the waskerley way, beer and lunchtimes, completing the journey in Sunderland.

1. Punctures? No not me as my tyres are resistant, Nimbus Flak Jacket, but my pal Paul suffered 4 on his thinner racing tyres. Lesson from this is to take spare innertubes with you and some basic tyre levers and tools to allow for quick changes - latex gloves help keep the oil off too! I stuffed two spare tubes in an underseat bag but didn't need them I have read of one chap having 7 on the 1st day so better safe than sorry.

1. Food and Drink on the Bike? Take plenty of Energy or Fruit and Fibre Bars or Cake Slices or Bananas although eat them quickly as the Bananas get bruised on the bike. Take water with powdered energy additive to keep you going on the hill sections.

1. Would you do it again? Yes - although getting good weather is the key, it would be miserable in the Rain. Great views, tranquility excercise, Beer and Food and a great little break from the realities of daily life and a sense of real achivement!

1. Other tips? Go early or late season as mixing it with lots of other cyclists and walkers could be a drag. Go mid week rather than weekend. Buy the Definitive C2C Guide from Amazon and the Sustrans C2C map. Watch out for Glass on the tracks and Kids. Stop for an Indian meal on the way home in Penrith rather than do Motorway food.

Useful C2C resources

• http://www.c2c-guide.co.uk - great guide site
• http://www.sherpavan.com - transport of bags bikes and people
• http://www.motherbyhouse.co.uk - guesthouse night one
• http://www.rookhope.com - pub b&b night two