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| Becky, just before dipping our back wheels into the Irish Sea |
Here’s the ingredients of our C2C cycle ride, from Silloth to Tynemouth….
In numbers:
Miles: 110 Punctures: 0
Days: 3 Travelodge nights: 4
Kids: 3 Adults: 2
Back-up Mums: 2 Sun burnt: 0
Cycle Route: 72 Days we got wet: 2
Wrong way: 2 Steep hills walked: 0
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| Hannah, Kate & Becky. I just can’t remember what Dave was getting them to count. |
Day 1
We stayed the night before the start at the M6 Travelodge called Southwaite, just a few miles south of Carlisle and started the C2C ride from Silloth. We maintained the tradition of dipping our back tyres into the Irish Sea before we left and although we felt a bit daft climbing up and down with our bikes, we drew some comfort in knowing the local folk must be used to this kind of spectacle. Once on the road it took us a little while to get into the right pace i.e. not too fast or slow and a few minor adjustments to saddle heights etc.
Dave had worked out the route beforehand as he knew I would easily get us all hopelessly lost at least twice each day. We aimed to keep off any main roads as much as we could and this worked fine throughout.
The first day was about 42 miles heading inland. Not too hilly although Hannah maintains she had ” Mum I cycled up at least three mountains today”. We finished at Brampton which is about 10 miles east of Carlisle. Rachel and Ruth picked us up and took us back to the Travelodge before getting us there for an early(ish) start the following day. A few comments about sore bottoms but everyone was keen for…..
Day 2
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| In Brampton, ready for C2C Day 2 |
Day 3
This was a ride of real contrasts. Firstly it was very different to the previous day and secondly within the ride itself we had some lovely riverside pastures and right through to the metropolitan areas of Newcastle. Not many hills (or Mountains) for Hannah to sing her way up.
And then we made it to Tynemouth for the tyre dipping ritual once again. Rachel and Ruth were there waiting for us with hugs, cheers and praise for the girls having made it. I had previously promised Hannah and ice cream once we’d finished and the one and only ice cream van drove off as we arrived! Nevertheless, the mums had a really nice hot meal lined up for us in a near-by pub where we could all reflect on the miles and smiles of the C2C route.
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| We made it! |
Will we do this kind of thing again? Yep, hope so!
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Sounds like you had fun! And a route I’ve not considered before, great for a long weekend family ride. Glad to hear you did it ‘properly’ and dipped your tyres at either end!
Thanks Stuart. Last year when we were in Cumbria we spotted a number of C2C cyclists on a few different routes, so plenty of scope for exploring other routes and challenges.
I’ve put thousands of miles on my bikes over the years. My buddy and I did a 1000 on the TransAmerican trail last sumemr. I’m talking sometimes 80 mile days with 100 degree heat, 50 to 70 pounds of gear and food/water climbing up and down the Appalachians all day. Much more then most of these weekend warriors with their $5000 bikes will ever face. That being said, I have never owned riding clothes. Why bother? Shorts if its hot, pants if it’s not. Shirt and maybe a thermal if you’re cold, no shirt if your hot. Why wick sweat? It was designed to evaporate off your skin. Quit getting in the way and let your body work like it’s supposed to. To me, the riding clothes are just a way for cyclists to be trendy. If you like trendy, then by all means go for it. As far as making you more aerodynamic, and reducing chafing, and wicking sweat and blah blah blah it’s all unneeded. I’ve done many thousands of miles in jeans, a band t-shirt and boots no problem. And I don’t ride clipless at all. Ever. The most I worry about clothes when I ride is to remember to tuck my pant leg in my sock so it doesn’t get caught on the chainring.
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