Everyday Q&A
Straight answers on a variety of Everyday Cycling chin-scratching topics, plucked from the 'info@everydaycycling.com' Inbox...
7 July 2008
Q:
Subject: Coast to Coast?
"I am looking to do a UK 'Coast to Coast' ride for charity later this year, and wondered whether you had any good routes for this. I plan to use a road bike so do not want any 'offroad' sections. It doesn't necessarily need to be the shortest route, i.e. the narrowest part of the county, I am happy to ride up to 120-130 miles in a day. It would be great if you could help." (via email)
A:
There are four main signposted coast to coast cycle routes, all of which are in the north of England. There's the C2C route, from Whitehaven to Sunderland, The Reivers Route which loops north into Kielder Forest, The W2W (Walney to Wearside) and further south, the Transpennine Trail which runs from Southport (Lancs) to Hornsea near Hull.
Links:
http://www.reivers-guide.co.uk/
http://www.c2c-guide.co.uk/
http://www.cyclingw2w.info/
http://www.transpenninetrail.org.uk/
Of the four, the Walney to Wearside route is probably the most suitable for a road bike, as it has the most consistent surfacing - however, all the routes are on a combination of minor roads, converted railway paths and traffic free trails so you might be better off riding something with a slightly beefier tyre than the standard 700x23/25 of a standard road bike. A cyclo cross, hybrid or touring bike that can take a 32 or 35 mm would be a much better bet.
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