The 2010 bike ride started early on the morning of Thursday 24th June. With the usual jubilation we gathered at Kings Cross Station for the train to the sunny (luckily) and undulating north!
We had a pleasant journey with the usual excitement building chatter and tactics about when best to eat our sandwiches and change into the dreaded padded shorts. So it was that a few hours later we arrived at Newcastle station. From here it was a short metro ride to the start. Not however for Barbara and Dora who decided that 200 miles wasn’t enough and started the ride early, cycling an extra 12 miles from Newcastle to Callerton Parkway. Here we joined the ever reliable support team and most importantly, the bikes.
After everyone had been reunited with their beloved bikes, we were off! Day one gave a delightful insight into what was to come over the next few days… hills. Mostly smooth sailing, apart from for an unlucky Rosaleen who had a hitch with the big gear changer (technical term). The ever dependable support team came to the rescue though and picked up the broken bike (and rider).
This was Paul’s first mission on this, his first support team bike ride and he proved he was a great addition remaining cool, calm and unflappable for the whole four days. In fact the only time there was a bit of a furrow in his brow was when he realised that there was a distinct lack of real beer along our chosen route.
As sometimes is the case, the delay at the back had a bit of a knock-on effect to those chosen ones left marking our way. Rather than let the wait get them down some made the most of their time and invented such memorable games as “swinging on the gate” and “throwing twigs at Jon”.
We cycled about 35 miles of glorious Northumberland countryside before we started to see welcome signs to Bellingham. Unfortunately for most of us the navigation team decided we hadn’t done enough and showed us the indirect route, added an extra hill in the process! Jon Hill managed to avoid this bit of extra leg work, only due to the fact that a mile previously his chain had snapped meaning him and his hero Kate were bringing up the rear as she dragged him (+ bike) to our home for the night, Riverdale Hall. This earned her the title of cyclist of the day.
Riverdale Hall was without a doubt one of the best finds by the amazing planning team. Our first impression was the smell of sticky toffee pudding, a tantalising indication of the treats we had in store for dinner. Some of us dashed off to the swimming pool for a quick dip before drinks and dinner. Brilliant food, enough wine and yes we did get the sticky toffee pudding! The staff were absolutely brilliant and impressively hardworking, the same few serving dinner, tending bar and providing breakfast!
Day two, and still looking reasonably perky, we set off… The support team again triumphed, managing to source and supply three replacement bikes from nowhere for Chris, Rosaleen and Barbara who had all had one trouble or another with their own bikes the day before. Firstly, we rode past the stunning Kielder dam which made for a delightful first stop and photo opp. In fact so nice we had a stop on both sides of the bridge. This was where we first noticed the midges who were to become close companions over the next few days... There were a number of suggestions flying around as to how best deter the bloodsuckers; Vegimite/Marmite (spurring a whole other debate) and a wide variety of lotions and potions. Not much seemed to put them off and by the early lunch stop just before Lakeside Cycleway, many people were head to toe in bites. The experience was best summed up by one of the talented members of our group!
The Midge Ride
There once was an army of rapacious midges,
Who pursued us across a 1000 ridges,
They cried " Go faster or we'll bite",
She cried " I am going as fast as I might",
The slow ones made juicy fodder
Whilst fast ones 'marking' were bothered.
Across forest, lake and dale we went
Till midge and we stopped for refreshment.
They followed us all the way to the sea
Where the tide turned and we were free.
England's world cup came to a halt
Whilst Newcastle was our assault... and we won!!
(Annie Hampson, 2010)
After a pit stop we started out on the off-road stretch and very quickly realised why we’d been advised not to bring road bikes. The support vans couldn’t follow so with one whizzing the long way round to the top and one left at the bottom we started the climb through the shrapnel and rubble that pathed the way. It was tough and took a lot of concentration and sheer bravery in this writer’s humble opinion. In googling the Lakeside way to find out the number of miles we covered in the two hours (approx 12), I came across some information I’m glad I didn’t know before. Apparently Kielder is the home of the adder, Britain’s only venomous snake, brilliant!
Considering this was the most dangerous stretch of the four days, we did well to get away with only one serious collision and fall. Clive and Guy became victims of the uneven track but they both barely flinched and got straight back on despite the blood dripping down Clive’s leg. For this he was awarded wipe-out of the day. The last stretch of the Lakeside cycleway Ben and Si (along with others I’m sure) showed off their downhill riding skills, they waited at the top of a frankly ridiculous slope and bombed down the trail, petrifying just to watch!
We had reached the border, good job really as the t-shirts all said “borders marauders”.
The afternoon continued in the now familiar challenging fashion, we scaled a narrow steep track, rode downhill though a forest and reached one of the high points of the trip, literally, approximately 1200 ft. All of the scenery was absolutely stunning, the only trouble was catching your breath for long enough to look up and appreciate it! We passed a sign for “Gill”, which was a perfect excuse for a photo for our infallible, indestructible, unquestionable leader.
Lunch/afternoon tea was taken at the Bailey Mill pub. They laid on tea and cake and we all had a well deserved sit down and chat with the friendly if slightly eccentric owner and his dog (who seemed to take a particular shine to us and ran alongside us for the next mile or so).
We were heading for Brampton, and after a slightly agonising complication involving some local roadworks and then a lay-by and a cow we boarded the bus to Carlisle where we were to spend the night. This was the most westerly point of the journey as day 3 would see us start our journey back towards Newcastle to complete our figure of eight.
Day 3
Roseleen’s friend, who had helped guide the coach the night before, joined us for the stretch from Brampton to Birdoswald. We cycled along Hadrian’s wall (with photo opportunities a-plenty) across a stunning stretch with Scotland to our left and England to our right. We then had a very unassuming but well supported pit stop at a service station where we were joined by various of Andy’s in-laws in the lay-by. After a much welcomed break of all the usual cycling must haves and delicacies at Once Brewed (provided by the wonderful support team) and after a surprise visit by John T’s auntie Joan and her friend (all the way from Yorkshire!) we were off again towards our evening residence, Otterburn hall.
This turned out to be our most challenging day of cycling. The hills were relentless and unforgiving. We battled on and on, and on. Where we would have been without the practice runs to Box Hill and Brighton is a mystery! Everyone showed real determination and resolve and none more so than Steve who after finding the Brighton ride tougher than he’d liked, had been in serious training leading up to the main event and somehow, contrary to normal practice, seemed to get stronger with each day of the ride!
On arrival at Otterburn Hall we were met by the familiar sight of a London Routemaster bus. I’m sure many would have believed it was a mirage as we wearily collapsed off our bikes. We now had a new kind of challenge to embrace: finding ones room at the aptly dubbed Fawlty Towers.
Once we’d all found our rooms (which turned out to be quite variable) in the bizarre topsy turvey layout other little quirks soon became apparent. In response to complaints the staff seemed to operate a general shrugging policy and seemed as confused about the place as we were! However, all these idiosyncrasies just added to the charm. It was a beautiful setting and although we were all completely exhausted, it was a great setting to relax at the end of a long day. So long in fact that Noel of Team Glaxo fame couldn’t generate much of a following for his last night blowout that he’d been looking forward to all day!
Firstly, wipe-out of the day came very early. Not even out on the road and Anne took an almighty tumble. It was a spectacular fall necessitating a trip to hospital thus earning her at least a 9/10 on Jon’s very strict scale. She was whisked to the hospital and thankfully was patched up and joined us for celebrations later in the day much to everyone’s relief.
The morning trip to Blythe was spectacular. Gorgeous, rolling countryside with only a few Sunday cyclists or the occasional cow to remind us that we were not quite on top of the world. No longer troubled by the odd hill we soared across them, gaining as much speed as possible just in case it would be enough to propel us over the next summit. It invariably didn’t and there was the odd groan when what we thought was the top became just a short plateau before the next and then the next! Downhill was fun though!
From Blythe we took the coastal route to the lunch stop where we were met for the last time by Dog and Duck (JG’s camper van) and the rest of the camp. Just in time for kickoff. For of course FIFA had not taken us into consideration when scheduling the games for the 2010 world cup and some had to make the hard decision about where their priorities lay. All chose the bike ride! This could have been different had England been winning by the time we were due to set off but we’ll never know.
The last stretch took us through the outskirts of Newcastle picking up score updates along the way.. It was punctures galore as we took the towpath for the last few miles but undeterred we flew into the striking city of Newcastle and crossed the finish line with gusto!
Cyclist of the day
On the scraps of notes made after too many glasses of wine at the Slug and Lettuce this starts Dimity, Dora, Dotty – not sure quite whether we’re going anywhere with this? Anyway it continues and there is so much crossing out that it seems cyclist of the day can’t really be pinned on any four people! Well done everyone!
Wipeout of the day
Day 2: Clive
Day 3: Kate (I think Jon only gave her a 3)
Day 4: Anne
Honorary cyclist of the day:
that dog
Most useful:
James Hampson – fixed something for everyone at somepoint! He was even spotted filling up people’s waterbottles when all the bikes were shipshape.
Most dramatic improvement:
Steve!
Best marker:
Simon – if he ever bores of props, he would make an awesome lollipop person.
Best dressed:
Jackie – this was originally going to be an “of the day” category but after day two we decided that would be a waste of time so room for improvement here next year every one!
Wimp of the weekend:
Suzi
Best cyclist to get stuck on a long mark or impromptu stop with:
Gary – but only for his figs.
