Coast to Coast
This classic Great British ride covers some of northern England's most rugged & spectacular scenery. Join us on this 130 mile ride from the west coast to the east coast of England and enjoy one of the UK's most archetypal and memorable tours.
We will be following the West to East CTC route developed by Sustrans and the Lake District National Park authorities which uses National Cycle Network routes 71, 7 & 14.
After dipping our wheels in the Irish Sea at Workington we will cross the northern edge of the Lake District to the Eden Valley. Back into the hills we cross the North Pennines before dropping down to the post-industrial landscape of the North East and dipping our wheels into the North Sea at Tyneside.
The route that we take avoids main roads and keeps to quiet country lanes and cycleways. A guide cycles with the group & your luggage is moved for you each day. You are provided with detailed route notes and maps so that you can cycle at your own pace or you can cycle with our guide who is always at the back of the group. The back up van will carry spares & a few spare bikes and will be on hand to help with any mechanical problems that may occur en-route. Breakfasts are provided each morning & 2 lunches are provided at a cafe en-route (lunch isn't included on the final day).
We aim to take the hassle of organising a tour away from you so that you can concentrate on enjoying yourself and completing the coast to coast challenge. Your bags are moved for you each day & you have the knowledge that if anything goes wrong with your bike we will be on hand to fix it for you or provide a spare bike if necessary.
At the end of the tour we will take you to Newcastle station or you can be taken back to Workington if you left your car in the secure parking area. There is also somewhere to have a shower if you wish (especially handy if it has been raining & you have onward travel). There is always a good camaraderie during the trip and we aim to facilitate a relaxed, friendly & memorable tour.
At the end of the tour at Tynemouth you can chose to be transferred back to the start point along with your bike. If you chose the return transfer option please add £50.00 to the total tour price
Tour dates:
Thu 26th - Sun 29th April 2012 - Only 2 places left
Thu 12th - Sun 15th July 2012 - Only 4 places left
Sun 12th - Wed 15th August 2012 - Places available
Thu 11th - Sun 14th October 2012 - Places available
What's Included?
The tour price includes 3 nights accommodation, 3 breakfasts, 2 lunches, full trip support including a tour leader that cycles with the group, back up van with spare parts and a few spare bikes, detailed route notes and maps so that you can cycle at your own pace and luggage transfer each day.
What's Not Included?
Evening meals, cycle hire (available for £50), transport to Workington, transport from Tynemouth.
Group Size
The group will be a minimum of 8 and a maximum of 20 people. We feel that this size of group works best as there will always be enough in the group for some good company but there won’t be so many people that it becomes overcrowded.
Accommodation
You will stay in a variety of places in a mixture of 2 - 3 star B&B’s. All the places that we stay have been carefully selected on grounds of character, location, comfort and cleanliness. Hot showers will always be available so that you can get cleaned up and relax after a long day on the saddle.
Food
All of your breakfasts are included in the price of the trip. You will have a choice of full English, toast, cereals, fruit juices, tea, coffee etc. Lunches are also provided on the first two days cycling at a local cafe. We will meet each evening at a local pub for an evening meal (not included in the price).
Back Up
An experienced tour leader will cycle with you each day and be on hand to help with any bike problems that may occur. You will have detailed route notes so that you can go slower or faster than the leader if you prefer or you can cycle behind the tour leader so that you don’t have to navigate at all.
A back up van will leap frog the group a number of times each day so that help is never far away. We carry a range of spare parts so that repairs can be made en-route and we will have a spare bike available in the event that your bike has a serious breakdown.
Bikes
We highly recommend that you use a bike that you are used to and feel comfortable riding. Your bike should be fully serviced and in good condition before you start, this will reduce the risk of mechanical problems and unnecessary stoppages along the way. A hybrid bike is preferable however the ride can be done on a mountain bike if you prefer. We have a range of hybrid bikes & mountain bikes available for hire (£50 per person) if you don’t have your own bike.
Fitness
This tour is suitable for someone with a reasonable level of fitness and who wants a challenge. If you do plenty of training beforehand you should have no problem completing the ride.
It must be stressed that a good amount of training before the ride will make your tour much more enjoyable and ensure that you finish your ride. We are always happy to advise you about training plans in preparation for the ride.
Clothing & equipment
Clothing for all weathers is recommended so waterproofs are essential. A full recommended kit list is provided & we are always happy to answer any questions that you may have.
Your baggage will be transferred for you each day and will be waiting for you at your accommodation when you arrive.
