The C2C Guide - submitted trip journals

'CE from Sea to C2C'
by ex-Chief Engineer D.A. Ridgway, ex World Prelude

Doug helps in compiling The C2C Guide particularly the North Eastern updates, maps
and route notes and wrote this report on his C2C trip for his in-house magazine.

In recent years, with advancing waistband, I have taken up cycling both for recreation and health. It has been my ambition for a number of years to complete the Sustrans Sea to Sea (C2C) cycle challenge. After signing off the World Prelude for my last vacation in March 2000 I achieved my objective. In order to prepare for this ride, an intense programme of exercise was undertaken as a 1999 New Years resolution, which I am happy to say I kept to (despite the doubts of others on board) until I signed off.

However, a two week secondment to Singapore Office in March before the start of the vacation undid some of the good results achieved. You could say my time in the Office was 'exhausting'.

We set out to complete the ride in three days during the first weekend in June. Needless to say we experienced the boundless diversity of weather that England calls Summer, ranging from all too brief spells of sunshine to light rain to heavy hailstorms and freezing rain. It was even reported that one inch of snow had fallen somewhere in the Lake District not very far from us.

The C2C is a long distance cycle path - a challenging 140 miles over the roof of Northern England. A variety of paths, rough trails, minor roads or disused railway lines are used. The route is best ridden using a mountain bike from west to east to advantage of the 'supposedly' prevailing winds from the west. There are several hills to climb, the highest some 2000 feet above sea level. Tradition dictates that the should start by dipping the bike wheels into the Irish Sea and is only completed when the wheels touch the North Sea 140 miles later.

I own a 24 speed 'Specialized Rockhopper' mountain bike, with semi-slick tyres, trip computer, V-brakes and the latest gadgetry etc. Suffice to say, my trusty steed let me down when I suffered two punctures; the second time resulting in a major rear tyre blow out, right on top of the moors during a heavy storm (monsoon category) and miles from anywhere. I managed to hitch a lift to the nearest hostelry, where my wife was waiting with a new tyre.

Once this was fitted I backtracked and completed the rest of the journey to Sunderland, where a wondrous celebration was awaiting us. all our wives, partners, friends and family were there with champagne and very cold beer. Overall the time spent on the saddle was about 22 hours, spread over three days. The C2C record is less than 15 hours non-stop, I must train harder the next time.

Will I do it again? Yes, but most probably I will take more time using either the alternative 'off road' C2C sections or the newly opened 'Reivers' return cycle trail of 180 miles from East to West. Maybe the English weather will be kinder to me next time.