A fortnight ago I was about to start the Tim Woodcock Coast to Coast. Those in the know will agree this is one challenging little MTB ride. The forecast couldn't have been much worse - 76 flood warnings in place across England - and I'd just read an article recommending 6-7 days to complete it - we'd planned to do it in 4! Despite all evidence to the contrary, we managed it; with just one shower of rain each of the first 3 days, and a memorable 4th day of nearly constant rain and mud. It's funny how I've already started to elevate all the really difficult and challenging parts of the ride in my memory and pretty well forgotten about the huge distances, long hours, and other easy bits.
Our main mistake was nearly missing dinner and a pint each day. This was supposed to be a holiday after all. On reflection I think we made this mistake months before we even started the ride by booking the train up for the morning of Day 1 - pushing everything back.
- Day 1 we left Watford Junction at 6:20am, meaning we'd be at St. Bees and riding by 12pm at the earliest. Despite trying to keep up a good pace all day we arrived in Coniston at 9pm and were literally the last meal served at the pub. With no real rest or down time we were late setting off the next day - about 9:30am.
- Day 2 was a big one and setting of that late was always going to make it tough to get in for the all important dinner and a pint. We had to stop at a pub a few miles short of our nights accommodation and eventually checked in at 10pm.
- Day 3 saw a similarly late departure after some much needed bike maintenance - 10am ish. Desperate for a relaxed dinner and pint, the longest day of mileage ahead of us pretty much forced us to take in a few more road miles than I had in mind. We did have a good dinner that night, and treated ourselves to 2 pints.
- The easy miles on Day 3 were more than made up for on Day 4. Wet, muddy, cold, very difficult, and to add to our misery the North York Moors destroyed our brake pads. My biked limped the last 30km with no rear brake and a front brake that looked to fail in the same way at any moment.
Here's my kit list and notes from the train home:
Long distance biking (C2C - 4 days)
3 fine days with showers, 1 really wet day.
Flats - good, but did knock my legs a lot
Brake pads! Sandy conditions complete wore out brake pads on last day
Shoes - need light weight shoes. Managed without, but was a faf going to the pub
Seat - such a sore arse day 3 & 4. Adjustment? New seat? Seat is nothing special, not that old. OEM specialised seat?
Soap- small soap if staying at hostels, did without, but not ideal.
Dry bag - Revelate bags don't seem waterproof (Fantastic bags and would never consider panniers after using these bad boys with 12L dry bag up front, and Viscacha seat bag http://www.revelatedesigns.com/ )
Stuff:
4 - cycling shirts
1 - cycling shorts
4 - jocks (one day just in shorts, was good)
5 - socks (dumped each day)
1 - wool ice breaker jumper
1 - long sleeve Tshirt
1 - Swiss army knife (did not use)
1 - toothbrush, floss, toothpaste
1 - small bottle oil (essential)
1 - multi tool
1 - tube
1 - pump
1 - repair kit
1 - commuter light front & back
1 - emergency cag
1 – Sunglasses / sunscreen
1 - Tshirt
1 - cycling trousers (not much use)
1 - light weight trousers. Not white next time, could probably reuse cycle trousers as did not cycle in the trousers
1 - cycle jacket
2 - light shorts
1 – MTB head lamp, 2 batteries
1 - phone charging battery pack
1 - phone charger
1 - phone / camera
1 – Maps, GPS (Darren), Compass
Food:
2/3 tablespoons of flax seed at breakfast
SIS powder drink mix
Mint cake each day
1/2 bag 150g? Nut/raisin mix each day
Biscuits or muesli bar each day
Fig rolls / pillow biscuits
Things my mate carried that I consider essential:
Cable ties
3 fine days with showers, 1 really wet day.
Flats - good, but did knock my legs a lot
Brake pads! Sandy conditions complete wore out brake pads on last day
Shoes - need light weight shoes. Managed without, but was a faf going to the pub
Seat - such a sore arse day 3 & 4. Adjustment? New seat? Seat is nothing special, not that old. OEM specialised seat?
Soap- small soap if staying at hostels, did without, but not ideal.
Dry bag - Revelate bags don't seem waterproof (Fantastic bags and would never consider panniers after using these bad boys with 12L dry bag up front, and Viscacha seat bag http://www.revelatedesigns.com/ )
Stuff:
4 - cycling shirts
1 - cycling shorts
4 - jocks (one day just in shorts, was good)
5 - socks (dumped each day)
1 - wool ice breaker jumper
1 - long sleeve Tshirt
1 - Swiss army knife (did not use)
1 - toothbrush, floss, toothpaste
1 - small bottle oil (essential)
1 - multi tool
1 - tube
1 - pump
1 - repair kit
1 - commuter light front & back
1 - emergency cag
1 – Sunglasses / sunscreen
1 - Tshirt
1 - cycling trousers (not much use)
1 - light weight trousers. Not white next time, could probably reuse cycle trousers as did not cycle in the trousers
1 - cycle jacket
2 - light shorts
1 – MTB head lamp, 2 batteries
1 - phone charging battery pack
1 - phone charger
1 - phone / camera
1 – Maps, GPS (Darren), Compass
Food:
2/3 tablespoons of flax seed at breakfast
SIS powder drink mix
Mint cake each day
1/2 bag 150g? Nut/raisin mix each day
Biscuits or muesli bar each day
Fig rolls / pillow biscuits
Things my mate carried that I consider essential:
Cable ties
Now for the main reason I started this blog - now what? I love riding, I love adventures, I love my family, and I'm so lucky that my main problem is choosing what to do next. So here's a thought - MTB 3 peaks:
1. Must be bridleways (obvious)
2. Must be highest in England, Scotland, and Wales
3. Must be done in 24hr's
4. Must ride all of it (is that possible?)
Helvellyn (England, 950m):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXFYZUd7UQs
Snowdon (Wales, 1085m):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqUFUQuygvs
Ben Nevis (Scotland, 1344m):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMFkHGLcK-Q
Not a totally unique idea perhaps:
http://www.mbr.co.uk/news/trail_news/mountain-bike-route-%E2%80%93-helvellyn/
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