Some Final Thoughts

Seaton Sluice Backpedalers big event, the Kielder Kaper, is almost upon us. By now, hopefully, all riders have reached a peak of physical perfection in preparation for what will be a demanding three days of cycling.

Day 1 – Delaval Arms to Bellingham

We’ll be covering over 150 miles over 3 days so it is important that riders follow the correct route and don’t add any extra distance to the total. On Day 1 we we will be following Route 10 (Reivers) from the Delaval Arms to Bellingham.

At Backworth we will stay on the road until we pass the Killingworth turn and then take a sharp left onto the cycle track.

Sustrans have been busy putting up new signs so theoretically there shouldn’t be any problems.



In practice, it may not be that simple. Some of the signs are quite small and could be missed if riders are distracted and not concentrating. Remember – if you miss a turn you may end up doing extra miles and those extra miles are certain to involve going uphill.

The Clock Is Ticking ……..

In two weeks time Cycle Challenge 2016 will be underway. On a ride we have named the Kielder Kaper, 22 Backpedalers will be cycling 150 miles around Northumberland (the easy bit) to raise funds for our chosen charity Daft As A Brush (the hard bit).


Last year we raised the amazing sum of £10 000 which is still the single biggest donation Daft As A Brush has ever recieved. We would dearly like to raise a similar amount this year but in order to do that we need lot of help from our supporters, 

If you would like to help us achieve our target, there are several ways you can donate.

We have an online page with Virgin Moneygiving which offers a number of options for sponsoring us. In addition, Backpedalers have sponsor forms so supporters can sign up and make a donation.

Visitors to the bar at the Delaval Arms will see a large sponsor form displayed and collection tins are positioned on the counter.

As stated above, riding a bike is the easy bit, raising funds for a worthwhile charity can be hard. In previous years we have been lucky enough to have had tremendous support from our supporters and sponsors in the local community and around the region. It will be a big ask to match, or even exceed last year’s total but if we aim high, who knows what could happen?

Kielder Kaper

Planning for the Kielder Kaper, aka Cycle Challenge 2016, is now at an advanced stage. Riders have been recruited and accommodation booked so details of the route can now be revealed.

A major change is that next year’s route will start and finish at the Delaval Arms making organisation much easier. The event will take place over the weekend of May 28-30 2016 and involve cycling approximately 155 miles in the Northumbrian countryside. 

Day 1 – Delaval Arms to Bellingham.

Starting at the Delaval Arms, the route heads south on NCN 1 towards Tynemouth before joining the Reivers Route (NCN 10) at North Shields. We will stay on the Reivers all the way to Bellingham, a distance of 55 miles and climbing 2 355 feet along the way.

Coming Soon!

Coming soon - Cycle Challenge 2016. 

After the tremendous success of Cycle Challenge 2015 which saw Seaton Sluice Backpedalers raise over £10 000 for Daft As A Brush Cancer Patient Care, we are delighted to reveal that planning for Cycle Challenge is well under way. It will take place over the weekend of 28th-30th May 2016, our usual weekend incorporating Spring Bank Holiday Monday.

There are a few changes to our usual arrangements. The route will begin and end at the Delaval Arms. This means we will not need to transport bikes to the starting point. This reduces costs for the riders and has the added bonus of increasing the size of our cycling team. We're so popular that we have a waiting list of potential participants! It also allows us to ride a route which is entirely in Northumberland. Details of the route will be published on this website soon.

We still have a few details to work out. Will we raise money money for charity and if so which charity? We'll be having a meeting soon when those questions will be answered. The decisions may not be too difficult.

Check back for updates.

Some Recent Rides

Cycling can be a challenge in the winter months. Although the 2014-15 hasn't been particularly bad (so far) there have been some difficult conditions. These always seem to arrive on Sundays which is our regular cycling day. As everyone knows, windy conditions are hated by cyclists and we seem to have had a succession of windy weekends. Nevertheless, a small but determined group of Backpedalers have been meeting outside the Delaval Arms (usually at 9.30 am) to get a few miles into their legs. The last two Sundays they have followed a route which takes them down to Tynemouth, along to North Shields and past Wallsend into the Rising Sun Country Park. The café there (famous for its homemade scones) is an excellent coffee stop. After that, the route goes on to Holystone, up to Killingworth and Backworth then back to Seaton Sluice via Seghill. For those who can't access our Facebook page, here is a selection of photographs from two recent rides.

How To Sponsor Us

The success of Cycle Challenge 2015 will depend on a number of factors. Everyone completing the ride and having fun along the way is guaranteed but of course, our aim is to raise as much money as we can for our chosen charity, Daft As A Brush Cancer Patient Care.

All Backpedalers will have sponsor forms for collecting donations. There is also be a large version on display in the Delaval Arms.

In order to collect Gift Aid, which adds 25% to the value of the donation, it is important that donors provide their name, their house number (or house name), the first line of their address and their post code.

An alternative to a sponsor form is the Virgin Money Giving online system used by Daft As A Brush. Seaton Sluice Backpedalers have their own page up and running and ready to receive donations.

Runners and Riders

Daft As A Brush Cancer Patient Care have eighteen people carriers which they use to transport patients to and from their hospital appointments.

Each people carrier is sponsored by a local school and has a name chosen by the children.We thought it would be a good idea to assign a people carrier name to each Backpedaler so that we can identify more closely with the work of Daft As A Brush. Names were drawn out of a hat in an open and transparent manner (honestly!).

Raring To Go

Last night Backpedalers met in the Delaval Arms to get an update on Cycle Challenge 2015. Everything is going to plan with transport, accommodation and restaurants all booked. We have a sponsor for our cycling shirts and t-shirts have been supplied by Daft As A Brush.
Jean Ross and Brian Burnie of Daft As A Brush were present to meet the team and Brian took the opportunity to tell us a little more about the work and future plans of the charity he founded.

One Backpedaler posted on their Facebook page:

"Had a very inspirational meeting with the founder of daft as a brush ... Can safely say what a deserving charity to be doing the ride for."

It's fair to say that's how everyone at the meeting felt.

Fish Quay Round

This route takes in parts of the North Sea Cycle Route, Hadrian's Cycleway and the Reivers Regional Cycle Route 10. Most of the route is on cycle paths and bridleways but there are two short sections on road. There is one short but fairly steep ascent and the route is suitable for mountain bikes and hybrids. It begins and ends at the Delaval Arms. The total distance is about 18 miles.

1. Leave the Delaval Arms and head down the hill past the caravan site.

2. Follow the track which runs south past St Mary's Lighthouse, turn right onto the road and carry on up to the cycle path which runs along side The Links. Proceed along the cycle path.

3. Turn left off the cycle path and take the path down to the promenade. This turn is easy to miss. It is after the car park and just before the Briar Dene. It is signed.

4. Proceed along the promenade as far as the Rendezvous Cafe.

5. Just past the cafe turn right and take the uphill path past the skate park and turn left at the top.

6. Head towards the Spanish City and join the cycle path which takes you along Whitley Bay promenade.

2015

2015 has arrived and it promises to be an interesting year for the Backpedalers. Top of the agenda is Cycle Challenge 2015. On 23rd May we will be leaving Edinburgh on the Coast and Castles cycle route and cycling 186 miles to the Delaval Arms over three days. As well as meeting a formidable physical challenge (and having fun), Backpedalers will be raising funds for local charity Daft As A Brush.

Fund raising is already underway with collection boxes in place on the bar in the Delaval Arms.

Other fund raising activities are in the pipe line and details will be announced in due course.

Holywell Dene

This is a ten mile route beginning and ending at the Delaval Arms. It is mostly on cycle paths and bridleways but there is a short on-road section. There are no uphill or downhill sections and it is suitable for mountain bikes and hybrid bikes.

 

1. Leave the Delaval Arms and head down the hill past the caravan site. 

2. Follow the track which runs south past St Mary's Lighthouse, turn right onto the road and carry on up to the cycle path which runs along side The Links. Proceed along the cycle path.

3. Turn left off the cycle path and take the path down to the promenade. This turn is easy to miss. It is after the car park and just before the Briar Dene. It is signed.

Party At The Drift Cafe

The Drift Cafe at Cresswell has, in a very short space of time, established itself as one of the Backpedalers' favourite watering holes.

 When we cycle North we either head for Newbiggin or Cresswell. Although Bertorelli's at Newbiggin is an excellent cafe they don't do bacon sandwiches and this is where the Drift Cafe has the edge even though it adds ten miles to the trip.
The cafe is located on the north side of the village and the Coast and Castles Cycle Route (NCN1) passes right outside the front door. A feature of the cafe is its extensive menu.

Normally we opt for a bacon and egg sandwich but the specials on the menu always look interesting.

A Visit To Daft As A Brush

Three Backpedalers called in at the Gosforth Headquarters of Daft As A Brush Cancer Patient Care to discuss our decision to support the charity as part of our Cycle Challenge 2015.

Brian Burnie, the founder of the charity, was present and was keen to explain the importance of the work they do. We didn't need much convincing but it made us realise that we'd made the right choice when selecting them as the charity we'd raise funds for.

Famous Last Words

Everyone does it - say things they later regret - and we cyclists aren't immune. What is surprising is that the same people say the same thing over and over again and don't seem to learn from previous mistakes.
Weather conditions are never far from the mind of cyclists but we are used to going out for a ride in comditions which are less than ideal. If we waited for the perfect day we wouldn't get a lot of cycling done. One of our greatest bugbears is windy conditions.

How often have you heard someone say,

"The wind is against us now but it will be in our backs on the way home"?

Wrong! That's the perfect example of Famous Last Words. What is certain is that a headwind on the outer journey will become an even stronger headwind on the return journey. It's one of the laws of cycling. It doesn't matter whether it's northerly, southerly, westerley or easterley. Basically, all winds are againsterley as far as cyclists are concerned and as your ride progresses and you become more and more tired the wind in your face gets stronger and stronger.

Cycle Challenge 2015

The weekend of 23rd - 25th May 2015 will see Seaton Sluice Backpedalers undertake their third long distance cycle ride. The chosen route is from Edinburgh to Seaton Sluice along the Coast & Castles cycle path following National Route 1, a total distance of 186 miles.

The breakdown is as follows:
Day 1 - Edinburgh to Melrose, 55 miles.
Day 2 - Melrose to Purdy Lodge, 69 miles.
Day 3 - Purdy Lodge to Seaton Sluice, 62 miles.

According to the Coast & Castles Guide, this is the wrong way round. Most people start in Newcastle and finish in Edinburgh. The reasoning is:

1. The prevailing wind is likely to be south to north, and
2. Edinburgh is a nicer place to finish than Seaton Sluice!

The first point is highly debatable. As regular cyclists in the north-east of England we are aware of trends in wind direction and are prepared to take our chance. If we're cycling into a head wind we'll get our heads down and get on with it. As regards the second point, what could be better than arriving home to a welcome from friends, families and supporters? Judging from our previous experience, the Delaval Arms is a pretty good place to finish.

Hadrian's Cyleway Photographs

Lots of photographs were taken over the three days of the Hadrian's Cycleway Challenge and these can be viewed on Seaton Sluice Backpedalers Facebook page. Visitors to this blog who do not have access to Facebook can now view the photographs on Photobucket by clicking on the following links:

Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

In addition, videos are available on YouTube

Day 1
 
Day 2

Day 3

 
 

Presentation Evening

The Backpedalers got together in the Delaval Arms on Tuesday 17th June 2014 to hand over the sponsorship money raised by their Hadrian's Cycleway Challenge. 
Amanda Simmister was present to represent the Great North Air Ambulance Service and received a cheque for £5732.00.

This amount represents what has been collected so far. When Gift Aid has been claimed for some of the donations it is hoped that the grand total will be in excess of £6000.00. 

Backpedalers would like to thank all their friends and supporters for making it possible for them to raise this tremendous sum for a very deserving cause.

Cycle Challenge 2015
We're on a roll. Just when you thought it was safe to put the bike back in the shed, planning is underway for next year's event. The proposed route is the Coast and Castles Cycleway (travelling North to South - 187 miles) and the dates are 23rd - 25th May.

The Domino Effect

Another Sunday morning, another Sunday ride.

Six Backpedalers assembled outside The Delaval Arms on a warm June morning with the intention of heading north on the Coast to Castles cycle route. The weather forecast was for a fine morning with the risk of a shower in the afternoon.
The route, by now very familiar to the Backpedalers, took the group up to Blyth, Bedlington, Cambois and on to Woodhorn.

The journey through Lynemouth was uneventful and in stark contrast to the group's last visit. (See Wet and Windy). Likewise the journey from Lynemouth to Cresswell passed easily and the decision was made to end the outward journey at the Drift Cafe.

This turned out to be a good choice as no sooner had the Backpedalers been served their coffees and bacon sandwiches when a group of about twenty cyclists arrived and filled the remaining seats in the cafe. It turned out that they were a group based in Newcastle who called themselves the Old Gits Cycling Club. They were on the second day of, in their words, a bastardised version of the Coast and Castles cycle route and had called in to the Drift Cafe before heading home.
The Backpedalers finished their refreshments .....

...... then paused for a group photograph before heading home.

The return journey took place at a good pace and was uneventful apart from one remarkable event.

A Sunday Morning Bimble

Sunday mornings are still the time set aside for a bike ride - 9.30 am meet at The Delaval Arms - and seven Backpedalers set off on what looked to be a promising day.

The aim was to have a pleasant, gentle ride in convivial company (known as a bimble) so the group started by heading south towards St Mary's Island and on to the promenade at Whitley Bay. A right turn at the Rendezvous Cafe led up Monkseaton Drive then on to the old railway line through Holywell Dene. Once The Avenue was reached, the group turned west, passed through Seaton Delaval then up to Mare's Close and round the north side of Seghill. The track past Jolley's led on to Fisher Road, Backworth Lane and a short stretch of the Reivers Route. From here, the group followed the waggonway through to Killingworth Village. 

The track down past Holystone School led on to a short on-road section until the turn into Rising Sun Country Park was reached.

Hadrian's Cycleway Challenge - 24th - 26th May 2014

In November 2013 Seaton Sluice Backpedalers decided that their next cycle challenge would be Hadrian's Cycleway, a 180 mile route starting at Ravenglass and ending at the Delaval Arms, Seaton Sluice. Seventeen riders signed up and a three strong support team was recruited. This is their story.
Day 1 - Ravenglass to Silloth
The day began early. WATBus had been hired to transport bikes and their riders from the Delaval Arms to Ravenglass leaving at 6 am, so on a grey and miserable Saturday morning, bikes, riders and their luggage were loaded onto the minibus and its trailer.

In under three hours the team had arrived in Ravenglass. To everyone's surprise and delight, the sky was blue and the temperature warm, so bikes were unpacked and prepared for the first leg of the route.

At 9.44 am the team saddled up and set off.

Once the rather tricky bridge over the River Mite had been negotiated the cycle path was easy riding in ideal conditions.

Good time was made along a track which was well signed and despite the first puncture of the trip......

....... the team reached Whitehaven just before midday. Once in the town, one member of the team decided that staying rubber side down was for wimps and promptly fell off his bike. Coffee was needed.

The next landmark was Workington and again the path was easy to follow and easy to ride.

The path beyond Workington was equally straightforward and Maryport was soon reached. There is a newly opened section of the route just outside Maryport which runs alongside the B5300 and is traffic free but cyclists still need to be aware of potential hazards!

The next stop was Allonby where refreshments were available at the friendly local cafe.

By now it was late afternoon and the sky was grey with a hint of rain. The ride into Silloth saw the weather deteriorate and the rain arrive but not enough to dampen spirits or even require waterproof jackets. The team arrived in Silloth just after 5 pm.

Prior to the trip, Silloth Golf Club had been contacted and an evening meal booked. This proved to be an excellent choice particularly since Silloth does not have a wide choice of restaurants.

53 miles completed and everyone was in fine fettle.