Double Header

With the arrival of some glorious spring weather, the rapidly approaching Cycle Challenge 2015 and the ongoing 30 Days Of Biking event, the weekend of 11^th and 12^th of April seemed like an ideal time for a two day biking weekend. The planned ride for Saturday was a 50 mile route out to Ponteland, on to Heddon on the Wall, down towards Wylam then along the south side of the River Tyne to rendezvous with a cycling group from Cullercoats Bike & Kayak at the Cycle Hub. After that the trip home was to be via Route 72, turning off at Wallsend Dene before re-joining Route 72 at Silverlink and heading back through Shiremoor and Holywell.

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.

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.

Sunday Training Ride - 23.03.2014

Nine of us met outside the Delaval Arms on a bright, cool morning for our regular Sunday ride. There was a brisk, northerly wind as we set off along the coast.

At the Rendezvous Cafe we took a left and headed up Monkseaton Drive to South Wellfield and then on to Earsdon and Shiremoor.The familiar route through Silverlink followed but instead of dropping down to Percy Main we skirted the Retail Park and rode through a housing estate which took us into the Rising Sun Country Park.