Solo C2C Coast to Coast Bike Ride - Whitehaven to Tynemouth - September 2013

[@junglebray]

what a well crafted video. gives a superb flavour of the ride.

[@millhillpudsey]

Thank you, much appreciated.

[@asamaddison5451]

Brilliant video. Thanks so much for sharing. I'm currently arranging my first coast to coast run for my fifth next year. The hills look a bit daunting but I'm already getting excited. Thanks again for the video.

[@millhillpudsey]

Good luck with your run.

[@MarksWildCamping]

Great video and acheivement! I did he C2C in June last year with a friend of mine but we decided to finish in Sunderland. One of the hardest things I have done I don't think I could do it solo, good man well done!

[@LynnGagnon1]

Thank you for sharing this beautiful ride with everyone. It has changed my idea of what the English countryside looks like! There is nothing quite so revealing as a bike ride!. The views you captured are spectacular.

[@FragranceGame85]

Great video. Just bought my first bike at age 35 and done 16miles yesterday and 21miles today. Not a lot but hoping to do the coast to coast in the summer so I will get there. Watching these for some inspiration. ☺️

[@millhillpudsey]

Brilliant, I'm sure you will enjoy it as I did. Good luck.

[@FragranceGame85]

@@millhillpudsey thanks very much 🙂

[@davidcoomber4050]

Well done , nicely filmed and edited

[@millhillpudsey]

Hi, glad the video has inspired you to do the ride, it is well worth the effort. My accommodation was Bed and Breakfast, there are so many to choose from. Good luck and enjoy the experience.

[@samjones1580]

excellent! Nice editing. Time alone on the bike is time well spent

[@dublogicgr]

Thank you so much for doing - after a year in nearly continual lockdown this video is so welcome - I did the c2c twice & this video brought back such great memories and also reminds me that I will be doing it again one day when all is well. Thank you

[@millhillpudsey]

It's a pleasure. Yes fingers crossed that we can return to some normality soon. Best wishes, Mike.

[@markwringe2826]

Beautifully put together, lovely balance of light commentary, clear, restrained graphics and still and moving camerawork. I'd been hoping to do the C2C this year, but it looks like it will have to wait a little longer - so I really enjoyed this.

[@millhillpudsey]

Thanks for the comments which are appreciated. I'm sure you will be doing this soon and hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Take care.

[@wifflebat56]

Had to give a wee thumbs up for the dedication at the end. Really enjoyed watching that. Thanks

[@millhillpudsey]

wifflebat56 Thank you.

[@750vfrman]

My new custom made Hybrid should be ready next week. Yippee! As an old timer who last cycled in the 8o's I hope this works. Once up to speed I look forward to C2C. Very nice video, not too much panning & zooming. Gives me something to aim at. Thanks for publishing.

[@robindews]

Great video, I am going to be doing this ride this summer with my two daughters after completing LeJog last summer. Thanks for posting.

[@millhillpudsey]

Thank you for your comments, funnily enough I am currently training to do the LEJOG setting off from Lands End on Monday 11th May and doing it over 14 days, how did you find it, tough, easy, painful?

[@twowheelsrolling3209]

Mike Richardson Hi Mike, we did our ride from the 1st to the 16th July. We were fifteen days on the road and one day sitting in a rainstorm! The video is here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gGq2e3qOYpyhrq8 Its a wonderful ride with all of the highs and lows of long distance cycling, but Cornwall was definately the hardest bit. We used the Cicerone - End to End book as our route and I can really recommend it. Have fun - Robin

[@millhillpudsey]

twowheelsrolling Good morning Robin, this is certainly a coincidence, I was searching You Tube for videos on the subject of the LEJOG around Christmas time and came across your 1+ hour video , I have watched it throughout at least twice the second time was with no sound ! but noticed that you sorted that little problem out, great video diary, you were so lucky with the weather and yes I have been warned about the hills on the first two days in Cornwall/Devon but living in West Yorkshire its not exactly flat. I have converted my mountain bike (the one in my video) to a hybrid and those slick narrow tyres certainly make a difference, I noticed that you were camping with your daughter and that must have been tough carrying all that equipment with you and then having to set up each night, I am going to be traveling a lot lighter and in more comfort as I have booked all my B&B accommodation in advance and as such will be planning to take the minimum with me. Lets hope the weather is as kind to me as it was for you, the C2C will be a breeze for you, there are a number of steep hills but if you can complete the LEJOG there's no limit what you can do.

[@Fromupnorth46]

It’s a beautiful ride. I did it solo on the solstice day. 11 and half hours. Nice video 👍

[@millhillpudsey]

Thanks Andy.

[@stevencowles8419]

Great video, I live in Whitehaven but have done only the local parts at my end, think this needs to be a plan for next year. I like the idea of taking 4 days and enjoying the sights a bit more.

[@millhillpudsey]

Hope you can do it you won't regret it, yes 4 days was just right.

[@davehollingworth5537]

Thank you. Really enjoyed that, and really want to the the C2C ride some day. Cheers.

[@millhillpudsey]

Thanks Dave, hope you manage to do it at some point, brilliant trip.

[@danranson3457]

Great video, brought back a lot of memories from when I completed it in July of this year. It really is a fantastic ride!

[@BBbBass2]

Thanks for the video it was great to watch, I am doing this ride this coming summer 2019 after first doing the Hadrians way so I start and finish in Tynemouth, not so sure about a road bike now I have seen some of those tracks. again a great video Mike really would reccomend to people who want to do this ride.

[@millhillpudsey]

Thanks Ian, good luck this summer and hope you enjoy the ride as much as I did.

[@nickorton9621]

Great video, doing the C2C Whitehaven to Tyneside over 3 days starting May 17, really looking forward to it having seen this super vid, hoping we have the same weather!

[@millhillpudsey]

Thank you for your comments Nick, I wish you good luck with both the ride and weather.

[@rickallen2581]

Thanks Mike great video, attempting same in a few weeks

[@millhillpudsey]

Good luck, you'll really enjoy it.

[@marleymac370]

Enjoyed ever bit of your cycle, resident of whitley bay. ☺

[@millhillpudsey]

Thanks Iain glad you enjoyed it.

[@TheWeardale1]

brilliant, and a very interesting route to do it too..!

[@millhillpudsey]

Thank you very much.

[@barrettinskip6137]

What a great video. It must have been a amazing experience. I'm training at the moment to do the C2C next year.

[@millhillpudsey]

Sorry for not getting back to you sooner. A year has nearly passed and the trip is still very vivid and one which hopefully I will never forget. I was not an experienced rider for long distance runs and took over four days to complete it, if I were to do it again I would probably do it in three days as I was getting to my destinations too quickly. Good luck with the training.

[@davyscales7732]

Good on you and well done, thanks for showing.

[@MrAnon-2024]

Enjoyed the video. Been wanting to do the c2c for years. Took voluntary redundancy / early retirement recently so no excuses now 😉

[@millhillpudsey]

Hi Paul, thanks for your comments, early retirement sounds great, I would highly recommend the trip, fantastic views. Good luck and let me know how you get on, cheers, Mike.

[@richcampoverde]

Lovely vid the music complements the scenery perfectly. I remember doing the c2c when I was at school took me a bit longer tho

[@chrisshaw2434]

Well done Mike!!!! Super video!!! Miss your company. Hope you're well. Give my regards to your dad.

[@davidcoomber4050]

nice trip and well filmed

[@millhillpudsey]

Thanks.

[@bush696]

Nice video. I did the C2C for my Bday in the one day on Saturday 14th May 16 - setting off 9am-11pm arriving in Sunderland. I'm still very sore after the effort. The Nenthead section was hardest for me, plus the Consett onwards section was a bit crappy in the dark. The benefit of doing it in one day is that did not need a rack or tents or clothing, just wore cycling shorts, top and jersey with spare waterproof cape, arm/leg warmers and tools in back pocket. Plenty of food shops en-route so no need to lug along a huge amount of gear. The more gear you carry, the harder the climbs. That goes for the good also, best to avoid pints of beer and huge meals. In terms of the bike, i have a 26" steel frame Ridgeback. Next time, i would do it on a road/cross bike with 700x28 tyres and set off earlier after a big breakfast and carry energy bars/gels and just eat en-route.

[@millhillpudsey]

+Christopher Bushell Well done Chris, If it was your Birthday can I ask how old you were.

[@bush696]

+Mike Richardson mid thirties, pretty good but not great physical condition

[@millhillpudsey]

+Christopher Bushell Well done again, I'm late 40's. Completed Lands End to John o'Groats exactly one year ago this week taking 14 days to do it, 1023 miles and possibly the best thing I have done to date, look me up on Facebook as I did a travel log. Cheers.

[@aghizi]

Great video for a great ride! Congrats!

[@Merlin-fl7vy]

Hi Mike, I really enjoyed your video. I just saw this one is 9 years old! How come you stopped making videos? I think you should make more 😀

[@alandodd3184]

I'm doing this at the end of July so it was good to see what I will letting myself in for!!

[@millhillpudsey]

Good luck Alan, I am sure you will enjoy yourself, hope the weather is good to you.

[@millhillpudsey]

P.S. check the route as part of it was washed away in the storms especially around Keswick, just a thought.

[@TonyEnglandUK]

Great video, Mike, you should put a link in the description for people to donate to Wheatfields

[@millhillpudsey]

Thanks Tony.

[@spottyride2657]

Cool ride 😺

[@johntaggart3578]

Completed the trip over 4 days this week from Tuesday-Friday. Great cycle and met some really interesting people along the way!

[@millhillpudsey]

Well done John, hope you enjoyed it as much as I did.

[@stevezodiac491]

I did the coast to coast for my wife's nursing home, for charity, when I was 40, between Whitehaven and Redcar ( 125 miles ). It took me 6 hours 38 minutes, including three short sandwich, drink and comfort stops. Racing, I have done 25 miles in 54 minutes 56 seconds and 100 miles in less than 4 hours but because this was for charity and I had to finish, I took it easy.

[@millhillpudsey]

Very well done, it took me a few more days. A very good cause as well.

[@jackking5567]

Stumbled upon the vid and although I'm no cycling fan, you've made a canny video!

[@vojagiblog4632]

Fantastic, I am planning to do this year. Your video showed me that is a worth ! Can you tell me if you use campsites, wild places or some different accommodations during that challenge? I wish to find some wild place for camp or campsites but not sure if possible? thank you in advance.

[@robcampbell7723]

Inspiring, well done!

[@millhillpudsey]

Thank you Rob, much appreciated.

[@zx50]

Two miles from Consett at 14:10? Consett's just up the road from there. Go left at the other end of that path, along a bit, then up the road a bit that's to your right and that's it. It's well under a mile from where you were.

[@millhillpudsey]

Yes you are right it's almost on the outskirts of Consett, I was narrating on the go so probably didn't realise how close I was. Sorry for the incorrect information.

[@get953]

I did this twice, in 2011 and 2012 and then drove a car support for my brother and his mates in 2013. Great experience. We did, DAY ONE - Workington to Penrith. DAY TWO - Penrith to Allenheads DAY THREE - Allenheads to Tynemouth. Best part is the Waskerley Way (those suicide prevention fences were not up when we did them so had to be careful not to get close to the edge).

[@millhillpudsey]

Great effort and well done in doing it in three days, to be honest with you I could have done it in three days myself as I was getting to my destination each day far too early, in fact on the first day I travelled down Borrowdale Valley for afternoon tea at the Mary Mount hotel as I had got to Keswick just before 2.00pm. This years challenge is Lands End to John o'Groats in May, can't wait !

[@rod4753]

Mike, Great video. I'm doing a loop from Glasgow across the C2C and back to Glasgow. Only thing I'm trying to decide is whether to go clockwise: Glasgow-Edinburgh-Newcastle-Carlisle-Glasgow or counter-clockwise. What was the prevailing wind when you rode the C2C? I'm riding the end of June. Thanks for the info.

[@bakerfieldmusic5511]

Mike, thanks for the great, relaxed video!! I'm 53 and took up cycling sort-of accidentally 2 yrs ago, now doing 5k a year, loving every mile! I'm inspired by your vid BUT the big question is; how did you navigate? I'm sure I would get lost. Please explain! I'm hoping you can convince me to do the same trip but I am an awful navigator. Is the route signposted? Cheers. Pete.

[@millhillpudsey]

Hi Pete, I'm not a very good navigator myself but I used an outdoor GPS unit which I preprogrammed with the route taken from the Internet, easy to navigate just don't forget the batteries! I would definitely do it again, it's tough going in some places but the scenery is breathtaking and the sense of achievement is overwhelming so much so that I completed the 1,023 mile LEJOG (Lands End to John O'groats bike ride) in May 2015 again just using a GPS, O.K. got lost a little in two places but if it wasn't for the GPS I would still be down in Cornwall!

[@ppenguinpete]

+Mike Richardson thanks Mike. I'll check out your other adventures.

[@millhillpudsey]

I have not posted anything on the LEJOG yet, good luck with your adventures and if you need any advice on choosing a GPS unless you already have got one let me know.

[@mwp6662]

Mike Richardson sustrans is a national cycling charity who encourage cycling for enjoyment and fitness and a way to see our great nation. they are the ones behind the C2C route (actually is Sea-to-Sea but is phonetically abbreviated). There are small blue but visible numbers on signs all throughout the country and each corresponds to a different route. look up the correct numbers and you hardly need a map. North East is 7 I think, with 70(77?) and 14 for the other parts, I think. Hope this helps! Just keep your eyes peeled :)

[@peterdavis1000]

Hi Mike, my wife & I have just been enjoying your great video as we're doing C2C in June . Can I ask name of the pannier your using ? Been looking something similar as also have mountain bike which wont take normal panniers. Many thanks.

[@millhillpudsey]

Good evening Peter. Cannot remember the exact model of the pannier bag as it was a few years ago now but it was the type which has a single clamp that attaches to the seat post, worked well.

[@peterdavis1000]

@@millhillpudsey Thanks Mike, found one by using the right (your) words on google. Cheers.

[@millhillpudsey]

Great, have a good trip.

[@ianmclaughlan]

I used to holiday in Whitehaven wish I could try that big ride

[@chrisrowell77]

Lovely video. How did you avoid crawleyside?

[@neilmason158]

Great video and voice over. would you say a MTB was the best option for the ride. Also interested what were you riding

[@millhillpudsey]

Hi Neil. The majority of the ride is on good surfaces so you would not need a mountain bike, I accomplished the ride on a Trek X caliber mountain bike with knobbly tyres (29er) but it would have been easier on a Hybrid. There are two off road sections that I can remember which would be difficult on a true road bike which were Whinlatter Pass and the climb out of Rookhope. Hope this helps.

[@millhillpudsey]

The camcorder used is the Sony HDR-GW55, I used Windows Movie Maker which is very easy to use and is bundled with Windows 7 operating system. Hope this helps.

[@duckpond9109]

thanks for vid. planning to do it in 2 days in may.

[@millhillpudsey]

Good luck with your adventure, hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

[@loririchardson1817]

Hello Mike, Thank you so much for this video. I have dreamed of coming to the UK and either hiking or bicycling. It has been a life long dream of mine. Sadly, I don't believe I will have a chance as I am now fifty and my health is failing. I really enjoyed seeing you video. I loved you comments and panoramic views. Do you plan on ever putting up more? Thank you, Lori Richardson

[@millhillpudsey]

Lori Richardson Hi Lori, Thank you very much for your comments, I have just completed the LEJOG which is short for Lands End to John O'Groats which is the greatest distance between two points in the U.K and covered 1022 miles in 14 days so may put some photos up of the epic ride. Cheers, Mike.

[@CharacterToyStore]

I’m thinking of doing this route solo this Summer for charity. Do you have any tips and what was your set up, navigation etc?

[@millhillpudsey]

I used the Cicerone C2C guide stopping off at three places as described in the Video. I used a mountain bike with a seat post pannier rack. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Best wishes.

[@millhillpudsey]

Thanks Steve, might even get you cycling!

[@marlenrichter2295]

Was this all the "official" Sustrans route? thinkng about doing it on a Brompton bike in summer and trying to judge if it is feasible. Thank you

[@millhillpudsey]

Hi. Yes I believe it was the official route but there were some parts which were rough and may not be suitable for a Brompton. I did the ride on a mountain bike.

[@tux700]

Great video

[@TheStan80]

Made it look easy, which places did you stay over night please?

[@millhillpudsey]

Hi Michael, The ride was fairly easy over the four day period and I would definitely recommend it anybody, as you can see from the video I was lucky with the weather. Anyway the accommodation is as follows. Arrived in Whitehaven by train and stopped at the Waverley Hotel Tel: [phone], 1st day stopped at The Mill Inn, Mungrisdale Tel: [phone], 2nd Day East View, Garrigill Tel: [phone], 3rd Day Parkhead Station House, Stanhope Moor Tel: [phone]. The 4th Day and the night before I returned home was at No.61 Guest House, Tynemouth Tel: [phone]. The Metro in Tynmouth does not accept bikes so if you are traveling by train you will have to cycle back into Newcastle ! Hope the above helps.

[@TheStan80]

Thank you for your reply, im in training just waiting for lighter nights to come in, I want to do this as a solo too to find my inner self. It will be a adventure

[@robertkirk4387]

looking forward to doing this next year, has anybody done it there and back?

[@FragranceGame85]

Did u do it?

[@robertkirk4387]

@@FragranceGame85 Broke a hip,so No

[@FragranceGame85]

@@robertkirk4387 oh dear, hope your ok mate and back on the bike soon

[@blackcountrywalker]

Nice Video.

[@millhillpudsey]

Thank you.

[@GL-oo9kc]

Great video :)

[@alanmann]

Looks great, been planning to do this for a couple of years. Do you have a GPX or map of the route you took?

[@johnpbonnett]

Great vid

[@C_Howzie]

Mike, could you share your Route with me please? Thanks for the vid?

[@millhillpudsey]

Afternoon Chris. I used the Cicerone guide titled 'The C2C Cycle Route' you can still get it on Amazon in paperback for £12.95. Hope this helps and thank you for your comments.

[@rw7845]

Well done.

[@rsparker922]

What camera and editing software did you use?

[@davyscales7732]

Well done

[@fastmart]

Hi, Nice video, we set of tommorow for a 2 and half day ride last did this route about 6 years ago, taking 6 friends with me this time

[@millhillpudsey]

Martyn123 Enjoy your trip, 2.5 days is good going.

[@ngaymoivlogs2970]

Đẹp quá bạn ạ

[@millhillpudsey]

cảm ơn bạn

[@petef133]

Great Video

[@millhillpudsey]

Funkie Munkie Thanks.