On Sunday November 30th we’re organising a 50/50 on/off-road ride along the byways and bridleways north of the Tyne. Start time will be 10am at the Tyne Riverside Country Park car park at Low Prudhoe, at the south end of Ovingham Bridge. The ride will be about 20 miles and will also finish here.

You can expect a bit of mud so mtbs are best, but hybrids would manage. There’ll be a comfort stop along the way. The ride will be led by our resident off-road authority David Roberts.

Contact David on 01661 832 040 or at dgr@springfieldov.wanadoo.co.uk in advance if you can. If you decide at the last minute to go then just turn up. Should be fun!

Title: Kielder off-road trip
Location: Kielder!
Description: Something for everyone
Start Time: 10:00
Date: 2008-11-02
End Time: 15:00

Latest news 2 Nov 2008: check the Off-Road page for a brief report

TVCC is hosting an off-road trip to Kielder where we’ll organise several rides, probably 3, of differing levels of technical difficulty, distance and pace ranging from easy through intermediate to fairly hard. We’ll post details when they’ve been worked out but there should be something for everyone.

The easier routes will be suitable for MTBs and hybrids with stout tyres, but the harder ride will definitely be for MTBs only and fit riders with some technical ability.

We’ll take our 12 bike trailer for riders who want transport from the Stocksfield area and there may be room in the tow car but it’s filling up. You can still put your bike on the trailer and get there under your own steam.

Meeting place and other detail will follow soon. It’ll be a fun day!

Let us know in advance if you want to go so we can plan. See the Contacts page.

David Roberts, our off-road route specialist and advisor, has kindly offered to coordinate and lead an off-road club ride from Low Prudhoe along the byways and bridleways north of the river, returning by the riverside route to Low Prudhoe.

Duration will be 4/5 hours with a lunch stop along the way. The pace will be gentle and the group will stay together under David’s guidance.

Ring David on 01661 832040 OR

Email dgr@springfieldov.wanadoo.co.uk

Thanks David! How about support from existing members as well?

An excellent turnout heralded the start of a brilliant ride on a beautiful day today. The group left Winlaton Mill at 9.30 and pedalled steadily upwards on onwards along the Derwent Walk and Waskerley Way for a welcome lunch stop at the Parkhead Cafe Crawleyside, growing as it went as old friends and ex clubmates joined in - some to plan, some ad hoc!

After lunch some riders returned by the same (downhill!) route to their cars or homes, whilst others took the road route home, depending on where they live. A thoroughly enjoyable day out for all.

It was an extremely social day with several new members getting to know the old hands a bit better, and no-one was left behind or left out. Look out for the next such event, which will go alongside the usual diet of Sunday road club runs, and may be the first outing for the club’s new 12 bike trailer. Kielder anybody?

One of our newest members, David Roberts of Ovingham, has a wealth of experience with local off-road routes which he’d be only too happy to share with others. David liaises between the CTC and the local authorities on provision and maintenance of cycle routes and has been involved in the opening up or re-classification of several splendid routes over the years. He can be contacted on:

01661 832 040 or at dgr@springfieldov.wanadoo.co.uk

Due to popular demand expressed at last Thursday’s monthly club meeting we’re arranging an off-road clubrun soon. The route will follow the Derwent Walk and Waskerley Way up to the Parkhead cafe at the top of Crawleyside Bank, where those who want to can stop for a welcome break, then back home again. The arrangements:

Sunday Sep 28, 9.30 am

Meet at Winlaton Mill car park. From Swalwell take A694 direction Rowlands Gill, turn left at the lights at Winlaton Mill into the car park:

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Suitable for mtb, trail or hybrid bikes. Race bikes will need off-road tyres.

Lunch stop at the Parkhead Cafe Crawleyside for those who fancy: www.parkheadstation.co.uk

All members or potential members are welcome. If the group is too big to be manageable then we’ll split into sub-groups according to fitness, otherwise we’ll all stay together. In any event it’s for sure that we’ll respect the equal rights of other route users such as walkers etc. Riders should have a bell attached to warn others of our approach as no-one likes to be shouted or whistled at, and a bell lets people know we’re there without alarming or upsetting them. There’s room for all if we live and let live. See you there.