See Appendix B for some suggested 4, 3 and 2-day itineraries.
C2C day rides
Anyone living or staying near the route can ride the C2C as separate day trips. This has two advantages – cyclists can pick when and how far to ride, according to the weather, and may save a lot of money on accommodation.
This works well for cyclists with a support team, willing to drop and collect by car. Alternatively, circular and linking rides (see ‘Taster routes’) make it possible to enjoy part of the C2C and then return by bike or train.
THE C2C IN A DAY
In Whitehaven harbour: a wet start to a long day
Dylan Noble, a nutritionist and personal trainer, and Neil Robinson decided to ride the C2C in one day in 2010. Dylan tells the story of one hard day…
We planned to set off from the coast of Whitehaven, about an hour from my home near Penrith, at 7.30am on Friday 16 July. But, inevitably, last-minute preparations and alterations to provisions delayed our start to about 8.30am. Howling wind and heavy rain didn’t inspire much confidence, and Whitehaven harbour, where we suited up for riding, was unsheltered from the rain. So we didn’t hang around!
We struggled to find the cycle track that leads out of Whitehaven initially, but were soon impressed by the C2C cycle-path network on old railway tracks, where knocking off the miles seemed easy. Occasionally, these C2C paths turned into off-road sections on rocky tracks that would have been excellent and enjoyable on a mountain bike, but were a nightmare on road bikes, as we wanted to take all precautions to avoid punctures.
As we progressed through the journey, the weather improved steadily, which was fully welcome, since the start of the ride is still up there amongst ‘My top ten worst miles on a bike’. Cycling straight into a strong, wet breeze was not a nice way to start the day. But like any negative in life, it helped to challenge our commitment and made us appreciate good times to follow. And these we certainly had – on the best country roads the Lake District has to offer, cycling towards our destination with a brisk westerly tail wind to help us all the way. Great riding!
Highs and lows
The first major milestone was getting up and over Hartside. Once we arrived at this point, I think we made a rookie mistake and took a slightly over-extended stay, filling bottles and stocking up on flapjacks. After an approximate 15min pit stop the weather was once again not pleasant at all. We were both stone cold and pretty much soaked through. To make matters worse I’d forgotten to pump up my tyre, so we had to stop shortly after and fix that, with me thinking, ‘This is the coldest I’ve ever been on a bike.’ It definitely was the only occasion when I wished I was riding uphill instead of downhill! But our grumpy mood soon brightened, when we arrived at the base of the valley and were greeted by a first appearance of the sun, which was, well… indescribable!
There were further low points along the way, particularly since we repeatedly lost the route, but most notably when I raced off down a hill trying to reach maximum speed, only to be told at the bottom that we had missed a right turn at the very top! The climb back up wasn’t too much fun, but I have to commend Neil, who continued chasing me, even though he realised we were off-route less than halfway down that hill. Probably the lowest point that both of us distinctly remember was the seemingly never-ending climb out of Stanhope. I thought I could see the peak three times, only to discover a higher peak beyond.
Fortunately, the best point followed quickly after we reached the summit of this monster and could finally set eyes upon the finish line, with a clear view of the distant North Sea and eastern coastline dazzling in the late afternoon sun. All the pains and strains vanished, and we both continued riding with a surprisingly fresh pair of legs, only to suffer pain once again 5 miles later when the excitement wore off and a puncture set in. The final approach towards, and ride through, Sunderland seemed to take an age. But we finally arrived at the location we’d been dreaming of for the previous six weeks, in spite of almost being beheaded by youths casting fishing lines across the route just a few metres from the finish.
The end of the day
Having started pedalling at approximately 8.30am in the morning, we eventually stopped at around 8.45pm in the evening. Our time was just over the 12hr mark. I was a little disappointed to come so close, but without the misfortune of a puncture late in the ride and better knowledge of the route, I am confident we would have been able to break the 12hr barrier. Maybe next time. Overall, I would recommend a road bike if you want to ride the C2C as a challenge and complete the ride in good time. My next project is to ride the off-road coast-to-coast route on a mountain bike. Much rougher terrain will stretch the difficulty and probably make it a two-day trip, but it should still be fun!
Specialist C2C companies
Bag carriers
There is no need to carry lots of gear on your bike, as there are several specialist companies that will collect a cyclists’ bag each morning and deliver it to their next hotel, B&B or camp site by the time they arrive in the late afternoon. In addition, these companies can provide parking and return transport for yourself and bike at the end of the C2C in order to retrieve a car, or provide transport for anyone unable to ride a section due to illness or exhaustion. Prices are reasonable. For instance, the Sherpa Van Project charges £39 per bag (two minimum), or £79 (2013 prices) for baggage and return transport on a five- or seven-day C2C. (See Appendix C for some recommended companies.)
Organised C2C trips
A number of companies offer a complete C2C package, with itineraries of varying length, which includes accommodation and bag and bike transfers. The basic package includes pre-booked accommodation, with options of packed lunches, luggage transport, return transport and extra nights’ accommodation. They provide clear directions and large-scale maps, and can organise off-road parking for the duration of the trip, helping to make the C2C experience as stress-free and enjoyable as possible. C2C Hassle Free offers a different style of package based on staying three or four nights at Mains Farm Camp Site, almost halfway along the route where the Pennines get steep, with daily minibus transport to and from each section. (See Appendix C for recommended companies.)
Where to stay
For those cycling the route independently, it is advisable to book accommodation in advance for each night. There is a very good choice of B&Bs, hotels and camp sites, as well as pubs, cafés and restaurants all the way along the route.
Although some flexibility is lost by pre-booking, be aware that accommodation may be booked solid, and there is nothing more depressing than being turned away time after time. (It sounds like a great idea to stop riding when you’re tired, when it starts raining or when you simply like the look of a place, but it is not wise to rely on places being available.) Remember that the Lake District is a major tourist area. There are a lot of places to stay and a lot of people who want to stay in them. Further afield, there is less demand and consequently less accommodation available, making things just as difficult if you turn up at the door. Apart from that, it really helps to have a schedule and a target to keep you focussed on the day’s ride.
The internet has made it much easier to find accommodation (see Appendix C).
Camping
Pitching your tent in a camp site provides the cheapest accommodation on the C2C, but camping does have its disadvantages. Carrying a tent, sleeping bag and cooking gear adds a lot of weight and bulk to your bike. Putting up a tent is
