Classic road cycling weekend in Northumberland

We meet on Friday evening in the vibrant city of Newcastle, staying overnight in the Hilton hotel, on the banks of the River Tyne. Next morning we ride out of the city heading north into the open countryside on the numerous back roads and lanes of historic Northumberland. Traffic free rolling roads, castles, hills and wild open upland all feature on this place to place Classic Road Trip.

The riding takes us through some of the quietest and wildest countryside in England, up into the lands of the Border Rievers, in an area which has escaped mass tourism and its inevitable heavy traffic. Our route is similiar to the popular Cyclone sportive route, skirting round the enigmatic Simonside Hills and including the classic climb of the Ryalls.

With a minimum of two Skedaddle guides, themselves enthusiastic cyclists, leading the way you can forget about route finding, and concentrate on the fantastic riding and amazing scenery.

Why not take advantage of our free train station pick up from Newcastle Central Station, and avoid the Friday night jams? We will also return you to the station at the end of the trip in time for your train home.

Our support vehicle is never too far away and meets us at several points throughout the day with plenty of delicious munchies to help keep the pedals turning, as well as lots of hot and cold drinks. As you take in the great riding and wide open views the vehicle moves off ahead to prepare our delicious buffet-style lunch full of tasty, healthy choices. It’s also got bike spares and space for tired bikers if the going gets too tough and you need a lift up the odd 'cheeky' climb.

Each trip is kept specifically small; between six to fifteen riders and is fully guided by at least two guides enabling us to cater for different fitness and experience levels in the group and has the luxury of a support driver too. By all means bring your own bike along or if you haven’t got one, you can hire a top quality Giant road bike from us.

Detailed Itinerary:
Day 1
Upon your arrival at the Newcaslte Hilton, you will be shown your room and then join us at the bar, where over a drink and something to eat an informal talk will be given about the events of the weekend. Tonight is a good opportunity to get to know our guides who represent Saddle Skedaddle's friendly and enthusiastic attitude to cycling.

Day 2
After a good cooked breakfast the guides will discuss the route and any requirements / capabilities of the group. Following this and having assessed the weather conditions we can then tailor today's route accordingly; this is made easier by the fact that our routes are often in our guide's backyard where they regularly ride themselves.  

We'll start at around 10am, led by a minimum of two Saddle Skedaddle guides in order to be able to fully support a mix of abilities. The group will be met at various points en-route by our support vehicle for snacks and hot or cold drinks depending on the conditions, with lunch served mid way through the route. Our lunches are commonly buffet style with a selection of local produce put together by our guides (often their pride and joy!). Vegetarians and other dietary requirements can easily be catered for.

The route will take us out of the city, initially along the banks of the Tyne, before heading north into rolling farmland.  We then head up into the higher, wilder country, skirting around the foot of the Simonside Hills and into the Coquet  Valley, in the Northumberland National Park, on the Southern edge of the Cheviot Hills.  This is all classic road cycling country, and there is a good chance of meeting other cyclists en route.

We will finsih the day in the historic village of Otterburn, in the Rede Valley, site of a famous battle, with our accomodation in an old coaching Inn.

The evening meal will be taken either at the accommodation or a local pub. As many of our guides help out on several trips this is a good opportunity for those who fancy heading further afield on their bike to get an accurate picture of the trips from someone who has been there and ridden the routes.

Day 3
After another hearty breakfast to set you up for a day on your bike, we will discuss the possible route alternatives for the day, based on our experiences yesterday. The guides will go through the highlights you can expect during day pointing out areas with particularly good scenery as well as sections of outstanding riding. This is supplemented throughout the day as we discuss the route ahead of us.

As yesterday we aim to be on the road by around 10:00 again led by members of the Skedaddle team. The group is met at various points around the route by our support vehicle with a selection of tasty treats, with lunch served mid way through the route.

Today's route will initailly head south west, through wild open country, heading towards Hadrian's Wall and the Tyne Valley.  There are several small villages en-route and some "cheeky" climbs, including the famous Ryalls, as used on the Cyclone event.  Eventually we ride close to Hadrian's Wall as we head back east towards Newcastle.

We return to the Hilton where we can collect our cars, or transfer to the station for the journey home. There will be showers available for anyone wanting to clean up before the journey home.

Equipment
We provide everything except a bike, personal equipment and clothing. If you are taking your own bike it should preferably be a road bike or, alternatively, a mountain bike fitted with slick tyres.

Although we will be taking things at a relatively leisurely pace, on occasions the route is hilly, we recommend that you have either a triple or compact chainset or a 27 bottom sprocket to ease the climbing. Please contact us if you are unsure whether your bike will be suitable.

It is imperative that your bike is in good mechanical order. If you are not mechanically minded, we advise you to take your bike to a local bicycle dealer for a service. Our guide(s) will of course be taking a full tool kit and a selection of spares, which we will provide should the need arise but please be sure to carry your own basic tool kit, pump, spare tubes, and any specific spare parts you may require for your bike - especially unusual spokes.

You will need to bring your own accessories including, helmet, gloves and hydration pack / bottles for drinking water. It is also a good idea to bring shoes suitable for walking along with your cycling shoes as well as a light, but waterproof rain jacket and a fleece / sweater for mornings and evenings.

What the price doesn't include
(A) Bike & helmet hire (if required, £55)
(B) Personal clothing and equipment.
(C) Insurance (if required, £13).
(D) Two evening meals and bar bills.
(E) Single room option.