C2C

Zygite

In spring a young man's fancy turns to thoughts of doing something a bit different on a bike....so why not the Sustrans C2C.

I'm planning the trip using my refurbished old claud butler hybrid, panniers containing credit card, waterproofs and basic going-ashore rig.

I do a lot of road cycling but have done very little off-road. Has anyone done this route and can recommend tyres (knobblies, or will my semi-slicks suffice?) or give any other useful advice?

Thanks in anticipation....

alfablue

Assuming you don't choose the off-road options, semi-slicks should be fine. I did it some years ago, but I recall only one muddy track - a descent, so I reckon drive traction is not an issue. There are also some fine gravel paths, again semi-slicks are fine, the vast majority is on tarmac. I would probably choose to do it on some Schwalbe Marathons or similar for more puncture protection, higher pressures and better rolling resistance.

Zygite

Thanks, however I'm foolishly tempted by the off-road bits. Knobblies a 'must' there, I take it?

alfablue

Zygite wrote:

Thanks, however I'm foolishly tempted by the off-road bits. Knobblies a 'must' there, I take it?

I haven't done the off road bits but I guess that will depend a lot on the weather, I suppose it is reasonable to expect wet and mud, in this country and at that altitude! Yes I would go knobbly.

Zygite

Just found some other useful advice on the MTB forums. Thanks again.

ash68

most of the route takes in old railway lines, cycle paths and minor roads. Like Alfablue said, marathon or marathon plus tyres will be fine. I used marathon plus tyres and had no problems. Think the only problem you may encounter is if you use the old coach road which i believe is very rough and only suitable for mountain bikes. It is also apparently very exposed in bad weather and can get very boggy.

vernonlevy

Zygite wrote:

In spring a young man's fancy turns to thoughts of doing something a bit different on a bike....so why not the Sustrans C2C.

I'm planning the trip using my refurbished old claud butler hybrid, panniers containing credit card, waterproofs and basic going-ashore rig.

I do a lot of road cycling but have done very little off-road. Has anyone done this route and can recommend tyres (knobblies, or will my semi-slicks suffice?) or give any other useful advice?

Thanks in anticipation....

Your set up is fine. Ive done it on a hybrid, a road bike and a tourer with no problems. I would not recommend the Old Coach Road unless you have a mountain bike and are very fit if you want to have a satisfactory experience. It's wet, slippy and rocky. Equally the shortcut up hartside is anything but a shortcut. Stick to the road here. All the other 'off road' bits are track beds from disused railways and will be fine.

Enjoy.

Zygite

Thanks for the advice re the coach road bit. Don't quite know when we're going yet - if it's during a spell of good weather we might try that part anyway - doing the route in three days should give us some time to get lost or revert to two feet'n'pushin' if needs be... I hope.

In an ideal world I'd get to the end then turn round and ride back the on-road way on the road bike...

vernonlevy

Zygite wrote:

Thanks for the advice re the coach road bit. Don't quite know when we're going yet - if it's during a spell of good weather we might try that part anyway - doing the route in three days should give us some time to get lost or revert to two feet'n'pushin' if needs be... I hope.

In an ideal world I'd get to the end then turn round and ride back the on-road way on the road bike...

Even in good weather you'll have to want to enjoy a good push ;-) My pals did not enjoy the experience.

PHcp

If it's wet, the Grouse Moor from Rookhope is worth avoiding on anything less than a MTB.
I prefered tho old route where you turmed off before Rookhope and went via Townfield and Ramshaw before joining the Waskerley Way. It maybe a few miles longer but misses the aptly named Crawleyside.