The Tyne and Wear Commuter Thread

king_jeffers

bucklb wrote:

Surprised I've managed to miss this thread. Another London leaver (Hounslow) here, travelling Monkseaton to the Business Park 3 times a week. Wonder how may of you I've seen without realising (maybe one of you is the Whitley Bay librarian I see regularly)?

Cobalt business park?

I'm from West Monkseaton to South Gosforth at the mo. Occasionally take a detour via Rake Lane for a popular (but busy) strava route.

byke68

tuktuk wrote:

When i first started on the bike there was often a girl going the opposite way to me, cycling down the coast rd doing a no hander!

Cars just dont expect cyclists on that road and god knows what happens when you come to cross and entry/exit.

I go over or under the coast road depending on which way I'm going, wouldn't even think about going ON it!

Initialised

byke68 wrote:

tuktuk wrote:

When i first started on the bike there was often a girl going the opposite way to me, cycling down the coast rd doing a no hander!

Cars just dont expect cyclists on that road and god knows what happens when you come to cross and entry/exit.

I go over or under the coast road depending on which way I'm going, wouldn't even think about going ON it!

I used to stay on it but I hat was before it got changed to 2+filter lane from 3 lanes.

bluefinch

Just wondering about people's experiences using a road bike on the Coast Road path? I work off hours so don't see that many other commuters and they're mostly on MTBs or hybrids. I do it on a hybrid with 32mm tyres at the moment which is great but I'm thinking about a new bike in the spring, possibly a CX with slicks but more likely an audax-style bike, probably ending up with 25mm or possibly 28mm tyres in either case. The plan will be for longer day rides and light touring on Sustrans routes but the bread and butter will still be daily commuting from North Shields to Jesmond. I know it's not exactly pave and cobbles but will a lighter bike and thinner tyres cause me problems given the poor surfacing?

Initialised

I used to ride an MTB down the Coast Road back then the paths were to bad to use, and I don't suppose they've been resurfaced in the last ten years so they're probably even worse now. Just stick to the road, ride assertively and faster traffic will flow around you.

Bordersroadie

byke68 wrote:

I go over or under the coast road depending on which way I'm going, wouldn't even think about going ON it!

I shudder when I see a cyclist on the coast road on a bike. Way back when (before I emigrated to the Borders!) I used to commute from Whitley Bay to Newcastle and would ride the full length of the coast road. This was back in the 1980s, so it was a bit quieter, but even then, when I crossed the off-slips, I would ride right across to the left to avoid being left out in the open, riding the dashed white line, then cross back to the main carriageway.

When I'm back visiting, I often see idiots cruising on slow bikes past these off slips without any looking around them or any attempt to get into a safe position. Utterly unbelievable.

Keep safe, fellow Geordies!

tuktuk

bluefinch wrote:

Just wondering about people's experiences using a road bike on the Coast Road path? I work off hours so don't see that many other commuters and they're mostly on MTBs or hybrids. I do it on a hybrid with 32mm tyres at the moment which is great but I'm thinking about a new bike in the spring, possibly a CX with slicks but more likely an audax-style bike, probably ending up with 25mm or possibly 28mm tyres in either case. The plan will be for longer day rides and light touring on Sustrans routes but the bread and butter will still be daily commuting from North Shields to Jesmond. I know it's not exactly pave and cobbles but will a lighter bike and thinner tyres cause me problems given the poor surfacing?

Theres a few people i come across commuting on the path using road bikes. Although the pathway is pretty poor in some places its not too bad. I think the worst part is at the back of the college.

I sometimes stay clear of the path and go around the back of the silverlink past b&q/wickes tjen over through battle hill and it brings you out at the shell garage on the coast rd. The path isnt so bad from there on.

Long_Time_Lurker

Tuktuk's right - the coast road is ok, except the small stretch by Battle Hill. It can be done, just slowly if you are on a roadie. You will have to pick your line through carefully through the bumps & loose gravel.

bluefinch

Thanks guys, I'll look into going up the waggonways and across but as you say the bad patch at Battle Hill is only a few yards. It's a shame that when they were resurfacing the slips at Middle Engine Lane a couple of months ago they didn't drop a few shovels of asphalt on the path.
I've seen too many boy racers upside down on Billy Mill roundabout when I go home at 11pm to fancy sticking to the road!

y33stu

I often cycle from the city centre to Tynemouth, on my road bike. I started using the coast road path, but I felt like at any minute I was about to break a wheel or at least snap a spoke. I couldn't get any speed up because I was constantly looking for the smooth bits of path. Now I dont even bother, I ride out to south Gosforth, Four lane ends, to Shiremoor, Rake Lane and down to seafront. It adds a few miles to the route but I prefer the extra few minutes on non wheel braking roads - average speed is higher so it actually only adds 5 minutes onto my journey.

tuktuk

I was going to say, when i avoid the path and stay on the roads it doesnt work out much slower, as much as its longer there arent half as much stops, groups of kids to pass, dog walkers etc.

Bordersroadie

y33stu wrote:

I ride out to south Gosforth, Four lane ends, to Shiremoor, Rake Lane and down to seafront.

That used to be my exact route cycling Whitley Bay <---> Newcastle and would be now if I still ived down there.

bennett_346

Anyone else using the cycle lanes through gateshead town centre? I'm having issues with cars parked in the cycle lane down swinburne street (Solid white line, cars must not park or drive in it) and as theres a cycle diversion along this lane i have no choice but to use it.

Its a contraflow lane opposing a one way street so either i use the path (not allowed) or the road (not allowed) or find a much much longer route home.

I have emailed the council for their view on the matter and whether they will do anything about the cars!

y33stu

Anyone park their bike in Hadrian house? I've just posted this in Road General. Feel horrible now.

http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=40013&t=12890231

Long_Time_Lurker

y33stu wrote:

Anyone park their bike in Hadrian house? I've just posted this in Road General. Feel horrible now.
http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=40013&t=12890231

W*ankers...
That is the only advantage of working out in the middle of nowhere. No chance of an opportunistic scum-bag walking past and taking my bike.
I would use my old rat-bike if I had to lock-it up in public.

anthdci

hows everyone finding the dark? Im finding follingsby lane hard since its unlit, its only about a mile but following my main beam is taking some getting used to.

Initialised

Darkness isn't too bad, its the not seeing the oil on the road in the dark and wet that hurts.

Long_Time_Lurker

I like the darkness - traffic aside, I seem to have extra energy when it's dark and cold.

y33stu

Anyone else brave it in today? I did, had a 10mph tailwind all the way into work. Not looking forward to the 18mph headwind in poring rain home though. Fitted my Crud Road Racer Mk2's at the weekend. Very impressed at how dry they kept me this morning given the weather.

Initialised

Yeah, drenched. Hope it stops by home time and doesn't flood again.

y33stu

Think we're stuck with the wet stuff for the rest of the week. We'll do well to escape it on the way home!

bennett_346

Yep i braved it. For once i wish i hadn't bothered.

anthdci

me! I thought I would brave it after the last time we had flooding my bike got me home faster than any of my work mates. Took about 5mins longer this morning so nothing major, and i know i can get home without relying on the metro.

tuktuk

I braved it, didnt look to bad when i went out to get the bike from the garage, soon realised i was going to get soaked though!

I actually enjoy the rain, i just dont like getting the wet kit off at the end of the ride.

bennett_346

tuktuk wrote:

I actually enjoy the rain, i just dont like getting the wet kit off at the end of the ride.

This

Initialised

I had to bypass the bottom end of Team Valley this morning, flooded under the bridge. Again.

Have been running Snow Studs for a couple of weeks so my lunchtime ride has gone from up and over to up the road and down Bowes Railway Path. Mental today, the staircase section behind Kibblesworth has been totally wrecked by yesterdays downpour, mounds of gravel, aggregate, mud and leaves liberally scattered at the sides. Good fun descent, could have done with shocks.

What was once a normal bike path is now a nice little technical descent:

tuktuk

I think today will be the last commute on the bike, off to egypt and only back at work for a few days after the holiday and before christmas holidays. Will be getting the bus if the temperatures are similar to thismorning as i was sliding all over the place!

jomoj

Drove home west along Scotswood road tonight and it looked like there had been an incident involving a cyclist on the east bound side. Saw a bike down and an ambulance and police attending, hope it wasn't serious.

It's definitely getting riskier out there, the roads may get gritted but the bike paths don't so you pick your poison.

bennett_346

There was also a car lodged against the barrier on the redheugh bridge facing the wrong way between a bus.

EKE_38BPM

Initialised wrote:

I had to bypass the bottom end of Team Valley this morning, flooded under the bridge. Again.

Have been running Snow Studs for a couple of weeks so my lunchtime ride has gone from up and over to up the road and down Bowes Railway Path. Mental today, the staircase section behind Kibblesworth has been totally wrecked by yesterdays downpour, mounds of gravel, aggregate, mud and leaves liberally scattered at the sides. Good fun descent, could have done with shocks.

What was once a normal bike path is now a nice little technical descent:

I want to see you ride UP that!