The Tyne and Wear Commuter Thread
Comments
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if anyone has lost some keys in the Jesmond area drop me a PM with a description of them and I may be able to re-unite you.0
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Does anyone know where the ninja cyclist meeting took place this morning?
By 07:30 I'd passed nearly a dozen totally unlit, dark clad cyclists heading East, most of whom were also cycling with their hands in their pockets for good measure (to avoid leaving fingerprints or perhaps to be ready with their throwing stars?). I'm used to seeing a few of a morning but they were swarming through Heaton today.________________________
So it goes ...0 -
Students. Spent all their loans on beer so none left for gloves or lights.0
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Surely not students?
Not only was this in the morning it was early morning
Unless of course they were making their way from a Tuesday all-nighter________________________
So it goes ...0 -
I took the bike for a ride this morning, a balmy 5C when I set off. Ten miles away and a few hundred feet up the north facing side of Wittonstall hill it gets icy. I lost rear traction, looked to the side of the road and there's frost on the plants. A bit further up I nearly lost it, bruised my knee on my top tube but stayed upright. The street at the top, through Wittonstall village, was covered in ice so I got off and walked. So the ice ruined the descent down the south facing side. Even though I knew there'd probably be no ice I was babying it at 15-20mph instead of hurtling down at 40-50mph.
So watch it out there, once your out in the wilds and getting toward higher ground there's a decent chance of lingering frost in sheltered spots.I used to just ride my bike to work but now I find myself going out looking for bigger and bigger hills.0 -
Hi fellow Tyneside commuters.
Since the tunnel closed last year I've been using the ferry to cross the Tyne on my commute to Sunderland from Whitley Bay. I've avoided the tunnel replacement bus service so far, but might give it a go.
Does anybody use the bus around 7am and 4-5pm? Does the bike trailer ever get full? And, if so, what happens - are you just abandoned to wait half an hour for the next bus?0 -
As far as I know, if you miss it you have to wait for it to come back. I'd assume there's a schedule to keep to. I think you also have to book it on their website
More info here
http://www.tynepedestrianandcyclisttunnels.co.uk0 -
normas_glasses wrote:Hi fellow Tyneside commuters.
Since the tunnel closed last year I've been using the ferry to cross the Tyne on my commute to Sunderland from Whitley Bay. I've avoided the tunnel replacement bus service so far, but might give it a go.
Does anybody use the bus around 7am and 4-5pm? Does the bike trailer ever get full? And, if so, what happens - are you just abandoned to wait half an hour for the next bus?
I'd probably stick with the ferry mate, i see the bus and trailer sometimes on my commute to and from work when i ride into Newcastle. It was very busy over the Summer/Autum and took quite a while to load up the all the bikes. It's quietend down a bit recently but still busy, esp around work commuting times.
Cant see it being any quicker than the Ferry to be fair, you can of course give it a try.....either way it must be a right pain in the arse.0 -
Does anyone commute from Gateshead area to Durham is this possible looking at possibly new job in durham and would like to see if cyling on the road bike would be okGetting there0
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Depends exactly where in Gateshead and where in Durham. tbh the roads are not brilliant, but it's doable.0
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markhewitt1978 wrote:Depends exactly where in Gateshead and where in Durham. tbh the roads are not brilliant, but it's doable.
Dunston to Mandale Business Park Belmont Industrial Estate was thinking about heading to Birtley and down the A167Getting there0 -
That's a tricky one because Belmont is on the wrong side of Durham, so you could head in via Chester-le-Street and the A167 but then you'd have to go through the centre of Durham, not ideal for both traffic and for hills.
If I were you I think I'd head through Birtley, as you say, then through the middle of Chester-le-Street, then head up past Lumley Castle and through Great Lumley, cross the A690 at West Rainton and go down to Pittington, and into Durham via Carville. You're talking 18-20 miles so good luck!
Durhams lack of a northern bypass is a problem here; there was a proposal to open up a cycle route via Belmont viaduct which would have been ideal but the council dropped it.0 -
Captain Slackbladder wrote:normas_glasses wrote:Hi fellow Tyneside commuters.
Since the tunnel closed last year I've been using the ferry to cross the Tyne on my commute to Sunderland from Whitley Bay. I've avoided the tunnel replacement bus service so far, but might give it a go.
Does anybody use the bus around 7am and 4-5pm? Does the bike trailer ever get full? And, if so, what happens - are you just abandoned to wait half an hour for the next bus?
I'd probably stick with the ferry mate, i see the bus and trailer sometimes on my commute to and from work when i ride into Newcastle. It was very busy over the Summer/Autum and took quite a while to load up the all the bikes. It's quietend down a bit recently but still busy, esp around work commuting times.
Cant see it being any quicker than the Ferry to be fair, you can of course give it a try.....either way it must be a right pain in the ars*.
Thanks - I think so too, having read the bumf on the website which basically asks people not to riot when boarding the bus!
The ferry is great, and 2 miles less, but I get real pleasure out of getting to work and back for free...!!0 -
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That's reasonable but going across the A1(M) roundabout from Blind Lane to the A183 is sketchy at best lots of fast moving traffic; especially at rush hour. I do cycle it occasionally but most of the time I go out of my way to avoid it. There are footpaths around the outside if you need them however.
Plus the A183 up the hill is similarly very busy and narrow; heading back onto the motorway it usually queues back about half a mile in the evening.0 -
markhewitt1978 wrote:That's a tricky one because Belmont is on the wrong side of Durham, so you could head in via Chester-le-Street and the A167 but then you'd have to go through the centre of Durham, not ideal for both traffic and for hills.
If I were you I think I'd head through Birtley, as you say, then through the middle of Chester-le-Street, then head up past Lumley Castle and through Great Lumley, cross the A690 at West Rainton and go down to Pittington, and into Durham via Carville. You're talking 18-20 miles so good luck!
Durhams lack of a northern bypass is a problem here; there was a proposal to open up a cycle route via Belmont viaduct which would have been ideal but the council dropped it.
Thanks for the quick replies something to mull overGetting there0 -
anthdci wrote:
That route looks to get over my reservations of going through Durham City Centre 16 Miles I would consider is do able on a road/cross bileGetting there0 -
All depends how willing you are to deal with traffic / busy junctions etc. I'd go for a road bike or at least a CX bike with slicks as it's an all on road route.0
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Tony Mc wrote:anthdci wrote:
That route looks to get over my reservations of going through Durham City Centre 16 Miles I would consider is do able on a road/cross bile
That is what I thought, the only difficult parts look to be the A167/A1 roundabout, which does get pretty busy. Crossing the A690 shouldn't be that hard, I see cyclist doing it regularly, but be aware is it a 50mph dual carrageway, there is a central reserve though.0 -
If crossing at Rainton I usually use the pedestrian crossing to get across as this keeps you well away from the queue of cars waiting to cross at the same place - they are often quite delayed because they are only allowed to cross one at a time.
http://goo.gl/maps/i7giY0 -
Wondering if easier to get down to Plaworth then cross the A1 on the Cocken Road to pick up Anthdci routeGetting there0
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Tony Mc wrote:Wondering if easier to get down to Plaworth then cross the A1 on the Cocken Road to pick up Anthdci route
an option to try out, it is a mile or so longer.
I guess you mean like this
https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?saddr=Dunston&daddr=54.8201667,-1.5730947+to:54.7928642,-1.5129493+to:Mandale+Business+Park+Belmont+Industrial+Estate&hl=en&ll=54.864753,-1.549416&spn=0.167749,0.316544&sll=54.832435,-1.552162&sspn=0.041971,0.079136&geocode=FeyGRgMdZ_Pm_yk_7ZuqWHd-SDHkA_zui41ZEw%3BFUZ9RAMdGv_n_ykD6kyYTXx-SDFH1lMVxNhHWA%3BFaASRAMdC-ro_ynpfFHKSH1-SDGFDWnNA95DpQ%3BFWIFRAMd_ojo_yHl7OWKq1aN2SnN5Vf_bn1-SDHl7OWKq1aN2Q&t=h&dirflg=w&mra=dpe&mrsp=1&sz=14&via=1,2&z=120 -
Tony Mc wrote:Wondering if easier to get down to Plaworth then cross the A1 on the Cocken Road to pick up Anthdci route
You can go that way yes, there's a fairly reasonably shared use path alongside the A167 at that point. Personally I would go that way from time to time just to mix things up a little.
The reason I suggested going via Great Lumley is that you climb up and you stay up, otherwise you have to climb to Plawsworth and then descend to the bridge and then climb up "Cocken Hell" again. However it's a nice run.0 -
If it's a commute consider avoiding Kingsway, Team Valley when it's busy by taking the Coach Road (Lady Park).markhewitt1978 wrote:Tony Mc wrote:Wondering if easier to get down to Plaworth then cross the A1 on the Cocken Road to pick up Anthdci route
You can go that way yes, there's a fairly reasonably shared use path alongside the A167 at that point. Personally I would go that way from time to time just to mix things up a little.
The reason I suggested going via Great Lumley is that you climb up and you stay up, otherwise you have to climb to Plawsworth and then descend to the bridge and then climb up "Cocken Hell" again. However it's a nice run.
Like so
or if you like the hills try thisI used to just ride my bike to work but now I find myself going out looking for bigger and bigger hills.0 -
I had a fire on the way to work yesterday
The wire on my cree headlight had frayed with flexing (one of the two plugs that join the light to the battery pack).
As I turned a corner, and out of the wind, smoke started billowing out of the casing holding the batteries.
Stopping quickly and pulling the batteries out, I found the battery holder and wiring were now one large congealed lump of plastic and wire.
Tested the batteries at work and they seem ok, all around 4-4.1v.
Had to borrow a torch and lash up a holder with cable ties and rubber bands to get home.
McGyver would've been proud of it
New battery holder on its way0 -
Andy9964 wrote:I had a fire on the way to work yesterday
The wire on my cree headlight had frayed with flexing (one of the two plugs that join the light to the battery pack).
As I turned a corner, and out of the wind, smoke started billowing out of the casing holding the batteries.
Stopping quickly and pulling the batteries out, I found the battery holder and wiring were now one large congealed lump of plastic and wire.
Tested the batteries at work and they seem ok, all around 4-4.1v.
Had to borrow a torch and lash up a holder with cable ties and rubber bands to get home.
McGyver would've been proud of it
New battery holder on its way
Sorry but...
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Don't worry, I wasCaptain Slackbladder wrote:
Sorry but... myself at the irony of the lashed up, home made battery holder not being the thing that failed.
Cheapo front light now employed till new holder arrives0 -
markhewitt1978 wrote:jongooligan wrote:[
Just got back from Park head. Went up from Durham, through Lanchester. Hard surface now from Lydgett junction to Waskerly station and much smoother from there onwards than it used to be. Could be done on a road bike easily.
Did it yesterday! Very nice surface - it's called fibredeccing, it doesn't provide a perfect tarmac like surface but it does provide a good quality hard wearing surface, and as you say easy enough on a road bike, I did it on mine with 23c tyres no problem. After Waskerly station it's gravel but very well graded and smooth so again no issues on a road bike, especially coming down hill in the wet doing some speed, no issuesCame back down through Stanley. The bit from Beamish (Tommy Thompson's bench) to Pelton is being upgraded and is very rough. You wouldn't want to do this bit on a road bike until they've finished.
Been a few months since I was up there but it looks like the tarmaccing is almost complete, joined at Pelton and the tarmac lasts until the bridge at High Handenhold after that it's very rough but passable with slow care - but I think this will be done in short order.
The main issue on the entire route between Sunderland and Parkhead is getting through Consett, the surfacing of the paths through there is dreadful, I had to get off and push at one point
Quick update. The path is tarmac from Pelton to Beamish now. All the plant has been removed so I assume they won't be doing Beamish to East Stanley anytime soon.0 -
Cheers for the update. Yeah that ties in with what one of the sustrans guys said on the CTC forum, that it was Pelton to Beamish only and they didn't have any current plans to do more of it.
At least they smoothed out the worst bit, it's only Consett (past the playing fields) which is left on the entire route from Parkhead to Sunderland which is too rough for road bikes.0 -
I'm currently applying for a job which would see me cycling from Chester-le-Street to Newcastle quayside next to the law courts. Any advice on the best routes etc to take?0
