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I counted them all out…

...and I counted quite a few of them back

Prior to my latest ride, I sent the usual e-mail out with ride details but added the request that those NOT coming on the ride to please let me know. As only one or two replied to say they couldn't make it, I assumed we would have a turnout of around eighty mountain bikers for my ride along old railway lines linking Durham with Chester-Le-Street and Consett. As I arrived at the Broompark Picnic Area things were looking good, as there were already a large group congregating but how I was going to safely lead eighty cyclists through Durham City was slightly worrying. As I unloaded my bike, cars were arriving one after the other. Soon the car park was full.

I waited an extra fifteen minutes but as this was to be a forty miler we had to be on our way.

My apologies if you were one of the 61 who presumably arrived late. Yes your mental arithmetic is correct we had a turnout of nineteen, a record for the Mountain Biking Section.

Possibly more surprising than the good turnout, was that during introductions I actually remembered everyone's names, another first. Just to prove the terrain of this ride was to be slightly different to the norm., as we set off Katey asked, "are we going past any cashpoints, Dave?"

From the picnic area we headed onto the Lanchester Valley Walk for a short distance before heading into the City of Durham. Basically the route formed a triangle if marked out on a map with two disused railway lines now converted into recognised cycle routes forming two sides.

Unfortunately I had to devise the route that formed the third side. This first ten miles was a bit naff in places with us having to revert to roads on occasions. Neither do we make a habit of cycling through City Centres normally. There were eighteen worried faces as we came to a dead end whilst looking for the river. They all thought I was lost but in fact I took a diversion to find Katey a cashpoint, honest.

As a swarm of cyclists headed towards the Riverside multi-storey car park, this ride was beginning to resemble a strange remake of the Italian Job. Leaving the city. Ed had a whinge as we passed the sewerage works but Nic was overjoyed to spot a wind farm. The scenery improved as we passed Crook Hall and joined the Weardale Way, that is until we passed within yards of Frankland Prison!

I had a re-count, yes all nineteen had made it safely past the prison so we continued along the Weardale Way which took us to Finchale Priory where both bacon sarnies and ice creams were on sale. Another first for the Mountain Bikers, no one was tempted! We used the footbridge to cross the River Wear and then had to carry our bikes up hundreds of steps, more whinging, Steve this time. Apart from a short stretch of single track bridleway, it was now all tarmac to Rickleton. Here I had another re-count but only managed seventeen, Kev and Rob had technical problems but soon caught us up.

We now finally joined the Consett & Sunderland Railway Path. Some of you will know this railway path as it forms part of the Sustrans C2C route. We headed west towards Consett. It was quite easy going that is until we faced the option of riding "The Worm". This, presumably named after the Lambton Worm, is a meandering single track built up at a height of around six foot (1.829m.). Perhaps not quite as scary as it sounds but a pleasant change. Our next bit of excitement was when we came across a small circuit of jumps used by the local kids on their BMXs. No way they were getting a look in today though. Best performance must go to Katey, flying through the air with a big grin on her face.

The route took us literally through the car park of a Public House. We thought it would be rude of us to just cycle past and not call in. Whilst I was being served at the bar, bizarrely, a piece of grey tarmac came up to me and said, "keep away from that piece of red tarmac over there". He looked a nice enough piece of red tarmac to me so I asked "why?". The grey tarmac replied "He's not right in the head, he's a Cyclepath".

After another re-count to check we hadn't left any of the nineteen in the bar, we we're all on our way again. Next stop was for a photo shoot at the large Theodolite Sculpture near Consett. Judith very sportingly agreed to Steve lifting her into the end of the telescope bit, in the cause of photographic art. Unfortunately she went in head first but luckily some how managed to turn herself around to face the camera.

At Lydgetts Junction we joined the Lanchester Valley Walk for the final leg. Not as many gates and stiles to negotiate on this stretch so we were able to maintain a good rate of knots and we soon found ourselves back at the cars. A final count to make sure we had all arrived back safely, twelve that can't be right. I counted up again, oops one or two seem to have gone missing. We waited a while, no sign of the others, I had just begun rounding up a search party when they all came sprinting in from all directions. All's well that ends well as my Granny used to say.

Dave Neesam

Last Modified: 7 May, 2003