Durham & Northumberland 200 redux - now 09/04/22 from Darlo

[Deano]

The return re-imagining (I think that's the correct term) of a classic. I always loved Joe's rides.

https://audaxdarleaux.wordpress.com/2020/01/21/durham-northumberland-200-redux/

I found an old thread about one of the original rides too: https://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=37482.0

ETA: now running (at last) in 2022, entries here: https://audax.uk/event-details?eventId=9155

[Karla]

Stop it!  Every time you post a new ride you send me into a bout of soul searching over why I moved away 

[Stretch]

Enjoyed reading that blog Deano and the pics are inspiring too. Will get it on the calendar

[Deano]

Stop it!  Every time you post a new ride you send me into a bout of soul searching over why I moved away 

Deano puts on an SR series, and bunbury flees south!

[Socks]

Joe's original route was very 'scenic' (hilly).  I managed to complete the ride three times between 2006 and 2009, started the 2010 ride but didn't get far because of illness.  At the time there weren't that many events locally, we have more choice now thanks to the efforts of a few local organisers.

I saw Joe a few months back while out on the bike, he was still looking in good nick.

[Deano]

Excellent, Dave, you can do the compare-n-contrast.

I still get updates about Joe from my spies. He's taken up running!

[L CC]

Durham & Northumberland are the two best counties in England to ride a bike in.

Aye.
It's just a shame they're so blummin far from where I have to live.

Well that was a long time ago..

I'm planning to enter. But it's 11 weeks away yet.

[L CC]

I'm assuming this one's cancelled too, Dean?

[Deano]

Yeah, sorry boab.

I've cancelled, let the riders know and refunded everyone. Same for the Second Class Return to Scarborough, and probably my June events as well.

I loved the route and I'll probably try to run it in 2021.

[L CC]

By 2021 I'll be thin enough to do it justice- though there'll be no new squares on it by then 

[Chris S]

Really gutted for you, Dean. You had a full on year of Northern events planned. Another time, I guess.

[Graeme]

+1

Dean you've put a lot of effort in. It's appreciated.

[Deano]

I blame bunbury. Nothing good can come of Yorkshiremen migrating south.

Yeah, I'm a bit disappointed, but cancelling everything has kept me busy, and so far all feedback from riders and halls has been very supportive.

[Karla]

Yeah, it's probably my fault - though I'm actually an offcumden as I spent my first year of life in Lincolnshire.  Anyway, I'll look forward to riding your rescheduled events whenever they are, as they looked excellent and most of my plans for this year have already been cancelled, with the last one teetering precariously on the brink.

[Deano]

For Karla and everyone else, this is finally due to go ahead in 2022: https://audax.uk/event-details?eventId=9155

Hopefully you won't have the two miles of dragging your bike across snowdrifts that I had between Weardale and Teesdale on my route check in March 2020. I checked with the B&B at the bottom, they called the shepherd up the hill, and he opined that "he might have to push his bike a bit". At least the descent was clear, and the rest of the ride had been glorious. Of course, I didn't get any points

[Deano]

Decent day out in the end, forty starters and 38 finishers. Not bad for a ride with a few hills, and I'm pleased I left the grand finish from Folly Top to Darlo in the route, a final 30 km of downhill (with a few clicks as Arthur Caygill always says) meant I didn't get too many complaints about the hills.

I have a few photos from around the start and finish, I'll sort them out tomorrow, and I'll inform Joe that we've built on his hard work over the years, and I'm sure he'll be pleased that we also offered pease pudding sarnies at the finish.

And Joe is still offering the Ride formerly known as the Killhope Grimpeur as a reliability ride: https://www.cyclinguk.org/event/killhope-challenge-rides

Ta to all my happy helpers who made it much easier for me!

[mr ben]

Well I'm glad the weather wasn't as challenging as your route check!  Just a little hail.

Gutted to have missed the sandwiches.

[Deano]

Mmm pease pudding.



A couple from the start, a couple from the finish. Couldn't be bothered to photoshop the street furniture out of Nigel's head, sorry Nige.






And transportation of goodies to the start, and finish:




There was a slight soup mishap on the way back to the hall. Bike smells great, though.

[Peter]