Sorry, I've been out of the loop some time and just resurfaced.
I've got a variety of routes round here between 20 miles and 120 (depends if you want to include the Tees and the Wear as well with visits to Quaking Houses, No Place, Terris Novalis, Stadium of Light, Angel of the North, Penshaw Monument, North Shields Fish Quay etc.). How far do people want to go? If the ride starts from Newcastle Central I would suggest that we head out west a little way first and then head east as far as possible saving all the silly gratuitous crossings in Newcastle (Millenium, High Level, Tyne, Swing bridges etc.) for the way back. These are all within a mkile or so of each other but there is much faffing of changing level to get them all in the right order. If someone is running late for the train you could then miss them and head straight for the station. Last time we went from the old youth hostel (North Bank near Jesmond):
1) along the North bank to Tynemouth Priory and the pier head
2) across the Shields Ferry intending to go to Souter Lighthouse (but never got that far)
3) back along the south side to the cycle tunnel
4) through the cycle tunnel
5) back along the North Bank to Millenium Bridge
6) Crossed Millenium Bridge North to South
Crossed Tyne Bridege South to North
9) Crossed High Level Bridge North to South
10) Crossed Swing Bridge South to North
My plans for the Redheugh and Scotswood Bridges got waylaid through lack of time. Basically we took it very easy with lots of stops. We could have taken things more seriously and covered a much greater mileage (but on the day we couldn't be bothered). The 2 landmarks which were on my original route which we can't currently hit are the cycle tunnel itself (cos it's still closed) and the 'Get Carter' carpark (cos they've pulled it down). Ovingham bridge (to the west) is also out of action at the moment. How far do people want to go? This is a ride on quietish routes through a largely industrial landscape. There's not a lot of climbing unless you take a longer route out to Consett steelworks direction, but it isn't totally flat. I can make either or both days - if people wanted to stray over the weekend. I could organise a route both days. The other alternative to camping would be to run it from Durham and I could put up to 8 people up for the weekend (have 5 spare bed slots plus lots of floor).