STARS Ride Reports

April
Sunday 9th. Tyne Loop Ride - Swing Bridge - Tyne Cycle Tunnel - NCN 14 and NCN 72
A good turn out despite the threatening weather - Doug, JohnK, Ron, JohnH, Pat, Stuart, Phil & Gareth.
The start was slightly delayed owing to Stuart getting lost due to the road closure because of the Bonded Warehouse fire.
The ride set off along the Quayside and as the market was quiet we made easy progress and crossed the river over the Millennium Bridge.

Proceeding down river on NCN 14 Stuart adopted his lumberjack role and using his trusty folding hand saw removed a tree branch obscuring a cycle direction sign. The weather was alternately bright sun or cloudy and windy - continuing on down river we passed through Bill Quay Farm where we were greeted by pigs and goats. On into South Tyneside where the planned signing was to take place. A number of signs erected by the council had the route number incorrectly applied - ie not on a red background and without a border.

At the first sign Doug demonstrated what was required - after that the STARS acrobatic team swung into action at each sign and applied the correct route 14 patch to cover the incorrect ones, having completed the task we set off and crossed the river via the Cycle Tunnel to our planned lunch stop. Phil by this time was running low on fuel and needed a cake top up !! Arriving at the Bogie Chain PH we discover they have stopped serving food - disaster. Crossing the new bridge over Willington Gut - which some Rangers had not seen before - and with energy levels falling we head to Segedunum.

On route Stuart discovers another task for his trusty folding saw cutting off a projecting fence rail - he finds another one but is persuaded to leave it alone - and with moments to spare - we reach Flavia's Cafe where we overwhelm the staff who are not expecting many visitors that day !!

After lunch we continued up river back to the start - stopping on route for a pint at the Free Trade PH overlooking the Tyne.
The sun had decided to come out refreshments were consumed sitting on the terrace overlooking the Tyne. Phil disappears into the pub to order his pint and is spotted chatting to a young lady and her friend. On re-joining the group his says they are interested in becoming Rangers - but as no one has any leaflets with them - Doug offers his calling card and asks them to get in touch.

A brief snow shower threatened but kept of long enough for us to finish our drinks - then it was Au Revoir as we all set of back home. Another enjoyable ride in good company !!

Late News from Phil
After bidding farewell to Doug and Gareth at the Free Trade we completed the final leg back to the Guildhall Quayside where we were greeted with a very friendly reception from Carol of Tyne Bridge Bike hire who served up …..yes you’ve guessed it tea and cake!! As hard as it was to resist we just had to indulge. Then we all went home.

Darlington Ranger Training Day May 6th
Attended by:- Doug, Phil, Lindsay, Bob, Gareth, Stuart, Iain, John & Pat.
Due to the impending travel problems on the railway several of us elected to use the services of Tyne Bike Bridge Bike Hire (Lindsay and Iain making their own arrangements).
Everyone going by bike bus arrived early on the Quayside outside the Guildhall. Even Stuart & Phil were early.
While loading up the trailer Bob come along on his way to the station to catch the train but as we had a spare seat on the bus (Rob having to drop out at the last minute) - Bob decided to joined the rest of us.

Prompt on 8:30am we set off in glorious sunshine over the Swing Bridge and headed south to Darlington - able driven by Carole (STAR & owner of the Bike Bus) - heading south the weather started to cloud over.

Leaving the motorway we threaded our way into Darlington and finally found the railway Station where we were to assemble for the ride prior to the Training Day.

Gradually more and more rangers arrived for the ride which was to be lead by John Grimshaw. Jonathan Kibble ( Tees side office) handing out new cycling maps of Darlington so we would not get lost !!!!

The first part was on road & Doug quickly discovered his bike was not well - having snapped his chain the day before and fitting a new one the previous night - found that due to his gears being excessively worn the chain was slipping all the time - bravely he pedaled on accompanied by a cacophony of clicks and gnashing of gears !!

Finally we intersected the trackbed of the Stockton to Darlington Railway and some interesting mountaineering techniques were observed, as riders (climbers) struggled up the steep slippery eroded path up the side of the embankment - Phil meanwhile cycled through the tunnel under the embankment and found an easy way up on the other side !!!!

Onwards we cycled in a broad loop around Darlington to arrive back in the town centre - where we had to negotiate the inner ring road, traffic, pedestrian areas under construction before arriving at the Friends Meeting House where the training Day was to be held.

Tea, biscuits and cake were quickly consumed before settling down to the days agenda. After the usual greetings from local councilor we were given a brief resume of the cycle plans for Darlington under the banner Local Motion - a nice play on words and connection to the towns railway history. This was followed by a presentation by John Grimshaw about the NCN and its future. Tony Ambrose then gave news on the re-organisation of the Rangers North office of which we will hear more shortly. Then the highlight of the day Vicki from Bike It gave a splendid presentation about the work she does in getting schools to allow kids to cycle to school. Everyone agreed this was very worthwhile and most interesting presentation.

A Buffet Lunch followed and was quickly consumed before the afternoon session - Rangers were split into various workgroups - one for new rangers- - of which there were quite a few, another for established rangers with another for becoming an Ambassador for Sustrans. Several of us joined the later and a quite lively discussion took place!!!!

Due to problems with the train service that day the meeting was wound up early - we headed off back to the station - braving the Inner Ring road again to meet Carole who was to drive us all back to Newcastle. Arriving on the Quayside we bid each other farewell and headed for home. Doug & Phil encountered a manic on a mini bike roaring up & down the Quayside promenade dodging pedestrians at high speed. By the time the police were informed it was too late and he had disappeared.

Monday saw Doug visiting all the bike shops looking for new parts for his bike - which was very successful - obtaining a complete set of drive train components at less than half price (and from a reputable supplier).

I supplied the bike shop with a box of the new Cycle North East guide and in return they fitted a new bottom bracket, chain set and gear cluster for free.

My bike should now run like a sewing machine - once I locate the pedal I took off and left behind in the shop !!!!

June 4th - Ebchester Ride on NCN 14 Derwent Walk
Gateshead (Skiff Inn) to Ebchester (Derwent Walk Inn)

A good turn out– eleven (yes 11) in attendance, in no particular order:
Phil, James (Ranger to be!), Doug, Lindsay, John K, Ron, Pat, John H, Rob, Bob, David.

As we congregated a small but significant cloud shared its rain with us for a short time but after this we cycled in dry sometimes sunny and very warm weather.

Bob (Derwent Walk NCR14 Liaison ranger) was our leader and we set off from the mouth of the Derwent into Derwenthaugh park. The entrance onto the route from the cricket club proved interesting as a new metal barrier has been installed to prevent motorcycle handlebars squeezing through, unfortunately this meant some cycle handlebars also had a tight squeeze.

As we approached nine arches viaduct we came across Kite Watch – we stopped to peer through binoculars to spot the nesting birds in the distance but found the stuffed toy Kite much more accessible.

Onwards without the merest hint of a cake stop before Ebchester and energy levels sapped by the long gentle incline and short steep gradients and the heat – we finally came to the Derwent Walk Inn (see pub sign). Nestling high up on the valley side with views over Dere Street and Slaley Forest, Hedley on the Hill and almost as far as Waskerley Way, we enjoyed lunch al-fresco and studied the near final draft of the new Hadrian’s cycleway map. Pat and John showed off by leaving us to cycle down then up over the valley to get home, while the rest looked forward to the downhill ride back to Gateshead.

The ride back was quicker (or so it seemed) with the occasional dog slowing us down – we noted the fairly perilous crossing on the road approaching the bridge and Gibside and parked cars on the path in Rowlands Gill.

The home straight in sight the ride finished back at the mouth of the Derwent and we all went home.

Thanks to those who turned out – hope to see even more of you on the next ride/event.

Vital statistics –
Rangers: 10+1
Total mileage: 20
Average speed: 10mph
Beer: snecklifter 8/10 – Chocolate mild 9/10 - Strongbow 6/10
Cake consumed: 0 yes NIL you'r slipping Phil

June 5th - Route Signing at Newburn
Doug, Ron and JohnH installed the new direction signs that had been supplied by Sustrans. The old signs were removed and replaced by new ones containing ALL the correct logos i.e. Bike / 72 / Acorn / Pedestrian. All Ranger signs removed except those by the notice board which were re-positioned as agreed with the Country Park Warden.

Note in Newcastle :-
Signs with blue background are used where it is ONLY National Cycle Network.

Signs with a brown background have to be used where the National Cycle Network coincides with National Walking Trail.
The bike towing the route number runs into the pedestrian who then kicks the acorn in the direction of the arrow !!!!

Two new blue destination signs were fitted at Blayney Row at the end of the Wylam Waggonway and all the footpath ROW signs on these posts tidied up.

Just one set of signs remain to fit but a post has to be planted for this first, which I hope to arrange next week.
This is to go on the car park side of the slipway and a redundant wooden sign post removed - this will be re-used elsewhere on NCN 72 probably at the complex junction at Scotswood.

Later we went down to Newburn ramp to fix the arms on the new tall signpost which the kids keep turning - locking bolts have now fitted to prevent this.

Newburn ramp at the moment is a riot of yellow as all the seeds we sowed have come up - its a carpet of Yellow Birdsfoot Trefoil which is what the rare Dingy Skipper Butterfly feeds on - there is a colony close by.

June 25th - Rectifying Incorrect Destination Signs

The Newcastle office finally persuaded OneNE to erect new sign
posts at both ends of Shelley Road, Newburn Industrial Estate.
One new sign post was found to have two arms pointing the wrong way, which would have caused any cyclists following them to end up back where they came from !!
In order to quickly recify this defect SteveP from Newcastle Office asked if I could sort this out. Feeling much better (summer flu bug) I arranged to meet up with JohnK to sort this out. Once on site this was acheived quite quickly and the signs now no longer guide cyclists in a big loop !!!
Additionaly we erected two new direction signs at the other end of the Newburn Riverside Trail where Doug tested out his newly acquired "band tensioning tool" - to fix the signs to the rather large diameter lamp columns!! There is no longer a gap in the signing between Newburn ramp and Lemington Gut Bridge.
Doug

June 26th - New signs at Tyne Cycle Tunnel Junction
Replacement signs finally delivered and Doug and Lindsay arranged to install these. At the same time a Millennium Finial was also installed. Due to the site location some time was spent getting all the gear (ladders, signs, tools etc.) on site. The new arms were installed as high up as possible to prevent vandal attack.
The previous signs were stolen when the post was rammed by joy-riders and flattened to the ground. The arm pointing to the Tunnel was subsequently recovered but the other disappeared. Another signing gap rectified. The signpost has had a Finial top added and the C2C sign retained.

We then went on to put back the missing signs at Clifford Fort after the work had been completed on the new sea wall - but a nasty surprise awaited us - in the form of a large earthen bank across the direct route from Clifford Fort Street onto the promenade. We had been assured previously that this would not happen. At the moment the only way to access the promenade is vai the car park entrace - ride though car park and out the other end.
During our time there we witnessed two large groups of C2C riders trying to find the way through and it is obvious from the tire and foot prints over this bank where people want to go - not around in a big loop via car park entrance !! We are both on the case and will be contacting NT council about this obstruction asap.