Peter Rowell wrote: I found that it was much easier to use your brains, read your maps and work out your own minor road route.
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Agreed. I've found that by quietly studying the OS 1.25in = 1mile map for a proposed point-to-point trip I generally come up with a pleasant,safe route. The OS map gives you a "feel" for an area before you even visit.
Please don't feel that we are attacking Sustrans routes – they clearly have their place in British cycling, although the one near me is used more by walkers than cyclists.
I live near Consett and the C2C passes very close to the house. It's a good place for family groups and certainly takes you away from the traffic, although lots of people drive to the car park and take their dogs for walks there for toilet duties.
In theory, this particular route should be useful to get me to Newcastle, but it crosses three busy roads and is a real bone-shaker, particularly at the Consett end. When it isn't muddy, fine dust covers the bike, which can't be good for moving parts.
I find it much quicker to simply shoot down the A694 (which includes a friendly yellow speed box which makes drivers temporarily slow down, but we'll save that for another thread!). As a compromise, especially when it's dark, I'll use the Sustrans route for the uphill return journey, but herein lies another problem. The darkness makes it hard to see the various barriers placed across the route, thoughtfully painted mat black or left rusting to add to the sense of adventure. Not long ago I encountered a barrier at a point where the track dips down to cross Medomsley Road and the sudden increase in speed, combined with only seeing the barrier about two metres away, was enough to send me airborne.
Am I right in assuming I need to contact the district council (Derwentside) about this?
