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So, my old mucker from BITD is keen to do a bit of the newly-minted Great North Trail over a long weekend next year.
https://www.cyclinguk.org/current-campaigns/great-north-trail
We'd probably be doing a Ramsbottom to Hebden Bridge leg on day one which would be mostly on the Mary Townley Loop -- that would be a shorter day of 30-40km and ~1200m ascent.
The subsequent days would be on the Great North Trail up to Kirkby Stephen or possibly Haltwhistle. These would be longer days of the order of 60km and up to ~1900m ascent.
Total trip length would either be three days (ending in Kirkby Stephen) or four days (ending in Haltwhistle). We'd aim to get the train home. We would be staying in YHAs or B&Bs rather than camping.
Now, I've never done any of this sort of riding. Most of what I do is local loops linking together various bits of woodland steep/techy stuff. Any given ride is up to about 30km/1000m ascent max, usually in the 90 minutes to three hours time frame.
So what do I need to consider when planning for this trip? I'm currently aware that I'll need to get some bike luggage of some description, and that I'll likely want to switch out my super rad tyres for something a bit more easy-rolling. I'll probably also want to consider gearing: currently my hardtail has a 1x9 setup with a 30:32 being my spinniest ratio, possibly that will be too much to push for an all day epic. Finally, I know that bikes on trains can be painful and I'll need to prebook spaces.
Thoughts / suggestions / dire warnings much appreciated 🙂
Almost exactly the same situation for me! Except we'll likely do a Scottish section (get train up, head south)
Also incredibly similar in terms of usual riding.
Very keen to hear what folks suggest.
I’ll probably also want to consider gearing: currently my hardtail has a 1×9 setup with a 30:32 being my spinniest ratio, possibly that will be too much to push for an all day epic.
That's already low gearing for flat sections. Get a 50t on the back and get a bigger front chain wheel.
Head over to https://bearbonesbikepacking.co.uk/phpBB3/index.php
You should get lots of advice there and find kit off the Classifieds.
Northern Rail from Kirkby Stephen doesn't need booking for bikes. If the train is packed, though (seldom is) then you might get refused, but this has happened to me once in the last five years.
Don't know how strong you are, but there are a couple of sections on the PBW around Settle which might have you gurning a bit on 30:32. I'm guessing you're not keen on replacing your entire drivetrain just for this ride, so maybe squeeze a 34t cassette on the back. You won't be caning it on the roads anyhow, so twiddling 30:11 will be fine.
It's not like you'll be massively loaded up - just some clothes and bits in a bar bag would probably do the trick if you're prepared to be minimalist.
If you're definitely not camping, you don't actually need that much stuff over and above what you'd take on a big day out.
Spare bibs/ liners & a base layer would be a luxury.
Something to change into for evening,
Something to sleep in.
Small Towel, wash kit, arse cream.
Down Jacket maybe
Maybe an emergency bivvy / blanket.
I rode the Badger Divide on Nobby Nics - you don't want to compromise the fun bits (if there are any where you're going?)
As Martin says, Northern Trains on the Settle-Carlisle are fine with bikes, just avoid the trains around commuting times and you'll be fine. The Newcastle-Carlisle line is a bit different as the one time I've used it we got an a Pacer and it was packed and we were the only bikes (Martin - it made the Morecambe train the other Saturday look empty!)
As jimdubleyou says, you really don't need much over and above what you'd take on a day ride if you are using YHAs or B&Bs. Not sure I'd take a down jacket if it were summer but ...
Get one of those microfibre towels - cheap enough at places like Mountain Hardware - pack very small.
Bags wise: I'd just get a saddle bag for the main kit, out back and out of the way and doesn't affect handling as much as having stuff on the bars. Don't get a big bag then think you have to fill it, you'll just end up carrying "just in case" kit that you'll never use, 5-8L in size should be enough. Some of the all-in-one bikepacking bags claim to be waterproof but I'd put stuff in something like an Exped dry bag just to be sure. A top-tube bag or a stem cell is useful for trail food and keeping phone, card, cash to hand. There's lots of reviews and hints on the Bearbones blog - https://bearbonesbikepacking.blogspot.com/
Looking at the route, it follows much of the Pennine Bridleway but for the section between Gisburn and Long Preston I'd just take the lanes as the PBW is not very good, overgrown and not even the horse riding community seem to use it.
Have a look at the Podsacs stuff that On One sell
Thanks for the input so far everyone, great stuff, even if I did manage to post in the chat forum rather than the bike forum 😐
That’s already low gearing for flat sections. Get a 50t on the back and get a bigger front chain wheel.
Don’t know how strong you are, but there are a couple of sections on the PBW around Settle which might have you gurning a bit on 30:32. I’m guessing you’re not keen on replacing your entire drivetrain just for this ride...
For the gearing I'm more worried about tapping out up hills than spinning out on roads to be honest. With 30:32 I get up most stuff locally, but it's often out-the-saddle hammering it rather than sitting and spinning. Obviously sit-and-spin is going to be a more sustainable effort.
I sadly can't reasonably afford to get a 50t cassette, not least because it'd mean changing too much other bits.
My current hardtail is an old 26er Soul. I've just got a new NS Eccentric which might be built in time for the trip: I'd sort of sooner take the NS since it'll be longer and more comfortable (the Soul is a bit small for me TBH).
So for gearing I think my options are:
1. Take the Soul as-is.
2. Take the NS, built up with the Soul's drivetrain.
3. Take either the NS or the Soul as a 1x9 with a wide range Sunrace cassette off eBay (40t IIRC, for the princely sum of £28.99).
4. Take the Soul as a 3x9 having gritted my teeth and refit the front mech I have in the shed.
@jimdubleyou and @whitestone -- awesome stuff, thanks. I'm going to be packing light for sure: I've done plenty of long-distance camping/hiking in the past so I'm used to minimalism when it comes to stuff I have to lug over a long distance.
4. Take the Soul as a 3×9 having gritted my teeth and refit the front mech I have in the shed.
That would be my choice. I find it far easier to make distance in a high gear at a low cadence when the opportunity arises (and for long distance stuff there is usually quite a lot of that).
In the Dales I'll manage just about every climb using 30T at the front and 11-40T at the back and usually won't be in the 40T but more like 32T and standing on the steeper bits but sat down and steady when it eases back. That's both loaded and unloaded on a 29er. It tends to be the long drags that see me in the lower gears.
There's also one or two climbs that unless you are lucky with your line will see you walking for a few metres - don't worry about it, it's just part of the journey.
Riding tactics:
Ride slow & steady, it's not a race; eat often and you'll keep going all day, no matter that the days include more climbing than you're normally accustomed to.
Get up and out early, giving time for coffee & cake along the way or at the end of each day.
Recover well and check the bike as soon as you get to the digs, so it and you are both ready for the next morning.
Try not to drink too much alcohol in the evenings, as a hard day isn't much fun dehydrated or with a hangover.
And as said above, keep yourself to a back pack & one extra bag, either saddle or bar. I prefer the latter personally, less interference with a dropper post.
Pool spares with your buddy.
If relevant, consider the Wolftooth dropper clamp. It's dual purpose, as it will hold up a failed post and can be used to protect the slider surfaces from grit ground in by a seat bag strap.
Are you sure you can't just manage some dry kit in a backpack (that you might already own)? Seems extravagant to buy some strap-on bags for one short trip.