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I'm wanting to do a long multiday gravel bike ride and I'm thinking about the Tim Woodcock C2C route. I've ear marked mid September. Is this do-able on a gravel bike? Or am I going to regret it and wish i'd used the full sus XC bike? I've done the South downs way a few times (straight through in a day) on a full suss and parts of it on the gravel bike. I must admit I've found the gravel bike frustrating on the long (stoney) descents
Anyone here riden the Tim woodcock route? Are there many stone stroon fast downhills?
This has been discussed over on Bearbones. The consensus seems be be ...
don't!
Here's a search link - https://bearbonesbikepacking.co.uk/phpBB3/search.php?keywords=woodcock
Just in the Lakes you've got Black Sail, Walna Scar and Garburn. So, gravel bike wouldn't be my first choice.
Even if you like hike-a-bike, the Woodcock route is a bit of a sufferfest in places, and would benefit from some tweaking in the Dales in particular.
Is this do-able on a gravel bike?
Doable in the sense that most things are doable on a gravel bike.
Fun? No, it'd be purgatory!
XC MTB unless you're going to do some significant route rejigging.
In the early 90s I rode it there and back on a rigid 26" with 1.95" tyres. I don't really see that a modern gravel bike with bike packing bags would be any worse.
Thanks for the input folks. Having watched a few YouTube videos of black sail and Walna scar (thanks martinhutch) I suspect the mtd is going to be much better suited to the lakes and a day id reget having taken the 'wrong bike'.
There are alternative, far more gravel-friendly ways of coast to coasting. Ravenglass to Ravenscar involves a lot less pushing.
The Woodcock route certainly takes the main challenges head-on, though.
I wouldn't!
This might be more doable i know a few people who have done it on a gravel bike
https://www.tedliddle.uk/cycle-routes/reivers-cycle-routes
The Woodcock route certainly takes the main challenges head-on, though.
The thing with the Woodcock routes is they were written in the days where "MTBing" meant pushing up a steep unrideable hill in order to bomb down the fireroad track the other side of it.
The C2C and his Lakeland Loop book both involve various "iconic" bits of trail more to say that you've done them than for their actual worth as an MTBing track. Black Sail for example - yes it's stunning, it's pretty remote but it is all hike-a-bike. One of those things that you do once to say that you've "ridden" it while acknowledging that you'd have had far more riding in a day out at Grizedale.
Just in the Lakes you’ve got Black Sail, Walna Scar and Garburn. So, gravel bike wouldn’t be my first choice.
I've done* Walna Scar on a CX bike. Garburn I know would be a push / carry probably both up and down. See above re Black Sail.
*there was a lot of walking.
That's not to slag the books off - he did set the benchmark in the very early days of MTB touring but it did come from the mindset of the 90's combined with the ability of the bikes to handle that sort of stuff.
aP
Free Member
In the early 90s I rode it there and back on a rigid 26″ with 1.95″ tyres
McMoonter and I did this a few years ago, me on my fully rigid 1986 Marin Pine Mountain c/w rack and panniers.
It was type 2 fun but fun nonetheless.
It's not about the bike yada yada etc etc...
If anyone lands here researching the same topic i can now speak first hand. This is a very delayed update as I rode it as planned in mid September, but based on comments above opted for the full suss 29er (most definitely the right choice). I had 3 and half days of the most amazing blue skys, with half a day of rain to keep things real. The route is, as the posts above suggest, old school. There's plenty of hike-a-bike in the lakes, and a bit on the moors as well. I rode it in reverse as the NY moors was home ground and I wanted to finish in the lakes. I rode solo over 4 days/3 nights, stopping in Osmotherley, Brough Sowerby and coniston. The first day was the hardest mentally, with the 10hr days seeming normal after that.
It will be either King Alfreds Way on the gravel bike or the Great North Trail on the 29er next as I've got the bug for multiday long distance rides.
It will be either King Alfreds Way on the gravel bike or the Great North Trail on the 29er next as I’ve got the bug for multiday long distance rides.
King Alfredos is fine on a gravel bike. You should enjoy that in an 'I enjoyed...' rather than 'I endured...' way.
I've only done the first half; Matlock to Edinburgh bit of the Great North jobbie and on a hardtail (26er - gasp!). The first few days are tough (Pennine Bridleway) so I wouldn't overcommit if you want to enjoy it. We did Matlock to Ingleton in 3 days which sounds fine but would be finerer in 4. The rest to Edinburger was fine. Doing the other half next May once winter has ****ed off. 👍