I managed to get our on my bike at the weekend; I travelled up the north side of the Tyne. I’ve done this before, but went further, through Wylam and out the other end; it’s a really nice ride, although not that fast as the surfaces are a little rough. In the end, I decided to come back on the south bank, as I’ve not done this before. Took a bit of to-ing and fro-ing, but I mostly came down Keelmans Way. The Gateshead side of the Tyne is more industrial than the North, and Keelmans Way reflects this; instead of fields, pubs and villages, you cycle over steel bridges, peers and through industrial estates. It’s still quiet, though, and great fun. I have to admit, though, as I came into Gateshead, that I was gob-smacked when I cycled through a gap in a hedgerow and found myself on the ring road of the metrocentre. I had no idea it was so close to the river, and that I was so close to it.

Only managed 30 miles, but this was mostly because I had other things to do. I want to try and up this. If I can keep going over winter, with any luck, I should be able to do the 100 mile in next years cyclone.

Originally published on my old blog site.