Getting There A group of 11 rode the Hadrian's Cycleway in 3 days at the end of July 2010. 7 of us were from my work - me, Steve, Ted, George, Phil, James and Gregg. The other 4 were Chris (my mate), Layla (Steve's girlfriend), Calum (ex-PrismTech) and Nigel (George's mate). An early start saw me and Chris cycle 7 miles from my house to my work at 6am on Friday. We were now faced with the logistical problem of getting 11 bikes, 11 bags and 11 cyclists into a 15 seat minibus driven by Geoff from work and the 4x4 car of Paul Gallagher from work, the leader, organiser and support driver of the bike ride. We solved that particular problem by removing all wheels from the bikes and shoving everything in. Remarkably there was still space for us to sit down. A tortuous journey to Ravenglass in which the sat nav inadvisedly directed us along most of Cumbria's minor roads made the A69 feel like an autobahn but we got to the ancient Roman bath house Glannaventa and thanked Geoff for giving up a day of his life to get us there.

L-R: Ted, Layla, Phil, Steve, Nigel, Paul M, George, James, Paul G, Calum, Chris

Day 1 (Ravenglass to Silloth) We set off at 11 in glorious sunshine and headed north. Some impressive coastal scenery was enhanced further by the beautiful surrounds of Sellafield nuclear power station, where we had a stop at the first of Gallagher's meticulously planned checkpoints. Everyone was together - so far so good. 3 miles later and 12 miles into the day, things started to go a bit pear shaped. We lost Gregg! Gregg, resplendent with spare tyre around his waste (his cider gut, like) had started well but got into difficulty on the first slight incline. We waited half an hour for him, no-one had his phone number

and he didn't have a map. Chris went back to look for him but to no avail. The rest of us went on our way and ended up at St Bees. It turned out we'd taken an alternative yet signed route and Gregg had gone on the original route - we didn't see him again until the hotel at Silloth that night! The first steep climb out of St Bees saw George and Nigel (a beast of a man from Peterlee) power ahead. George and Nigel know each other from the gym and call each other Big Dog and Little Dog. It's gym speak, apparently, that I will sadly (or gladly) never comprehend. Me and Chris were next, perhaps thinking the hill wasn't too bad compared with the 1:4 Yorkshire Dales climbs we’d experienced 2 months before, and we arrived in Whitehaven to meet Gallagher, cutting an imposing figure with shaven head and baggy shorts, joyfully smoking a tab. George and Nigel (the Dogs), weren't there, however. They had turned left and gone BACK along the other Hadrian's route that Gregg had taken. Just out of Whitehaven, Phil got a phone call off Gregg. I was so taken aback, I couldn't quite unclip and keeled over slowly onto my left side. Chris didn't pass up that particular photo opportunity. Gregg was 10 miles up the road already and he decided to just keep going. We missed our planned pub stop as it stopped serving food at 2 and we ended up taking lunch at Tescos cafe in Workington. How the mighty had fallen. At least they let me buy some cans of ale from the supermarket and down one in the cafe - a good reprieve. The Dogs turned up soon after taking a 17 mile detour! The rest of the day was pleasant riding up the coast and along country lanes to the Golf Hotel in Silloth. I got dropped by the main pelaton 3 miles from the finish - my dodgy knees weren't too bad but my legs were telling me to slow down and it's a lonely road when you get dropped. We had to ride along cobbles to get to the Golf - pave no less, just like the tour de France and no mistake! 55 miles were covered that day in about 4 1/4 hours. The meal at the hotel that night was good and James trumped my standing fall by spilling a pint all over his trousers, but we were woken up by a shouty woman at 2am complaining to hotel staff. Grrrr.

Intense warm up session at Glannaventa.

The group is relieved to make it through Sellafield unscathed.

Some well earned shade at Whitehaven harbour.

And a well earned cigarette for Gallagher.

Arriving in Allonby.

Day 2 (Silloth to Gilsland) The next day was warm, cloudy and with very little wind - perfect conditions. Ted, who'd cycled the coast to coast in one day the Monday before had used the first day to recover and showed his prowess by cycling with George and Nigel. He thus became Middle Dog. It turned out the front wheel on my bike wasn't spinning freely and the loosening of the brake made it much easier to ride, not surprisingly (although not as easy to brake). The first 25 miles took us around the Firth of Solway - very flat through pleasant countryside and along coast roads susceptible to tidal flooding, including the start of Hadrian's Wall at Bowness. I'd chosen a pub a few miles short of Carlisle but it was shut and had broken glass out the back - we weren't having much luck on the lunch front but a few miles later we stopped at a pub on the outskirts of Carlisle called the Vallum, which did decent food and ale. After a colourful ride through Carlisle riverside including a picturesque photo shoot with Brunton Park in the background, the roads started to climb and undulate. The 3 Dogs were tearing along so fast that they missed a sign, ended up on the A689, cut 5 miles off the route, missed Gallagher's final checkpoint and went straight to the B&B at Gilsland. The final checkpoint at Hayton was really good with a pub containing a nutter-esque local and a good pint. That fuelled me up nicely for a steep climb up to Hadrian's Wall just out of Brampton and onto the B&B. It started drizzling a bit during the last hour and then a bit heavier for the extra 45 minutes it took Gregg to get there. The 59 miles that day took 4 1/4 hours.

Fresh from his solo run, Gregg makes an appearance at the Golf Hotel in Silloth.

Last minute adjustments before leaving Silloth.

The pelaton winds its way through the Solway Firth.

And stops briefly at Port Carlisle.

The pub is shut!

But this one isn't.

Steve and Layla arrive at the pub in Hayton.

The group were shocked when some light rain started to fall.

Day 3 (Gilsland to South Shields) The start of day 3 sadly saw a dropout. George knacked his knee through probably trying too hard to keep pace with the other Dogs and had to sit in the car with Gallagher. Gregg left 40 minutes before everyone else because he knew there was a 1:5 climb out of Greenhead. I took the climb well (ahead of Ted but nowhere near the powerhouse that is Nigel). Chris' chain came off on the climb a veritable Andy Schleck moment from which he probably never recovered. We got to the first checkpoint at Barden Mill and Gregg wasn't there. It turned out he'd missed a turning and was 5 miles behind! We were joined by Iain from work who was intending to cycle back to his house in Wylam with us. He was wearing a pair of jeans - what could possibly go wrong. The hardest climb of the whole ride followed up above Vindolanda, which I tackled with the 2 remaining Dogs. Then a sweeping, thrilling downhill section along Stanegate followed. The Dogs bombed on ahead of me and I waited for the group at the next checkpoint after fortuitously being able to cycle amongst a group of fit lasses from Carlisle, which enhanced the landscape no end. Gallagher had sensibly advised Gregg to take a shorter and easier route to our booked lunch pub in Corbridge. We got to Corbridge in plenty of time, including Gregg who made up good ground, but where was Iain? 11 miles back at the previous checkpoint after taking an unwanted detour via Housesteads and the Military Road and Gallagher had to pick him up, which didn't please him too much! Some soup, chip, onion ring and black sheep was good fuel for the flat ride along the river through Wylam, Newburn and along to Newcastle Quayside. Then followed the worst part of the route - the 5 mile section from Byker through Walker to the Segedunum fort at Wallsend where all you can do is try and simultaneously look for glass on the ground (there was plenty) and chavs throwing stuff at you (thankfully there were none). We got to the ferry landing with 25 minutes to spare for our vessel and

Gregg made it with 5 minutes to spare. Nice. We saw the red arrows at the Sunderland air show from on the ferry and then sprinted the final mile up to Arbeia fort on the Lawe Top at South Shields to complete 60 miles that day in 4 1/4 hours. Great company, great weather, great bike ride.

The Dogs.

Iain makes a guest appearance, gets lost, gets found, then goes home.

Ice cream is taken at Wylam.

We said goodbye to some of the group at Newcastle Quayside.

Yes, we did it!

Honours board Best rider: Nigel (Big Dog). Best young rider (must be under 30): James (the only under 30). Best female rider: Layla (the only woman). Best solo breakaway: Gregg on the first day. Once he goes, he’s gone. You can’t stay with him and you can’t even find him. Legend. Best crash / comedy fall: me. Best pint: The Stone Inn, Hayton. Worst food: Tesco Café, Workington.