Muckle CC
1Heddon on the Wall The first obstacle on the route is the climb up from the banks of the River Tyne through Throckley onto Hexham road and into Heddon on the Wall. These 3.5 kilometres of uphill will give you an indication of how your legs will fare keeping up with the Muckle CC for the rest of the ride.
2Prospect Hill What an absolute beauty of a road this is, maybe my favourite climb in the North-east — 1,500 metres of testing gradient with no fewer than six hairpin bends on it zig-zagging from the A695 heading south. The venue for the club’s annual hill-climb, its steepest slopes are at the bottom then the gradient fades as it rises.
3Slaley Hall Pass A gentle, undulating climb with an average of just two per cent across its length, but measuring 4.5 kilometres it will wear the legs down.
■ Favourite cafe Pedalling Squares
Wow, what a place. This is heaven for cyclists, a building packed with vintage bikes, posters, and memorabilia. With a mouth-watering food menu, coffee, beer, comfy sofas, a repair shop and a TV that shows bike racing, it’s a cyclist’s utopia. The only problem you’ll have is leaving.
The Old Brassworks Quality Row Rd
0191 597 2245