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Week 1 - North Shields to London

  • Writer: Dirk De Marelle
    Dirk De Marelle
  • Sep 18
  • 4 min read

Updated: Oct 6

Day 1: To our start point in the UK. We first take a train from our hometown to Amsterdam. From Brussels midi station, there is a fast train on which you make a reservation for your bike. You can cycle to IJmuiden from Schiphol Airport, Amsterdam south train station or you can connect in Schiphol to Amsterdam central station (what we did). Arriving in Amsterdam, first apple cake with coffee and then around 25 km to the ferry terminal in IJmuiden to board the ferry to Newcastle.
Day 1: To our start point in the UK. We first take a train from our hometown to Amsterdam. From Brussels midi station, there is a fast train on which you make a reservation for your bike. You can cycle to IJmuiden from Schiphol Airport, Amsterdam south train station or you can connect in Schiphol to Amsterdam central station (what we did). Arriving in Amsterdam, first apple cake with coffee and then around 25 km to the ferry terminal in IJmuiden to board the ferry to Newcastle.

Day 2 - North Shields to Middlesbrough - 80km: Arriving in North Shields around 10am UK time, we’re immediately on the National cycle route 1 and North Sea cycle route. Target destination is Middlesbrough, around 75 km’s. First part goes next to the coastline and just after Sunderland, we’re going more inland, mainly on railway paths. Just before Middlesbrough, Dirk misses a turn and crashes his bike in to a wire fence. Except for a thick lip and painful shoulders and neck, there do not seem to be any other injuries. The bike is a different story, it turns out that the derailleur is broken and we’re having to walk the remaining 4 kms to the hotel.
Day 2 - North Shields to Middlesbrough - 80km: Arriving in North Shields around 10am UK time, we’re immediately on the National cycle route 1 and North Sea cycle route. Target destination is Middlesbrough, around 75 km’s. First part goes next to the coastline and just after Sunderland, we’re going more inland, mainly on railway paths. Just before Middlesbrough, Dirk misses a turn and crashes his bike in to a wire fence. Except for a thick lip and painful shoulders and neck, there do not seem to be any other injuries. The bike is a different story, it turns out that the derailleur is broken and we’re having to walk the remaining 4 kms to the hotel.
Day 3: In the morning, Dirk went to a local bikeshop in Middlesbrough to check if any repair could be done. Meanwhile, Linda cycled to the place of the crash as Dirk’s action camera was lost during the crash. The verdict at the bikeshop was that the derailleur had to be replaced entirely and getting the right parts ordered and delivered would take a long time. We decided to try our luck in some bigger cities on our itinerary and took the first available train direction Leeds. On the train, we checked by phone availability of spare parts with a Shimano service centre in York but again, no luck. They recommended to try a bigger service centre in Leeds. On the way to Woodrup Cycles, the Shimano service centre in Leeds, we passed the Restrap factory and we stopped for help, assuming they would be able to refer us to the best repair shop. Turns out that we were on the way to the right service center and they also knew them very well. Nathan of Restrap spoke to Tom of Woodrup and it was arranged that Dirk’s bike would be repaired immediately with parts taken from the new bike of the Woodrup Cycles’ owner. What an amazing service. We later found out from Tom that Nathan is the founder and owner of Restrap.
Day 3: In the morning, Dirk went to a local bikeshop in Middlesbrough to check if any repair could be done. Meanwhile, Linda cycled to the place of the crash as Dirk’s action camera was lost during the crash. The verdict at the bikeshop was that the derailleur had to be replaced entirely and getting the right parts ordered and delivered would take a long time. We decided to try our luck in some bigger cities on our itinerary and took the first available train direction Leeds. On the train, we checked by phone availability of spare parts with a Shimano service centre in York but again, no luck. They recommended to try a bigger service centre in Leeds. On the way to Woodrup Cycles, the Shimano service centre in Leeds, we passed the Restrap factory and we stopped for help, assuming they would be able to refer us to the best repair shop. Turns out that we were on the way to the right service center and they also knew them very well. Nathan of Restrap spoke to Tom of Woodrup and it was arranged that Dirk’s bike would be repaired immediately with parts taken from the new bike of the Woodrup Cycles’ owner. What an amazing service. We later found out from Tom that Nathan is the founder and owner of Restrap.

Day 4 - Leeds: The original plan was to first cycle 260 km on the NSCR before going sideways to visit York and Leeds to visit friends. As we had to come to Leeds by train for the bike repair, plans have now changed. Today, we’re visiting Leeds. Tomorrow, we will be cycling to York where we will meet up for dinner with Denis and Martine, friends of Dirk. The day after, we’ll visit York and take a train back to Leeds as we’re invited to visit the Restrap factory the next morning. After the visit, back to Middlesbrough to continue the original route.
Day 4 - Leeds: The original plan was to first cycle 260 km on the NSCR before going sideways to visit York and Leeds to visit friends. As we had to come to Leeds by train for the bike repair, plans have now changed. Today, we’re visiting Leeds. Tomorrow, we will be cycling to York where we will meet up for dinner with Denis and Martine, friends of Dirk. The day after, we’ll visit York and take a train back to Leeds as we’re invited to visit the Restrap factory the next morning. After the visit, back to Middlesbrough to continue the original route.

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Day 5 - Leeds to York - 56km: We’re taking the National Cycle route 66 which runs between Leeds and York. Looking at the weather forecast, it will stay dry unto early afternoon so no need to put on our rain pants and jackets. In York, we're having dinner with Denis and Martine, ex-colleagues of Dirk.
Day 5 - Leeds to York - 56km: We’re taking the National Cycle route 66 which runs between Leeds and York. Looking at the weather forecast, it will stay dry unto early afternoon so no need to put on our rain pants and jackets. In York, we're having dinner with Denis and Martine, ex-colleagues of Dirk.

Day 6 - York: Certainly worth a visit, also happy we’re not cycling today as it’s raining most of the day. In the afternoon, train back to Leeds.
Day 6 - York: Certainly worth a visit, also happy we’re not cycling today as it’s raining most of the day. In the afternoon, train back to Leeds.
Day 7 - Middlesborough to Great Ayton - 39km: In the morning, we’re having an appointment with Tom of Restrap. He gives us some history of the company and a full tour of the factory. Rather amazing and super interesting for Linda as she has also making some of our bicycle bags. Around lunchtime, we’re again hopping on the train, back to Middlesbrought for a second start of our tour. We make a little detour to where Dirk crashed as a little plastic cover of his handlebars is missing. When there, Linda finds 2 aerocovers from Dirks helmet which also must have come off. Lucky again as this was so far unnoticed. We manage to still cycle around 40 km and stop in Great Ayton.
Day 7 - Middlesborough to Great Ayton - 39km: In the morning, we’re having an appointment with Tom of Restrap. He gives us some history of the company and a full tour of the factory. Rather amazing and super interesting for Linda as she has also making some of our bicycle bags. Around lunchtime, we’re again hopping on the train, back to Middlesbrought for a second start of our tour. We make a little detour to where Dirk crashed as a little plastic cover of his handlebars is missing. When there, Linda finds 2 aerocovers from Dirks helmet which also must have come off. Lucky again as this was so far unnoticed. We manage to still cycle around 40 km and stop in Great Ayton.
Day 8 - Great Ayton to Scarborough - 80km: We have been warned by Nathan, today is gonna be more challenging. Unto Whitby, we should expect many climbs, some of them up to 25%. Indeed, the first 34 km up to Egton take us nearly 4 hours to complete but the views are fantastic. We’re in doubt if today’s target destination, Scarborough, is still realistic. At this pace, it’s not going to happen. Luckily for us, just after Whitby, the rest of the route is on a railway path with minimum inclination. Reached Scarborough just after 6 pm.
Day 8 - Great Ayton to Scarborough - 80km: We have been warned by Nathan, today is gonna be more challenging. Unto Whitby, we should expect many climbs, some of them up to 25%. Indeed, the first 34 km up to Egton take us nearly 4 hours to complete but the views are fantastic. We’re in doubt if today’s target destination, Scarborough, is still realistic. At this pace, it’s not going to happen. Luckily for us, just after Whitby, the rest of the route is on a railway path with minimum inclination. Reached Scarborough just after 6 pm.

More photos and content on Linda’s instagram page (stories)

 
 
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