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Report: Northern Rock Cyclone Challenge

Posted: 15th June 2010 | Event: 12th June 2010

Report and Images: Eddie Allen | Northern Rock Cyclone Challenge 2010 Results

The overwhelming impression that I took away from my 63 miles in the Northumberland countryside was not just of the excellent route, first class signage and great rider support. It was the sheer breadth of riders and depth of local, national and international support that the Cyclone Challenge engendered that was the real eye opener.

The Cyclone Challenge was the mass-participation meat in a cycle-sport sandwich - just one segment of the three-day Cyclone Challenge weekend, which encompassed the Leazes Park Crits on the Friday and the Beaumont Trophy Premier Calendar road race on the Sunday. Therefore, riders of all abilities and levels of aspiration were made to feel part of something much bigger, whether they picked the beginner and family-oriented 35 miler, the seriously challenging 104 miler, or, as I did, the intermediate 63 mile option.

As I neared the HQ early on Saturday morning it was clear to me that this was a slick, large-scale affair. The HQ at Newcastle Falcons Rugby Stadium was already alive with the bustle of riders unloading bikes from cars, signing on and attaching rider numbers to their various steeds. I'd been beaten to the prime car parking spaces by the early birds and instead, used the Park and Ride about a mile away, with the help of a friendly event marshal. Once unloaded and ready to go, it was easy enough picking my way back to the HQ, thanks to some excellent signage.

Registration was a pretty slick affair, despite the huge 3500 entry. I was in and out in ten minutes and there were no delays at the start. Pretty soon I waved away from the start by the event crew and began to roll out through Newcastle's affluent north eastern suburbs, passing the airport and quickly heading into a gently-rolling agricultural landscape.

All three routes shared the same path for the first few miles, with riders being directed by clear and well placed signage, green arrows for the short, blue for the medium and black for the full distance. As with all sportives and challenge rides, groups formed and dispersed as riders quickly found people of their own pace to ride with and chatting ensued. What was clear immediately from the wealth of Geordie accents, was that that the Cyclone is very much an international event that the local population engage with in a big way. Seldom have I attended a sportive or challenge ride which has engendered such local support, testament, no doubt, to the longevity of the event, the inclusion of a shorter, ‘have a go' option, and perhaps the wise choice to not use the semi-elitist ‘sportive' word in the event name. Whatever the secret, organiser Peter Harrison has found the knack of engaging a wide range of riders from near and far in this UCI Golden Wheel event.

Just before Meldon, the 35 mile route split from the two longer distances and immediately, the gentle undulations gave way to some more testing hills. But still the mix of riders was pleasing, with roadies rubbing shoulders with tourists, and some intrepid charity riders (evidenced by various charity T-shirts). We continued heading north and the rolling hills and descents began to get more serious. Pretty soon we reached the first feed/timing station a few miles before Forestburn Gate, where the 63 and 104 mile routes parted company. From here you could see what the ‘followers of the black arrows' had to face - an extra 40 miles in the rugged Cheviots, which loomed magnificently in the distance.

However, us ‘followers of the blue arrow' were treated to more wonderful rolling terrain, with the surrounding countryside becoming more rugged and less agriculturally tamed with every pedal stroke, as we skirted around the lower fringes of the Cheviots and began to head south west through glorious, rolling farmland dotted with quaint farmhouses made from the local white stone.

Pretty soon, we saw a stream of 104 milers feeding into the route at a crossroads, so once more the slower moving blue arrow folk were mixing it with sleek black arrow squadrons.

Every ride, big or small, has to have a defining moment, usually in the form of a signature climb, and in the case of the 63 mile Cyclone Challenge, it was the three-stage brute at Ryal which was to be our real test. The three Ryal ramps are a defining feature of the Beaumont Trophy road race and it certainly sorted the wheat from the chaff in the challenge ride too, with a number of riders engaging their low ratio ‘box (i.e. walking). Out of sheer pig-headedness, rather than fitness, I managed to stay aboard the bike. I did however, pause for some tactical photography after the second ramp, purely for artistic reasons you understand.

After the ‘ trial by Ryal', the 35 mile green arrow followers rejoined us and once more there was a heady, carnivalesque mixture of riders on the road, including families with young children tackling the route. This mixture of riders became a colourful, impromptu picnic on the sunny village green of quaint Stamfordham, the site of the final feedstation. As well as the usual feedstation fair, the folk of the Village Hall were on hand to offer tea, cakes and sandwiches, which I felt duty bound to sample. Not only was this a welcome break from sugary sport fuel, it was further evidence of the level of community engagement in the ride and something that had been in evidence throughout the route, with refreshment stalls set up a number of points throughout the ride.

Fully refuelled, we rode the final 15 or so victorious miles back into the Newcastle suburbs, where a hero's welcome greeted us all at the event HQ. Handing back our timing lanyards, we were given an electronically generated slip with our ride time on it. Mine? 5hrs 18 mins, including two generous feed stops and lots of dismounts for photos. I believe the fastest riders were completing in around 3hrs 30, which is pretty impressive.

Overall, a big hats off to the event organisers, Peter Harrison and co, who've managed to pull together another slick edition of the Cyclone, an event which inspires riders of all abilities from far and wide.

Northern Rock Cyclone Challenge 2010 Results