I am putting this on to see if anyone would like to try out a new route I have put together starting from The Gun at Ridsdale(A68 going north - before West Woodburn).
It's mainly grassy tracks and b/ways (not very technical, but pleasant) with an odd f/path (shh!). There is an unavoidable stretch of tarmac at the end, but the other way round does not work too well.
Meet in the car park (behind the pub) for a 6.30 start.
If anyone has another preference for Wed, then please post. If not indicate below if you can make this.

Keen to try this out....the only alternative I can think of is to skip the riding bit completely and have a session in the Gun

Will try and make this one, not many light free night rides left!

Pleased to hear everyone enjoyed/survived the Gold Rush and still sounds as exciting as it was 6 or 7 years ago when I last rode it.
Does anyone have a map of the Gold Rush route that I could borrow or copy from and how long did it take to do the entire ride? Last time I rode it we added in a few extra miles!!
I am hoping to do the ride with Chris either this weekend or next if anyone else wants to join us.

Roger. Ian has the only map of the route but I have a guide book with the route description in which you can gladly borrow...I will bring it on wednesday.

Ian. I am assuming this ride is for wednesday the 28TH...and not tonight?

Yes, well spotted Neil, you are right of course I did mean the 28th.
Roger,
I'll bring my OS map along so you can check it, but the same as in Neil's book.

Sorry guys got to give this one a miss
pre arranged dinner Wed evening.
See you next week.

Can't make it either.

Pretty pleased how that turned out considering I've never ridden the full route before, only sections. A bit overgrown in places, especially the 3ft tall bracken on the rocky d/hill - we'll just have to ride it more often! Full stats were distance 31.3kms, average 12.4, max 50!
July is fly month, and that was certainly true on the slower sections, but a very pleasant evening all round, with a nice cheeky finish and some very enjoyable ale from the Consett brewery after.

A spot-on ...not so little ride ( in terms of length )...and if crags are your thing you would not have been disappointed!
Saying that I would'nt have liked to do this in the dark as in some places it was perilously close to a sheer drop...there were climbers out with ropes on one of the sets of crags...I'm just glad that the wind direction was in our favour.
A nosy farmer with a.. dont like you on this land sort of attitude...but could'nt complain because it was bridleway and the amount of horse-flies that joined us on parts of the ride were the only things to worry us...that apart cant wait to do it again...well done Mr.Bell