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Paris-Roubaix 2011: Breakaway © Simon MacMichael.jpgHell of the North East: Newcastle's Cycle Hub puts on Paris-Roubaix inspired ride - and it's free (+ video)
Newcastle bike café The Cycle Hub is launching a new event in April, The Hell of the North East, that takes place the day before Paris-Roubaix – and like the race nicknamed The Hell of the North that inspires it, the route includes plenty of rough roads, ranging from farm tracks to cobbles.
Entry to the 100km ride, scheduled for Saturday 12 April, is free, but places are strictly limited, and can be made by emailing The Cycle Hub – the address, plus details of what you need to include in your email as well as requirements for riders, can be found here.
Organisers stress that the ride isn’t suitable for beginners – “it will be tough and both you and your bike should be ready for it.
They add: “We would encourage you to ride either a cyclocross bike or a road bike (fitted with 25mm, or bigger, tyres), as this fits better with the ethos of the Paris-Roubaix, which is to ride entirely unsuitable bikes along entirely unsuitable routes!
“Mountain Bikers are obviously welcome to attend, but should be aware that this will be considered as cheating!”
Here’s a short promo film for the ride, which organisers promise “won't be quite as hard as the real thing, but will be plenty tough” – for a start, it includes 800 metres of climbing.
Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.
Latest Comments
- Rendel Harris 3 min 49 sec ago
I've put those on Mrs H's bike and keep meaning to put them on mine as well, they are really effective because not only can drivers see you clearly...
- quiff 4 min 44 sec ago
Move the bikes repeatedly - solves the problem, but at your inconvenience. Chop them up - gets the operator's attention and they might do something...
- Doug_D 14 min 49 sec ago
Another book suggestion - I can highly recommend "Lost Summers and Half-Forgotten Afternoons: A Mint Sauce collection" - a beautifully presented...
- chrisonabike 36 min 23 sec ago
Neighbourhood: you can't change anything because we have a disabled resident! Also driving children to schools! People power!...
- chrisonabike 1 hour 27 min ago
But... the last is only not the case with drivers on normal roads because driving on the cycle path / footway / rolling a vehicle up there is seen...
- mdavidford 2 hours 5 min ago
I think you're missing an opportunity to pack even more tech into it - add accelerometers that can detect whether they're pedalling or stepping....
- chrisonabike 2 hours 30 min ago
Thanks. I guess the question is "need". If the road is busy, it sounds like it is a desired route between places? In which case (given this an...
- mdavidford 2 hours 38 min ago
Don't know what you mean. I thought my suggestion was entirely practical.
- Rapha Nadal 3 hours 12 min ago
I'd buy a motorbike fo rthat kind of money!
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11 comments
Famous last words, didn't get a place. Boo
I believe the 92km Telford Toothpaste ride in Ironbridge on the morning of P-R is a similar event.
There are miles are miles of rough tracks, bridleways, and sustrans paths around newcastle, tho as stated on their site you do have to link many with sections of road. Will be great to see what route they have come up with.
my guess would that they'll try and weave in some of the cobbled bits that lead up from the river - there's a killer one up Hanover street near the Copthorne hotel for example then maybe head west via Newburn towards Wylam along the river then north towards Heddon or south towards Consett way... like you say - lots of potential.
I'm going to have to get some miles in...
For those who like this kind of thing - there is also the rather wonderful/evil Enfer du Saddleworth
Entry in.
Great concept / idea
Riding with a friend from Herne Hill Velodrome to Roubaix Velodrome to watch the race this year, but hope this becomes an annual thing as would be great to take part in the future
Would like to see the route for this, the non P-R bit of video looks like it was shot in the Ouseburn and Stepney bank not far from the Cycle Hub but it'll have to range far from there to fit the mileage. Plenty of scope though, if you include the waggonway network but I'd advise a 28 with good puncture protection for some of the more glittery sections.
Anywa, have popped off an email to try and register.
I hope it's a success and run next year as I'll be doing the real thing for the third year.
Good luck and hope it's an enjoyable event.
To much for me but i'll be along to support it
Should be fun, email sent and fingers crossed!
I hope it includes the Kibblesworth Staircase.