Moving from Au to Newcastle UK - advise

BenMelb

hi all, I am looking to move to newcastle in the UK in a month or so for work(2+ yrs). Now apart from the 43deg c days here and i hear the very cold there my next challange is getting a bike.

I have a Giant ocr 1 here, and not sure if i will take it with me, or buy a new bike over there.

Here in Au i guess giant is a value for money bike, may not be the best but they give good cost Vs what you get.

Is this the same in the Uk? or is brands like Gitane better value?
I am looking at a tcr 1, Gitane mach 2300, level spec bike

carbon frame, ultegra '05+ group set.

that aside, is it wet windy and cold up north? eg not rider friendly? (coming from the summer in oz i think its going to be a shock, the cost of renting apartments almost put me into shock)

cheers
Ben

complience

is it going to be wet and cold?

lol... you have no idea what your letting yourself in for...
get yourself a coat.. a big one ..


actualy in the summer it does stop raining some days.. then it could almost be decribed as nice.

BenMelb

ohhh great now I just can’t wait!!!!



doesn't sound like its road bike friendly?? (I have never ridden in the rain... because we just don’t get it much here, 40+ C deg again here tomorrow)



looking at photos etc it looks like a nice country, and since brewing is a hobby/design for work, the UK area sounds great in that aspect



maybe I will invest my bike money in some coats



Euro I thought was big on the road bikes, but if it’s so cold and wet, how do people ride, and do you wear different clothing to what I am accustom to (eg bike top - short sleave and bike shorts )



cheers

Ben

complience

brewing? are we talking beer or tea here?


Europe is big on road cycling... England isnt apart of europe.(well if you ask a politician maybe) Hardly any road cyclist on this little island (thats why there are no brits in the tour de france)

however on the plus note.. from reading the aussie forum i think you will find our car drivers have much better manors.

BenMelb

Talking beer brewing, I have a nano brewery here (only 120Lt batches) and the Aus beer is (mainstream) is crap! (the private/craftbrewerys is good)

We pay $5-$9 for english etc beers here per stubbie

On the bikes, sorry i forget euro is not uk etc its much the same to me as i have never been there, "long way away and much colder" is about all i know

Moff23

Having just made the reverse journey I wouldn't comnsider riding on UK roads compared to Melbourne. The North east is cold, windy, wet and worst of all if you have a decent bike you better make sure its locked up well or you won't have it for long. The Northeast of England is a hard gritty working class area.


Good Luck you'll certainly miss Melbourne.

BenMelb

dam, not what i wanted to hear

oh well if thats the way it is, then thats the way it is....

I wonder what on earth people do there then no riding?!?! ... oh thats right pubs

There is area's like this is melbourne though, frankston, footscray, springvale etc

Is there nice areas to ride in/near Newcastle that are not rough? and in summer is it rider friendly?

I guess i would be riding to and from work so the bike would be locked up in apartment/work, however If its wet and rainy i wouldn't ride and i will most likly need to use a car with work, so that may not happen as often as i like

Looks like i will come home with a fat beer belly

complience

The Geordies are probably the friendliest people in the UK. Geordie girls are famous for it.. and for wearing no clothes even in subzero temperatures.

You wont be able to understand a word what they are saying mind. The city is cool, a great blend of old and new.

Crimewise its not too bad, stay away from gateshead,sunderland and middlesbrough you'll be arlight. Unless you actually enjoy fighting of course, then just out for a drink on a friday/saturday night and you can have your pick of local meatheads.



As for beer .. well I hope you like Newcastle brown ale or fosters.

MountainPro

you wont be able to find one this big in Aus, better wait till you get here and get yourself down to local outdoor shop. There you'll find an array of sealskin, reindeer skin and buffallo skin coats with extra sheep lining.

Stick your goretex on top and you'll hadly feel the cold during the summer.

cycling is limited from 28 June till 7 Aug....and make sure your bike has got mudgards.

Its a great city, very lively and friendly. Great football too. Great beer...the odd dick-head.

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BenMelb

Fosters - yucko, think i will look far and wide to find some real beer....somewhere

"cycling is limited from 28 June till 7 Aug....and make sure your bike has got mudgards"

thats very limited, i gather the weather is the limit?
would be hard to stay fit enough to complete long rides... I guess there wont be much point saving for a tcr comp. like i planned to, all the weight saving would not be worth it (adding mud gards etc) and it may sit around gathering more dust that anything else... might just take the OCR with me

Thanks for the help guys, i will give you a update when i get there expected about march

cheers

fearby

I am from Newcastle and there is a great cycling setup there.

Some good quality bike shops in the city and some very strong clubs which meet every weekend.

The contryside around Newcastle is tremendous and will make Australia look dull.Head into Northumberland and take a camera with you if you can.The weather isn't as bad as you think and most cyclists manage to get out the whole year round.Summers here usually hit 28-30 celsius.

Here is an example of the countryside you can expect:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/682592...in/set-1742617/

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BenMelb

wow thats great news i was getting a bit down about it all

I am not a strong rider, rather just like to keep fit and love the feel of flying along on a nice bike and ride. (makes it feel ok to have a beer after work then)

about the biggest rides i do is 50Km however i might build up further as i am finding that easer now

It looks like i will be moving as my contract is signed. I was thinking of taking my OCR1 over but its a nice excuse to get another bike wanting a TCR1 comp. but dont like the paints this last 2 yrs (like the gloss on carbon look) (04 was black and yellow i liked that, maybe i will e-bay for one)

that pic looks like magic!
However dont be fooled into thinking AU is not nice, maybe 75% is barron but the beaches hills tropics etc are very nice, just hotter and dryer i guess, we had a stint of 45 deg days last week (about as good to ride in as the wet cold)

cant wait to get there and have a look for myself (i will be in the city as thats where work is) but i will get out on the weekends i am sure

thanks again for making it sound far less doom and gloom, and your photos are VERY good.. some of the best i have seen WOW

wheelist

Nice pics there, fearby. I've never seen it quite like that - I guess you have to get up in the morning!

Ben, as you're a brewer you'll no doubt be wanting to check out the CAMRA web site (they do a good book too!) which details all the best 'real ale' pubs in the UK. Plenty of cycling to do from one to the next!!

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velodrome.co.nr

which newcastle is it , newcastle under lyme or newcastle upon tyne??

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