I went out for a ride on the 'Blade yesterday making the most of the brief winter sunshine. Only went for Sunday dinner at the parents who live about 15 miles but took a nice convoluted route there of 30 miles. After dinner I decided to take the direct route as it was looking cloudy, but still went for the scenic road along the coast. Part of the route goes through a seaside town called Saltburn, the road has a steep double hairpin bank up from the promenade, I had followed the obligatory pensioner couple on their Sunday run out in their 4WD all the way from the parents and now was stuck behind them crawling up the bank when they got confronted by a bus coming in the opposite direction, and all came to a standstill, so I decided to nip through the gap while I had the chance. So I swung out around the 4WD then back in front and away up the hill, but as I put the power on to accelerate away the back wheel lit up, (cold tyre and oily road), as I was still partially cranked over it stepped out kerbwards and stayed that way for about 15-20 meters, I just went with it keeping a steady throttle on and the bike straightened up as it picked up speed, but it could have easily been a very embarrassing high side if I'd shut the throttle as there was loads of day trippers. No doubt they all thought "look at that dickhead showing off" If they only knew !! Though it probably did look quite impressive and the zorst sounded great reverberating off the stone walls I won't be doing it a second time !!
It's surprising how many people find it a daunting prospect because of the hairpins, I too have seen many an accident there, cars as well as bikes, going up and down. Personally, I think going down Carlin How bank round the hairpin on a bike is a lot more dodgy as the road is always covered in water and gravel with plenty of pot-holes, plus it's off camber just to add to the excitement ..
I did that once too, Tom. I'm sure it looked very impressive from the outside. Fortunately the black visor was obscuring the look of stark terror on my face
Yep its a terrible bank that is always covered in crap. I try to avoid the coast road tbh as its all stop start as you go through all the villages. Give it a few more weeks and we can all meet up and look like idiots together
If it wasn't for the pot-holes, crappy road surface and the traffic........Oh and bloody tractors.... the coast road would be a decent biking road as it has some challenging bends and fast flowing direction changes. Yes indeed..all meet at Saltburn prom car park and try and squeeze more than one bike into the stupid tiny box they mark out for bike parking..
My other half has just said "what are you laughing at" I just had to read this out to her. I can just imagine you crapping yourself as all eyes were on the dickhead. Hilarious!
Even though I live in Portsmouth now, I know that road very very well. As a kid I used to race down it on my bike (Push Bike). Looking back on the crazy things I did on that bank I'm lucky to be alive. I used to cycle from Boosbeck to Saltburn and on to Redcar most dry weekends. Really miss the place. Must get the bike up there one summer to reminisce. I was brought up there and went to Lawrence Jackson School. Much steeper than this pic suggests. At least you weren't as embarrassed at this bus driver who tried to cut the corner..........
