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Ok I'm cycling a section(Sheffield to Warrington) transpennine trail in a couple of weeks, I've read up on the train a little and am happy with my fitness etc however....

Do I ride my sirrius bike with armadillo tyres or the wife's MTB??

I'll be with a mixed ability group fitness wise so pace isnt really an issue(we're doing it in one day though) and I'll think they'll try to avoid any of the difficult terrain.

Can anyone shed some light on the routes track surface??

Thanks

Most of the Trans Pennine is well maintained and fairly flat. There are the odd sections where it can get a bit rough and muddy where mountain bike tyres are an advantage, but not essential.

I'd personally go MTB as you are technically "off road" most of the time and you'll get a better ride.

Good luck with this. I've only done "bite size" chunks of the trail but would like to attempt the whole thing, but OH is not keen on it (not into the backpacking side of it and is scared of the miles).

I'm lucky that the North - South (Leeds - Chesterfield) branch runs through my town so there's not really a day that does by without me cycling some bit of it;  it's a great trail.

Thanks all for the advice.

I think I'll use the wife's MTB just on the off chance some eejit on a dirtbike has ruined the track (I have read it does happen unfortunatly).

Carl

I have done the trip from Hornsea to Southport and can recommend it. Most of the complete route is on gritty ex-railway tracks so MTB tyres or broadish road tyres would suit best. You mention Armadillo tyres - but which width?  IMO that's the important dimension - 23 is narrow whereas 32 or more would bebroader and  better. If your wife's bike is truly a woman's model then the saddle will be a woman's saddle - broader than a man's.  Try it out because it might be uncomfortable. If so change it for a narrower one. Certainly the reverse scenario - woman using a man's saddle - is almost a guarantee of saddle pain. What about the route - it might look straightforward on the map but on the ground you can waste a lot of time finding the way or finding the wrong way!!. It would be handy if someone in your group had done the ride and therefore could be the guide.

A couple have already done the ride before so I'm sort of following them but I'm confident with a map tbh.

My bike is a Sirrius and has 700/32 tyres, wife's is a Mykta(buth Specialized) not sure which model.....the seat is confy enough I've done the Marin trail(betswycoed) on it but get a few strange looks from MTB guys