church stretton - reccomended routes for road rides?

[gavgav]

@gavgav

I was messing about with strava routebuilder on the places you suggested. What do you think of the following?
Church stretton - shrewsbury loop https://www.strava.com/routes/6657944
church stretton - Ironbridge loop https://www.strava.com/routes/6666561

The Shrewsbury loop looks excellent and uses roads that I cover on a regular basis. There is some fabulous riding out around Church Preen, Kenley, etc. My only thoughts are that you could avoid a busy roundabout in Shrewsbury, where it meets the A5, by dropping down to the river and along the old canal path. Can be wet and a bit slippy though, dependent on the weather.

The Ironbridge route uses roads that I am not so familiar with, but @Rickshaw Phil may be. I have travelled along the off Rd path alongside the river, though and the last time it was extremely rough, but not sure what type of bike you have

 

[Schneil]

The Shrewsbury loop looks excellent and uses roads that I cover on a regular basis. There is some fabulous riding out around Church Preen, Kenley, etc. My only thoughts are that you could avoid a busy roundabout in Shrewsbury, where it meets the A5, by dropping down to the river and along the old canal path. Can be wet and a bit slippy though, dependent on the weather.

The Ironbridge route uses roads that I am not so familiar with, but @Rickshaw Phil may be. I have travelled along the off Rd path alongside the river, though and the last time it was extremely rough, but not sure what type of bike you have

We'll be doing it on roadbikes, so not great for rough tracks! Up here the Rochdale canal is a signed cycle route, but it's too rough for a roadbike, so I see where you're coming from.

 

[gavgav]

We'll be doing it on roadbikes, so not great for rough tracks! Up here the Rochdale canal is a signed cycle route, but it's too rough for a roadbike, so I see where you're coming from.

@Rickshaw Phil has ridden it more recently than me and so hopefully he will confirm, but it was bad enough on my front suspension Hybrid!

 

[Rickshaw Phil]

I last rode the Ironbridge-Bridgnorth path in March and it was horrendously rough back then. (Ride report here if you're interested). You probably wouldn't enjoy it on road bikes.

I've been toying with the idea of going out that way myself at the weekend so will be finding out if it's improved at all.

 

[the_mikey]

My only thoughts are that you could avoid a busy roundabout in Shrewsbury, where it meets the A5

Having tried cycling around Shrewsbury recently I must add the A5 is quite a barrier to cycling, whilst it's possible to avoid, it really does reduce your options considerably if you're only looking for a shorter 20-30km ride on a folding bike, most of my rides have been via Condover, Lyth Hill or Hook-A-Gate, haven't explored the eastward options yet!

 

[gavgav]

Having tried cycling around Shrewsbury recently I must add the A5 is quite a barrier to cycling, whilst it's possible to avoid, it really does reduce your options considerably if you're only looking for a shorter 20-30km ride on a folding bike, most of my rides have been via Condover, Lyth Hill or Hook-A-Gate, haven't explored the eastward options yet!

To be honest I don't seem to have much trouble avoiding it, as there are loads of lanes. Going north just take the cycle paths out to Uffington and that opens up both the north and East of the county. Going south, head for Acton Burnell and you have miles of lanes to the south of the county. Going West, head for Montford Bridge and Shrawardine and you have the West of the county and Wales open to you.

I suppose my one regular "encounter" with the A5 involves a short section on the A458 that intersects with slip roads onto it, and that's never much fun, due to the speed traffic is going at when leaving the A5!

 

[Schneil]

Hi guys. I got back from Church Stretton on Tuesday, and I must say its great for road cycling round there. We did one 20 miler, and two 40 milers


https://www.strava.com/activities/733174756
https://www.strava.com/activities/732230983
https://www.strava.com/activities/730891458

It's surprisingly hilly round there. Lots of little lanes. The other roads were pretty quiet (apart from the a49), and most drivers were really considerate,
Definitely a place to go back to

 

[Rickshaw Phil]

I'm glad you enjoyed. You picked some good hills to try out there. What did you think of the Burway?

 

[User482]

As an aside: I spent a weekend mtbing around the Long Mynd earlier this year, and the riding was absolutely superb.

 

[gavgav]

Hi guys. I got back from Church Stretton on Tuesday, and I must say its great for road cycling round there. We did one 20 miler, and two 40 milers


https://www.strava.com/activities/733174756
https://www.strava.com/activities/732230983
https://www.strava.com/activities/730891458

It's surprisingly hilly round there. Lots of little lanes. The other roads were pretty quiet (apart from the a49), and most drivers were really considerate,
Definitely a place to go back to

Excellent! You definitely picked some hills out there.

 

[Schneil]

I'm glad you enjoyed. You picked some good hills to try out there. What did you think of the Burway?

That was a real slog! I was in my biggest cog all the way and I got up in one go. Which meant I had a long cold wait at the top for the others - brr!

 

[Schneil]

Excellent! You definitely picked some hills out there.

I got a few moans from the others for taking them up the long Mynd, but hey you can't go to Church Stretton without climbing it. It's a bit like going to Paris and not going up the Eiffel Tower