A Roads, opinions?

[mattyfatty]

So I'm pretty new to cycling long distances, and I was wondering; I seem to feel a bit intimidated by A Roads, I know it's legal to cycle on them but they just seem so dangerous. Does anybody else have this opinion? If so, how do you avoid them? Because when planning a trip, I find it hard to find suitable B Roads that don't go miles off track!

Matt

 

[coffeejo]

I slowly built up my confidence on my local main road (Minehead to Taunton), doing short bursts and then turning off, but don't have any problems on there now, even when I'm tired and get s l o w e r and s l o w e r

Don't get intimidated, focus on your line and the road ahead of you and remember that you're having much more fun than anyone in their metal cage.

 

[frank9755]

I generally like riding on A roads and have ridden many miles on them, even dual carriageways. The more gentle gradients and more direct routes have their benefits.

One thing that makes them less unpleasant is if you can see what is behind you. On my touring bike, which is the one that normally goes on A-roads, I have a bar end mirror. I find it takes away the stress of constantly hearing something approaching from behind if you can easily see it.

A small minority of A-roads just are no fun to cycle. These are typically busy, narrow ones with lots of corners, where cars struggle to overtake and hence get impatient and misbehave.

Some depend on the time of day, eg they may be fine in the middle of the day but unpleasantly busy during rush hour.

 

[byegad]

Of the five ways into/out of the village, three are A roads, all used to be three lane roads with the suicide overtake lane in the middle shared by both directions, so they are wide and while traffic is doing 60mph, and more illegally, there are good sight lines and so are relatively safe to ride along. But the constant noise of the traffic makes them no fun in my opinion. I know some people will ride tens or even hundreds of miles along A roads but I'd rather go up more hills and maybe take a more circuitous route on B and C roads so I can hear the birds and relax while I ride.

 

[Hacienda71]

I try to consider heavy traffic A roads as escape routes as they tend to be direct, so if I am on a long ride and start to flag or am running short of time and want a direct route home I will hit the busy road simply as an easy route but if I am feeling fine I will try to avoid them. Local knowledge and lots of Sunday rides discovering the local lanes lets me do this but in an unknown area if I was touring it would take some planning and probably a 1:25000 os map of the area.

 

[Rebel Ian]

They vary massively and you can't just consider them all to be safe or not safe. I've cycled quite a lot on the A5 this year from Towcester up to Daventry, Atherstone etc and whilst it's not the most quiet route, it's perfectly safe and the surface is decent.

Conversely I've cycled on the A3 just outside Portsmouth and that (like the A30 and others) is very much a two lane motorway and is bloody terrifying I also inadvertently cycled a stretch of the A404 from Marlow to Henley - another two lane motorway.

I find that Google streeview is your friend when looking at whether roads are suitable or not.

 

[coffeejo]

FWIW, I agree with what everyone's been saying about B roads and lanes being (much, much) more fun to cycle, but sometimes it's just more convenient to use the A road.

 

[Piemaster]

Depends on the road. I'm mere yards from the A90 at the moment, which is in effect a two lane motorway (same as Rebel Ians roads) There was a car fatality on it last week. So no.
There are some I will cycle on though. Think the nature of the road influences drivers behaviour and hence their attitude towards those pesky cyclists.

 

[psmiffy]

It depends on the A road - I am happy enough on a lot of A roads - but there are some I will not use - If I do not know a particular road I will sometimes just sit for a minute and make an assessment - if I am not happy then I will find another way

I have cycled for quite a few years and A roads in my estimation are becoming more dangerous - both because traffic flows have increased and drivers behavior on them has worsened

 

[valetillidye]

I try and and keep off them as much as possible. I have to at least get on to the A53 from Stoke-on-Trent out to Leek in order to get anywhere but I try and jump off as quick as possible on to the B-roads - I enjoy the solitude of a nice quiet stretch of road

 

[mattyfatty]

Thanks guys, this has been really useful.

Just one more thought, how do you deal with narrow country white roads? A few cyclists I've spoken to say they wouldn't touch them with a metaphorical barge pole. But on the route I'm planning (Birmingham-Oxford), unless you cycle for great lengths on A Roads, you can't avoid them.

 

[GrasB]

unclassified roads which are definitely single track I'll ride in the middle of the road, entering any corner I'll be as wide as possible & typically cut in hard to a late apex. If they're nearer to two lanes I'll be taking primary in the lane & a little bit nbeyond the centre line of the road going onto left hand corners. It's all about being visible & giving you the longest sight lines possible.

 

[Bigsharn]

I use B roads and unmarked roads more than anything, there are less people going up and down there so it's more peaceful (and safer). The only issue are, like GrasB says, B roads can be single track and this could mean taking primary for a long time.

 

[400bhp]

I try to consider heavy traffic A roads as escape routes as they tend to be direct, so if I am on a long ride and start to flag or am running short of time and want a direct route home I will hit the busy road simply as an easy route but if I am feeling fine I will try to avoid them.

That's interesting. Until recently I thought this too and would have done the same. However, I have changed my mind and think it unwise to take a route that is likely to consider a greater degree of alertness when you are tired.

By the way I really don't like A-roads and will avoid. To a lesser extent I don't particularly like B roads.

Example yesterday-65 mile ride. Only 1 small section (less than 2 mile) was A roads. Had 2 silly overtakes.

 

[Hacienda71]

That's interesting. Until recently I thought this too and would have done the same. However, I have changed my mind and think it unwise to take a route that is likely to consider a greater degree of alertness when you are tired.

By the way I really don't like A-roads and will avoid. To a lesser extent I don't particularly like B roads.

Example yesterday-65 mile ride. Only 1 small section (less than 2 mile) was A roads. Had 2 silly overtakes.

It may be a bit of an extreme example but today I went to Buxton through the Goyt Valley. Afterwards I needed to get home quickly so I used the A5004 and A6 to get back to civilisation, straighter and fewer severe climbs. If I had gone back on non A roads it would have been a hell of a lot harder and take a lot longer.
My preference though if I had the time would be to go back through the Goyt with a short spell on the A5004.
So I know what you mean, but I still see the need to use A roads, although I would draw the line at a dual carrigeway.