22camels
Active Member
I have an appointment with Thorn this week and having never been that way before, I am due to arrive at Bristol Temple Meads at 10:19, cycle to Bridgwater in time for the 15:00 appointment, leave at 17:00 at the latest to get back in time for my 21:19 return train. So I have 4h40min to cycle out and 4h20min to cycle back. If I fall behind schedule, I catch a local train, I believe they are fairly regular along that line, but I would like to cycle the distance, which is between 60 and 80km one way depending on how windy a route you take.
I am normally not very serious about route planning. But this looks a bit tight so trying to devise a plan. Maybe even use my Garmin multisport for turn navigation which I haven't done in ages. I've got offline maps with gps on my phone in any case so there's no chance of getting lost just don't want to spend too long figuring out directions.
Any tips? I see there is an NCN3 but it looks like it goes too far out of the way and I don't know what condition it's in. Cycle.travel/map sends me on a long 77km route only climbing to 50m max, whereas bike route toaster has it at 60km with highest elevation 300m, but both seem to go mostly along minor roads. I heard there are lots of roadworks - probably on the A roads - not sure if those will matter. I guess on the way out the A roads won't be too busy but they might be on my way back and it will be dark (though I've got a bright enough light so that's not such a problem). I think I'd rather retrace the route on the way back rather than do something different. I would also rather not stray far from the rail line in case I need to use it.
I have a road bike with 28mm tyres.
Thanks in advance.
I am normally not very serious about route planning. But this looks a bit tight so trying to devise a plan. Maybe even use my Garmin multisport for turn navigation which I haven't done in ages. I've got offline maps with gps on my phone in any case so there's no chance of getting lost just don't want to spend too long figuring out directions.
Any tips? I see there is an NCN3 but it looks like it goes too far out of the way and I don't know what condition it's in. Cycle.travel/map sends me on a long 77km route only climbing to 50m max, whereas bike route toaster has it at 60km with highest elevation 300m, but both seem to go mostly along minor roads. I heard there are lots of roadworks - probably on the A roads - not sure if those will matter. I guess on the way out the A roads won't be too busy but they might be on my way back and it will be dark (though I've got a bright enough light so that's not such a problem). I think I'd rather retrace the route on the way back rather than do something different. I would also rather not stray far from the rail line in case I need to use it.
I have a road bike with 28mm tyres.
Thanks in advance.
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