Building up to long distance

[Cyclist33]

There are these amzing things called MAPS. They fit in your pocket and don't need batteries and at a glance you can see the entire country laid out, with all the attrattions, hills, lakes, rivers, canals, bridleways, footpaths, roads - it's amazing!

If you're referring to OS maps they certainly don't fit in any pocket I have.

 

[Cuchilo]

A nice little hilly route I mapped out last night .....
Edit . It didn't work

 

[Cyclist33]

There's no way we will keep up with you at that pace

I don't see why not with all the cycling you do and the bikes you've got?

 

[martint235]

There are these amzing things called MAPS. They fit in your pocket and don't need batteries and at a glance you can see the entire country laid out, with all the attrattions, hills, lakes, rivers, canals, bridleways, footpaths, roads - it's amazing!

The OP wants to do 40 miles not cycle to Milan! All it takes is look up online "This road goes there then I turn left and follow that one, then I take this road, then I'm home again"

 

[gazza81]

The OP wants to do 40 miles not cycle to Milan! All it takes is look up online "This road goes there then I turn left and follow that one, then I take this road, then I'm home again"

I have no sence of direction what so ever!!

 

[w00hoo_kent]

I have no sence of direction what so ever!!

In that case definitely outsource it to a GPS of some kind :-)

 

[gazza81]

In terms of route finding I find this a useful resource: http://cycle.travel/

i like this one thanks!
just put how many mile you want to do and it gives you your journey, sweet!
shame i cant download the route to my phone cos i know i wont remember it lol ill have to print it off

 

[Globalti]

The OP wants to do 40 miles not cycle to Milan! All it takes is look up online "This road goes there then I turn left and follow that one, then I take this road, then I'm home again"

Then a map is perfect. An OS 1:25,000 map of his area will reveal an astonishing amount of detail on places he never knew existed, as well as miles of quiet roads and byways for cycling on. For less than a tenner his horizons will be increased massively.

With GPS you might as well be reading a map through a cardboard tube as you will only see the immediate area.

 

[Globalti]

i like this one thanks!
just put how many mile you want to do and it gives you your journey, sweet!
shame i cant download the route to my phone cos i know i wont remember it lol ill have to print it off

Ha ha.... then you might as well save yourself the trouble and buy the map of your area! A standard OS map fits in a standard jersey pocket.

 

[vickster]

You can get usually free cycling maps of the greater London area, ditto Surrey. Try your local library or

https://tfl.gov.uk/forms/12419.aspx

 

[ColinJ]

Then a map is perfect. An OS 1:25,000 map of his area will reveal an astonishing amount of detail on places he never knew existed, as well as miles of quiet roads and byways for cycling on. For less than a tenner his horizons will be increased massively.

With GPS you might as well be reading a map through a cardboard tube as you will only see the immediate area.

The detail of 1:25,000 scale is great for mountain biking and walking but there is a bit too much detail and too little coverage for long distance road riding. 1:50,000 scale is perfect for that, except in big towns and cities, which I usually avoid anyway.

The best thing I ever bought was my digital 1:50,000 OS map of Great Britain. I am going to upgrade it to the latest 'HD' version which will print better, and which can be installed on a desktop PC, laptop, phone, tablet and suitable GPS.

There is also a 1:25,000 digital OS map of Britain which I would love to buy, but I can't really justify spending about £300 on one at the moment.

 

[Globalti]

Colin's right, the pink Landranger 1:50,000 maps are more suited for road riding.

 

[jefmcg]

shame i cant download the route to my phone cos i know i wont remember it lol ill have to print it off

Depends. What sort of phone do you have?

Haha i will take you up on that, but ill get a little bit more practice in first dont wanna hold you up!

No need to worry about that. We go long, but not that fast.
http://app.strava.com/activities/348875291

 

[vickster]

Depends. What sort of phone do you have?



No need to worry about that. We go long, but not that fast.
http://app.strava.com/activities/348875291

That was a particularly slow ride, getting lost around the Olympic path and lots of towpath on a sunny Saturday!

I did manage just over 14mph over 78 miles the previous Saturday, albeit a flat route with long breaks In our defence I did have a sore throat, precursor to a cold

 

[gazza81]

Depends. What sort of phone do you have?

Ive got iphone 5s, was just looking at strava, dose it not kill your really quick?