livpoksoc
Guru
- Location
- Basingstoke
Toying with riding the Camel Trail in Cornwall, as part of a longer route in the coming weeks. I was wondering if it's safe to ride on road tyres, or if gravel is recommended?
Camel Trail - type of bike?
- Thread starter livpoksoc
- Start date
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I like Skol
A Minging Manc...
- Location
- Sunny Ashton-under-Lyne
Did it a few years ago, from memory I'm pretty sure it is mostly tarmac or smooth gravel and would be fine on a road bike. Can't even remember which bike I used but do know my wife was riding surprisingly fast and heading up the family peloton like a pro lead-out rider!
It can get busy, 'traffic' and randomness are you biggest issues. You will be fine if you are laid back about progress.
It can get busy, 'traffic' and randomness are you biggest issues. You will be fine if you are laid back about progress.
Bonefish Blues
Banging donk
- Location
- 52 Festive Road
Ride what you brung is absolutely fine all along it.
OP
OP
livpoksoc
Guru
- Location
- Basingstoke
Lovely. Not too worried about time/speed, more worried about punctures for that stretch as I'd like to include it as a part of a circuit from the hotel.
OP
OP
livpoksoc
Guru
- Location
- Basingstoke
That's sick that
Ajax Bay
Guru
- Location
- East Devon
28s rather than 25s on any bike will be fine. Padstow to Wadebridge to Bodmin 'junction' is smooth (not tarmac). North of Bodmin the surface is a tad less smooth, but still a great ride.
rogerzilla
Legendary Member
Looking at reviews and official guides, most is fine china clay or crushed stone, but a few bits are slightly more gnarly gravel. You will get dusty if it's dry and filthy with clay if it's wet.
Ajax Bay
Guru
- Location
- East Devon
Have you ridden it, @rogerzilla ?
If not, it's great to see you engaged with this 'chat' question.
With all due respect and imo, based on riding it a few times in both dry and rainy conditions, the deductions you make are ill-founded.
If not, it's great to see you engaged with this 'chat' question.
With all due respect and imo, based on riding it a few times in both dry and rainy conditions, the deductions you make are ill-founded.
lazybloke
Ginger biscuits and cheddar
- Location
- Leafy Surrey
No issues in taking road bikes either way between Padstow and Wadebridge. Lovely views along the estuary on a bright day.
Fine on 25mm tyres. Birds, water-skiers, boats and an obelisk to look at. Plus drinks and ice-cream at the quarry.
Engineering fans can enjoy old and new bridges plus a pair of Archimedes' Screws at the Wadebridge sewage works!
Go upstream beyond Egloshayle and the surface is more suited to wider tyres. Views aren't so far reaching, but on a hot day you'll appreciate the dappled woodland shade and the sounds of the river as it becomes more of a tinkling stream.
Fine on 25mm tyres. Birds, water-skiers, boats and an obelisk to look at. Plus drinks and ice-cream at the quarry.
Engineering fans can enjoy old and new bridges plus a pair of Archimedes' Screws at the Wadebridge sewage works!
Go upstream beyond Egloshayle and the surface is more suited to wider tyres. Views aren't so far reaching, but on a hot day you'll appreciate the dappled woodland shade and the sounds of the river as it becomes more of a tinkling stream.
Saluki
World class procrastinator
- Location
- ...Norwich over the water.
I rode on the camel trail a lot when I lived in Wadebridge. Winter time I would use my gravel bike. From March to October/November time I took my carbon roadie, with its gatorskin skinny tyres. Take a spare tube (or 2) and a repair kit, just in case.
I would ride from Wadebridge up to The Snails Pace cafe. Often would ride past my house on the way back and ride up to Padstow for a lolly. Occasionally I would pop to Bodmin, but not often. To Snails by trail and back by road was fun, bit lumpier, but nice views.
I would ride from Wadebridge up to The Snails Pace cafe. Often would ride past my house on the way back and ride up to Padstow for a lolly. Occasionally I would pop to Bodmin, but not often. To Snails by trail and back by road was fun, bit lumpier, but nice views.
OP
OP
livpoksoc
Guru
- Location
- Basingstoke
Took my son on the Wadebridge to Padstow leg this week, and happy to confirm it's paved for that section. There's loose bits of tarmac in places, but nothing a 25mm couldn't handle. If I can later this weekend, I'll ride the other end on gravel wheels to see what that is like.
Gwylan
Veteran
- Location
- All at sea⛵
Take your big, city whistle!
Won't stop the loony pedestrians, the space cadet dog walkers etc from wandering across the path. They feel that cycles are not included in the shared environment concept.
But you might feel better about having alerted them to your presence. All that, just before you hit them.
Or worse get brought down by their extended dog leads.
All that and the "I haven't ridden a bike for 20 years!" brigade.
The cadre who cannot work out which side of the track they should use, so wander from side to side and behave as if they are in a slow cycling competition.
Then there's the clay pigeon model. A group wandering lost in conversation in a world of their own. You alert them to your presence.
Failing the loud whistle it seems some sort of group telepathy works.
One member of the group will casually look over their shoulder in your direction. Turn back to face the front and continue wittering. Something may prompt another member to look behind. They may or may not see you. That's the invisibility cape you picked up in Poundland at work.
Then the group realise you are behind them and closing in.
At your shout, bell, whistle they respond like pigeons in a shoot.
Those on the left will move straggling to the right and of course those on the right will bump into the left party as they move to their left.
The result is that whilst they all responded to the threat you pose they have successfully managed to continue to block the whole path.
Finally there is the victor ludorum of the pedestrian party, the headphones wearer. Lost in whatever world these Tardis headphones transport them to, they are oblivious of your presence.
These devices have so reduced their brain capacity that they are scarcely aware of what's in front of them. They have completely disregarded that their new world includes a "he's behind you sector"
Won't stop the loony pedestrians, the space cadet dog walkers etc from wandering across the path. They feel that cycles are not included in the shared environment concept.
But you might feel better about having alerted them to your presence. All that, just before you hit them.
Or worse get brought down by their extended dog leads.
All that and the "I haven't ridden a bike for 20 years!" brigade.
The cadre who cannot work out which side of the track they should use, so wander from side to side and behave as if they are in a slow cycling competition.
Then there's the clay pigeon model. A group wandering lost in conversation in a world of their own. You alert them to your presence.
Failing the loud whistle it seems some sort of group telepathy works.
One member of the group will casually look over their shoulder in your direction. Turn back to face the front and continue wittering. Something may prompt another member to look behind. They may or may not see you. That's the invisibility cape you picked up in Poundland at work.
Then the group realise you are behind them and closing in.
At your shout, bell, whistle they respond like pigeons in a shoot.
Those on the left will move straggling to the right and of course those on the right will bump into the left party as they move to their left.
The result is that whilst they all responded to the threat you pose they have successfully managed to continue to block the whole path.
Finally there is the victor ludorum of the pedestrian party, the headphones wearer. Lost in whatever world these Tardis headphones transport them to, they are oblivious of your presence.
These devices have so reduced their brain capacity that they are scarcely aware of what's in front of them. They have completely disregarded that their new world includes a "he's behind you sector"
Ajax Bay
Guru
- Location
- East Devon
But you might feel better about having alerted them to your presence. All that, just before you hit them.
Or worse get brought down by their extended dog leads.
Was taken off the bike yesterday on the trail by a kid on a bike who decided to turn round across my path in front of me causing me to crash into him. I used the appropriate language to describe him.
These devices have so reduced their brain capacity
Their brains have now migrated to their devices such that they have lost the ability to think for themselves. It's called electronic evolution.
Or worse get brought down by their extended dog leads.
Was taken off the bike yesterday on the trail by a kid on a bike who decided to turn round across my path in front of me causing me to crash into him. I used the appropriate language to describe him.
These devices have so reduced their brain capacity
Their brains have now migrated to their devices such that they have lost the ability to think for themselves. It's called electronic evolution.
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For those whom are as mystified as myself about what is the Camel Trail: https://cameltrail.co.uk/
It would be nice of those who post questions about (obscure) trails would provide details.
It would be nice of those who post questions about (obscure) trails would provide details.
