Exeter to London - route recommendations please

[frank9755]

that's probably better still - I'm just not sufficiently familiar with the A4020 thing

AKA the Uxbridge Road!
I know every inch, pothole and traffic light, if you have any questions...

 

[frank9755]

A30 all the way. Anything else is for girls. (Although I'd branch off southeast at Hounslow and come through Richmond)

In general I agree - the pleasures of zipping along a dual carriageway, making rapid progress across the rolling countryside are much underrated! And a set of panniers always seems to give one a bit more road status than an unladen bike.

 

[Ian H]

that's probably better still - I'm just not sufficiently familiar with the A4020 thing

I'm old enough to remember the trolley buses running along there.

 

[dellzeqq]

crikey! Seek advice from England's premier Audaxer while stocks last!

 

[rb58]

In general I agree - the pleasures of zipping along a dual carriageway, making rapid progress across the rolling countryside are much underrated! And a set of panniers always seems to give one a bit more road status than an unladen bike.

...... heads to garage to find rack and panniers.

 

[benb]

If you come through Epsom, I'll give you a cup of tea. (if I'm in)

 

[rb58]

If you come through Epsom, I'll give you a cup of tea. (if I'm in)

Adds Epsom to route back.......

 

[Brains]

A30 all the way. Anything else is for girls. (Although I'd branch off southeast at Hounslow and come through Richmond)

M5 and M4 route
Almost flat all the way, own hard shoulder, no other cyclists to get in your way, and a cake station every 40 miles or so, with showers!
What is not to like ?

 

[Davywalnuts]

Rightio, as per pm with with Ross, heres my two pence worth.

Firstly though, I completely agree with Frank about zipping along a main road, fully tour loaded, as you make progress quick and are given a better berth by drivers. Country lanes are very nice. However, you can neither go fast up, nor generally fast down. But a mixture is always quite nice.

Below here is the route I planned when I was touring back from Exminster (pretty much almost Exeter) last Septembe and planned over 3 days.

http://ridewithgps.com/routes/908835 http://ridewithgps.com/routes/908837 & http://ridewithgps.com/routes/908863

However! I got thoroughly hacked of with camping, lack of sleep and country lanes, and so I ended up doing the last two days in one hit. 125miles, fully tour loaded, apx 45kgs. On the road from midday till half 2am... great fun... . It went something like this :- http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?saddr...0,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20,21,22&t=m&z=9 hope the link comes up short! As you can see, I made a few mistakes and added quite a few unnecessary miles, but I was running on empty and very tired and had switched the Garmin off from Frome onwards. The essential bit, was I tried to keep the route as flat as possible, as I am sure you all know, I am incline adverse... If i was to do it again, I would do the first section up till Yeovil and go clockwise around rather than anticlockwise. Then Bruton, Frome, Westbury, Pewsey, Bedwyn Common to the A4 and the A4 then all the way till the turn off for Twyford, then Fifield and Windsor, Old Windsor, Staines, Hounslow, Chiswick and HPC. Now, others will argue that the route in longer.. Indeed it is.. But.. once on the A4, its down hill all the way rather than it being lumpy. Also, the Reading one-way system... its fine.... as long as you plot the route properly.

Hope it helps.

 

[Davywalnuts]

Oh, and as for Dartmoor!! Well, pack waterproofs, at that Height and it being Dartmoor after all, the weather can change in a instant...

 

[Fab Foodie]

I can't remember the details but 2 days from Eexetr to London is fine.
It was a time ago that my first long distance ride fully loaded was Clapham to Poole on day 1 and then along the south coast from Poole to Exeter day 2.
I've also done a few years back Abingdon to Exeter via Shaftsbury as an overnight stop and used much of the A30 down to Chard and found it fine. Then I went down to Lyme Regis for an Ice cream and along the south coats again. It's hugely lumpy in places!
Great cycling countryside whatever route you take.

 

[rb58]

Thanks for al the advice and tips everyone. I shall refine my route based on everyone's comments and post it up here for people to see. I'm confident 4 days is more than adequate - even going over Dartmoor. 2 x 75 mile days, 1 x 85 mile day and 1 x 90 mile day. And I do have the luxury of ending back at home, so a long fourth day would not be a problem if there was a change of plan....

Thanks again everyone.

 

[rb58]

Hello everyone.

I've looked through all the suggestions and advice you've given me (and various other resources) and come up with the following routes for my trip from Lands End to London. I'll be very pleased to hear what people think and whether you have suggestions based on local knowledge or experience. As you can see , it comes out at:

• Day 1 - 72 miles, ending up in Liskeard. 6,000' climbing. http://ridewithgps.com/routes/912743
• Day 2 - 70 miles, ending up in Honiton. 7,000' climbng. http://ridewithgps.com/routes/912749
• Day 3 - 75 miles, ending up in Fordingbridge. 6,000' climbing. http://ridewithgps.com/routes/912787
• Day 4 - 113 miles, ending up in London. 6,000' climbing. http://ridewithgps.com/routes/912843

Thanks everyone.

Edited to correct day 4 link

 

[benb]

Your day 4 link points to day 3.

 

[rb58]

^^ Whoops. Now corrected.