Fridays Tour 2013?

[redfalo]

my instant reaction is..............not a chance - but that's silly because I only know the big cities. Your further thoughts?

The main disadvantage might be that there are way too many cycle paths in Holl
and (for DZ's taste, at least )

 

[clarion]

East is interesting? What, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Suffolk, Lincolnshire and Beds?

But I'll grant that Leicestershire is probably more interesting than Warks, and Yorkshire obviously better in every way than Lancs.

And I have a soft spot for Norfolk I've yet to develop (in a cycling sense) for even the bits of Devon I like best.

The problem is that you have your arrows in the wrong orientation. South - Not Very Interesting: North - Interesting

 

[martint235]

East is interesting? What, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Suffolk, Lincolnshire and Beds?

But I'll grant that Leicestershire is probably more interesting than Warks, and Yorkshire obviously better in every way than Lancs.

And I have a soft spot for Norfolk I've yet to develop (in a cycling sense) for even the bits of Devon I like best.

The problem is that you have your arrows in the wrong orientation. South - Not Very Interesting: North - Interesting

Splutter!! Splutter!! Spit!! Never in a million years. Unless you have a very unhealthy interest in sheep.

 

[clarion]

South's full of London as far west as Swindon.

 

[dellzeqq]

East is interesting? What, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Suffolk, Lincolnshire and Beds?

absolutely. Suffolk and Essex are wonderful cycling counties, and, while I know less than I should about Lincolnshire, the contrast between the Wolds and the flatlands of the Isle of Axholme is vivid.

It's not so much a question of road width and gradient, but about landscape, settlement and the quietness you need to take it all in.

 

[Tompy]

10 of us from CTC Peterborough recently did a three day mini tour of Suffolk (a loop starting and ending in Bury St Edmunds) and it was wonderful. An abundance of quiet roads, a gently rolling landscape, charming villages that are touristy enough to have pubs, tea rooms, B&B's, etc. but not too touristy. Oh and some of the most patient and courteous drivers I've ever encountered.

Last year we did some of the Lincolnshire Wolds on our York to Peterborough tour. It wasn't as nice as Suffolk. There were hardly any villages and even some of the small towns were deserted on the Sunday. We struggled to find places for beer nevermind cake.

 

[User482]

absolutely. Suffolk and Essex are wonderful cycling counties, and, while I know less than I should about Lincolnshire, the contrast between the Wolds and the flatlands of the Isle of Axholme is vivid.

It's not so much a question of road width and gradient, but about landscape, settlement and the quietness you need to take it all in.

I don't see it as a competition, but I'd take Dartmoor, the Somerset levels and West Pennines over that lot...

 

[User482]

Splutter!! Splutter!! Spit!! Never in a million years. Unless you have a very unhealthy interest in sheep.

Yorkshire's lovely - remote hills, glorious coastline and attractive market towns. Its only problem is Yorkshiremen.

 

[clarion]

Yorkshire has everything. Including the best people.

But other places do come close on one point or another.

 

[srw]

We've also done a trip to Suffolk, via the nice bits of Essex. Both are lovely counties which are hillier than you expect (but without the silly long slogs of the mountains, which are just depressing unless you're actually on a mission to get somewhere important). It's very easy to get away from the main roads and the traffic, and a group of up to about 20 would be easily manageable. Our first trip with bikes was to south Lincolnshire - fantastically flat for relative novices, with just one hill. It's a very long one - about 30 miles from north to south.

The idea of a single-centre base is a good one - it frees people from the (self-imposed) feeling of "I must cycle". And obviates the need for a support van.

[edit]
One other thing to think about - counties like Devon, Cornwall, Shropshire, Lancashire, Cumbria are gorgeous. But they're rather short on quiet, safe roads for 30-odd people to pootle down. I'd cheerfully go to a mountainous region to walk, or with half a dozen, or on a specific long-distance route. But for a bigger group you ideally want plenty of B-roads and below to choose from.

 

[saoirse50]

Having ridden up the eastern side of the country on my individually designed DD tour (Dungeness to Durness) last year, I would say that you need to plan your route carefully through Norfolk and Lincolnshire- I'd say stick as near to the coast as you can, (which was my original plan- don't ask why it changed). Some of the Fens can be beautiful, but you do not want to end up riding over 90 miles through open fields of cabbages in 30 degree heat, no cover at all, where no shop or pub opens till the weekend. Believe me, you don't. Even with a tail wind it will still be hell. (Well, OK, the getting lost and nearly 30 extra miles was my fault- but all the roads looked the damn same and one field of cabbages looks much like another. In fact, as I went round in circles for a good bit, so it probably was the same field of cabbages.)
But turn left at York and it's beeyootiful everywhere. (But very lumpy).

 

[Scoosh]

Bury St Edmunds, Ely, Norwich, Salle, Boston, York, Fountains, Durham, Lindisfarne.

Mediaeval ecclesiastical architecture at its finest.

... to Elie ? (that's the one in the Kingdom of Fife)

 

[StuAff]

not after carter bar you ain't!!!!

OK, mostly teetotal

 

[rb58]

How about Ireland? Friend of mine did an end to end over there recently. He seemed to enjoy it, but I've no idea what the terrain would be like.

 

[StuAff]

On the subject of the whole west/east thing....you seem to have completely and unfairly overlooked Wales. Back in 2009, self and a few others did a weekend riding in the Brecon Beacons & Black Mountains, basing ourselves out of a bunkhouse in Talgarth. Gorgeous countryside, quiet but plenty of pub/shop options, mostly decent road surfaces and some truly great climbs. The Gospel Pass was brilliant (and I'm saving that even though I had a prang descending..yeah, I know, nothing changed there). I was definitely much less fit back then, and I'd only had the Viner for a few weeks so was finding my feet with road bikes. Definitely want another visit some time....

Yorkshire would be great, too. I'd prefer somewhere with a few interesting lumpy bits to flat, flat, flat.