from commuter to tourer; london - cornwall. Advice welcome!

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total_novice

New Member
Location
London
Hi all!

I've decided to spend at least some of my six week summer holiday riding back to the west country to see my folks and I need tips on pretty much everything really. I've been commuting on a road bike/hybrid for a year now and I would love to glean some insight from you fine folks on:


  • what to bring
  • where to stay
  • what I should stop off and see (thinking about riding the south coast)
  • anything else that you can think of.
I've been reading various other posts here and have picked up quite a few good ideas, any other gems would be greatly appreciated.

Ben
 

HelenD123

Guru
Location
York
Cornwall is very hilly. Travel as light as possible to help you get up them!

Were you thinking of camping or staying in hostels/B&Bs? That will make a difference to what you carry. If it's camping, there have been quite a few threads about tents recently so have a look through the advice which was given.
 

vernon

Harder than Ronnie Pickering
Location
Meanwood, Leeds
You've not really given enough information.

How many miles per day do you reckon on riding?
Where to stay - this will be governed by your daily mileage.

  • Campsites - large scale motoring atlases show the approx location of camp sites.
  • Hotels - go to the YHA web site. Google for Independent hostels.
  • B&B - contact tourist information centres at the towns you intend to reach at the end of each day's riding.
  • Route planning - www.viamichelin.co.uk - use the cycle option.

Hope that helps.
 

Brains

Legendary Member
Location
Greenwich
Like you, live in London, parents, sister etc in N.Cornwall

We used the Sustrans National Cycle Routes the entire way, so all off main roads, and a lot of it on canal paths and similar

The 'flat' route we have done as B&B'ing is:

London Thames path, south side,
to Reading
Sustrans route along the Kennett and Avon canal
to Bath
To Wells
Somerset levels
Coastal route around noth Exmoor via Minehead to Ilfracombe/Tarka Trail
(Or south side of Exmoor to Tarka Trail, which we did not take)
Tarka Trail
Now it gets bumpy ....
Sheepwash
Holsworthy
Bude
Week st Mary
Wadebridge
 

skudupnorth

Cycling Skoda lover
My limbs are still recovering even after two weeks of being down there just because the Cornish hills are like nothing you have ever ridden.......loooooong and steep !
 
Brains said:
Like you, live in London, parents, sister etc in N.Cornwall

We used the Sustrans National Cycle Routes the entire way, so all off main roads, and a lot of it on canal paths and similar

The 'flat' route we have done as B&B'ing is:

London Thames path, south side,
to Reading
Sustrans route along the Kennett and Avon canal
to Bath
To Wells
Somerset levels
Coastal route around noth Exmoor via Minehead to Ilfracombe/Tarka Trail
(Or south side of Exmoor to Tarka Trail, which we did not take)
Tarka Trail
Now it gets bumpy ....
Sheepwash
Holsworthy
Bude
Week st Mary
Wadebridge


Would second this - we did the Cornish Way, West Country Way and then the Kennett Avon and Thames routes into London.

A few detours, but that is part of the fun
 
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