Help Planning Route

[Guitarhq]

Thanks again for all your advice yesterday.Much appreciated.
Today i have a shorter question.
I would like advice and/or help planning a route.
My start/finish is Burton on Trent to Fareham,Hampshire.
I have used Bike Hub and Streetcycle.net to get rough ideas of the route, but im sure that the more experienced of you will be able to give me an insight into what to avoid.
Ive cycled a few times on A38 Derbyshire (dual carrage. 70mph traffic) but i don't think i would want to cycle this type of road all the way if you know what i mean
I don't know yet whether to split the trip into 2 or 3 sections, but i guess i wiil figure how far to push in training over the next few weeks.
Will be doing the return leg about 4 days later.
Im undecided whether to use a tent or BB / budget hotels, which may alter the route.
I will need to purchased an appropriate tent , so working a budget out. Like, it will be cheaper for me to trip with one stop in a hotel.
Well thanks again in advance for your input and I look foreword to seeing some route ideas.
Regards
Andy

 

[Ticktockmy]

You could ride it in one go, if you are fit enough, but I would say go for 2 sections. Personally I would go for B&B, as by the time you buy a tent, and sleeping bag and maybe racks, it would be cheaper to use B&B, YHA, Travel lodge etc. As to route, there plenty of Minor roads heading south from Burton on Trent where you can bypass the towns and major roads but of course using the Minor roads can increase the route time due to having to spend more time checking your route at junctions.

 

[martint235]

Only had a very quick look. I'd take the A444 out of Burton, it's not too bad a road then onto the A423. I'm assuming you know the area around Burton fairly well so my own preference is to leave at night. This way you're on roads that you know in the dark and unfamiliar roads in daylight. This will be of particular importance if you try to do it in one hit. I've got it down to around 200 miles which is do-able but you'd need to be ready for it. Makes sure you eat lots and drink lots of water.

 

[puch]

Down South:

I wouldn't fancy cycling down the A27 from Bitterne > Fareham.

I'd probably take the scenic route via Hedge End > Botley > Burridge > Park Gate > Titchfield > then rejoin The Avenue into Fareham.

 

[Guitarhq]

Thanks Ticktockmy i think i will go for the B&B.
Martint235, thanks for the route starter , I think i will start that way.
And thanks for the tip Puch.
My route is looking something like this at the moment.
B.O.T. A444-A423 - Banbury - A4260 A4165 - Oxford - A4144 - A4074 - Wallingford A320 A340 - Basingstoke - A339 - Alton A32 - Fareham.
On paper this looks fine , but can any of you experienced guys see any flaws with this possible route.
please feel free to ammend this route.
Many thanks again for your help, its much appreciated.
CheersAndy

 

[puch]

The A339 from Basingstoke > Alton has a notorious record for biker accidents. A couple of years ago, there were 3 deaths on the same day in 2 separate accidents. It's narrow, fast, has windy bends you can't see around (not so bad near Alton) and is always infested with HGV's. Avoid if you can.

The A32 Alton > Fareham is OK, but also narrowish & fast.

I would leave Basingstoke at the first right along the A339 (just after the overhead M3 bridge) and stay on the B3046 to Alresford. At Alresford, find the B3046 again and go south to Cheriton (picture postcard village-of-the-year sometime...)

Half a mile out of Cheriton is the nasty A272 (another biker road). You could turn left down the A272 for 4.5 miles to the West Meon Hut cross roads, then right on to the A32 > Fareham.

I would carry on straight through Cheriton across the A272 and head down the lanes to Kilmeston then head south to Bishops Waltham > B2177 > Wickham > Fareham.

Have a good one.

 

[Guitarhq]

Puch, you're a star. Thanks for helping me avoid some nasties and pointing out roads to avoid.
Its made me look at planning routes in a new light .
Cheers

 

[puch]

Welcome. Hope it's not too much of a long way round.