London to Northants

[MichaelO]

I'm planning on riding back to my parents next weekend, after work (roughly 80 miles or so). I've spent an age playing about with various routing sites (Garmin Connect, Bikeroutetoaster, Ride with GPS etc), but I don't know the roads that well, so struggling to settle on what is the best route!

The most direct route is following the A6, but there’s not a chance I’m doing that – don’t really want to use main roads! It doesn’t even help that I commute into London from the South, so even finding a route out of London Northwards isn’t easy! Anyone got any suggestions, even if just parts/roads to avoid. I’ll be setting off from Victoria/Buckingham Palace area & broadly following a similar route as the A6 up to Northants.

 

[betty swollocks]

Just get some maps and plot a route to your destination avoiding main roads.
Easy!

View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCp-JSVSNZM#at=199

 

[ianrauk]

@Flying Dodo may be able to help.

 

[Flying Dodo]

Aha. It depends exactly where you want to get to, but here's a couple of routes from Northampton to London that I did as rides earlier last year.

http://ridewithgps.com/routes/965269
http://ridewithgps.com/routes/1065555

If you're looking to be close to the A6, then the second one would be better. Once my route crosses the A6 at Streatley north of Luton, that stretch of the A6 isn't too bad northbound as you head to Bedford. Alternatively if you want quieter roads, you could head up from Flitwick, Ampthill, Kempston, and then skirt Bedford to the west.

 

[MichaelO]

Aha. It depends exactly where you want to get to

Up towards Kettering way - the 2nd route to Bedford & then a route between the A6 & A509 (or even on the A509) looks perfect.

Thanks for that!

 

[Flying Dodo]

The A509 is nasty for cycling on.

From that second route, after you cross the A421 and climb the hill to Cranfield, before the airfield, turn right to go through Gossards Green then head due north on Astwood/Cranfield Road, over the A422, then over the A428 in Turvey, then keep heading north, through Harrold, Irchester, then go through Wellingborough, then at the A509-A510 roundabout go onto the old parallel road north until it become one way and then hop onto the cycle path, and then turn off the A509 onto the B574 through Little Harrowden, Pytchley to Kettering.

 

[MichaelO]

The A509 is nasty for cycling on.

Thanks! I'll let you know how it goes next Friday!