Traffic free road cycling in Essex?

[NickTB]

Hello all.
My wife is about to take her first foray into road cycling and is nervous about going on to a public road until she gets used to the bike.
Does anyone know if any road bike friendly roads or parks/paths in Essex? I'm thinking the equivalent of somewhere like Richmond park.
Any help/advice would be much appreciated.

TIA,
Nick

 

[Firestorm]

The Fitch Way in Braintree
Thorndon park Brentwood, although its a bit hilly and more suitable for MTB

There's a good length of cycle path east of Southend to Gunners Park in Shoebury

 

[NickTB]

Typical. I live 20 minutes from Thorndon! I thought the Fitch Way was MTB or hybrid? I'll check that out now, and Southend to Gunners Park too.

Thanks,

 

[123456789]

Rounds around Canewdon and out to Paglesham, Wallasea are very quiet.

You can lap around Hanningfield reservoir approx. 9 miles very light traffic

 

[NickTB]

Hanningfield looks promising too, only 10 miles from me

 

[ianrauk]

Across the river is the Gravesend cyclopark.

 

[vickster]

Richmond park isn't traffic free? Only the off road ways which are gritty and not road bike friendly

You can ride around the Olympic Park / Lee Valley area

 

[derrick]

http://www.vision-rcl.org.uk/redbridge_cycle_centre.html

 

[123456789]

http://www.vision-rcl.org.uk/redbridge_cycle_centre.html

I was just about to add that too. I am sure they do turn up and ride sessions that are only a few pounds

If you ride the lower course you can avoid that hill as well

 

[Crandoggler]

Hanningfield looks promising too, only 10 miles from me

Nope. Busy with commuters during the week and rammed with shoppers during the weekends. Danbury and Bicknacre are dead most of the time, as are the back roads around Maldon and Hatfield Peverel

 

[123456789]

Nope. Busy with commuters during the week and rammed with shoppers during the weekends. Danbury and Bicknacre are dead most of the time, as are the back roads around Maldon and Hatfield Peverel

Um nope back at you I've never seen a rush of shoppers mainly because there are a severe lack of shops as you will see from the map attached: https://www.google.co.uk/maps/search/hanningfield+reservoir+cafe/@51.6489727,0.5164223,16z

If you loop Middlemead, L Church Road, L Lower Stock road (nice pub), L Downham Rd, L S. Hanningfield Rd you have a 9 mile loop light traffic roads.


I've taken the wife and kids there and ride regularly and it is very light traffic especially at the weekend. There are some quite roads around Danbury and North Hill but probably not the best introduction.

The A130 will get busy around peak times but you are nowhere near that and you can easily avoid the old A130 on that loop.

The Reservoir Visitor centre never gets hordes of people

 

[Crandoggler]

I've obviously been riding at the wrong times then.

 

[derrick]

I was just about to add that too. I am sure they do turn up and ride sessions that are only a few pounds

If you ride the lower course you can avoid that hill as well

Most Sunday mornings are good, But you need to check the calendar because of the racing, but a lot of the time the racers only use part of the circuit, Then the other half is available to use. It's worth going up there just to see the racing, There have been some great group finishes.

 

[123456789]

I've obviously been riding at the wrong times then.

Or the wrong places. You have lazybones on the old A130 up near Rettendon and the Turnpike roundabouts which I would definitely avoid but as long as that part of the old A130 is avoided the roads a very light traffic especially at the weekend.

The loop I have referred to above has always given me light traffic every time I've rode it and is very popular with other local cyclists. There are two TT courses in very close proximity also.

 

[rebelpeter]

Guess im lucky im in an essex area sarrounded by country lanes and farm lands plus a traffic free long ride round the farm lanes of the marshes, my house as sarrounded on all sides with miles of farm fields and non traffic lanes ......