Anybody else make the rural commute?

Konan

Just wondering if there are any others out there that hit the proper back roads (the ones with grass growing in the middle) on here. There appears to be a lot of urban warriors fighting cars and talk of this 'embankment' place

My commute winds it's way nicely through the villages of North Norfolk and the final section runs along an old rail line. I'm adding a dash of carbon here, a suspension seatpost there and the secret ingredient of some wider tyres to deal with that last bit I think I see about 3 cars over the majority of the 25 mile trip, the exception being a quick stint along a fairly major B road into Norwich that I haven't ironed out of my route with a footpath yet.

I'll have to get some footage of the pub run too, since I shortcut over some heathland that hosts a cyclocross race. There's a nice decent down the side of an old quarry pit.

gtvlusso

Sounds like you are one of the lucky few. If I do a big mile route, I can get out into Somerset or loop up by the side of the Severn estuary...Used to have to jump a brook to get back to Bristol, but they put a bridge in now.

fnb1

I start in the leafy lanes of The Chilterns and my 24 miles brings me to just within the M25 near radlett. I see very few other cyclists other than when passing near to the railway stations en route and a couple or three regulars around Chorleywood before I get out onto the unlit part of my ride home. In the mornings I am generally too early to see others, getting to the office for 7ish but I certainly enjoy the first 10 miles or so of traffic free silence.

I enjoy both the towny and country parts in different ways but not sure I would enjoy commuting on Central London, from my occasional business visits to the big city I see too many nutters, whether they be in tin boxes, pedestrians or those people on 2 wheels who give cyclists a bad name, also commuting in London seems to be massively demoralising as so many of the people on bikes appear to be so depressed they are on a daily mission to kill themselves under the wheels of any convenient vehicle.

prj45

fnb1 wrote:

also commuting in London seems to be massively demoralising as so many of the people on bikes appear to be so depressed they are on a daily mission to kill themselves under the wheels of any convenient vehicle.

Ah, it cheers me up no end, turning the corner and coming onto the Embankment by Albert Bridge as the sun comes up over Battersea power station, then riding up into the city is something I've not got bored of yet.

ChrisLS

...mostly rural, some lanes with grass growing and even some bridle ways when it's dry...

linsen

I shout a cheery hello to a large field of pigs on my way to work in the morning. City to city commute is mostly empty between the two.
Proper dark on the way home :shock:

Rich158

Country lanes all the way until I hit south London :evil: Like Linsen says, very dark on the way home, and mornings at the moment. Nothing beats watching the sun come up over the downs when they have been dusted with frost though, it seems to make it all worth while.

roger_merriman

always going to have more around london and other cities, just from the speed aspect, when i was living and working on the edge of the breacon beacons to ride would of been a lot longer commute in, and lot more hassel, now living on the edge of london it's vis versa.

prj45

linsen wrote:

Proper dark on the way home :shock:

I was in a small villiage once and we got out of the car, the lights turned off and we were in total darkness.

We found our way by feeling along the line of parked cars.

Two people walked by with a torch at one point, I swear I heard one of them say "bloody townies".

wgwarburton

Hi,
4 1/2 miles through rural central Scotland (village, fields, village), then train to Glasgow and a mile or so through the city.
It's dark on the rural bit at the moment, usually it's nice to look at the windmills, mountains and occasional interesting wildlife along the way.

Cheers,
W.

ndodd

have about 5 mile of single lane roads very nice but scary when the cows decide they want to stand in the road its the way they look at you
moo we know you eat beef moo!

roger_merriman

heh should still beable to see something at least to walk by, even on the darkest night, though i have a double wammy of very good eyes and lived most of my life some distance from the nearest road, and then on further until you get street lights.

Konan

The worst thing about country roads at night is getting blinded by the lights of oncoming cars. Because you're so adjusted to the dark even dipped can dazzle. Many of the roads I use arn't wide enough to accommodate a bike and a car so I have to run along the edge of the verge. The problem there is that when blinded, verge can become ditch rather quickly.

On one occasion, I squeezed alongside a range rover only to discover it was dragging a horsebox that was a good few inches wider than the car.... that was a panic.

AyrshireBacon

Konan wrote:

My commute winds it's way nicely through the villages of North Norfolk and the final section runs along an old rail line. I'm adding a dash of carbon here, a suspension seatpost there and the secret ingredient of some wider tyres to deal with that last bit I think I see about 3 cars over the majority of the 25 mile trip, the exception being a quick stint along a fairly major B road into Norwich that I haven't ironed out of my route with a footpath yet.

Which railway line is this? If it's Marriot's Way then I use that as far as Halfords and then cut through the city, avoiding Barn Road/Grapes Hill/Chaplefield. Let me know if this is the way you come in and I'ss see if I can help.

Konan

It's actually Weaver's way. By 'road into Norwich' I meant where the road ends up rather than where I do. I'm actually travelling from Fakenham to North Walsham and I have to do a half mile on the Holt to Norwich Road.

Having said that, I do use Marriott's way if I'm going to Norwich. I pick it up at Reepham.

bigease

Around 14 miles in South Cambridgeshire. More than half in reasonably country roads and half through Cambridge City.

I would love to have more in the country, but that is difficult without adding the mileage.

mediamonkey

I have a nice bit of both, depending on what station I go to - the most "rural" option takes me up over a short bit of heathland singletrack, cross the A30 then down through woods and onto a private tarmac road, then emerge briefly onto a B-road to the station. Then get on the train and emerge at Waterloo for the second leg :?