Aussie Looking For Ride Ideas / Advice

fh6162

G'day all,
I'm an Aussie originally from London visiting Norwich from mid until late June, looking to doing a ride that is physically challenging. I've been browsing the net and am interested but not limited to the Mary Towneley loop, Howgills? Hayfield Loop ( long), basically long enough to make it an all day ride, tough but rideable ( dont want to carry bike up majority of climbs cause they're so steep,eg what I've seen of Helvellyn), pretty easy to follow (don't want to get hopelessly lost), if anyone wants to take me around all the better.
Anyway if any of you can help me please submit some recommendations with any links / pictures I can look at and I'll read through them, also can anyone recommend a bike hire shop with half decent bikes ? ( 9speed, hydraulic brakes etc. near to where the ride begins?
Excuse all my requirements but as I'll be driving from Norwich I want to make it worth while.

Thanks Heaps
Fred

stumpyjon

I can vouch for the Mary Townley Loop, it's local to me. It's a (big) all day ride, about 47 miles. A bit technical in places and one or two very steep bits which warrant a push but 98% rideable. It's also pretty well waymarked on the ground and on OS maps.

Ride On in Rawtenstall (about a mille off the loop) is a good bikeshop, not sure whether they hire bikes but worth contacting them (good bunch of blokes).

Web details here.

The other option is to hit the trails centres, the trails are very well marked, many have bike shops, cafes, showers and will hire bikes.

I'd certainly recommend Afan in South Wales, enough riding for several days.

elPedro666

There's a bike hire place by Derwent Water, but I've no idea what quality the bikes are. They are right at the bottom of Cut Gate & handy for a loop as monstrous as you dare, heading toward Hope & Castleton (Mam Tor, Rushup Edge, Cavedale...).

Fair chance I'll get to Cut Gate today - I'd like to see it in the sun - so if I do I'll check it out & let you know.

A trail centre could give you all the facilities you need, including bike hire & camping at some, but I don't get the impression it's what you're looking for? If I'm mistaken then do Skyline at Afan!

elPedro666

Finally sunk in that you said Norwich... : oops :

How about Thetford? I only know it by name but it's worth looking into. Generally a bit flat over that side of the country, sadly (for a mountain biker, at least).

If you're going to do a big drive then it's probably worth camping somewhere, in which case I'd always recommend the Lake District. Total personal bias, but the riding & scenery is second to none in England.