Cycling the Grand Union towpath

ajoten

OK so not really mountain biking, but it is offroad and would done on a mountain bike...

I'm intending to do most or all of the Grand Union, perhaps London - Daventry towpath route but am getting conflicting opinions regarding how long it would take. We'll have 2 full days of riding so need to plan stops and return transport etc.

- What sort of average speed is realistic along a towpath?
- How difficult or easy is the going along the GU, and can you actually ride the lot or do you need to leave the path occasionally and find alternative routes?

nonnac85

I averaged about 10mph from the section from Stoke Hammond up through Milton Keynes and Cosgrove.
That section is all surfaced footpath and very easy. No need for detours on most of the route AFAIK except for some tunnels that do not have a tow path but there is a marked route for cyclists / walkers to follow.
I reckon you could do 40 miles / day on a footpath if you cycled for an hour then rested for a bit or 30 if you were not pushing as hard.

mudcovered

- What sort of average speed is realistic along a towpath?
- How difficult or easy is the going along the GU, and can you actually ride the lot or do you need to leave the path occasionally and find alternative routes?

Well I've ridden from Slough to London on the Grand Union towpath. The early parts out of London are paved so speed is pretty much dependent on your fitness and bike type. After that
it becomes a dirt path which will slow you down if conditions are wet.

No diversions but the biggest obstacle on that section of path is the bike gates designed to stop motorbikes and scooters. They also create rather tedious obstacles for bikes especially if the bikes have panniers fitted. Some of them you will get through some you will need to be prepared to lift the bike over.

The group I rode with did about 30miles a day but that was at a pretty easy pace. At a slightly more swift pace you could cover more distance per day.

Mike

Mr bump

ajoten wrote:

OK so not really mountain biking, but it is offroad and would done on a mountain bike...

I'm intending to do most or all of the Grand Union, perhaps London - Daventry towpath route but am getting conflicting opinions regarding how long it would take. We'll have 2 full days of riding so need to plan stops and return transport etc.

- What sort of average speed is realistic along a towpath?
- How difficult or easy is the going along the GU, and can you actually ride the lot or do you need to leave the path occasionally and find alternative routes?

The towpaths in Daventry/ Braunston are undergoing some works at the moment and the completed ones are like a gravel fire road, really nice.
Some parts towards Welton you need to divert away from the canal due to the tunnels.Oh and mind the thorns!!

the other me

last year me and a mate rode the Grand Union from Birmingham to London in 2 days.
Day 1 Birmingham to Milton Keynes.
Day 2 MK to London.

The first day was by far the hardest as the path out of Brum was very waterlogged and muddy. Further on, it was just overgrown so for most of the day we were fighting our way through undergrowth, brambles etc.
The second day was a breeze by comparisson.

I would take account of the time of year before doing it again, as earlier in the year the path may be less overgrown which would make the ride more enjoyable.

Mr bump

Just to add matey, regarding return trip there is a train station at Long Buckby which is about 4-5 miles from Daventry, trains from ther run to london i believe.