The New Forest...

Headhuunter
Headhuunter Posts: 6,494
edited April 2011 in Commuting chat
....Some friends of mine want to go on a bike ride on the Sat of the Royal Wedding weekend. They're not regular cyclists, a couple of them might be on hire bikes because they don't have their own, so it's not going to be a high speed club run or anything.

The question is, will I be able to ride one of my road bikes? I've found some routes on the net and it mentions things like "gravel tracks" etc... I would like to avoid hiring a crappy MTB or hybrid but I've only got (3) road bikes. Would they be OK for routes like these?

http://www.forestry.gov.uk/pdf/finalnfc ... emap05.pdf
http://www.forestleisurecycling.co.uk/n ... routes.asp
http://www.new-forest-national-park.com ... cling.html
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Comments

  • sketchley
    sketchley Posts: 4,238
    There are lots of very nice on road routes through the new forest. If you go off road a road bike won't be the best, you might get away with a CX or simply fitting some fatter tyres though.

    I'm 100% up for a bike ride on Royal Wedding day to. I was thinking south coast and back.
    --
    Chris

    Genesis Equilibrium - FCN 3/4/5
  • stuaff
    stuaff Posts: 1,736
    As quite a few of us here will testify, the Forest roads are lovely road bike territory. Trails...no idea. Wouldn't bet on it, but frankly, don't bother, stick to the roads.
    Dahon Speed Pro TT; Trek Portland
    Viner Magnifica '08 ; Condor Squadra
    LeJOG in aid of the Royal British Legion. Please sponsor me at http://www.bmycharity.com/stuaffleck2011
  • Jay dubbleU
    Jay dubbleU Posts: 3,159
    I've ridden New Forest trails - they are generally pretty good but there are lots of quiet roads around Brocklehurst/Lyndhurst - watch out for the cattle grids
  • Headhuunter
    Headhuunter Posts: 6,494
    Thanks. If the tracks are just dusty tracks then I should be OK, just don't want be heading along muddy, technical offroad tracks with tree roots etc.... Cattle grids are no prob, I just go across them as fast as possible, bum off saddle, weight off hands centred over the pedals to allow the bike to rock
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  • Jay dubbleU
    Jay dubbleU Posts: 3,159
    Tracks are generally dust but beware of new sections - they can have quite a lot of loose gravel on them - generally the standard is pretty good - certainly not technical - Mrs JW does not do technical
  • itboffin
    itboffin Posts: 20,064
    If trails are planned then CX tyres are a must, don't worry about suspension or gearing its hardly fort william down there.

    Before you start Stu ssssshhhh! :P
    Rule #5 // Harden The Feck Up.
    Rule #9 // If you are out riding in bad weather, it means you are a badass. Period.
    Rule #12 // The correct number of bikes to own is n+1.
    Rule #42 // A bike race shall never be preceded with a swim and/or followed by a run.
  • stuaff
    stuaff Posts: 1,736
    itboffin wrote:
    Before you start Stu ssssshhhh! :P

    I have absolutely no idea what you're on about. Seriously.
    Dahon Speed Pro TT; Trek Portland
    Viner Magnifica '08 ; Condor Squadra
    LeJOG in aid of the Royal British Legion. Please sponsor me at http://www.bmycharity.com/stuaffleck2011
  • roger_merriman
    roger_merriman Posts: 6,165
    sounds like should be fine, depends on your roadie clearly but both my commute bike SS with 25mm tyres and the old roadie with 23mm are fine for gravel paths and a bit more does depend on your skill level But you can go far off road, how enjoyable it is another matter!
  • Headhuunter
    Headhuunter Posts: 6,494
    OK, I'll probably risk it. I could either take the old Apollo or the Ribble, both have 700x23 tyres. We'll manage somehow, will have to work out which routes involve smoother surfaces and make sure I have puncture repair stuff
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  • coopster_the_1st
    coopster_the_1st Posts: 5,158
    Why not hire a bike? I think it costs about £20 for the day.

    If you are on a road bike you will be waiting for them all day on the road sections and then risking damaging the bike if you do go on the trails.

    Your fitness level on the hire bike will make you faster anyway and you can enjoy the offroad sections not worrying about damaging the bike.
  • Jay dubbleU
    Jay dubbleU Posts: 3,159
    Think you might be pushing it on 23s - last time I did it I was on 28 Marathons which were fine

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