Weekend cycling destination for beginner...

Hierotochan

Hi all,

this is my first post outside of the Beginners section so be gentle!

I have had my road bike a while now & also managed to convert the Mrs. into a commuter.
What I was wondering was if anyone had a suggestion of a destination for a little weekend cycling.

We would like to catch the train from London to wherever and just take in some views,
find a nice B&B (and more importantly a tea room!) and carry as little as possible.
As she is pretty new she's not much of a climber (yet) so my initial thoughts of the Peak District may have been jumping the gun a bit!

Any ideas would be appreciated.

Cheers!


J.

explosifpete

When I first read your post I was thinking of the standard places, peaks, lakes, devon but have you considered going to Essex? Not everyones choice but if you get the train to braintree (45min from Liverpool st) you can access loads of pretty,quite, safe and flat roads with plenty of cyclists tea rooms. If you do decide to do this I can send you one of my training loops as a good route.

MichaelW

East Anglia is the obvious choice.
Train to N Essex/S Suffolk. Pootle up to the Norfolk Suffolk border then up to Norwich.
The Suffolk coast is good, esp Southwold/ Aldborough. Much quieter than the N Norfolk coastal road.
The network of lanes is very dense so you need to keep an eye on navigation. You dont need a special cycle route, just a decent map and a compass for confusing junctions on a cloudy day. You can pick up the National Cycle Route 1.

wheelygood

Lots of wonderful cycling terrain up here in sunny north lancashire!

jc4lab

http://www.goskyride.com/London
Theres a campaign to getting everyone cyling at the moment nationwide ,not just London as per this link ,with guided rides all over the country.A lot close down at the end of August though..Easy peasy stuff.Ride the Lights at Blackpool is a popluar one

Hierotochan

Thanks for all your suggestions!

I live in Walthamstow so cycle through Essex & Redbridge on my local lap.
I think I'll look more into it & will probably stay fairly local for the first trip,
but would definitely appreciate some suggestions on bike friendly hotels/B&B's if you have some.

I would like to do The Broads some time in the future when I can spare more time.

Thanks again!

J.

TiBoy

I would recomend having a look at the Sustrans site to find out some good cycle routes, I find them very well signed and they tend to keep you off busy roads. I do find the website very slow though.
http://www.sustrans.org.uk/map

explosifpete

I can recommend the blue egg http://www.theblueegg.co.uk/
and the stisted tea rooms for good eats in the north essex area

andymiller

My vote would be for Norfolk/Suffolk as well (there is the Suffolk Coastal Route which is well signposted (IiRC it's marked up on the Sustrans maps as a regional route). But really there is just so much good cycling within a 2-hour train journey - eg if you don't mind schlepping to Paddington you could go to Castle Cary and then pick up the NCN routs down into Somerset and Dorset, or the South Somerset circular route, or Mational Byway, or go north towards Gloucestershire. Or you could go to bristol Temple Meads and pick up the Whitchurch Way out of Bristol and on towards Cheddar and across the Somerset Levels and Glastonbury.

durhamwasp

North Yorks

tim_wand

My first tour with the Misses was in the Suffolk/ Norfolk are so I would go with AndyMiller and MIcheal W's recomendations. Fantastic countryside which isnt too topographically challenging, Fantastic accomodation at all price ranges, Pubs , tea shops and restruarants a plenty with glorious coastal stretches.

You can base a great route around the Suffolk coastal route or NCN 1

bartimaeus

The Peak District is a pretty good choice as there are a number of trails on disused railways, so the trails are pretty flat but the scenery is anything but... and there are tea rooms. Check out the High Peaks, Tissington and Manifold Trails (see here). It was a long while ago, but I remember that Hartington was a good base for cycling and walking.

apreading

East Anglia is pretty flat - which will help when starting out!

Also look at old railway lines now bike tracks or canal towpaths - as both of these will be pretty flat too.

You missus wont thank you if she has to cycle up big hills at this stage...!

I can recommend the Kennet and Avon cycle route - there are some sections not suitable for a road bike but the sustrans route avoids them, using quiet roads. Goes through some stunning scenery especially around Bradford on Avon to Bath and the old railway converted to smooth cycle track from there to Bristol docks. 25 mins from Paddington to Reading for the start and easy trains back from Bristol. For beginners you can do 25-30 miles a day and stop in Hungerford, Devizes, Bath.

yer gran

Hierotochan
New Forest.