Britain's best road
Bike Chimp
Posts: 7
Hello
I'm a freelance journalist writing a feature for Cycling Plus. We're looking for Britain's best road for cycling, and would like to invite suggestions from the forum.
It could be a climb, a downhill, a flat stretch of road with a fantastic view – it doesn’t matter, so long as it’s great to ride and the person nominating it can explain why.
If you’re happy to suggest a road, please could you tell me:
• Where the road is
• When you first rode it
• How often you ride it
• What makes it special
Cheers
David
I'm a freelance journalist writing a feature for Cycling Plus. We're looking for Britain's best road for cycling, and would like to invite suggestions from the forum.
It could be a climb, a downhill, a flat stretch of road with a fantastic view – it doesn’t matter, so long as it’s great to ride and the person nominating it can explain why.
If you’re happy to suggest a road, please could you tell me:
• Where the road is
• When you first rode it
• How often you ride it
• What makes it special
Cheers
David
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Comments
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Why just Britain? What's wrong with Northern Ireland? Or the Republic of Ireland, as the mag is popular here...Visit Ireland - all of it! Cycle in Dublin and know fear!!
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The one under the Channel leading to France0
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garrynolan wrote:Why just Britain? What's wrong with Northern Ireland? Or the Republic of Ireland, as the mag is popular here...
What's wrong with just Britain?0 -
MrChuck wrote:garrynolan wrote:Why just Britain? What's wrong with Northern Ireland? Or the Republic of Ireland, as the mag is popular here...
What's wrong with just Britain?
Absolutely nothing... but why is it restricted it to just Britain? C'mon Bike Chimp...Visit Ireland - all of it! Cycle in Dublin and know fear!!0 -
garrynolan wrote:MrChuck wrote:garrynolan wrote:Why just Britain? What's wrong with Northern Ireland? Or the Republic of Ireland, as the mag is popular here...
What's wrong with just Britain?
Absolutely nothing... but why is it restricted it to just Britain? C'mon Bike Chimp...
Why not Europe? He's chosen an arbitrary cutoff, and it's Britain.0 -
MrChuck wrote:garrynolan wrote:MrChuck wrote:garrynolan wrote:Why just Britain? What's wrong with Northern Ireland? Or the Republic of Ireland, as the mag is popular here...
What's wrong with just Britain?
Absolutely nothing... but why is it restricted it to just Britain? C'mon Bike Chimp...
Why not Europe? He's chosen an arbitrary cutoff, and it's Britain.
How do you know it's arbitrary? I would be interested to hear his/her reason for the geographical restriction. As you say - why not Europe? Though as it's an English language magazine it would be reasonable to assume it wouldn't have many readers there (assuming it is sold there).Visit Ireland - all of it! Cycle in Dublin and know fear!!0 -
garrynolan wrote:What's wrong with Northern Ireland?
How long have you got
My best road is any one leading out of stoke.The dissenter is every human being at those moments of his life when he resigns
momentarily from the herd and thinks for himself.0 -
garrynolan wrote:How do you know it's arbitrary? I would be interested to hear his/her reason for the geographical restriction. As you say - why not Europe? Though as it's an English language magazine it would be reasonable to assume it wouldn't have many readers there (assuming it is sold there).
Maybe he's got to actually ride the road and has a phobia of air and sea travel?Summer - Canyon Ultimate CF SLX 9.0 Team
Winter - Trek Madone 3.5 2012 with UDi2 upgrade.
For getting dirty - Moda Canon0 -
Maybe the Europe article is being done some other time. By another writer. Does it matter that much?0
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the road over the otterburn military range, because it's so isolated, the surface is absolutely perfect, you can't get on it that often and the coquet valley to access it is stunning
and now with the added bonus of the tearoom at barrowburn
need to check the MOD website to see when it's next open0 -
Any of the Cul de sacs off Coniston Drive in Holmes chapel.
I first rode on them on my Raleigh Strika when I was 6.
the reason I like them is that they all went downhill and had gravel at the bottom making them perfect for monster skids.0 -
gummers how from newby bridge south lake district, long steep climb to the top but omg what a view over windermere at the top0
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Maybe the B8000 in Argyle - Its about 25 miles and goes through Tighnabruich, Kames, Otter Ferry and up to Strachur. Couple of testing climbs, probably about 2000 ft or so in total and the road is mostly very quite and single track with spectacular scenary across Loch Fyne.
Would also say the A841 which is the road around Arran, about 55 miles, 3600 ft of climbing. Relatively quiet road, good scenary and feels like a great day out with getting the ferry over. However the surface going from Lochranza to Sannox is very poor so a mark off for that.0 -
The loop from Tavistock to Princetown and back. Either way around to include both Pork and Peak Hills. I love it because it is near me and because Dartmoor is so beautiful, the views over Plymouth Hoe or to Brentor are stunning.
Ride it fairly regularly.
Rode it first in 2009.
I love it as from a personal point of view, on the road, I must cycle up to the top to enjoy a descent. Both Pork Hill and Peak Hill are rewarding each way, Peak hill is more fun as it is a bit windey to Dousland, Pork Hill is beautifully open and steep will a good visible run off, just asks for and pedal out to 50mph+
Somewhere on Dartmoor deserves inclusion.0 -
So lets get this right. You have been commissioned to do an article for C+ and you want us to tell you what to write, or at least do the research for you.
Lazy journalism and taking the piss at the same time.Two wheels good,four wheels bad0 -
The Crow Road - B822 - Campsie to Fintry then onto Kippen
First road it on the 1st March 2011 to take my mind off the 11 hour op my 14 year old son was having in Glasgow Royal to remove a tumour from his pelvis. Went back a couple more times in the weeks he was recovering.
Good climbs at either end with fabulous views and remoteness only minutes outside Glasgow. Nice coffee shop in Kippen and an ice cream from the van in the viewing area before descending back down to Campsie.
As recommended by a few folk on here. Will stay with me for many years.ROAD < Scott Foil HMX Di2, Volagi Liscio Di2, Jamis Renegade Elite Di2, Cube Reaction Race > ROUGH0 -
GoldenBear wrote:Any of the Cul de sacs off Coniston Drive in Holmes chapel.
I first rode on them on my Raleigh Strika when I was 6.
the reason I like them is that they all went downhill and had gravel at the bottom making them perfect for monster skids.
Probably not what the freewheel journalist was looking for and I don't know Coniston Drive but you win anyway 0 -
cycologist wrote:So lets get this right. You have been commissioned to do an article for C+ and you want us to tell you what to write, or at least do the research for you.
Lazy journalism and taking the wee-wee at the same time.
If you had been commissioned to pen said article, what would you have done?
Surely asking others of their own experiences is a perfectly legitimate and eminently sensible way of going about this task. How else? Ride every single road in Great Britain?0 -
Road from Porlock to Lynmouth. Starts with a fairly testing climb, then along the top with coast and views to Wales on the left, finish with a beautiful descent into Lynmouth.
Infact, road from Simonsbath to Lynmouth might be equally as breathtaking over Exmoor then down through an Alpine esque forested descent.0 -
My nomination : take the Struggle out of Ambleside in the lake district up to the Kirkstone pass (highest road pass in the Lake district), stop at the top to admire the view, then descend back on the main road through Triutbeck to Windermere.
Or Gospel pass in the Black mountains.0 -
jim453 wrote:cycologist wrote:So lets get this right. You have been commissioned to do an article for C+ and you want us to tell you what to write, or at least do the research for you.
Lazy journalism and taking the wee-wee at the same time.
If you had been commissioned to pen said article, what would you have done?
Surely asking others of their own experiences is a perfectly legitimate and eminently sensible way of going about this task. How else? Ride every single road in Great Britain?
I wouldn't be so pretentious as to think that I could write an article that purports to be able to proclaim the definitive "Best Road in Britain " which is always going to be subjective and never conclusive.Two wheels good,four wheels bad0 -
Greythorn Drive in West Bridgford Nottingham. A cat 5 climb is just what I need after my 14 hour shift. Cemetery at the top in case its too hard.......The only disability in life is a poor attitude.0
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Dalwhinnie - Laggan - Newtonmore.
First rode it ten years ago and do it at least once a year. Wonderful scenery, no traffic, superb long sweeping downhills.http://www.strathspey.co.uk - Quality Binoculars at a Sensible Price.
Specialized Roubaix SL3 Expert 2012, Cannondale CAAD5,
Marin Mount Vision (1997), Edinburgh Country tourer, 3 cats!0 -
My latest favourite stretch of road is the Cross O' greet road from Slaidburn to Bentham. I first rode it two weeks ago and even though it was in persistent drizzle it was great.
A steady climb along the side of a steep valley with moorland views (on a clear day) and a long sweeping descent - brilliant!0 -
For me it is A635 from Holmfirth to Greenfield. Long climb over Saddleworth moor, a couple of miles over the top of the moor - then the descent into Greenfield with Dovestone reservoir and Dovestone moss on your left is just spectacular. That's if you have time to look as I'm usually going 35+ off the descent and trying to get the best line on the road as it sweeps from left to right!0
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cycologist wrote:jim453 wrote:cycologist wrote:So lets get this right. You have been commissioned to do an article for C+ and you want us to tell you what to write, or at least do the research for you.
Lazy journalism and taking the wee-wee at the same time.
If you had been commissioned to pen said article, what would you have done?
Surely asking others of their own experiences is a perfectly legitimate and eminently sensible way of going about this task. How else? Ride every single road in Great Britain?
I wouldn't be so pretentious as to think that I could write an article that purports to be able to proclaim the definitive "Best Road in Britain " which is always going to be subjective and never conclusive.
Mate, it sounds like it's going to be an 'interest' article discussing where might be the best cycling road in GB. In what way is that pretentious? It isn't law. It's no different from the millions of similar articles in every kind of magazine discussing '10 best.........' etc etc etc.
What on earth is the problem?0 -
The road from Monmouth to Abergavanney, did it the day before the Forest of Dean Classic a few years ago, lovely surface, undulating and fast.
Or the road from Langley village, down through Sutton Valance to headcorn, long hill and straight fast road. 0 -
Stanley222 wrote:garrynolan wrote:Why just Britain? What's wrong with Northern Ireland? Or the Republic of Ireland, as the mag is popular here...
Isn't NI part of Great Britain then?!!
The United Kindgom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. (So it's part of the UK, but not GB.)0 -
Maybe we've scared him off with our ability to turn a genuine request into a petty argument.0
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So how is he supposed to write the article without asking people what they think is the best road in Britain ?cycologist wrote:So lets get this right. You have been commissioned to do an article for C+ and you want us to tell you what to write, or at least do the research for you.
Lazy journalism and taking the wee-wee at the same time.
:roll:
In answer to the question, it's the 300m of brand new, pristine, fine grade black top outside my door in Thatcham
Science adjusts it’s beliefs based on what’s observed.
Faith is the denial of observation so that Belief can be preserved0
