90 min loops from Guildford?

bigpikle

Does anyone have any shortish training routes from Guidford please. 20-30 miles ideally and out of the town and away from the main roads as much as possible would be perfect. Looks interesting around the Albury area into the Surrey Hills. Need to get a few rides in after work while I'm down there this week and looking for inspiration from those in the know

Thanks

owenlars

It is difficult to know where to start, but if I were you I would just head out along the north bank of the Wey, past the Yvonne Arnaud theatre and turn left up into the hills after Shalford. Thereafter you should follow your nose. If you head for Bramley or Cranleigh after about 45 minutes it will bring you back to the road back to Guildford. A decent map or GPS will see you alright.

bigpikle

Thanks - will check the map around Shalford. It's just not an area I know once outside the one-way system!

drlodge

This is my cycling back yard, I frequently do approx 120mins rides around this area south of Guildford.

For a 90mins ride I would be looking for some hills so I work hard. Here's some example rides:

#1 Down to Cranleigh and back via Barhatch lane (21% max), this is the steepest/longest hill I know
http://www.bikeroutetoaster.com/Course.aspx?course=527900

#2 Shalford, Albury, Combe Bottom (steep but short), Down Green Dene, A246, back up Staple Lane returning via Albury and Shalford
http://www.bikeroutetoaster.com/Course.aspx?course=527902

#3 Convenient start for me this one since I live in Onslow Village, a bit flatter, just one hill out of Godalming
http://www.bikeroutetoaster.com/Course.aspx?course=527907

#4 A bit longer this one, but its a nice route and you could make the outward leg shorter. Comes back via the "Reverse Dutch Steam Boat" Strava segment from Elstead to the top of the Hogs Back (I'm currently 3rd of 17 I think).
http://www.bikeroutetoaster.com/Course.aspx?course=527914

Where do you live? PM me if you want to go out together sometime. My often do 1-2 hour rides on a Tuesday or Thursday evening from 7pm after work.

AchillesLeftKnee

In a similar vein to Owenlars...

I'd head south out of Guildford to Shalford (that's the Horsham Road past Debenhams and the Yvonne Gumby Theatre), then turn left at the roundabout in Shalford (by the station) and head towards Cranleigh on the B2128. Thereafter, it's a matter of picking how many hills you want, and what sort of ride length you need.

If you don't fancy the hills themselves, a loop around Cranleigh, Cox Green\Shalford, Okewood Hill, Walliswood, Forrest Green, Ewhurst, and back to Cranleigh will give 15-20 miles (depending on minor variations) of up n' down terrain with very few cars indeed. Add in Weare Street (look this one up) and Ockley in place of Walliswood and you'll add a new more miles on, again pretty much sans traffic outside the rush.

If you're after the hills proper, there are a variety of climbs available by heading north from the B2128 (and B2127 after Cranleigh). If you just want to make one run over the hills, you can then keep going north and join either the A25 or the Albury road, and head back to Guildford. It's worth noting that, for the most part, the south side of the hills offer steeper climbs than the north side, so a little rider discretion may be called for if you're not feeling confident when it comes to steep stuff.

With regards to traffic, the B2128 is busy in the morning and evening rush, and the routes over the hills are probably best avoided during rush as well as many are single track roads, and it doesn't take a lot of traffic to make riding them a bit of a stop-start experience. However, the rest of the area's pretty quite at any time, and by 7pm it's all dead as a doornail. Sunday mornings in decent weather can end up looking like a mass participation audax for the hopelessly lost, which is great if you like to share the roads with loads of fellow cyclists of all flavours.

The hills themselves, and much of the surrounding area, is heavily wooded, so the roads can get quite dark when the sun's low in the sky. If you're riding around there in the evening, it's well worth taking a couple of lil' lights just in case. Also, it's worth taking care on descents on the smaller roads as patches of mud, leaves, and other such yuck are fairly common, especially if it's been very wet.

owenlars

Drlodge is right about Barhatch Lane, it's a complete widowmaker but everyone should do it once. Once you get up above Shalford, you can go almost anywhere you want. If you stay in the square defined by Shalford, Dorking, Ockley and Cranleigh you have miles of beautiful lane and if you want to get back to Guildord you either head north to the A25 and turn left or head West to the A281 and turn right.

dnwhite88

I live in Godalming and head out to haslemere, coming back through guildford and finally home up hascombe hill which is a killer but I always feel better for having done it