Nottingham to Newark. Became 100 miles

capt_slog

This doesn't sound much I know, but it's part of a longer route I want to do.

I'm ok with the rest of it, but this section doesn't look that bike friendly. The bit I'm on about is the A612, goes from Colwick to Burton Joyce, Lowdham and Thurgarton.

What i want to know is what's it like to ride on? I'm going to be on the same road on the return, and it won't be so easy then to keep taking the 'bike lane' if I feel like it.

If you know of a safer route, suggest it. etc.

Cheers

letap73

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19622398#p19622398]Capt Slog[/url] wrote:

This doesn't sound much I know, but it's part of a longer route I want to do.

I'm ok with the rest of it, but this section doesn't look that bike friendly. The bit I'm on about is the A612, goes from Colwick to Burton Joyce, Lowdham and Thurgarton.

What i want to know is what's it like to ride on? I'm going to be on the same road on the return, and it won't be so easy then to keep taking the 'bike lane' if I feel like it.

If you know of a safer route, suggest it. etc.

Cheers

Head further east towards Orston and the like and take the back roads north to Newark?
The A612 is fairly busy from memory but far from being the worst road I have ever been on.

random man

I take it you're staying in Nottingham. If you take Woodborough Road onto Mapperley Plains, turn right at a mini roundabout onto Spring Lane to Lambley, stay on this road to Lowdham.
At the traffic lights go straight across into Lowdam village, cross the A612 and turn left after the level crossing. This road will take you through to Thurgarton. Take a right turn to Bleasby then Averham, turn right onto A617 to Newark.

The A612 isn't a bad road to cycle on, just boring.

capt_slog

Thanks for the replies both.

Your comments on the A612 are slightly reassuring as neither of you actually said "NO!". It's probably no different from my local roads other than being unfamiliar, and I can put up with boring.

I'm starting from near J25 of the M1 and I hope to do my first ever 100 mile ride; I won't be sorry if I don't see a hill.

FELTZ95

If you're starting from near J25 you could do a much nicer direction for a 100 mile route in my opinion by heading through Sawley to Kegworth and then heading east into the Vale of Belvoir. Or head off to Rutland Water and back as another alternative. Neither direction has any meaningful hills.

capt_slog

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19622626#p19622626]FELTZ95[/url] wrote:

If you're starting from near J25 you could do a much nicer direction for a 100 mile route in my opinion by heading through Sawley to Kegworth and then heading east into the Vale of Belvoir. Or head off to Rutland Water and back as another alternative. Neither direction has any meaningful hills.

You're right of course.

But the route I've chosen takes advantage of a nice breeze developing for the return this Friday I have a feeling that this will be needed.

daveski12

I live near junction 25 and this is the route we take to Newark and back. It's very quiet and flat.

We go through Ruddington to pick up others so this part of the route can be ignored.

https://www.strava.com/activities/113666358

We do use the A52 on the way out but it's normally before 7am on the weekend so not a lot of traffic. If you were going later I'd use the Sawley - Kegworth route mentioned above.

capt_slog

I managed to get to Lincoln, my target destination, and back to home. 4 hours out and 3.5 back including the stops, but not a break for lunch at the turnaround.

This is the furthest I've ever riden, just around 104 miles. Up until then, 50 was my limit. I'm feeling it today.

It went without too many problems apart from a bad stop just outside Nottingham on the return where i failed to unclip at some lights. This had me,bike and bottles spilled on the road and put some cuts in my elbow, none of which was anything to compare with the embarassment.