Great British Bike Rides E-Book

Dave Barter

• Herausgeber: Vertebrate Digital
• Kategorie: Lebensstil
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 426

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2017

Beschreibung

FREE DOWNLOADABLE GPX ROUTE FILES Great British Bike Rides is a celebration of British road cycling. Author Dave Barter brings together forty of the best road rides in England, Scotland and Wales, searching out the country's most celebrated routes, toughest climbs and most scenic roads. The rides are challenging, they are adventurous, and they are quintessentially British – tackle the gradients of the classic Fred Whitton in the English Lake District; pit yourself against fearsome climbs inspired by the Dragon Ride in Wales; and feast upon Scotland's stunning scenery following wild roads through Assynt and across Skye. Already a fanatical cyclist, author Dave Barter packed in his job and hit the road, embarking on a 9,000-mile tour of Britain to bring together the best riding the country has to offer. His cycle routes are devised specifically for this book, enchaining unforgettable climbs, quiet roads and stunning scenery. Each ride is accompanied by detailed route information, bespoke mapping and a statistical breakdown including every detail the committed cyclist requires. The book is complemented with a set of downloadable GPX files to further aid navigation. Join the cycling revolution and discover the best road cycling in Great Britain.

Leseprobe

DAVE BARTER GREAT BRITISH BIKE RIDES 40 CLASSIC ROUTES FOR ROAD CYCLIST

DAVE BARTER GREAT BRITISH BIKE RIDES 40 CLASSIC ROUTES FOR ROAD CYCLISTS Vertebrate Publishing , Sheffield. www.v-publishing.co.u

DAVE BARTER GREAT BRITISH BIKE RIDES 40 CLASSIC ROUTES FOR ROAD CYCLISTS First published in 2013 by Vertebrate Publishing. This digital edition first published in 2016. Vertebrate Publishing Crescent House, 228 Psalter Lane, Sheffield S11 8UT. www.v-publishing.co.uk Copyright © Dave Barter 2013. Dave Barter has asserted his rights under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as author of this work. A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library. ISBN: 978-1-906148-55-3 (Paperback) ISBN: 978-1-910240-80-9 (Ebook) 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 All rights reserved. No part of this work covered by the copyright hereon may be reproduced or used in any form or by any means – graphic, electronic, or mechanised, including photocopying, recording, taping or information storage and retrieval systems – without the written permission of the publisher. All maps within this publication were produced and rendered using the Nautoguide custom map rendering service www.nautoguide.com. Mapping contains Ordnance Survey data © Crown copyright and database right 2011. Mapping contains OpenStreetmap data © OpenStreetMap contributors available under the Open Database License from www.openstreetmap.org Photography by Dave, Helen, Jake and Holly Barter unless otherwise credited. Cover photograph by Seb Rogers: www.sebrogers.com Designed and produced by Nathan Ryder with additional production by Jane Beagley, Vertebrate Graphics Ltd – www.v-graphics.co.uk Based on an original design by Dave Barter. The author, publisher and others involved in the design and publication of this guidebook are not responsible for any loss or damage users may suffer as a result of using this book and do not warrant the safety of any route, road, street or designated cycling route described herein. Users of this guidebook are responsible for their own safety and ride these routes at their own risk. Users should consider not only route conditions but also their level of experience, comfort level riding in traffic, traffic conditions and traffic volume, weather, time of day, and any obstacles, such as construction or potholes, when cycling these routes. Some roads in this guidebook experience high traffic volume; cyclists share these roads with many other road users and should exercise the same level of caution whether riding on a route in this book or any non-designated route. We recommend that you always wear a helmet when cycling

CONTENTS Preface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Acknowledgements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Riding a Great British bike ride . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Making your own Great British bike ride . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 How to use this guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 The Dashboard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Key . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 DOWNLOAD GPX FILES FOR EACH ROUTE AT: www.greatbritishbikerides.co.uk SOUTHERN ENGLAND . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Cornwall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Dartmoor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Exmoor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 Cheddar & the Flatlands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 Wiltshire’s White Horses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 Dorset . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 New Forest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63 Isle of Wight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69 Surrey Hills & Richmond Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75 Ashdown Forest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81 Chilterns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89 The Captain’s Cotswolds Lanes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95 NORTHERN ENGLAND . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100 Telford, the Wrekin & Long Mynd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105 Rutland & the Lake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111 Norfolk & the Fens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117 Lincolnshire Wolds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123 Cheshire Highlights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129 Tour of the Peak District . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135 West Yorkshire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141 Lancashire – Bowland Beast . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147 North York Moors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153 Lake District Passes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159 The North Pennines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165 WALES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170 Homage to the Dragon Ride . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175 The Gower Peninsula . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181 Pembrokeshire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187 Brecon Beacons & the Black Mountains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193 Elan Valley – Rhayader . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199 Llangollen & Denbigh . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205 Snowdonia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211 SCOTLAND . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 216 Scottish Borders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 221 Glentrool & Ayrshire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 227 Glen Finart & Loch Fyne . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 233 Isle of Mull . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239 Circuit of Loch Rannoch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 245 Aviemore & Cairn Gorm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 251 Loch Ness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 257 Isle of Skye . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 263 Applecross & Torridon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 269 Lochinver & Assynt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 275 Great British Bike Rides – Vital Statistics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

“ I was clearly not going to find the cycling book I sought. I needed to ensure that cycling remained integral to me as an individual. What better way to combine the two than write the book myself? With the support of my family, I resigned immediately and began to plan the book.” PREFACE Over twenty years ago I joined Post Office Research as an Executive Engineer (class B). It was in the Post Office Research Centre that I first met Chris Covell and through him my interest in outdoor adventure was resurrected. Many years previously I’d been a keen cyclist and had also spent long weekends deep underground in the caves of Wales. My wiry frame the perfect shape for the aspirant caver. Chris introduced me to rock climbing – the hard way. I was unceremoniously bundled into a car, driven to the Peak District and dragged up as many gritstone classics as Chris could lead in a day. As his loyal ‘second’ I was given no quarter. Every climb had to be completed in order that his gear was retrieved. My hands have never really recovered from one particularly brutal day spent hand jamming my way up Stanage Edge with Chris enquiring as to why I was taking so long. As part of my blooding into the climbing fraternity I was handed a copy of Ken Wilson’s Classic Rock. This book opened my eyes to the full potential of climbing within the UK. It listed a series of aspirational climbs for a beginner such as me; classic climbs that every climber should do. The photography and text willed the climber on to ‘have a go’, and I found myself poring over it wondering whether I could really make it up Napes Needle or Eagle Ridge. This book more than anything else made me want to be a climber and also made me realise that the country I live in is stuffed full of things to climb. Sadly, career and other distractions intervened; my vertical career foundered with only a few meagre ticks from the book. But I never forgot that list and often wondered whether it would be feasible for me to tick it off. Ten years later cycling replaced my climbing aspirations and I became more and more obsessed with the sport. I found myselfferreting through bookshops in search of cycling guides to widen my horizons. All the time looking for the cycling equivalent of Classic Rock. I unearthed plenty of interesting books and even rode Land’s End to John o’Groats inspired by one of them. But where was my ticklist? Where was the guide that when completed would mean I’d truly served my apprenticeship as a British road cyclist? In 2010 I found myself in a work meeting looking out of the window. Across the street a swimming pool was being demolished, soon to be replaced by a car park. I’m sure there may have been good reasons for this, but the act of replacing something meant for exercise with something to facilitate cars began to play on my mind. I started to worry that my career would follow a similar path, with my cycling slowly demolished by the time required to ‘do business’, exercise making way for commerce. A few months later I took a drastic decision. I was clearly not going to find the cycling book I sought. I needed to ensure that cycling remained integral to me as an individual. What better way to combine the two than write the book myself? With the support of my family, I resigned immediately and began to plan the book. My vision was a road cycling route guide that would cover all of Great Britain. A set of aspirational routes that were tough enough to gain bragging rights yet within the reach of any committed cyclist. These routes would showcase the greatest climbs and best roads the country has to offer while providing rides that could be completed within a day. After many months of planning I spent a whole year travelling the country and scouting out these great loops. It was a year filled with incident. The glorious highs of conquering some of the toughest road cycling the country has to offer will stay with me forever. I’ll never forget the grovel onto the moor having finally ticked Rosedale Chimney, a climb I’d GREAT BRITISH BIKE RIDE

lived in awe offor years. Neither will I forget the circuit of Mull, pedalling round Loch Na Keal in perfect solitude with only the seabirds for company. In fact, every single ride had a highlight, a reason to go back and do it again. This is what makes them great rides and this is what I hope to achieve by this book. A set of routes that nag to be ridden because they provide much more than exercise, they’re stuffed with experience as well. Great British Bike Rides is my cycling tribute to Classic Rock. Forty classic British routes that every road cyclist should ride. A showcase of the very best road cycling that the country has to offer including many roads and climbs that can only be fully appreciated from the bike. I don’t lay claim to any of the routes within; each has been inspired by the cyclists that have gone before me, or cycling events that are putting these rides on the map. Some of the rides pay direct or indirect homage to existing sportives, such as the Fred Whitton, Dragon Ride, Bowland Beast and Tour of the Peak. Others tinker with known scenic loops, such as the Scottish Borders route and the circumnaviga tion of the Isle of Wight. There are a few I’ve cooked up myself by linking climbs worth doing or areas worth riding in. One thing I do know is that us cyclists like nothing better than a good ‘which route is best’ debate. I’ve ridden with a committed time triallist with a predilection for dual carriageways. His idea of a good day out is fifty miles offlat road completed in under two hours. He’d shake his head in horror if I ever dared suggest taking the scenic route. I’m sure these loops will stir similar reaction in others. Some may suggest that there are better ways to ride across Exmoor. Others may not agree that the Lake District route should go straight up the Struggle. Well, the only way to know is to ride them. And that’s what I urge you to do with these routes. This book is not meant to be the definitive guide to road cycling in Great Britain. I wrote it to point the way firmly in the direction of where the good riding can be found. There’s no way that forty loops can encompass all of the good stuff. That’s for you to explore and discover for yourself. But hopefully with a few pointers from me you can know where to start, and by presenting this list the debate as to where the greatest riding is can properly begin. The hardest thing about writing this book was finishing it. I love cycling in Great Britain more than anywhere else in the world and it pains me to draw a line under this quest. I could have continued for years, following new lines on the map and wondering just what would await me as I crested each unridden hill. I hope that with this book you can be inspired to do the same. Cut loose from your normal life for a day and get out onto the road instead. You’ll be amazed by what is out there and equally amazed by how much experience you can stuff into a single loop. Use the guide to explore the cycling within this eclectic land. Go forth and evangelise about the ‘Great British Bike Ride’, a phrase that has been hijacked by Lands End to John o’Groats. It’s not the only great ride, there’s a myriad of them out there hidden within the hills and lanes. And when you’ve found something that I’ve not mentioned within these page, please drop me a line, I need to know! Dave Barter [email protected] @citizenfishy “ It’s not meant to be the definitive guide to road cycling in Great Britain. I wrote it to point the way firmly in the direction of where the good riding can be found. There’s no way that forty loops can encompass all of the good stuff. That’s for you to explore and discover for yourself.” PREFAC

“ Our road network is massive, complex, diverse and able to take you almost anywhere that you want to go. A mish mash of geology and glacier carved landscape awaits those looking for a nice bit of scenery, and it’s constantly varied.” INTRODUCTION A GREAT TIME TO GET OUT AND RIDE British Cycling is undoubtedly in the ascendancy. Our track riders such as Sir Chris Hoy consistently win World Championship and Olympic Golds; we have our first Tour de France winner in Bradley Wiggins; and, as one of the greatest sprinters in history, Mark Cavendish has cemented Britain’s domination of the road. And it’s not just the boys doing well. Nicole Cook has won Olympic medals, World Championships and has dominated the national scene for years, and now a new generation offemale talent, such as Laura Trott and Lizzie Armitstead, is stepping up to take her place. At last our country’s cycling heritage is properly on the map and we are globally recognised as a nation that can ‘do the business’ on a bike. This success has spurred on countless lapsed or new riders to pick up their bikes and discover the pleasure available upon two wheels. This in turn has seen the genesis of a diverse range of cycling events and sportives ready to sate the appetite of those looking for their next cycling challenge. Consequently riders are spending increasing amounts of money on serious equipment while following proper training programmes to ensure that they can meet the distance and fitness requirements of these events. The tide is beginning to turn as road cycling moves from a niche sport to a mainstream activity. A legion of old hands look on with pleasure as the sport they’ve known and loved for generations finally achieves the recognition it fully deserves. The club riders, touring cyclists, Audax riders, road racers and time triallists quietly go about their business of eating the miles as they have done for years. These riders know all about the trials and tribulations of completing a long distance cycle route. They’re out there in all weathers pushing away at the pedals in defiance of the variable weather conditions that so often plague the British roads. These riders will tell you of their affection for the British road network. Between them they will have ridden every single mile that they’re allowed, a few have even strayed onto closed motorways. Some will warn you away from horrifically steep climbs, others will eulogise over quiet coastal roads that dip their toes into the sea. You’ll hear about ‘must do’ rides, iconic views, amazing cafes and endless debates about which area of the country has the best places to ride. In fact, we should wonder why anyone ever takes their bike abroad. There’s a wealth of great cycling to be had right on the British doorstep. Our road network is massive, complex, diverse and able to take you almost anywhere that you want to go. A mish mash of geology and glacier carved landscape awaits those looking for a nice bit of scenery. It’s impossible to describe the Great British countryside in a few words as the island is constantly varying from barren high moors to complex valley systems shrouded in forest. To make it even more interesting, all of this is crammed into a relatively compact area. Look at Great Britain upon any map of the world – the country looks like a European afterthought. But for cyclists this proves to be a real bonus as just about everywhere is relatively accessible whatever the chosen means of transport to get there. This in turn provides potential for cycling adventure without the need to travel huge distances or expend vast amounts of money. It really is all there waiting upon our doorstep. GREAT BRITISH BIKE RIDE

Great Britain is steeped in cycling heritage. It’s arguable that cycling began here when the Scottish blacksmith, Kirkpatrick Macmillan reputedly invented the rear wheel drive bicycle. A chain of innovators rapidly turned his device into a machine that unlocked the countryside for the majority who could not afford the luxury of a motorcar nor deal with the hassle and maintenance of a horse. The British cycling industry waxed and waned over many decades as household brands such as Raleigh were beaten into submission by cheaper foreign imports. Yet a pride in British cycling engineering remains and new brands are emerging to meet rising demand, while older players such as Pashley see their sales go from strength to strength. In short, recent years have seen a resurgence in British cycling. Our elite riders are winning again, the industry is growing and many bike shops are booming as they fit out a new generation of cyclists with carbon frames and designer cycling wear. Cycling is becoming recognised as a highly inclusive sport with avenues open to all ages, sexes and abilities. Cycling infrastructure is gradually improving as urban areas attempt to keep bicycles away from cars via dedicated lanes unheard of twenty years ago. Sustrans and other bodies have created huge networks of mapped and signed cycle routes that spider across the entire country. All one needs is a map, some free time and a sense of adventure, Sustrans will take care of the rest. The sportive is now entrenched within the British cycling calendar and forms the bedrock of many a rider’s annual training plans. These rides attract thousands of riders who pay to be guided around challenging routes along with the support of signage, food stops and the occasional goody bag at the end. Some have been running for years, while others have popped up to feed the insatiable desire of sporting riders to push themselves that little bit more. Add this all up – a resurgence in British cycling, a new generation of riders looking for challenge, a network of roads and lanes waiting for their wheels and a calendar full of challenging rides waiting to be ridden– it cries out for a documented list of Great British bike rides. But hang on, just what is a Great British bike ride? WHAT IS A GREAT BRITISH BIKE RIDE? First, the ride has to showcase the countryside through which it threads its path. The rider needs to feel properly immersed within their surroundings and end the loop feeling it’s somewhere where they’d like to return. It also needs some decent roads. Roads with character that merit a discussion in the pub at the end. These roads may wind gently over hills, traverse huge glaciated valleys or hack through farming country encased within hedgerows. Roads are not the sole preserve of the motorist, they’re part of our cycling history. Every great ride needs to ensure that our amazing network is celebrated rather than relegating cyclists to sanitised tarmac trails. These rides must throw in a lot of challenge. A good ride is achievable but a great ride is necessarily hard. At the end the rider must dismount with the mixed emotions of relief and elation at having overcome the challenge. “ Cycling is becoming recognised as a highly inclusive sport with avenues open to all ages, sexes and abilities. Cycling infrastructure is gradually improving as urban areas attempt to keep bicycles away from cars via dedicated lanes unheard of twenty years ago.” INTRODUCTIO

“ For sure Ventoux is a challenging ride, but all the Lake District passes in a single loop? You’re probably going to die.” Great rides should avoid the traffic and celebrate the cycling experience leaving the rider alone to relish the outdoors without a breath of carbon monoxide or the terror of a car passing too close. The cyclist must feel that they’re embarking upon an adventure as they begin the ride. A journey into the unknown or the revisiting of a route that’s bound to come littered with incident. All great rides should lead to exaggerated tales, a climb that nearly finished the rider for good, a descent that came close to a fall or a set of weather conditions that were bravely overcome with a plastic bag and some newspaper. Finally, Great British bike rides need to be quintessentially British. We don’t have the Alps here so let’s not try and recreate them. But we do have miles and miles of challenging terrain. This is what you’ve stumbled upon within this book. A collection offorty Great British bike rides that span the country and celebrate our wonderful road network. A set of rides that will challenge every cyclist, a set of rides to aspire to and tick off over the years. A set of rides that can be ridden at your leisure, your pace, with no entry fee and no set date of departure. Each can be ridden when the weather is right, rather than when the organiser demands, allowing you to maximise the riding experience in the most clement weather available. These rides have been designed to balance challenge with scenery. Each route dives away from the main road network as soon as it can in a quest for the back country lanes. This is where we find that spirit of adventure as you find yourself wondering just what it is you’re going to find around the next corner. These rides are littered with climbs. The British geography is responsible for this as they’re mostly hard to avoid. Even Norfolk comes with gradients and it must be argued that you can’t have a true British riding experience without puffing up the odd hill. Some areas are stuffed full of them and the amount of climbing underpins the major challenge of the ride. However, as cyclists we need to ride them. Many of these climbs are iconic cycling challenges that put the Alps to shame. For sure Ventoux is a challenging ride, but all the Lake District passes in a single loop? You’re probably going to die. In summary, all of these routes are hard. They’re all longer than 50 miles and often traverse challenging terrain. Some of them climb over 12,000 feet in total and one contains a demanding 2,000-foot ascent from the sea to mountaintop. There’s a huge diversity of roads from smooth flat tarmac to one section that’ll have you reaching for the mountain bike. There’s the odd gate, plenty of cattlegrids, occasional rickety bridges, a smattering offords and even a ferry. The rides are distributed relatively evenly across Great Britain. Forty routes is enough to showcase the wonderful cycling to be had, but nowhere near enough to cover every single area. Think of the book as a cycling appetiser designed to whet the appetite for further exploration of the riding that Great Britain has to offer. Don’t be angry if you feel there’s an area that’s been missed, think of it as a blank canvas ready for your route planning work of art. Additionally, the routes stick to the roads by design. Cycle paths are mostly ignored as this book is a celebration of riding upon the road. 10 GREAT BRITISH BIKE RIDE