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Sadly am still yet to make it out. You should check platypus recent trip which followed the icknield and peddars way, probably only useful to you on the thetford to cambridge leg but could still be indicative. He recommends 40mm tyres (but rode what I guess is a 27.5 hardtail)
https://www.lfgss.com/conversations/333177/?offset=225
Conditions around here (cambridgeshire) are that most of the bridleways are very rideable, but sometimes quite rutted with hardpack. Also a good chance footpaths etc are overgrown and you end up bushwacking a bit. Personally I would rather take the mtb. Won't need huge amounts of tread, but some cushioning wouldn't go amiss I think.
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Rode few small bits last weekend where the vegetation was so thick to leave a slim trail just for walking (around Great Chesterford). I would not want to battle that with panniers. I'd go with chunky tires and bikepacking setup.
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Hello. Bring the MTB. You can ride wherever you want, but of course I think my route is the best.
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I did it east to west around this time of year. on a cotic escapade with cheap 35mm tyres, went with bikepacking style luggage. it was absolutely fine. Bone dry for the most part. There are quite a lot of stretches along old roads so at times the cycling can be pretty quick
There are some really lovely bits, and as mentioned before some fighting through hedgerows and across fields with your gps happily telling you you are "cycling on the icknield way"
but do it. the beacon didn't seem all that far so i carried on to the ridgeway until eventually i ran out of gears in the chilterns and my knee started getting iffy. ended up at a place called radnage where i camped, turned round and cycled pretty much the same way home again.
are you camping? i can point you to a superb wild camping site if that's your type of thing?
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Belagerent
giofox
platypus
dnrc
@Danimal
Any advice for riding the Icknield Way? Planning on doing it East-West in a few weeks, taking it relatively easy over a few days. I may even continue it along the Ridgeway if I have the time. Hoping to stick to the 'traditional' route where possible as the official route seems to have quite a few deviations.
Which bike / tyres would be best - touring bike with 28mm & panniers, or MTB with chunky tyre & saddle bag etc?
@Gustav @Belagerent @dnrc