Gravel / Gravé / Gnarmac / Groad / ATB

Good spin today. Some Great shouts above, Griffin wind farm is on the list.

Did the hermitage then onto the road for a bit and the back of dunkeld climb, and followed that on, then after a bit wound my way back along a path around Loch of the lowes.

2 Attachments

wow you actually bought ekar

It doesn't exist

#Nogravel in the Peak District

1 Attachment

It’s proper nice

Old salt fields have been converted to wetlands near me. It was muddier in parts than I expected.

4 Attachments

https://www.theracingcollective.com/oxduro.html#route

This is a good starting point to pick bits off. The ridgeway has plenty of #nogravel but it’s a bit of a trek. There are plenty of back lanes and tracks if you have an OS map and a sense of adventure

I'm thinking of trying a loop from Guildford this weekend, working my way down to the South Downs and then crossing to join the Downs link trail for the return leg.

It's about 65% off road, so it's going to be a killer. I'll let you know how I get on.

Planned route: https://cycle.travel/map/journey/234088

If anyone has ridden bits of this, I'd love some comments.

I’m up near Newcastle and was going to do a ride tomorrow that takes in a section of the Sandstone Way around Elsdon and Rothbury. With all the rain today I’m not sure how viable that will be on 32mm ‘dry’ tyres. Anyone ride around there regularly have any insight?

Any suggestions for an alternative loop that won’t be too muddy? More around Chopwell/Winlaton.

Not sure I'd bother with the bit to the south past Buriton, I'd just scooch along to Cocking all on the SDW. Not exactly bad riding though if you're wanting to add the miles in.

South Downs Way is an oldie but a goldie, the g/f did better than me on that climb from the A23

1 Attachment

I've ridden the Downs Link trail many times although always heading south which is nice because it slopes gently downwards all the way.

You will obviously get the opposite although the slope is imperceptible. It's a nice trail to ride and pretty simple to follow apart from the section around point 95 on your route where it doubles back on itself with an elevation change heading off the trail, onto the tarmac road, across a bridge and then down a badly signposted trail back onto the Downs Link. It doesn't take long to navigate but it is easy to miss or start following a different trail instead of the Downs link so take your time and pick the right trail.

EDIT: Southwater Park at point 86 has a great cafe/watering point & picturesque lake if you need refreshment. We used to prefer to stop at Stan's Bike Shack at point 81 as it was bike specific but this has sadly closed down now.

Good point, I was just noodling around the map linking bridleways and completely forgot I could just follow the damn marked trail!

Neat.

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/36490515

Could get a train out to Oxford and ride that with the grrl one day.

Yep, I've ridden the Downs Link loads of times. I figured I'd need a relatively flat home run on this route, but to be honest you definitely feel the grade going north on the Downs Link!

I was also a big fan of Stan's Bike Shack, but I'll keep an eye out at Southwater, thanks for the tip.

Thanks - this is great

Stan's is closing down - maybe it has already.

Also a big fan!

Built by Ted James for GCN

1 Attachment

not this again

I will never stop trying to kill this thread

tbh the routes are killing this thread.

Agenda for July? Let’s build back better.

It's not as good as Stan's was, but you can still grab a coffee round there from The Bike Side. Also you could make a slight (but hilly) detour to Truleigh Hill for Cadence Cycle Cafe, which is worth getting over the name and logo to visit.

Could get to kielder and use/adapt a dirty reiver route? I've ridden a small section of the sandstone way (Ingram -> Prendwick) and it was sloppy in parts after dry weather

TBH I really do want to try this out and see how it feel off road, must roll over stuff fantastically well.

Biggest problem; the gear is akin to a 53t with a 11-23t cassette on a nominal 700c base on the gigantic sizes of the wheels.

I heard Maj and BareNec did a backroom deal to siphon all the shitposters of into the bling rigids thread