Routes Database

Probably not... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Travelling_salesman_problem

:)

Not exactly, but you can input addresses into ridewithgps. I used to use it when I had a job collecting tasty covid swabs from houses for testing.

LOL

Thank you, did the job very nicely!

got a mate visiting end of jan who is looking to do some rides 60k 80k 100kish while im working. (he is brigng his bike, looking for routes out from Brixton in to lanes with some hills. i haven't done any of the classic routes out . I know he wants to do box hill. does any one have any Gpx files i can point him to?

https://www.komoot.com/tour/1279675324

I'm planning on doing London to Brighton next weekend. It'll be with a fit but non-cyclist colleague and we'll be doing it on Buzzbikes (3 speed city bikes) so not looking for anything too gruelling. Any suggestions for improvements on this route? I'm fairly familiar with the lanes down to Oxted but a bit lost on anything between there and Ditching Beacon!

https://www.komoot.com/tour/1468392172?ref=aso&share_token=aMxvoGZyCsrXE1Xj4N6jnU7Gh5zRnNn8KZLtNLaor8W7SuFueF

It looks like the fairly standard Ldn > Btn route with a few variations, so no real issues there.

There's of course far nicer ways to Brighton - eg via Hartfield and over the Ashdown Forest, or via the Surrey Hills - but given you're on Buzzbikes I would say limiting elevation is probably the best approach.

Also, unless you're #hitters then going up and over Ditchling Beacon on a 3-speed is going to suck.

You might consider some of the more mixed routes which take in cycle infra and that kind of thing so you're not doing a proper 'roadie' route, and can add in some more stops and make a relaxed day of it? Lots of detailed touring routes like this one - https://cycle.travel/route/london_to_brighton

Good feedback, thanks! Yeah I've done Ditchling on a road bike and I'm not looking forward to it on a Buzzbike. It's the first time my colleague has done the ride so I'll see if he's keen for Ditching or would prefer something a bit less taxing. He's training to run a marathon so I'm concerned he's going to show me up with his fitness anyway!

Ditchling is grim at the best of times but on a 3 speed, with traffic behind you trying to overtake on the tight bends, it might be very unpleasant indeed. There's nowhere to stop if you need to put a foot down. You can't bail and walk it. I'd consider avoiding it personally

Yeah, not a bad shout actually. I think I've only done it once before and luckily there was no traffic but I can imagine it being quite unpleasant if there is.

Related to the above. Are there any routes to Brighton that avoid Ditchling and any other spicy hills but which aren't a bit shit? I avoided it yesterday (great call by the way, the guy I was with was completely out of steam by that point!) and diverted through Lewes. Everything up to that point, via Woldingham and East Grinstead was lovely but the stretch from Lewes to Brighton was gross, a bike lane along the side of a dual carriageway. It was handy for dragging my mate along the last few miles but there's got to be a nicer route that's not too tough.
I'd like to take another friend who's new to cycling soon and I don't want to put him off with a big hill at the end of what would be his longest ride to date.

if it's just two of you, you could start with a train out to any station around the South M25, plus or minus, then be fresher for any hills and take in a lot more of the villagey cafes

I'd quite like to ride from south London though. He's just moved from East to South and I'd like to show him some of my favourite lanes on the way out. If I can just avoid killing him an hour before we arrive in Brighton I'll be golden. I'm definitely open to suggestions for villagey cafes though, I'm not particularly familiar with anything further than Caterham and wouldn't mind exploring that area a bit more on my own!

Sure - well here's some ideas that (Disclaimer) I'm yet to do myself
https://www.komoot.com/tour/1478470905 - my variant S London start of a RWGPS route that @skinny posted on IG to Brighton
https://www.komoot.com/tour/1481696187
https://www.komoot.com/tour/1478470597
https://www.komoot.com/tour/1478437645

All except the Brighton one I bookended with train stations with early connections to minimise the time schlepping out of London (and because I'm unfit) - you could copy and extend them with a london start

https://www.komoot.com/tour/1478470905 - my variant S London start of a RWGPS route that @skinny posted on IG to Brighton

From @giofox

https://www.komoot.com/tour/1058558041?ref=itd&share_token=a3Ne3LSHJ38zBcu735gZFBSk3yzq1YqDNuQ2rz3vjhnSrwWYYn&ref=its

Hmm Buzzbikes. This is the Stayer route that shows a steep track up to the beacon, which is horrible but better than the road (eh, you can always get off and push?). After this, you pootle along the top of the downs to Ditchling Road and down into Brighton.
[deleted the bit about the Cuckoo Trail because getting to it and off it will be pretty shitty]

I think Devils Dyke Road is the only other close and decent way over the downs but you'll have to go more west to get onto it. Otherwise it's only Ditchling or Lewes without going too far out of the way

There are basically two ways that are relatively flat. One is via Shoreham along the Adur Valley. The A283 Steyning Road isn't too bad for riding (mind you, it's not exactly great, either), although I've mainly done it at night. You can also cross the Adur further north and go along smaller country lanes. It's easy from Shoreham to Brighton.

This is the route we used years ago--obviously, ignore the silly bits at the end to the far end of the harbour and up Devil's Dyke and Ditchling Beacon and just go straight to Brighton from Shoreham.

https://web.bikemap.net/r/589729

The other is via Clayton Hill and then a short stretch of the three-lane-each-way A23 London Road dual carriageway. This is gently downhill and generally not too busy, but may of course not be your cup of tea. It's not a long distance to ride on it and you can be fast.

This is the standard route I take to Brighton. If you want to avoid Ditchling Beacon and do the above, just turn right in Ditchling towards Clayton and then do the A23.

https://web.bikemap.net/r/966957

(The route up to that point isn't mine but Simon Legg's. It's still my favourite way of getting out of South London in that direction. I don't like going via Caterham.)

Thanks for all of the replies! I'll have a pick through those and try and piece something together for next time.

Whilst I'm here, any suggestions for mountain bike routes starting and ending in south east London? Fitness is alright, skills are appalling. Total beginner on a 15 year old 26" bike!

Just get the train to Swinley Forest

Good idea, will do that at some point. It's a 4 hour round trip for me though so suggestions for something more local also appreciated!

See if you can get the time off for WalesDURO (absolutely isn't local), but it's a great route in that it's accessible, free, bikepacking friendly, loads of cameraderie, and would definitely teach you a lot (off road skills help but aren't needed)

I'm nowhere near ready for that, haha. I'm also fucked for annual leave for the rest of the year.