M25 route

Just a little idea I'm kicking about - anyone got a route that shadows the M25? The best I've got mapped is 201km and crosses in the east at Woolwich/Galleons reach - although according to the highways agency, even though cyclists are prohibited from the bridge/tunnels, the staff at Dartford will be happy to escort cyclists across - so I may plot a route that takes that in for completeness.

Anyone done/know about anything similar?

I don't have a route, but I'd love to go on such a ride.

In the world of classic bike rides, the 'Round London' could be a major winner.

"All bike rides go to Rome--except for the 'Round London'."

Yes, you can cross at the Dartford Crossing. They pick you up in a van and drive you across. I've never done it but Southwark Cyclists have been across there on their rides many times.

I'd be delighted to help devise this and come on the (no doubt) multiple route recces that will be required. Something for this summer?

Great idea!

Read Iain Sinclair's 'London Orbital' in which he walks round the M25 - having the same problem at Dartford of course. Fascinating book, and would help enormously in planning a route.

Good idea, BQ. I'd forgotten about that one. I've been meaning to read it for years.

I'd be delighted to help devise this and come on the (no doubt) multiple route recces that will be required. Something for this summer?

Great idea!

I'm glad you think so! I've got a **very **rough point and click - my knowledge of many of the areas is not good so some local knowledge/tweaking would be invaluable.

http://www.mapmyride.com/route/gb/m25/480124133827152008

216k via Dartford doesn't seem too bad and can obviously be trimmed down a bit - and the elevation gain is only 1100m and most of that in the Kent quadrant. Took a look.

This summer would be good - July I'm guessing to get the daylight hours. (I'm doing Ventoux in June!).

I'm glad you think so! I've got a **very **rough point and click - my knowledge of many of the areas is not good so some local knowledge/tweaking would be invaluable.

http://www.mapmyride.com/route/gb/m25/480124133827152008

Ha! Brilliant. One bit of local knowledge I can already contribute is that I'd suggest the following after point 12:

R Coxtie Green Road
L Dytchleys Road
L Horseman Side
R Old Road
L Murthering Lane
R Mill Lane
L Shonks Mill Road
R A113 London Road
Under M25
R Epping Lane
R Hobbs Cross Road
L Coopersale Lane
--rejoining your route--

Those are nice lanes (some with poor surfacing, admittedly, but rideable). I personally like the A113 Ongar Road, but it takes you unnecessarily far away from the lovely M25. ;)

216k via Dartford doesn't seem too bad and can obviously be trimmed down a bit - and the elevation gain is only 1100m and most of that in the Kent quadrant. Took a look.

This summer would be good - July I'm guessing to get the daylight hours. (I'm doing Ventoux in June!).

I'm well up for it! We'll need to avoid clashes with Dunwich Dynamo/Exmouth Exodus etc.

I was thinking of doing something similar last year, but staying outside of the M25 all the way round (being a resident of Kent I only want to have to go into London when I've having to go to work!).

[ame]http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/95282[/ame

It's about 35k longer than yours. Starts and finishes at the Tilbury ferry.

I was thinking of doing something similar last year, but staying outside of the M25 all the way round (being a resident of Kent I only want to have to go into London when I've having to go to work!).

http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/95282

It's about 35k longer than yours. Starts and finishes at the Tilbury ferry.

Haha, the recces will be awesome!

strangely enough, I was thinking of this idea a couple of days ago and was wondering just how many miles/km it would involve. I just need enough time to save up for a geared bike though I recon

It's clearly an idea whose time has come!

Here's the "London Loop/London orbital" walking guide

http://www.walklondon.org.uk/route.asp?R=5

http://www.tfl.gov.uk/gettingaround/walking/localroutes/1164.aspx

The site that the first linky belongs to also has 5 other walks that could be ridden a total of 362 miles all within the M25

It seems like this idea has legs. I would like to suggest the following criteria when plotting/selecting the route (and it looks like there are already a number of sources of potential routes).

1. Must be, wherever possible, as close to the M25 as is possible (within sight/earshot) with the following exceptions: Roads must be passable at a reasonable speed (i.e. no farm tracks!) and no prolonged riding on obviously cycle unfriendly roads (e.g. busy 70mph triple carriageways - apart from short sections of link between other roads).

2. Inside or out is not really too important to me - as long as criteria 1 is met.

3. Whilst I can see the elegance of crossing at Tilbury I think the bridge is such an iconic part of the route that it should form a key part of it. Starting and finishing in the shadow of the bridge and actually crossing the river at a point not generally asscociated with cycling adds an extra dimension for me. I'd like to be part of a peleton rocking up at Dartford and demanding free passage across.

It seems like this idea has legs. I would like to suggest the following criteria when plotting/selecting the route (and it looks like there are already a number of sources of potential routes).

1. Must be, wherever possible, as close to the M25 as is possible (within sight/earshot) with the following exceptions: Roads must be passable at a reasonable speed (i.e. no farm tracks!) and no prolonged riding on obviously cycle unfriendly roads (e.g. busy 70mph triple carriageways - apart from short sections of link between other roads).
   
   

What the hell is a triple carriageway? ;)

Yes, it's more fun on roads where you don't have to knuckle down and just make speed.

1. Inside or out is not really too important to me - as long as criterion 1 is met.
   
   

Agreed, I don't think that's very important. The best route should win.

1. Whilst I can see the elegance of crossing at Tilbury I think the bridge is such an iconic part of the route that it should form a key part of it. Starting and finishing in the shadow of the bridge and actually crossing the river at a point not generally asscociated with cycling adds an extra dimension for me. I'd like to be part of a peleton rocking up at Dartford and demanding free passage across.
   
   

If there are many people on the ride (not that I think that this is likely given the overall distance), Dartford would definitely be a problem, as they are simply not prepared for large numbers of cyclists--it's only a couple at a time. This could be an intriguing aspect of the route planning--we should contact them beforehand and get clear information. Perhaps it would end up naturally as riders arriving in dribs and drabs, but I wouldn't count on it. With large numbers, they could be busy for hours and should definitely be forewarned. From what I've heard, they've always been responsive, though.

I think a suitable and iconic start point and end point to the ride is crucial, i.e. somewhere you can leave bikes lying around without fear of them getting stolen and get a few post-ride pints in.

A Dartford start would be quite hard to get to, especially for West London-based people, but even for me in North-east London, it would be something like at least 230km all round including to and from home.

I wonder if a ride like this can become a classic challenge, like L2B (which of course isn't that demanding to a good rider). It has that vital ingredient of a really striking concept.

If it is to be based on the M25, then the starting point should be Dartford, as that is junction 1.

Dartford station is served by Charing Cross, trains also seem to stop on this route at London Bridge.

Local knowledge could be used to good effect here, for instance I am happy to plot a route from Dartford to Surrey.

If it is to be based on the M25, then the starting point should be Dartford, as that is junction 1.

Ah yes, that makes sense. The train connection would also be better.

Local knowledge could be used to good effect here, for instance I am happy to plot a route from Dartford to Surrey.

Ah yes, I've just realised that if we're going to follow the junctions in numerical order, we should go clockwise. I suppose it could be run in alternating directions like the Isle of Wight Randonnée, clockwise one year, counter-clockwise the next. Perhaps it should also start in Thurrock if counter-clockwise so that bridge services wouldn't have to funnel all the cyclists through in one go in the morning--not so much of a problem if clockwise, as people would be arriving at very different times.

I think one additional requirement should be for the route to include as few hills as possible, given that it's so long. From what TheCatMan was saying, that sounds achievable.

Ah yes, that makes sense. The train connection would also be better.

Ah yes, I've just realised that if we're going to follow the junctions in numerical order, we should go clockwise. I suppose it could be run in alternating directions like the Isle of Wight Randonnée, clockwise one year, counter-clockwise the next. Perhaps it should also start in Thurrock if counter-clockwise so that bridge services wouldn't have to funnel all the cyclists through in one go in the morning--not so much of a problem if clockwise, as people would be arriving at very different times.

I think one additional requirement should be for the route to include as few hills as possible, given that it's so long. From what TheCatMan was saying, that sounds achievable.

Chafford Hundred station (Lakeside/Thurrock) is served by C2C from Fenchurch St. as well. Although I am struggling for any pubs that I would be happy to leave a bike outside of! I guess, if the river crossing proved to be a massive hindrance you could go from Dartford and finish at Thurrock without using the crossing (I don't want to ditch the idea too soon though - the DRC website does indicate they can accomodate larger groups of cyclists with sufficient notice).

I think any major hills can be avoided - although there are some unavoidable hilly bits, notably in the south and south east . Probably another reason to run clockwise from Dartford - get them out of the way early.

This looks like an awesome idea! I'm not based in London but would definately be up for something like this.

Good bump, Arducius. Should we set about planning a series of recces? (As recces tend to take much longer than a fully recced ride, I don't imagine we'd be able to recce it all in a day.)

How about farming it out and getting volunteers to take on a section each, it could be split up by junctions i.e. someone East/North-East could take 26-31, someone North can take 22/23-26 etc.. Bit of liaision about joining up the dots and we've got something resembling a full route.

I'd love to be involved in recces all round!

OK, ok, say 5 or 6 recces 31-26,26-18,18-13,13-8,8-5,5-1, something like that. Each one around 40ks final route distance - doable in a day I would say.

I think recces of 60-70 miles are easily doable--perhaps three for the whole lot?

There will be some alternatives to explore, time spent at junctions writing down route details, etc., but it shouldn't take more than a day each. In one week-end, I'm sure we could do two thirds of the route.

And another thing we really need to think about is how to organise/market the ride.

Fair enough - I like the irony of debate the relative lengths of recce rides when the ultimate intention is to ride 200+km in a day!

East/North-East is my part of the world so that bit suits me. On the subject of marketing it I'm guessing this forum is a good a way as any in the first instance - many of the rides I've seen organised here seem well attended. Of course it would be fantastic to run something like this as a sportive/audax but in reality an 'informally' arranged leisure ride, albeit with groups of differing ability (say 20,17,15mph paces), would be the best option. I'd be happy to produce (or contribution to the production of) route cards/maps/info etc..

I guess the real issue about organisation (beyond selecting the actual route) is how many people are genuinely going to be up for it.

Fair enough - I like the irony of debate the relative lengths of recce rides when the ultimate intention is to ride 200+km in a day!

Of course, once we know the ***ing way! ;)

East/North-East is my part of the world so that bit suits me. On the subject of marketing it I'm guessing this forum is a good a way as any in the first instance - many of the rides I've seen organised here seem well attended. Of course it would be fantastic to run something like this as a sportive/audax but in reality an 'informally' arranged leisure ride, albeit with groups of differing ability (say 20,17,15mph paces), would be the best option. I'd be happy to produce (or contribution to the production of) route cards/maps/info etc..

I guess the real issue about organisation (beyond selecting the actual route) is how many people are genuinely going to be up for it.

I think with a ride of this length you either have to be patient or have it taken over by sportive roadies.

What about starting from Thurrock (where if I'm not completely wrong the Dartford Bridge people are based, too) and doing as far as we manage on a Saturday soon? I could make the 16th May, I think--Saturday week.

Good idea, BQ. I'd forgotten about that one. I've been meaning to read it for years.

hah, you and me both, I picked it up years ago thinking it'd be a good read, still hasn't open it!