M25 route

As I've said before, happy to do the route from Dartford to somewhere in Surrey. But on holiday in 8 days for a fortnight.

But, to be honest, when I recce a route I do a lot of the work beforehand using Google Maps. It hasn't failed me so far.

If I get bored at work today (highly likely) I'll plot something down.

Good stuff, Sam. I use Google Maps to prepare, too, although I have found that there are many mistakes in the overlays. OpenStreetMap is going great guns and will hopefully at some point be up there with it.

This Saturday I'm planning to do claus' meridian ride, but perhaps someone might be up for this Sunday for a recce? I don't mind which sector--if you'd like to do Dartford to Surrey, Sam, I'd be up for that!

I can't make anything at all this weekend I'm afraid. Sorry!

No worries. Anyone up for a different 'sector'?

I'm really keen on this, but of course good things take time.

16th or 17th for 31-25ish might be good for me

do it in june!

I'd be up for a north reccccciiieee if its on a sunday.

16th or 17th for 31-25ish might be good for me

I'd be up for a north reccccciiieee if its on a sunday.

Unfortunately, I'm busy on the 17th (Well Street Common Festival grass track racing), otherwise I'd be well up for it on this day. I'd be free on Saturday 16th, but Owen isn't free then.

I'm unreliable

What happened to this idea? Did any Reccies get done? I can get to the Paddington end of London fairly easily and could be up for some reccie-ing.

Nothing got done, sadly, and I'm currently unavailable for recce-ing, let along riding. However, I will get onto it one day if no-one pre-empts me.

Thankfuly I forgot about this idea

Just been reading this thread got all worked up thinking that it sounded like a dreat ride, only to realise that it was posted last year. What a disappointment!

It could be made to happen...

it sounds vile, imagine the noise, seriously.
the London orbital idea NHATT had with high points on rocked though, cant remember the thread name.

it sounds vile, imagine the noise, seriously.
the London orbital idea NHATT had with high points on rocked though, cant remember the thread name.

http://www.lfgss.com/thread42068.html

all on road..? as there is a fantastic almost unknown hard packed/gravel track between Staines Junction 13, and Junction 14. Goes right along the M25, and for years despite being local, never knew how to get on it....

Theres singletrack for Horses most of the way alongsidethe southern M25

Bump. I've resolved to do something about this this winter, so that we can go on it next summer.

good idea! i love the sound of this. I reckon if you go from dartford clockwise ill be there with you. as thats my local leg. i might even be able to make a recce with you and sam during the winter if im around on the right day. but i reckon i would peel off about half way round. and head home on the actual full ride. my body isnt up for long long rides yet. at least i wont be doing it on my hybrid again eh Oliver ;-)

Sounds like an epic in the making....have often thought about this route myself....no more of an incentive.
I'm Essex based so a route starting close to me would defo make a change.

how about starting from Dartford and going counterclockwise, or even better, start near jct 24 - my local (junction that is, not pub)

all on road..? as there is a fantastic almost unknown hard packed/gravel track between Staines Junction 13, and Junction 14. Goes right along the M25, and for years despite being local, never knew how to get on it....

That route is a public bridleway. I've been along it a few times and I think I've only ever met one other person. It's definitely not busy!

Heading south you can hug the M25 (to the point of riding along the exit ramp) over the Thames and into Egham. From there you can get to J11 still staying pretty close. Not too sure what you would need to do from there or from J14 heading north. It's not something I've ever tried to do!

Right, I haven't forgotten about this and I've assembled a d(r)aft route. The emphasis is rather on daft. While it can certainly be improved, the route just looks unfeasible and almost not worth doing just for the sake of it. It is very difficult to follow the M25 around West London in particular; there are constant detours and loops beyond it. East London is a little easier but still pretty loopy. You can tell the extent of the detours by the fact that the M25 is 117 miles (188 kilometres) all round and the d(r)aft route is about 155 miles, or 259km.

Joyously enough, around Reigate the North Downs start to come into play, and I have a feeling that I'll have to really revise the planned route there, as that would take us right into heavy-duty TNRC territory, and I'm not sure that doing all those steep hills would be such a very good idea on a 150-mile ride. :) The A25 may be a better bet.

I've set the start point of the mapped route at Epping mainly because it's local to me. It doesn't mean that this is where we'll start. Given that if many do the ride (unlikely given the length and difficulty), getting across the Dartford Crossing will be very time-consuming (they come and pick you up in a van, but I don't know the capacity of the van), it will probably be best to start either at Dartford (if doing the ride clockwise) or Thurrock (counter-clockwise). However, any better ideas on that would be appreciated! I don't have any yet.

This is obviously only a Google Maps exercise so far. I haven't been able to follow local knowledge tips like Hendrik's above yet. Any local knowledge welcome; if you know an area adjacent to the M25 and can tell me if there's a better way around, please do. I'll be able to adjust the route to make it more sensible. This also includes tips on footbridges and non-roads, which in the M25's severance corridor often offer better options. I've found a few, but they're hard to see on Google Maps, and the routing information is frequently inaccurate, so I'm sure that there are more better options.

Once the route is reasonably fine-tuned, I aim to do four separate recces during the winter, one for each quarter sector of the route, which should be about 40 miles each. As recces take longer than researched rides, that should mean a reasonable day out, especially given that we'll have to get out to the sectors far away from where we live.

So, here's the d(r)aft route:

http://www.bikemap.net/route/741941?128835699759826#lat=51.36664&lng=-0.18127&zoom=9&type=2

Comments, please!

Blimey Oliver, that's one hell of a wiggly route there! How about splitting the ride up into two halfs? If it started either side of the Dartford crossing it could be a clockwise and an anti-clockwise route of about 80 miles each. Though it wouldn't be such an accomplishment, might get more takers that way.