M25 route

That's the sort of idea we need, Ian. I've been thinking similar thoughts.

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.

this i like. the distance was worrying me would rather do a slightly shorter one. and building myself up to the longer ones

have used the crossing at Dartford a couple of times now...they take you across in a 4x4 and up to 2 bikes on a rear rack....No Charge though.....not many Freesbies these days.

I would love to do the whole route at once.

Can we just start at one side of the crossing and go all the way round to the other side?

Happy to do some rec rides with you if you need Oliver. Let me know.

Happy to do some rec rides with you if you need Oliver. Let me know.

Cheers, Tim, that would be great.

I would love to do the whole route at once.

If we can find a couple of ride leaders, I'm sure we can split the ride up into groups that suit everyone.

Can we just start at one side of the crossing and go all the way round to the other side?

That was the original plan, actually.

I'm personally not too worried about the full distance, but more about the attractiveness of the route. It would certainly be an interesting journey into London's historical geography, but whether it would make for a nice bike ride, I don't know. It's likely to be a pretty colourful mixture of nice secluded lanes and A-roads. I suppose we'll see on the recces.

I'll work out a schedule for those. I'm thinking about one day on four week-ends. I won't be able to make consecutive ones, but there's no rush if we're going to run the ride next summer.

More suggestions and local knowledge from everybody, please. :)

And I can't remember where this was first posted, but worth reposting, anyway:

that is quality^public transport used to be so flexible, now its all "buy a foldy or your chanceing it sonny" when they banned bikes on the brighton- london trains after the BHF ride it confirmed the slide,
whatever the marketing cuntshite you read to the opposite effect.

^^ that bus is amazing!

^^^ I think it's all in the name "Dartford Tunnel Cycle Service)

Oliver, I know part of the north bit of the route. Going anti-clock, Whitewebs Rd (just after A10) through to Potters Bar is a leafy nice run. From there on to Wattling St (A5183) ain't too bad either.

I'm already getting quite keyed up about this ride!

Good, thanks, Ian. I actually know a few of those roads, as I've ridden in that area a bit. However, I've hardly ever been outside NW, W, or SW London. I hope there are some other nice bits over there.

bump du jour...

I passed on some info to Oliver about part of the route around Godstone hill - I won't repeat it all here, but there is a small section of off-road (read farm track) involved which would be fine in summer I reckon. A little sticky when I explored yesterday though. That southern part of the route is very scenic, I'd certainly be up for that leg, although I'm not sure the legs will be so keen on the whole route! bah.

Many thanks for that, Oli! I'm still trying to work out how to get rid of at least one of the major climbs on that part of the route. Too hilly for my liking. :)

Unfortunately, there are very few options north of Reigate and the premise of the ride is to stick as closely to the M25 as possible, so that it'll have to be.

This might also be the decider when it comes to Titsey Hill vs. Clark's Lane; both are steep downhills, but from memory Clark's Lane is a little kinder to the brakes. For M25 proximity, it'll have to be TH, but clear warnings will certainly precede that, and anyone not sure will be advised to take an alternative route or walk. We'll wait for everyone.

If people who know the W, NW, or SW parts of the route could give me pointers on those bits, too, I'd be most grateful!

Just read this through and love the idea. I am living in Croydon and am up for any reccing rides, so when u plan them, let me know and I will come along.

Hi All. I've now completed a complete cicumnavigation of the M25 clockwise, doing it in five seperate sections. Dartford as a starting point makes a lot of sense, but the whole route is a long trek. Two halves of Dartford- Uxbridge / Uxbridge-Dartford would make good sense-both being well served by trains back into the Smoke. Waltham Cross to Godstone/ Godstone to Waltham Cross would also be poetic in that it makes the big circle starting and finishing at zero lattitude and has the furher advantage of breaking the hills of the South across two rides.

The premise was to stay as close to the M25 whilst avoiding A road. So this meant at least two steep downhills in Surrey and one killer uphill (in my case Sandridge Hill, Gravelly HIll and Titsey Hill respectiely).
Highlights were the Dartford Bridge crossing and the route under the flight path of airlliners within the perimiter of Heathrow, with a lot of good views over fields and spinney in between.

I didn't reach the sopphistication of tracking the route with Garmin, but I aim to get a route up within the next fortnight. Google Maps let me down at a couple of locations by indicating roads which were actually not publically accessible www.bikehike.co.uk provides Ordnance Survey maps and www.openstreetmap.com also provides good clarity for cycleroutes.

So M25 impressions:
pylons; water towers; shivering horses in damp fields; baying kenelled dogs; spent tyres on ragged road fringes; oil scum on drainage ditches; nouveu riche haciendas, monster retail sheds; sanitoriums; road-grimed leylandii; bizarre hand-painted signs ( denied access, local honey here); bullish four by fours; River Crane river Darenth numerous mute sliding waterways; the occasional kestrel; heron; road-kill badger and the unceasing churn the Eddy Stobarts, Mercedes man; the grey noise of white vans transiting. I meanwhile had a journery.

would like to do it again, in whole or in part and in company.

Nice one, John. I haven't even got round to organising doing a single recce! You could have said you were doing it. :)

Anyway, saves me work--look forward to seeing your route!

Excellent work. I am interested in doing this route, date permitting of course.

So M25 impressions:
pylons; water towers; shivering horses in damp fields; baying kenelled dogs; spent tyres on ragged road fringes; oil scum on drainage ditches; nouveu riche haciendas, monster retail sheds; sanitoriums; road-grimed leylandii; bizarre hand-painted signs ( denied access, local honey here); bullish four by fours; River Crane river Darenth numerous mute sliding waterways; the occasional kestrel; heron; road-kill badger and the unceasing churn the Eddy Stobarts, Mercedes man; the grey noise of white vans transiting. I meanwhile had a journery.

Do you work in sales?

Nice one, John. I haven't even got round to organising doing a single recce! You could have said you were doing it. :)/QUOTE]

It would have been more enjoyable with your company,Oliver. The timing worked out by accident because I had a holiday plans which fell through, or rather rolled back, several times at short notice so I each reccie was snatched. Hence the lack of an advance route plan and hence falling for the googlies from Google Maps.

@ MON: I won't be able to plan any dates for. Fortnight or so, Sooner the better for me. Potters Bar might even look quaint in the Spring.

QUOTE=3in1;1974473]Do you work in sales?

Ha! yes employed in sales (not sure if my employer thinks I 'work'). You're a career advisor/ rexruiter?

Sounds like an interesting route - definitely interested if it's a weekend rerun. Don't think Potters Bar will ever look quaint though!

wow! good work john, must have taken ages all together. very probably in.

As for Potters Bar, it aint quaint but it's got loads of 'odd' & specialist shops like: a poodle parlour, a diving shop, a reptile shop and of course a great roady-bike-shop (Shorter Rochford)

Ha! yes employed in sales (not sure if my employer thinks I 'work'). You're a career advisor/ rexruiter?

Ha no. It was just a joke because you painted a horrid picture but then made it seem quite nice despite the fact it still sounded horrid as well. I felt confused but attracted!

Bump..because the elders were speaking (in hushed tones) of this last night. Come on dropout!

Yeah!

+1