Long ride, road route: Thames Valley, London to Oxford
June 25, 2009 by Coop Dogg
Filed under Cycling routes
Whilst this long ride, road route is in the mainland UK, we like to give you ideas for road rides further afield than just the Isle of Wight.
Thames Valley, London to Oxford
Start: Putney Bridge, London
Finish: George Street, Oxford City Centre
National Cycle Route: no. 4 and 5
Distance: 99 miles
Effort: 2 out of 5
Marked route: yes
Description: This route follows the Thames, passing through the parks at Richmond and Hampton Court.
The route also takes in Windsor and Eton, with traffic-free paths going through the centre of Maidenhead and Reading, where Route 4 carries you west and Route 5 turns north.
The most challenging section revolves around the Chiltern Hills, which heads into Oxford via the historic towns of Wallingford and Abingdon.
MTB Trails: Afan Valley Forest Park, Wales
June 25, 2009 by Coop Dogg
Filed under Cycling routes, MTB, Off road
Whilst this trail is in the mainland UK, we like to give you ideas for MTB trails further afield than just the Isle of Wight.
Afan Valley Forest Park, Wales
Start: Afan Valley Forest Park Visitor Centre, Wales
Finish: circular
Distance: 29 miles
Effort: 5 out of 5
Marked route: yes
OS Grid: SS820950: http://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/oswebsite/getamap/
Description: This route is but a few miles inland from one of the heaviest industrial areas in Britain – the Port Talbot steelworks.
You can find come of the best mountain bike tracks in Britain in this area, according to Mountain Bike Magazine: ‘One of the ten best places to ride before you die’.
A track called Skylline, with intermediate to expert levels of slopes, goes around in a loop; some of the toughest sections can be skipped if too much of a challenge. It’s an exhilarating ride in a area of beautiful pine forest secnery, maintained by the Forestry Commission.
Afan Valley Forest has some 62 miles of trails to explore.
MTB trails: The North Face Trail, Grizedale Forest, Cumbria
June 17, 2009 by Coop Dogg
Filed under Cycling routes, MTB, Off road
Whilst this trail is in the mainland UK, we like to give you ideas for MTB trails further afield than just the Isle of Wight.
The North Face Trail, Grizedale Forest, Cumbria
Start: Girzedale Visitor Centre, Cumbria
Finish: circular
Distance: 10 miles
Effort: 3 to 4 out of 5
Marked route: yes
OS Grid: SD331944: http://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/oswebsite/getamap/
Description: There is varied mixture of curves, berms and boardwalk, uphill and downhill, which takes the rider on an adventure trail through Grizedale Forest, Cumbria.
From adrenalin pumping single track descents to intense lactic burn ascents through oak woodlands and conifer forests.
Whilst some of the boardwalk sections in the meadows may be a little tricky to negotiate the rider is rewarded with superb views along the route.