Proposed ride: Ridgeway or Cotswolds spring 2025

[narcotitlan]

Ridgeway: there definitely are some loop possibilities in the ridgeway and chilterns, here’s some promising info, just need to work out a route:

https://www.nationaltrail.co.uk/en_GB/trails/the-ridgeway/cycling/

I can vouch for this area having some stunning views stony/muddy/lanes/

 

[narcotitlan]

A few different Cotswolds routes that are between 12 and 20 miles:

https://www.cotswolds-nl.org.uk/visiting-and-exploring/cycling-and-riding/off-road-cycling-routes/

 

[narcotitlan]

Then of course there’s the New Forest. Lots of loop potential. Has the advantage of easy access from the south coast and London. By the sounds it’s mostly gravel routes so ideal for er… a gravel bike

https://forestleisurecycling.co.uk/new-forest-cycle-routes/

 

[narcotitlan]

Not forgetting Epping Forest! Favourite place for gangsters to bury people (supposedly), good access from London, great cycle ride there from Hackney marshes and nice routes around the forest itself. There’s a pub and a biker greasy spoon. 284km of shared use paths according to the City of London site:

https://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/thi...ies-in-epping-forest/cycling-in-epping-forest

 

[legrandefromage]

registering interest as long as nobody minds swearing and cake crumbs

 

[Attempted Mustache]

Sounds like a good excuse to get the Pioneer out. +1 for the Ridgeway.

 

[Nevilleblaze]

I would be interested in joining a Cotswold ride

 

[gtturbo]

gonna throw out some ideas for a ride and see what sticks:

South Downs way. Not personally been but I’m sure some people here have. It’s a bridle way and cycling is allowed. It has the advantage of having a few rail stations between Eastbourne and Winchester to adjust the distance. Not a loop but the stations make it doable without vans etc. View attachment 913920

The SDW is about 12000ft of climbing from one end to the other so it is a big day out. I don't know if the intention is for this to be retro ride but the SDW would be hard work for sure. A much more gentle ride would be the downs link between Guildford and Shoreham but that's kind of outside of the areas mentioned originally.

 

[narcotitlan]

So, there seems to a few people interested in Ridgeway / Cotswolds. I need to work out how this could be a loop. Definitely not impossible, though it may involve some addition miles on the tarmac. Just to let people know there are some hills… but it’s a beautiful trip from memory. Also, even one way it involves a bit of road riding, though a great deal off-road.

 

[narcotitlan]

The SDW is about 12000ft of climbing from one end to the other so it is a big day out. I don't know if the intention is for this to be retro ride but the SDW would be hard work for sure. A much more gentle ride would be the downs link between Guildford and Shoreham but that's kind of outside of the areas mentioned originally.

Guildford to shoreham isn’t a million miles away, could you say a bit more about what to expect on that trip?