100mile cycle tomorrow...

[del]

Hey guys,

As the title says, we will be cycling from Norwich (Norfolk) to Southend (Essex).

The thing is, michelin maps and google maps both put us on A roads (such as the a140) which aren't exactly the most spacious of A roads to be cycling down, do you think A roads are worth avoiding? obviously they make the route less complicated but i dont particularly want to be breathing in fumes the whole way along it either.

What do you guys think?

 

[yello]

Personally, and as a rule, I'd avoid A roads... but it depends on the A road. Some are not so bad. Sometimes, they are even a good way to eat up the miles when you have to go from A to B rather than having to pfaff around with back routes. Just get your head down and go.

Out of choice though, I'd like always to have the time to take the most scenic, least traffic route. For me, that's when riding comes into its own. But you don't always have the luxury of that amount of time and you do have to take an A to B route. Your call really as only you know your options. I don't know the region so can't offer specific advice.

Best of luck whichever route you take.

 

[martint235]

I'm not the best route planner in the world, probably second to worst but here's a route that keeps you largely off the A roads (here). It's 110 miles rather than 100 though......

As to A roads, they aren't all nightmares. I recently rode on the A30 and the A4 for fair distance and they weren't too bad. They get worse near conurbations ime.

Good luck

 

[4F]

The A140 has so many speed restrictions along it I don't think that would be too much trouble but if it was me I would take the B1113 all the way from Norwich to Ipswich, head through Ipswich past the docks to Wherstead Road. This would take you across the A14 and then on to Manningtree and then my preference would be Colchester and Maldon onwards to Southend.

 

[lejogger]

As Yello says, it's very much personal preference.

When I'm out for a day of pootling then I'll try to avoid the main roads - however when I'm touring or on a challenge such as LEJOG then I'll hammer the A roads to get from A-B with the minimum of fuss.
You'll also find that in hillier terrain, the gradient of climbs on the A roads is generally less sharp than the smaller roads, so you'll be doing less miles and saving energy - important if your challenge is over a few days.

If (as it seems) it's just a day ride, then plot for smaller roads, but if towards the end you're getting jaded, then you can always jump on an A to speed things up.

Good luck either way, and enjoy

 

[del]

Cheers for that route Martin, but it wouldn't load

And thanks for the thoughts guys, I ended up using google maps and just plotting points on smaller roads running parrallel to the A roads, so that way we have a point of reference, and if need be, like lejogger says, we can just jump back on it too speed things up!!


Will be training it down to Norwich tomorrow morning to collect my Surly Long Haul Trucker and to ride her back all the way cant wait!!!!

 

[italiafirenze]

Try Bikehub, it will offer a choose of quiet, medium and busy routes for you chosen start and end points.