A30 - Do NOT use it!

[lazybloke]

All trunk roads are also A roads, but not all A roads are also trunk roads.

Yes that's understood; so having A roads and Trunk roads as different items on a graph suggests there's some double-counting.

 

[Ajax Bay]

Doubt it. They've just split out the data for main roads between 'trunk' roads and A roads (ie not 'trunk'). I am surprised there are so many cyclist injured incidents at trunk road junctions, but suspect some/most of these are cyclist crossing slip road exit entrance and driver of motor vehicle dangerously not looking. If one rides on dual carriageways (and sometimes it's (sort of) unavoidable) then be very aware at those points. Of course it applies to main roads with slip road junctions as well.

 

[Twilkes]

I rode most of the A30 south back in June 2000, has the road itself changed or is it just the increase in traffic? I remember enough space to the left of the white line to ride in for most of the time, and don't remember ever being intimidated by the traffic but that might have been me being a naive 22 year old.

 

[Ajax Bay]

Isn't every 22 year old a native?
Since 2000, the A30 west from Honiton is a full-on dual carriageway all the way to Camborne, except an 8 mile stretch Carland Cross - Three Burrows (NE of Redruth), with no roundabouts otherwise. All the other single cariageway stretches have finally been dualled eg Honiton to Exeter (M5) and a section across Bodmin Moor. Goss Moor/Indian Queens bypass was complete in '95, and/but has a good parallel cycle route.
I think riding to the left of the 'white line' may offer psychological succour, but that's about it, at the expense of riding through road detritus with the increased risk of puncturing therefrom.

 

[lazybloke]

I rode most of the A30 south back in June 2000, has the road itself changed or is it just the increase in traffic? I remember enough space to the left of the white line to ride in for most of the time, and don't remember ever being intimidated by the traffic but that might have been me being a native 22 year old.

I've been having a weekend (or more recently a family holiday) in Cornwall annually since the late 80s. More of the A30 has been dualled in that time. I don't suppose I'd consider cycling it in daylight, but I'd tackle almost anything at night.

 

[robgul]

This may be useful . . . . the issues with the A30 in the south west are legion - MickF from the CTC Forum (and multi-endotender) has provided some suggested routes with .gpx and .pdf maps to ride from LE to Tiverton (or the other way)

See : https://www.cycle-endtoend.org.uk/planning/the-a30-in-the-west for the details and downloads.

[The www.cycle-endtoend.org.uk site has been rebuilt recently - it's still managed by me but generously hosted by Shaun here at CycleChat.]

 

[steverob]

I know this thread is specifically about the dual-carriageway pseudo-motorway parts of the A30, but I wanted to ask what was people's opinions of the single carriageway part of the A30 from Land's End to Penzance. How busy is that section, especially during peak tourist seasons? Am I likely to be holding up a string of cars as I wheeze my way up yet another 12% climb? Is it more picturesque to go the slightly longer route on the lanes and the B roads or should I be concentrating on getting as much distance as I can on my first day?

I'm a good few years away from actually doing a LEJOG, but it is on my bucket list and I am starting to put together some early plans just in case, so while it was on my mind I thought I'd ask the more experienced minds on here.

 

[Solocle]

I know this thread is specifically about the dual-carriageway pseudo-motorway parts of the A30, but I wanted to ask what was people's opinions of the single carriageway part of the A30 from Land's End to Penzance. How busy is that section, especially during peak tourist seasons? Am I likely to be holding up a string of cars as I wheeze my way up yet another 12% climb? Is it more picturesque to go the slightly longer route on the lanes and the B roads or should I be concentrating on getting as much distance as I can on my first day?

I'm a good few years away from actually doing a LEJOG, but it is on my bucket list and I am starting to put together some early plans just in case, so while it was on my mind I thought I'd ask the more experienced minds on here.

I didn't have any particular issues with it, and I went all the way up to Hayle. Not the nicest road, but not exactly horrific. I also did Chiverton to Carland Cross when it was single carriageway (now dualled with the old road preserved, I'm not sure about navigability).

The timecode here is the dualled bit in Penzance.

 

[PeteXXX]

I rode the southerly route to LE from Penzance then the A30 back in the evening and I didn't have any issues.
What it's like during the day I don't know..
Strava kink

 

[toffee]

I know this thread is specifically about the dual-carriageway pseudo-motorway parts of the A30, but I wanted to ask what was people's opinions of the single carriageway part of the A30 from Land's End to Penzance. How busy is that section, especially during peak tourist seasons? Am I likely to be holding up a string of cars as I wheeze my way up yet another 12% climb? Is it more picturesque to go the slightly longer route on the lanes and the B roads or should I be concentrating on getting as much distance as I can on my first day?

I'm a good few years away from actually doing a LEJOG, but it is on my bucket list and I am starting to put together some early plans just in case, so while it was on my mind I thought I'd ask the more experienced minds on here.

When we rode it on the middle Saturday in August 2018 it was fine, it's a killer of a hill out of Penzance though as you are not warmed up if you have just set off from Penzance. The return journey from LE is much easier.

 

[Ajax Bay]

That stretch is fine: it just takes traffic to and from the peninsula.
No hills: a few metres of 5% as you pass Boscawen-un Stone Circle (car park).
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/48363019
Definitely not worth going left or right flanking if you have 1000 miles to go. But the ride round towards St Ives is lovely if time is not of the essence. I dive off the A30 into Newlyn (R @ x (B3317)) rather than going round the bypass.
As for beyond Penzance, I've gone both ways: via Marazion or up and over to Hayle (A30). If the latter worth going via Gulval (L @ x imm after Jewsons) to minimise time on A30 (cycle lane for much of it).
Via Marazion takes you to Redruth, otherwise via Hayle minor roads through and over the Downs to Camborne and then Redruth. After that, the choice is across to Truro or up towards Newquay.
Personally I prefer the Marazion, Praze road to Redruth. Several other variations available (have done most).
No idea where @toffee's "killer hill" is. Riding TO LE you climb 70m in 4km (via Newlyn). A nice gentle warm up first thing.