Easy peasy off road but loooong?

[MrOz]

Being a big scaredy cat with neither skill or nerve (BUT wanting to go out into the wilds on my mountain bike), I'm trying to find substantial day rides that cannot be described as "technical". Obviously most of the simpler stuff is probably kid-friendly and therefore disappointingly short.

Any ideas for routes? Do they exist in the UK at all?

Andrew.

 

[Rickshaw Phil]

Whereabouts in the UK are you planning to ride? Round my part of the country the easiest solution for heading into the wilds is to grab an OS map and look for bridleways or byways.

It would be fairly easy locally (to the south of me at least) to string several together with not too much tarmac riding in between. Something to bear in mind though is that they can be overgrown at this time of year and are likely to be pretty muddy in places after the recent rain.

 

[mcshroom]

I'd suggest having a look at an OS map for your local area and trying and find some bridleways and little white tracks. It's a good way of exploring your local area and most are reasonably easy to ride if you are careful. (some white tracks marked on maps are not public access)

I've found that bridleways contained between two walls tend to be easier to ride than those that just head off across a field, but it may be different where you are. If all fails you can either walk the bit you don't fancy trying to cycle, or re-route to a different track/road.

 

[MrOz]

Cheers guys. In fact I'm trying that this weekend, inasmuch as I've compiled a 35 mile route of which 10 miles are bridleway... but just being a bridleway on the map is no guarantee of ease! I did a short stretch of the Pennine B/way a few years ago and ended up pushing both up and downhill due to rocks (not fitness ).

 

[MrOz]

Oo, @Rickshaw Phil, just clocked your location - can you comment on the Blue Remembered Hills bridleway?

 

[Rickshaw Phil]

Oo, @Rickshaw Phil, just clocked your location - can you comment on the Blue Remembered Hills bridleway?

It's not one I know I'm afraid. The Clun and Bishop's Castle area is a part of the county I haven't ridden yet, either on or off road. (Hope to rectify that this summer - but on road to start with).

I did find this map and route description which should give an idea about it though. Hope it helps. One thing it doesn't mention much is gradients. That is a hilly part of the county, which I'd expect to make it a relatively strenuous route but not technical.

 

[Supersuperleeds]

Would riding down a canal tow path be to easy?

 

[Deleted member 23692]

If you're near Notts/Derby Borde then this offers miles of easy off-roading... converted pit tips, rail lines and tow paths

http://www.broxtowe.gov.uk/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=20643&p=0

Add in some bridleways too if you need longer

 

[Cubist]

Being a big scaredy cat with neither skill or nerve (BUT wanting to go out into the wilds on my mountain bike), I'm trying to find substantial day rides that cannot be described as "technical". Obviously most of the simpler stuff is probably kid-friendly and therefore disappointingly short.

Any ideas for routes? Do they exist in the UK at all?

Andrew.

Where are you? Google MTB plus your county. Bridle way routes are only as difficult as you let them get. Trial and error is a great way of expanding your horizons, and if you don't mind the occasional push or carry, then plotting your own from an OS map brings its own rewards. The PBW as you mention, can be tough in places but there are miles of it that aren't technical.

Vertebrate Publishing do suggested routes which they also grade, but some of the grades are based more on fitness than skill levels, so an all day epic may be graded red because its got some steep bits along the way. No ones watching or assessing you, so get off and push if its too hard!

MBR magazine also publish suggested routes, and again, grade them easy, medium and hard/ epic.

 

[wiggydiggy]

Myself and some friends have just started MTB and are using these books, their based on OS maps and have quite detailed notes about what to expect. This is just the Peak Distict one but they go around the country.

PS Amazon has them for around £11

 

[Cubist]

Myself and some friends have just started MTB and are using these books, their based on OS maps and have quite detailed notes about what to expect. This is just the Peak Distict one but they go around the country.

PS Amazon has them for around £11

They're the fellas. Did you spot my stealth edit?

Did I read somewhere that you are in Kirklees?

 

[wiggydiggy]

They're the fellas. Did you spot my stealth edit?

Did I read somewhere that you are in Kirklees?

Kirklees thats me (cant see edit though lol)

I have the South Pennine book, friends have the Peak District ones and we're starting to work through them (we're all on 29er hardtails). Generally we like the length of the medium/hard courses but find odd ascents/descents a bit above our skill range for now. One thing I do like about the book is as its OS is easy to swap from book to map if we want to extend the ride, but one thing I dont like is the directions are not the best all the time. Really I'd say for anyone wanting to do one of the courses in any of these, do it once expecting to stop a lot to check direction, but plan a second ride in of the same circuit - I did that with one and found it much better not stopping all the time!

 

[Cubist]

Kirklees thats me (cant see edit though lol)

I have the South Pennine book, friends have the Peak District ones and we're starting to work through them (we're all on 29er hardtails). Generally we like the length of the medium/hard courses but find odd ascents/descents a bit above our skill range for now. One thing I do like about the book is as its OS is easy to swap from book to map if we want to extend the ride, but one thing I dont like is the directions are not the best all the time. Really I'd say for anyone wanting to do one of the courses in any of these, do it once expecting to stop a lot to check direction, but plan a second ride in of the same circuit - I did that with one and found it much better not stopping all the time!

Benji's book is great. Have you done the Mirfield and Dewsbury ride yet? It's a cracker. I've just treated myself to the Dales version. If you fancy a spin sometime give me a shout. Some great little loops from Scapegoat Hill and over into Halifax/Elland/Ripponden

 

[wiggydiggy]

Benji's book is great. Have you done the Mirfield and Dewsbury ride yet? It's a cracker. I've just treated myself to the Dales version. If you fancy a spin sometime give me a shout. Some great little loops from Scapegoat Hill and over into Halifax/Elland/Ripponden

I didnt rate it sorry! But feel the route has value if changed > felt it was too much mucking about early on with farmers fields and long on road sections, the last 2 descents (near the golf course) are very good though.

 

[Cubist]

I didnt rate it sorry! But feel the route has value if changed > felt it was too much mucking about early on with farmers fields and long on road sections, the last 2 descents (near the golf course) are very good though.

There are some cheeky by passes to the roads through Kirkheaton..... The fields are better when it's dry, and there are some great diversions around the golf course.