Help! Cumbrian cycle routes?

[eLight1]

Hello!

I'm beginning to plan a charity cycle ride and I'm pretty clueless about this sort of thing! I'm finding a lot of the websites confusing, I'm not a cyclist myself, so I was hoping someone on here may have some suggestions?

It needs to be in the north of Cumbria, not exclusively for professional cyclists and no more than 4 hours really. Oh and if there's any that starts or ends at a train station that would be ideal!

Many thanks

Elizabeth

 

[Rickshaw Phil]

Hi and Elizabeth.

I'm afraid I don't know the area cycling wise so don't know of any specific routes, but in the absence of any replies so far my initial suggestion would be to have a good look at the Ordnance Survey maps of the area and see what looks good in terms of terrain and the type of roads available. Any routes you decide on would need to be cycled by someone to check their suitability and to note any hazards to be aware of on the way round.

Although you do say you want a route "not exclusively for professional cyclists" it doesn't really give an indication of what level your riders are at. For example a serious club rider might be able to cover 80 miles in four hours while a complete beginner might only manage 24.

I reckon that 12 mph would be a comfortable speed that the average rider can reliably manage. Make an allowance for stops on top of this and 40 miles is a realistic distance for most of them to cover in the 4 hours mentioned.

I hope this is of some use for starters and I'm sure others will be along with more suggestions.

 

[Dismount]

Not sure if this will be of any help

http://www.cycle-route.com/routes/Carlisle_to_Workington_Via_Wigton-Cycle-Route-3104.html

 

[Soup890]

Welcome and good luck.

I can't give any advice because I have never done it before.

But well done and every success

 

[Spinney]

This is a 50 mile route from Penrith station - just off the top of my head using bikehike. Easy to adjust to get a lower mileage - go play with maps! The minor roads (and even the A6) in that area aren't generally too busy - most of the traffic is on the M6 or the A66. If you have beginners, avoid going near the A66 with them - there are huge roundabouts on the exit from Penrith to the south and crossing the motorway which it takes some confidence to negotiate on a bike.

 

[eLight1]

Hi everyone! Thanks so much for your advice. I ideally want to avoid ones with any road crossings as I think it is going to be marketed as a family event, and I think it could put some people off if there's roads, however that Penrith one sounds fab. I found one online that starts 4mins away from Penrith train station and will take 1hr 42min and I'm pretty sure that's the one you've suggested, Spinney (although reading maps are definitely not my forté!) Is there actual roads you have to cross or are they just side by side?

 

[Spinney]

Er - my route is 50 miles - and uses normal roads, so there will be junctions etc, and sometimes a more major road to cross. It would take beginners 5 hours or more.

It sounds as if you are asking about a route on cycle paths? Is that the case? If so, I have no idea - I normally avoid cycle paths.

If you want to send us a link to the route you found on line, we might be able to comment on it, but it cannot be the route I made up!

 

[eLight1]

Ah I see! Haha. I suppose it would be pretty impressive if they could cover 50 miles in just under 2 hours!

This is the one I found; http://www.cycle-route.com/routes/Penrith_Ullswater_Route-Cycle-Route-5527.html

 

[Richard Fairhurst]

That's all on-road too.

If you want to minimise the use of roads (you won't be able to avoid them entirely except on a short ride), the best idea is to use some of the National Cycle Network routes locally. Here's a 45-mile route from Whitehaven that has lots of off-road, using the railway path that forms part of the C2C: http://cycle.travel/map/journey/6910

You could get it down to 36 miles by finishing at Workington (there's a train from there to get you back to Whitehaven).

 

[Spinney]

It IS a nice route that I would happily do.

HOWEVER - it is all on public roads, and involves crossing the A66 twice - this is both busy and fast, and where you cross it going back into Penrith is one of the large, hideous, full-of-lorries-on-a-weekday roundabout I mentioned above. There is a fair climb from the A66 towards Ullswater, and the road beside Ullswater to Pooley Bridge will be full of grockles gawping at the scenery in the summer. It is not particularly wide, either - and the tourists won't take kindly to meeting a large, slow bunch of cyclists.

It is probably a bit more scenic than the route I made up, as it goes beside Ullswater for a little way, but with beginners I'd avoid the part of the Lakes south of the A66.

To be brutally honest, I don't think you should be organising a charity bike ride if you are not a cyclist. There are too many pitfalls, safety implications etc.

@summerdays - do you know anything about what's involved in organising charity rides? Or know anyone else on here who does?

 

[Spinney]

Are you anticipating everyone going off in a bunch, or doing a self-guided route in much smaller groups? If the latter, I could suggest a shorter version of my original plan. There is also a 'cycle cafe' at Greystoke, and if warned should be able to provide refreshments.

That would still be all on road, but those roads are much quieter, and you could avoid the A66.

 

[SpokeyDokey]

OP I think Spinney has given you some good advice.

That route you have found has some real slogs on it and is quite busy - how the hell it is described as quiet backroads is beyond me.

Tbh with Penrith as a base you will either be on fast, busy and potentially dangerous main roads or slogging away up and down hills on country lanes. Imo neither are great for family bike rides.

Look up some of the long distance cycle routes as they often use disused railways and canals as paths - much safer for families!

 

[Spinney]

That route you have found has some real slogs on it and is quite busy - how the hell it is described as quiet backroads is beyond me.

The bits north of the A66 are generally OK, I've found. But agree the roads between Eamont Bridge, Pooley Bridge and then back up to the A66 won't be quiet.

 

[Spinney]

To be brutally honest, I don't think you should be organising a charity bike ride if you are not a cyclist. There are too many pitfalls, safety implications etc.

@eLight1 - sorry if the above sounded a bit abrupt - it's just issues of liability etc. It's good that you want to organise something for charity.

Is there someone from a local cycle club you could ask to help you?
Or see if the CTC has any advice on organising charity rides.

 

[Deleted member 23692]

@eLight1 where specificaly do you want the route to start from and what sort of distance(s) would you be looking at?