How to find a nice route

[Andrius.B]

I am have been commuting to college and work but the round trip is only about 7 miles.
I would like to do some longer rides and am looking for a nice route to ride.
How do you find your routes? What's the best way?
Would anyone suggest any cycling route guides or maps?

 

[Sandra6]

I found a couple through googling, which also turned up the sustrans website and a few more.
We have a few cycle network routes signposted locally but I haven't followed a full one.
Mostly I just set off and see where I end up.

 

[Powely]

I've just 'explored' on Strava to see what routes other people have taken. I found a nice little cycle path that way I never knew was there despite living in the area for over 30 years.

 

[annedonnelly]

Depends what you mean by "nice" - do you want to ride fast, ride hills, pootle about looking at the scenery, visit tourist attractions?

I tend to spot roads or tracks that I've not been on before and simply ride down them. The worst that happens is that I have to turn around and head back. Or if I'm out in the car or on the bus and spot a marked cycle route I'll figure out a way to get there on the bike.

 

[KateK]

A local ordnance survey landranger map (the pink ones) are really useful, I always carry one. I plan where I'm going to go and write out a crib sheet with junctions and village names so i only get the map out when I'm getting lost...usually in villages. At the start I found a few routes on cycle-route.com, just have to check on a map that they don't go off road (eg white lanes as opposed to red or if you want a road route. It can be a bit tricky when you start, try not to get disheartened if you have to keep stopping when you learn a route, after the first time it will be much easier.. sportsdistancecalculator is good if you want an idea of the length of a route that you think might work - you click out the route on a map and it gives you the distance and, at the end, total altitude gain (how much climbing).

 

[okeydokey79]

get on the bike turn left at the bottom of the road and go whichever way you want and turn round when you want go home thats what i do if i want go out for a ride!!! found some good routes that way!!!!

 

[defy-one]

As someone suggested here on another thread ........
Pick a place you would like to see,figure out a route online and go see it. Another is to do your errands by bike

 

[Andrius.B]

get on the bike turn left at the bottom of the road and go whichever way you want and turn round when you want go home thats what i do if i want go out for a ride!!! found some good routes that way!!!!

That's what I do currently - just ride randomly.

Thanks everyone for various suggestions.

 

[Richard Woodrow]

I plot circular routes avoiding busy roads on google maps. I'm gradually increasing the distance which means I only need to remember new parts of the route each time. Now up to 45 miles and found lots of new roads I never knew existed.