Maps

[nezbutz]

Can anyone recommend a good range of maps for cycling? Hope this isnt too much of a daft question!! I do most of my riding in Cheshire some off road and country lanes.

 

[Arch]

Ordnance Survey Landranger series, the ones with the pink cover, 1:50,000 scale.

Unless you live on the edge of one, or do very long rides, you'll find one map covers a lot of ground, and the newest ones have some cycle routes marked - and they all show bridleways. Just the level of detail you need, and easy to read once you are familiar with them. And contours. If you don't know how to read contours, learn (basically, the closer the lines are together, the steeper the hill), and you'll be able to assess the hillyness of any ride easily.

In Cheshire, you'll be looking at map number 117 to start with I should think, looking at the chart on the back of the one I have handy.

Available from Smiths, and good bookshops.

It might also be worth seeing if your local council/tourist board does any cycle specific maps.

 

[accountantpete]

The best ones are the Bartholomew series - printed between the wars so they don't show all the new roads but are great for the small back roads.

There is one for Cheshire but as they are no longer printed you find them in antiques or second hand book stores.

eg -this one for Sussex on eBay

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Old-BARTHOLOM...an_Books_UK?hash=item563b06e040#ht_500wt_1182

Otherwise the Ordnance Survey maps are equally as good but I think you have to get 3 to cover Cheshire.

 

[accountantpete]

Have just dug out an old cloth map of Cheshire - pm me if you want it (no charge!)

 

[Paco]

Depends on what sort of detail you want. On long rides, over several days or weeks, I simply tear pages out of cheap books of road maps you can buy in petrol stations of £1.99. I did the Lands End-John O'Groats doing that, taking about 10 pages with me and throwing them away as I finished with them. Minimal effect on luggage weight which, for me, was just one saddlebag.

 

[youngoldbloke]

I use Streetmap, e.g. http://www.streetmap.co.uk/idld.srf...searchp=s.srf&dn=783&ax=353500&ay=355500&lm=0
and print out pages as required.

 

[Globalti]

Beware - this is one of Accountantpete's cloth maps:

(Only good for drying your specs on.)

 

[longers]

I use Streetmap, e.g. http://www.streetmap.co.uk/idld.srf...searchp=s.srf&dn=783&ax=353500&ay=355500&lm=0
and print out pages as required.

That looks useful, ta.

I've bought a few cheap road atlases like Paco and laminated pages from them and also used OS maps. I like the waterproof Explorer ones they do now. They used to go at the creases quite often.

I have been a few places where I can see the benefit of plotting a route on a GPS and it pointing the right way most of the time on a pre determined route for lane bashing and being able to enjoy the route more. Audaxes are good for this.

 

[Telemark]

Waterstones do 3 for the price of 2 on OS maps at the moment (they did last week anyway). There are a few of their shops around Cheshire according to their store finder

T

 

[nezbutz]

Cheers for the replys! I will have a look at the OS maps, unfortunately I live in Bollington which is right on the edge of the map!

 

[wafflycat]

Cheers for the replys! I will have a look at the OS maps, unfortunately I live in Bollington which is right on the edge of the map!

OS maps are the way to go. Both the 1:50000 Landranger series and the 1:25000 Explorer series.

I have the whole of Norfolk covered this way and what I do when I'm planning a long cycle ride is rather than take the actual maps with me, I just photocopy the relevant bits and pop those in the map holder. This means I don't ruin the actual maps.

OS have a good facility online, where you can order your own map, centred on a specific spot. Example - if your place is at the edge of one of the standard maps, you can order one online which is centred on your place. Ok, it costs more, (£15.99 for a Landranger) but it means you've got the map you want, if you see what I mean.

http://leisure.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/osselect?_s_icmp=yIin8163

Hope the above helps

 

[rich p]

Goldeneye waterproof range are good if they do your area. OS can be a bit too big.
If you ride 50 miles that represents 40" or so!

 

[wafflycat]

I've got the Goldeneye one of Norfolk. I prefer the OS maps. The Goldeneye ones are good in that they are water resistant. But as I simply photocopy the bits of the OS map I need & pop the sheets in a map carrier, water resistance it's a feature I don't actually need. I also find that visually I prefer the 1:50000 and 1:25000 scales for cycling & walking.

 

[theloafer]

[I use Streetmap, e.g. http://www.streetmap.co.uk/idld.srf?...ay=355500&lm=0
and print out pages as required. /QUOTE].. very usefull..you can even check out jobs in your area too...

 

[rich p]

I've got the Goldeneye one of Norfolk. I prefer the OS maps. The Goldeneye ones are good in that they are water resistant. But as I simply photocopy the bits of the OS map I need & pop the sheets in a map carrier, water resistance it's a feature I don't actually need. I also find that visually I prefer the 1:50000 and 1:25000 scales for cycling & walking.

The Goldeneyes are better in theory than in practise WC. The place names are often difficult to pinpoint and the colouring doesn't help but tyhe scale is good.