No through road.

[jonnyfarside]

I went out on Sunday with a view to go down a road I have passed before leading to a small village. There is a No Through Road sign at the junction but on the map there looked to be a road through the village and out the other side. Halfway down the road was another sign "Unsuitable for Motor Vehicles" but I pressed on regardless. I should have really followed the advice as the road turned into a very muddy overgrown track which was just about passable on my Boardman Hybrid but there was a few dodgy moments and I nearly had my first clipless moment when the back wheel skidded and I almost couldn't unclip quickly enough. The track was about a mile long but it was a great feeling to be back on solid ground again. At least it was the incentive to wash my bike when I got hime and a salutaory lesson to follow the road signs.
I've only been cycling since Feb and am more of a lurker than a poster but really love the site and picked up some sound advice. Looking froward to joining a club now for some longish but relaxed pace rides.

 

[grhm]

I've found that "Unsuitable for Motor Vehicles" usually means the road will get very interesting. Round here is usually means a muddy path with an exciting camber than could be attempted in a 4x4. I've only ever walked down these type roads and would not fancy doing them on the bike - I've a slicked up hyrib and I suspect it'd take a much more sure footed MTB to cope (along with a more competent rider)

Well done for trying. If you willing to get out there and have a go at it, enjoying the experience that's half the point AFAIC.

 

[palinurus]

You have to try these things.

 

[Randochap]

Nothing wrong with a bit of exploration. Take it as it comes, according to skills.

 

[Banjo]

I went out on Sunday with a view to go down a road I have passed before leading to a small village. There is a No Through Road sign at the junction but on the map there looked to be a road through the village and out the other side. Halfway down the road was another sign "Unsuitable for Motor Vehicles" but I pressed on regardless. I should have really followed the advice as the road turned into a very muddy overgrown track which was just about passable on my Boardman Hybrid but there was a few dodgy moments and I nearly had my first clipless moment when the back wheel skidded and I almost couldn't unclip quickly enough. The track was about a mile long but it was a great feeling to be back on solid ground again. At least it was the incentive to wash my bike when I got hime and a salutaory lesson to follow the road signs.
I've only been cycling since Feb and am more of a lurker than a poster but really love the site and picked up some sound advice. Looking froward to joining a club now for some longish but relaxed pace rides.

I did exactly the same thing today. I get bored doing the same circuits so try to make new ones with an Ordnance survey map.

I have discovered that on the OS map red roads are busy main roads brown roads are good yellow OK but white ones with a blackline down each side are unmade farm /forestry tracks which vary from just a pair of wheelruts full of mud and water to not too bad hard earth or gravel. .

Almost had to give up and turn round on one today but perceviered when some walkers told me it improved a bit further on.

 

[fossyant]

Deffo the sort of road for an MTB...

 

[Black Sheep]

I did exactly the same thing today. I get bored doing the same circuits so try to make new ones with an Ordnance survey map.

I have discovered that on the OS map red roads are busy main roads brown roads are good yellow OK but white ones with a blackline down each side are unmade farm /forestry tracks which vary from just a pair of wheelruts full of mud and water to not too bad hard earth or gravel. .

Almost had to give up and turn round on one today but perceviered when some walkers told me it improved a bit further on.

not round by my parents they're not, white is the best method of getting places! normally tarmaced. dotted sides to the white line can be interesting

 

[HJ]

The opportunity to explore is one of the joys of cycling, usually the worst that will happen is you have get off and walk for a bit, it is very rare that you need to turn back...

 

[Plax]

I'm having flashbacks to my little jaunt down Shropshire earlier this month. Some bright spark knew a "shortcut" that was approximately 1 mile long that firstly took us over a railway line, then up a forest path (you know - tree roots sticking up and everything and finally along a dirt track with tyre ruts so deep, only a tractor would have managed. We had to walk along the grassy middle bit with the bikes in the rutted bit and push them along. It felt a lot longer than "only about a mile" too!

 

[Banjo]

Re white roads on OS map

not round by my parents they're not, white is the best method of getting places! normally tarmaced. dotted sides to the white line can be interesting

Thats the problem,the standard can vary from barely passable farmers tracks to tarmaced surface.They allways lure you in by having a good surface that deteriorates part way

I think the broken lines down the side indicate that its unfenced .The description on the OS map list of symbols is "Other road,drive or track fenced and unfenced."

I enjoy exploring the lesser used tracks etc but my bike isnt ideal for the muddier/stonier stuff.Ideally I would have an MTB as well as my slick tyred Hybrid and singlespeed folder.

 

[honestal]

I found a "road" near me recently with a sign saying something almost identical to "suitable only for cars. All other vehicles go via <some other road name>" Of course that meant I just HAD to go see why. I guess the ludicrously steep slope had something to do with it Couple of minutes later with my back wheel merrily slipping away as I struggled up the gravel strewn "road surface" hill I wondered if I really needed to invest in an MTB

 

[Angelfishsolo]

+1 Unlike a car you will not get grounded out, find yourself unable to turn around, or loose all traction and have to call for a tow. Ain't bikes great

The opportunity to explore is one of the joys of cycling, usually the worst that will happen is you have get off and walk for a bit, it is very rare that you need to turn back...

 

[PpPete]

Thats the problem,the standard can vary from barely passable farmers tracks to tarmaced surface.They allways lure you in by having a good surface that deteriorates part way

I think the broken lines down the side indicate that its unfenced .The description on the OS map list of symbols is "Other road,drive or track fenced and unfenced."

I enjoy exploring the lesser used tracks etc but my bike isnt ideal for the muddier/stonier stuff.Ideally I would have an MTB as well as my slick tyred Hybrid and singlespeed folder.

Had similar experience with "white roads" on OS 1:50,000 meaning a variety of things.
There is a remedy though - use OSM instead. That way you can 'tag' a route to show what kind of track it is, add a new path/road if you find one etc, use on screen for planning or on GPS unit or navigating and it's all FREE.

 

[grhm]

Had similar experience with "white roads" on OS 1:50,000 meaning a variety of things.
There is a remedy though - use OSM instead. That way you can 'tag' a route to show what kind of track it is, add a new path/road if you find one etc, use on screen for planning or on GPS unit or navigating and it's all FREE.

Whilst I like idea of OSM, it seems to be very immature at the moment. There are bits missing - some fairly major omissions - for example the main road near me appears to stop 100 yards passed the end of my road - it actually links up to a number of other road that aren't present in the OSM map and is a fairly main throughfair.

I had a look at how to update or amend the map - but after maybe 5 minutes looking I gave up as it appears to be based on Java and Flash - two thing that are disable at work.

 

[PpPete]

Yes - some areas are better in OSM than others.

Can you put a comment on (about the missing road) using this tool?

Hopefully there will be someone local to you who will spot that, and can make the necessary changes using one of the various editing tools.

Or - you could post a comment over on yacf? there is a big community of cyclist / mappers over there, some them only talk GEEK, but many are almost human.