places to ride
- Thread starter shane
- Start date
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BigonaBianchi
Yes I can, Yes I am, Yes I did...Repeat.
- Location
- Iskele TRNC & Mordor UK
...straight down the pub mate
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.erm..sorry Mum
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.erm..sorry Mum
Shane, a lot depends on how much cycling you normally do and whether you are thinking of going alone. My parents paid for me to sod off on a train to Besancon in mid France, where I cycled with three friends around the Jura and northern Alps for a fortnight, staying in youth hostels. Actually one of the three fell victim to an Older Woman (well, she couldn't have been any younger than us and still be a woman) who was trawling the shore of Lake Geneva for toyboys. We lost him for two days and had to do an easy day after he re-appeared.
This was some years ago. The Kinks' "Sunny Afternoon" was rising from transistor radios - anyone remember them? - everywhere we stopped.
If you are given similar freedom, I would get a train to Oban with a couple of mates and cycle up some of the Western Isles. A magical trip and if you aren't used to big distances it has the advantage of being mainly flat.
Closer to home, how about back roads across the Somerset Levels, Exmoor, Dartmoor and down to Land's End? Train back from Penzance.
If it has to be day trips, you probably know the area better than me, but there is lots of good stuff on Mendip and in the Quantocks.
This was some years ago. The Kinks' "Sunny Afternoon" was rising from transistor radios - anyone remember them? - everywhere we stopped.
If you are given similar freedom, I would get a train to Oban with a couple of mates and cycle up some of the Western Isles. A magical trip and if you aren't used to big distances it has the advantage of being mainly flat.
Closer to home, how about back roads across the Somerset Levels, Exmoor, Dartmoor and down to Land's End? Train back from Penzance.
If it has to be day trips, you probably know the area better than me, but there is lots of good stuff on Mendip and in the Quantocks.
BigonaBianchi
Yes I can, Yes I am, Yes I did...Repeat.
- Location
- Iskele TRNC & Mordor UK
...sorry for the flippant answer above...I dont know that area at all and so cannot answer your question totally.
When I was a day or so past my 16th I rode down to Paris...how about that?...erm in a year or so?
...take a phone, a hi vis vest and some decent lights...be safe.
I rode across germany and France last summer....if you have any questions on planning trips like that just ask.
When I was a day or so past my 16th I rode down to Paris...how about that?...erm in a year or so?
...take a phone, a hi vis vest and some decent lights...be safe.
I rode across germany and France last summer....if you have any questions on planning trips like that just ask.
GilesM
Legendary Member
- Location
- East Lothian
Shane, not sure how bike fit you are, when I was 15 I road from Chippenham (just down the road from you) to Melrose in the Scottish Borders with a mate, we took five days and stayed in YHA along the way, great frun, my mum was planning a holiday in Scotland, so she drove us back, but a train back is possible. I was pretty fit then, I was riding time trials and school boy circuit races. We also used to ride down to the New Forest each summer and camp there for a week, that was good.
If you plan to tour and stay in Youth Hostels each night there are loads of choices from Melksham;
South West, acroos the Somerset Levels into Devon.
South, into Dorset, down to the coast, return abit further east to Malborough, home across the downs.
North into the Cotswolds.
West into Wales, head up Chepstow, Crickhowell way, if you're feeling fit, return via Gloucester, forest of dean.
Or as others have mentioned, get a train somewhere and spend a week in a totally new place, a few thoughts, Scottish Borders, Yorkshire Dales, Cheviot Hills and around Kielder Water Area.
If you have any ideas of where you want to go many on here would happily help with route plans, just shout, I would recommend getting the OS 1:50000 maps on soft copy, not that expensive, but at 14, you probably know better than me how to find them for free, not that I would suggest such a thing.
If you plan to tour and stay in Youth Hostels each night there are loads of choices from Melksham;
South West, acroos the Somerset Levels into Devon.
South, into Dorset, down to the coast, return abit further east to Malborough, home across the downs.
North into the Cotswolds.
West into Wales, head up Chepstow, Crickhowell way, if you're feeling fit, return via Gloucester, forest of dean.
Or as others have mentioned, get a train somewhere and spend a week in a totally new place, a few thoughts, Scottish Borders, Yorkshire Dales, Cheviot Hills and around Kielder Water Area.
If you have any ideas of where you want to go many on here would happily help with route plans, just shout, I would recommend getting the OS 1:50000 maps on soft copy, not that expensive, but at 14, you probably know better than me how to find them for free, not that I would suggest such a thing.
When I was 15, went with a friend to stay in the New Forest at a camp site called Sandy Balls! its a bit like a small center parcs so you have a bit of variety on site but its right in the middle of the new forest with some cracking routes around. We just spent the week exploring different roads, riding almost all day, stopping off for a spot of fishing at various spots etc... thats not too far from wiltshire....
Plus in the evening there was loads of bored girls on holiday with their parents struggling to find things to do after dark! 
needless to say we returned the next year!
Plus in the evening there was loads of bored girls on holiday with their parents struggling to find things to do after dark!
needless to say we returned the next year!thnx everyone for your ideas i have had a few ideas i wouldnt mind going to dover last saturday me and myt m8 rode to devises along the canal in 45mins if that help on how fit i am and i am thinking of going alone i might get my school to drive my bike to a place and ride back i think my dad will be following me so incase i get in any trouble here is a link to the bike i would like to get for the ride http://www.mailorderbikes.com/products.php?plid=m1b0s4p1845 any more ideas this is also a going to be a sposerd ride so i would like to make it worth while
PpPete
Legendary Member
- Location
- Chandler's Ford
Possibly a bit short for a week - but how about down through the New Forest to Lymington, then across to Yarmouth and round the Isle of Wight.?
Headgardener
Armchair Cyclist
No it's not it's on the western edge at Fordingbridge but other than that you are right there are some cracking rides round here.Wigsie said:When I was 15, went with a friend to stay in the New Forest at a camp site called Sandy Balls! its a bit like a small center parcs so you have a bit of variety on site but its right in the middle of the new forest with some cracking routes around. We just spent the week exploring different roads, riding almost all day, stopping off for a spot of fishing at various spots etc... thats not too far from wiltshire....
Plus in the evening there was loads of bored girls on holiday with their parents struggling to find things to do after dark!
GilesM
Legendary Member
- Location
- East Lothian
shane said:
If you are looking at using canal paths and other flatish off road routes the bike looks okay, but it only has the one chainring, so a heavy (ish) bike like that could be a bit tough up hills as the gearing will be a bit high, also if you are planning to do more road riding, you might find something a little lighter with road tyres, more gears and no suspension would be better. There are lots of steep hills near you.
MadoneRider1991
Über Member
- Location
- Dorset
shane said:
dorset is a great place to ride, loads of killer hills
