Quickest route from Bath to Aztec West

[mooseracer]

I've never cycled on the Bath-Bristol path but I'd just assumed that everyone would be keeping to the left!

*prepares bee for own bonnet*

Certainly not on a weekend they don't - but from my days commuting on there a few years ago it was all very orderly

 

[Mike56]

Hi Donny (or anyone else),

I'm planning to do the same journey soon, did you work out the best route from Bath to Aztec West? Is the Bath to Bristol cycle path OK for a racer? How long does it take?

Cheers,

Mike

 

[donnysp]

I'm planning to do the same journey soon, did you work out the best route from Bath to Aztec West? Is the Bath to Bristol cycle path OK for a racer? How long does it take?

I just replied to a PM from Mike56 and thought I'd share my experiences for anyone stumbling across this thread in the future. What I said follows. As for the racer question: it's pretty good, there is a cattle grid which has surprisingly little effect at speed.

~~~~

I ended up using multiple routes just for a bit of variety. They did however all go along the cyclepath from Bath as far as here: http://maps.google.c...004128&t=h&z=19

And they all went from the Hambrook lights (http://maps.google.c...016512&t=h&z=17) to Aztec along the same route: Bristol Road, Old Gloucester Road, Winterbourne Road, Bradley Stoke Way.

There are loads of ways of doing the bit in between. I only ever followed the ring-road cyclepath once. It was too long and too slow -- you can go faster on the road.

My most used route left the cyclepath here: http://maps.google.c....00515&t=h&z=19

And went: Rodway Hill, Northcote Road, Peache Road, Cleeve Road, Cleeve Hill, Cleeve Wood Road, Beckspool Road.

Hope that helps. And for what it's worth, it was usually about 18 miles, took about an hour, and left me too knackered to work! But on public transport it was not uncommon for me to spend over 3.5 hours per day travelling (the buses being bloody awful.)

Cheers,
Duncan

P.S. I bought a motorbike in the end, but then the company folded and I got a job working from home. As you can imagine the fitness has gone down the pan!

 

[donnysp]

I think Evil Kiteen has summed it up really, there is no easier route imo.

Yes, the ring-road is certainly easier but it's about 2 miles longer.

 

[mgarl10024]

I would have considered something like this: http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=4353490

It starts on the Bristol-Bath path, through Mangotsfield Station and cuts through Downend.
It does take you up a pretty steep hill, which if it were me, I'd be tempted to avoid (I often do) by continuing on the Ringroad path to the second UWE entrance (used to be HP).

Hope that helps,

 

[campbellab]

Bah go the scenic route and take in the hills!


http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/5989223

 

[the_mikey]

Cycle-Path - Take the right turn at mangotsfield station - then you're on the ring-road cyclepath, this will take you along the A4174 into filton, from there you can take the a38 towards Aztec West.

Alternative route: Take the A4174 as before - but at the large MOD roundabout - take a diversion via parkway station - then via Bradley Stoke to Aztec west.

I'm certain there is a much better route, but I'm not too familiar with the bit between the A4174 and Bristol Parkway.

 

[mgarl10024]

Bah go the scenic route and take in the hills!


http://www.mapmyride...es/view/5989223

meatballs has made this route private.

Do I need to be a member?

 

[mgarl10024]

I'm certain there is a much better route, but I'm not too familiar with the bit between the A4174 and Bristol Parkway.

Hi The_Mikey,

Either you can go this way: http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=4355118 which takes you up a very steep hill on Hambrook Lane.

Or this way: http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=4355120 which costs you an extra mile but is a more gentle slope.

I vary, depending on how much I'm carrying and how I'm feeling on a given day.

 

[the_mikey]

Hi The_Mikey,

Either you can go this way: http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=4355118 which takes you up a very steep hill on Hambrook Lane.

Or this way: http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=4355120 which costs you an extra mile but is a more gentle slope.

I vary, depending on how much I'm carrying and how I'm feeling on a given day.

I quite like the look of the first route via Hambrook Lane, but it was the second route I was thinking of!

I noticed the coucil have been busy creating chaos in Bradley Stoke, they've upgraded a footpath into a cycle path but they've also painted signs onto the road indicating that cyclists get off the road and onto the cycle path, this cycle path dissapears into a housing estate after 100 metres and as if by magic, a painted cycle lane on the road appears again...

 

[skids]

I ride from Emersons Green (just off the Mangotsfield exit from the Bath - Bristol cyclepath) to Aztec West most days and the route that evilkitten suggested is the one I've found to be the quickest (good tip on using the disused road to avoid the Aztec roundabout - always do that on the way in).

Normally on the way in I avoid Bradley Stoke Way as it's really dull and take a slighly longer route up Trench Lane as it's nicer.

 

[the_mikey]

I live in Emersons Green!

I will explore that route someday with a view to cycling to the Bradley Stoke leisure centre for a lunchtime swim during a week off work.

 

[mgarl10024]

Can I recommend: http://www.betterbyb...s-cycle-route-3? It'll take you right to Bradley Stoke Leisure Centre.

You can find maps of it online. If it's a lovely day, or if I fancy a change, I'll use it. It's not the quickest (Bradley Stoke Way is shorter/quicker), and it's a bit hilly, but it makes for a nice change.
I come off at Rock Lane though (I don't go all the way to Parkway), then join up with the routes described above (http://www.gmap-pedo....com/?r=4355118 or http://www.gmap-pedo....com/?r=4355120).

Hope that helps,