cycling holidays in England

jinka

Looking at booking a trip over to the Uk and do some biking etc.
Was thinking of cornwall area. Anybody done this or any tips.

blorg

jinka wrote: »

Looking at booking a trip over to the Uk and do some biking etc.
Was thinking of cornwall or general south. Anybody done this or any tips.

I am sure you will get some suggestions here but you might also want to post your question over on bikeradar.com where they will be more intimately acquainted with the topic. Do you want to go touring point to point or just day rides from one location? This would be a key criteria.

tunney

I spent a weekend riding around tavistock and on the moors, Some of the toughest cycling I've done. 15% hills everywhere, short (<1km) but rip the legs off you. I'd go back in a heart beat. Stayed in a hostel in oakhampton. nice setup too.

jinka

blorg wrote: »

I am sure you will get some suggestions here but you might also want to post your question over on bikeradar.com where they will be more intimately acquainted with the topic. Do you want to go touring point to point or just day rides from one location? This would be a key criteria.

Taking the car so it will be short enough spins around towns and villages.
Perhaps with a couple of longer trips also. Trying to work it out which isnt easy!

hunkymonkey

Did a fair bit of cycling in Cornwall, agree with Tunney, some right little short & sharp testers but can't remember where. Would definitely go back, lovely quaint villages and warm ale :-) Avoid Lands End, a right dump! Its essentially an amusement park.

jinka

hunkymonkey wrote: »

Did a fair bit of cycling in Cornwall, agree with Tunney, some right little short & sharp testers but can't remember where. Would definitely go back, lovely quaint villages and warm ale :-) Avoid Lands End, a right dump! Its essentially an amusement park.

Great,
anywhere in particular you would recommend?

hunkymonkey

Took the car myself, Dublin to Holyhead. Be careful to take plenty of breaks as its a long drive if going that way and doing it one go. My glutes & piri were achey for a day or two after. ( I know theres an on-going study into athletes and time spent sitting travelling to events and how it affects performance, btw I ain't an athlete :-))
Spent a couple of days in eacg places, using it as a base.
Spent a cople of days in Bude, lovely seaside spot. There was a great jazz festival on when I was there, was late August as far as I can remember. Theres a bike route from Bude to Lands End, but didn't use much of it. Newquay was a bit like Temple bar for surfers.
The places all around Lands End are really nice and hilly, but wouldn't waste my time cycling out to it, v busy. Spent some time in Bodmin, really nice but I think thats were a lot of the short sharp hills are. I also thought Penzance was a bit rough, but St. Ives is v nice if ya like touristy things.
As for exact routes, its been about 8 years since I've been there. I'll ask me mate and see if they remember the routes, we got them off the tourist office in Bodmin.
If going again, I'd do as Blorg says, go to bikeradar.com but also have one of these books and a foldout map:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cycle-Rides-Devon-Cornwall-South/dp/0749551909/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1250026990&sr=8-1

Jawgap

Try www.sustrans.co.uk for maps etc.

I'm getting married in a few weeks and we're off to the SW of England for the honeymoon. I've persuaded herself to do 2 days cycling with me and we've planned it from that site. Unfortunately we have to avoid the big hills!!

ednwireland

bike radar cornwall

http://www.bikeradar.com/routes/?srchkey=cornwall&country=253&region=5392&is=&isnot=&run=listpaths&x=85&y=11

tunney

jinka wrote: »

Great,
anywhere in particular you would recommend?

I was on a training camp so I just followed the wheel in front and suffered like a dog, seemed very set up for cyclists though. i'd email a cycling club in the area (tavistock and oakhampton)

jinka

thanks
great advice lads.