[Closed] Cycling Birmingham to London by canal- 2 days optimistic?

There's a Grand Union canal race for runners with a route map on the web site which may be of help http://www.gucr.co.uk/

Depends how long you're happy in the saddle for, average speed.. If its all canal paths then maintaining 10mph average you could do it in two days no problem averaging 7ish hours a day in the saddle.

kayak - I use it a fair bit in the Watford area to link up trails etc and to be honest at this time of year it's one of the least claggy things around - it makes a nice break from horse-chewed gunk.

I have planned to ride it up to the Midlands one year, so please post up afterwards with your ride report.

Have a good trip!

Thanks all. Not decided to go for it yet. Torn between that and a few days Welsh trails kipping in the van.
I'll certainly jot some ideas if I do though.

Wouldnt mind giving that a bash myself, over say 3 days and then getting the train back up to brum 🙂

I've done the 100 mile Cheshire Ring a couple of times. It took around 11 hours both times but they were at either end of summer. Not the best time to do it because of the walkers.
I'd say do it late Feb or early March and take lights. You can get a good pace going with a clear run. Especially early in the day. Nobondy seems to want toget the dog muddy before work but they're not bothered after work. Take a radio or Ipod. Hells teeth it's a boring bike ride. I can't imagine any other canal has much to keep you occupied.

I'd be up for this,not next week though

I've done that a couple of times over the years, although not in one long stretch. I've started at Wolverton, near MK, and gone North. A couple of times I went to Stratford and the other time to Birmingham. And then I've been south to London a few times.
It's an interesting ride, more so in and around towns, interesting industrial heritage to investigate, nice pubs and tea shops in the rural areas. Best done mid-week and outside of school holidays to avoid walkers, bored kids and very grumpy maggot danglers as much as possible. One of the times was on a Saturday and I ran (not literally) into a fishing match, mile after mile of (see above) all with tons and tons of kit spread over the towpath and those stupid rods that are longer than the canal is wide (WHY ?). For some reason they have a right to be there and you don't ?!?!. Allegedly.
A bit boring in between the towns, but you're not between towns for long.
There was one stretch that was hideously overgrown and virtually unrideable on all of the occasions, this was just to the North of Braunston and went on for about three miles up to around Napton Junction (I think) where the Oxford canal and GU mainline diverge.
There are one or two sections that you aren't supposed to cycle on, but they are few and far between and appear to be no different to the other parts. I ignored this and no-one challenged me.
You're supposed to have a permit to cycle along the towpath which you can get for free from Waterscape.com. I've never been asked for it by anyone so I gave up carrying it.
Hope that helps.

Hmmm. Might have a crack at this going north on singlespeed this year.

That map on the link above is really helpful, does snyone know if a GU map exists in hard copy? I don't fancy buying / carrying a million OS maps.....

Yes, you can get a map of just the canal in paper form, they are (or were) produced by a company called geo Map. Have a blue cover, try Googling.

These are the maps I've been lent, by a girl who did the trip from Birmingham centre in two days, but that was in August and she is good on stamina, having ridden across the States...
I'm not so sure on doing it with short light days, and not having great lights.

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I used to work on the canal at Napton junction So can confirm the towpath is pretty dire around there...
I've had the misfortune of piloting a narrowboat through a fishing match before... Blummin moody gets... Moaning about canal boats.... On THE CANAL..
I'll just bunnyhop the rods 🙂

Id be up for this in the better weather :)....

I joined 3 non cycling friends for a section of this 2 years ago. They did it in 2 days althought they suffered on the 2nd day.

2 of them did pretty much no cycling and the other did a bit so i'd think you'd not struggle too much, although daylight hours will be against you (they did it in summer).

I use the guides you've shown and they are very good, i do a lot of miles around the Brum canal system in the summer months as it's nice riding but some sections of the 'towpath' can get very muddy and unrideable in some sections.

BTW you don't need a permit any more to cycle on towpaths. Not that many people even bothered getting one 🙂

Might be more interesting on one of these:

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??

Thanks on those guides.

Anyone interested in say April in going north with me from the Watford area?

For some reason they have a right to be there and you don't ?!?!. Allegedly.

Well, the club or organisation paid to hire the canal as a 'venue' and each angler paid to enter the match, so you can sort of see the point there I think. And if it's a National event, there could well be a lot of money riding on it.

Did the Liverpool - Leeds canal a few years back in 14 hrs (127 miles)

We weren't that fit but as long as you keep eating and can deal with the boredom it's ok

How long is the one you're doing?

It's about 120 miles I think.

[i]Thanks all. Not decided to go for it yet. Torn between that and a few days Welsh trails kipping in the van.[/i]

Given the choice, go to Wales.

At 120 miles you could probably do it in one day...

But personally, after doing Liverpool to Leeds, I'd opt for Wales EVERY time 🙂

I'd go from Warwick later in the year if anyone wants to.

I did it a few years ago. Birmingham to Leighton Buzzard. Thinking a point to point journey would be a good experience. But tbh I would have rather done South Downs or another classic offroad ride.
It basically gets pretty boring - largely flat and no interesting singletrack. Trying to pass anyone fishing is a pain and bits of it are virtually impassable with the mud.
So a great concept but I was disappointed with the reality...

I've done MK to London a few times. It can be a bit bleak and relentless at times Berkhamstead is a nice place to stop, good canalside pubs.

I walked Watford to London once in a day. I won't do that again, I can tell you...33 miles of tedium, and we had to break into the zoo to complete it (t'was dark by then). As it turned out, breaking in was easy, getting out was another story.

I might be up for that trip, would be riding from the Brum-worcs canal. Conditions after warwick/leam are horrendously muddy at this time of year

Yes Rowington to Warwick isn't good at the moment.

I've done Paddington to where it joins the Wendover Arm, that section's all good quality rideable towpath pretty much all year round. The scenery changes enough that it's not too dull either.

Hotel booked, return train booked...
Looks like I'm doing it... 😕

I used to run along the london stretch.

Can't think of anything more mindnumbing than completing the trip to Brum with my time off. So many more interesting multi day point to point trips in the UK...

I quite fancy this.
Done a few 50 - 60 milers in/around B'ham & Staffs.
Admittedly, it can be quite boring, but at least its fairly easy.

Ton was looking at doing the Liverpool - Leeds last year IIRC...

djglover - my reasons for considering doing it now is that it is accessible for me and is one of the few places (southern section at least) that isn't an unrideable bog at the moment. A chance to get some miles in rather than walking the bike.

Kayak - good man! Report back please

Take 50 innertubes with you. My experiance of canals around the Warwick area is of stopping every 100 yards to remove thorns!

Whats all this about Maps aswell? Its a canal isnt it? - Make sure you set off in the right direction and follow the -err- canal.

Yeah I fully realise it'll be boring, though not entirely. I love the canal and the industrial sights and points of interest.
It's more about trying to make myself stay in the sadlle for a long time. Got a trip I'm training for to Peru in the Summer so am trying to get more time in the saddle.
I think this will be more the style of riding I can expect out there, rough track and gravel road type stuff, rather than nice floaty doubles, berms and step-downs... 🙂

I was thinking the same with the map actually, but there are several junctions and so it's concievable that I could take the wrong turn I guess. It's also just about knowing where you are and how long you have left I suppose.

I'm off to the bike shop after work and see if they have any of that puncture-resistant strip you can get, or slime, or something like that..
I don't have much option for tyre choice, so Ardents it is!

The thing I'm most worried about to be honest is my behind. I'm frankly not used to spending so long in the saddle so I know I'll suffer. I have a cycling chamois thing, padded and stuff but never really found them any more comfortable after about 2 hours than just regular underwear, so we'll see I guess. Might try them with a dollop of Vas... 8)

I survived!!! 😀

For those interested, set off from Leamington Spa at 6am. First stop 5 minutes later when batteries died on front light (thought they were pretty new)

Towpath from about Radford bottom lock to Braunston I would estimate is 90% hell on earth. Rough, muddy as hell(at this time of year) and incredibly hard going.

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A small section of surfaced towpath, probably from Bascote to here, at Stockton.
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Finally coming to Braunstone and the first junction.
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A mile or so after Braunstone you have your first tunnel. A diversion up and over the top is straight but sections through fields again are muddy and hard going.
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After the tunnel it's more slog of which has all melded into one slogfest in my mind, until you hit Blisworth tunnel.
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Up and over the top again, for a short section of road.. BLISS!!! 😀

Eventually, after a lifetime, you start getting near Milton Keynes.
The towpath gets better around here. However, while it gets harder surfaced, it's still really hard on a sore backside on a hardtail.
Anyway, I reckon I got to MK at about 3.45. I had to search the mahoosive town layout for a jetwash as I knew Id have to take my bike into my accommodation. I was directed to one a couple of miles away from my hotel. When I'd done all that I found my hotel and lo and behold, a garage right next door! Doh!!

A night in beautiful Milton Keynes was had. Shower was awesome, as was the beer and pizza... 😀

Left MK at a leisurely 7.45...

Then more slog..
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...and more slog, until a nice Veggie cafe in Hemel Hempstead.
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Sometime later and a little uplift as I hit the Mason Dixon line (the M25...at least I think it was the M25..)
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More grassy bits with several hideous mud bits thrown in here and there...
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Every few miles you had one of these markers. They started to annoy me as all I wanted was to get away from Braunstone. I had by here obviously but the numbers seemed to notch up incredibly slowly.
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At some point I happened to see a roadsign off the canal which said 'London 7 Miles' This made me very happy...until.. I checked my canal maps and by canal it was still 25! Gutted.

This last 25 miles I really struggled with to be honest. These sort of distances on such hard going ground take it out of you. The worst though was probably the saddle sore. I had to keep getting off and walking every now and then to get some relief from it. Eventually, I hit the Paddington arm, surprisingly the towpath was dire for quite a while, lots of mudddy ruts.

Got some pavement after a while and crossed the North Circular! 😀
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Very uplifting.
Little Venice
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..and finally, I made it. It was starting to get dark but I had lost so much time in that last bit especially from sore ar5e disease so I was really happy anyway.
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Quick photo with the Boris bikes.
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Couple of very welcome pints!
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And finally the train back to Leamington Spa...
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So, would I do it again? Possibly, in Winter? Hell no!
This is a trip for good weather. The towpath from those two points has to be at least 85% grass/mud and so you want it dried out.
I think it would have been great if I'd had a suspension seatpost and maybe quicker rolling tyres than the Ardents. Also, panniers would be great to take some weight off your back for a while.
But yes, as I said before the trip, its more about a lesson in endurance rather than anything exciting. It would be great to do it with bivi kit etc, but definitely panniers etc needed.
Glad to be sat in bed now, walking about like the lovechild of John Wayne and Clyde out of 'Every which way but Loose'...

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congratulations!

now you know why a weekend in Wales is more preferable!

Good stuff Living a mile north on the canal from the M25 Photo I know all to well the mud you had to face. Often fancied this as a little challenge done MK to home before - perhaps when the weather dries up you will inspire me to ge that bit further !

Well done - amd you didnt get any punctures?
I bet those tyre strips have about 100 thorns in!
I would like this but - like you said - def not in winter. Mind you summer can be just as wet - perhapse spring?

How many miles all together?

I think all in it is about 125 miles. I felt a bit of a fraud at first not going from Birmingham centre, but in reality, the first half was such heavy going that adding another 30 miles or something onto it would have meant probably not making MK on the first day.

In the end I used slime in the tyres. Not a single puncture! Mind you, maybe I have about a million punctures but the tyres just stayed inflated.

Yup, weekend in Wales next time! 😀

Well done kayak23 and thanks for the excellent write-up.

Yep - that's the M25. That's near me and I reckon the canal is dry heavenly bliss at this time of year compared to endless deep clag everywhere else around us at this time of year.

I am inspired......

Looks like a good ride, well done.
I've been thinking about doing [url= http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stourport_Ring ]the 74 mile Stourport Ring[/url] and [url= http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avon_Ring ]the 109 mile Avon Ring[/url].
Looking at your pictures, and knowing what the sections I ride on every day to work are like, I think I'll wait till the weather dries up a bit.

Sustrans do a few canal route maps if anyone's interested in doing something similar.
http://sustransshop.co.uk/by/category/88-canal--river-routes

well done mate, good pics and write up. Its all about being on the bike. you'll probably need a couple more of them under your belt before Peru!

nice one 😀

as i live in devizes (kennet & avon canal) i would like to do devizes to london sometime (following the canoe race route),would cycle back too.

unfortunately the canal from devizes east is a lot rougher than devizes to bath (they haven't renewed the towpath east of devizes) 😯

Kayak, veyr inspiring thanks for the write up.
Me and a friend are stupid enough to be doing this in a few weeks. Planning on getting the train from Apsley to Birmingham at first light, then stopping one night in MK like yourself.

May i ask what hotel you stayed in at MK? they were alright with the bike in your room?

Thanks

The Stourport ring looks like a good days riding I've done parts of it (Birmingham to Woverlhamption, Netherton tunnel and Brum to Tardebigge) so this would be a good way of joining them up

liking the sound of this 🙂 ... the stourport ring is tempting as well as im only 10 mins from the canal 🙂

May i ask what hotel you stayed in at MK? they were alright with the bike in your room?

Hi Blindside.

The 'hotel' I stayed at was.... Not really a hotel. Weird setup, but basically they own a few houses in central Milton Keynes. They are four bedroom houses I think and basically you rent a room in one. I had the top room and there were some workmen in the other rooms. Each room has locks etc of course.
They are nice people anyway and apparently the owner is an ex tour de France rider so doesn't mind cyclists.

If you need a jet wash there is a garage very near. The girl leaves the office around 5 so you'd have to be there before that ideally. Depends on your pace and stamina I guess.

Anyway, the website is [url= http://www.roomsmiltonkeynes.co.uk/ ]here......[/url]

Have a good one.

Great write-up. And bloomin well done.
Really fancy doing this in summer.

Top effort that man. Thanks for posting the write up.

Sorry If im reviving an old thread, but no better thread for it.

9 of us are doing from Wolverhampton to London in August over 2 days.
All in aid of a local charity 'Compton Hospice'

I'm debating wether to use my patriot 66 or wether to look at hardtail.

All in aid of a local charity 'Compton Hospice

A excellent cause too. We donate loads of stuff to charity shops instead of selling on ebay and it's always compton we take it too. They do a great job! Good luck!

Excellent .... still fancy doing this myself ... maybe london to brum way though 🙂 ...... train down and bike back to up my house 🙂

cheers Guys. Really looking forward to it, defo not gonna be easy tho.

9 of us are doing from Wolverhampton to London in August over 2 days.
All in aid of a local charity 'Compton Hospice'

can anyone join in?

and if so, when is it exactly?

we're doing it the 9th/ 10th August, train back courtesy of virgin, one of the team work for them.

I believe the organiser wanted 9 and thats what he has got so dont believe will be taking any more on. Sorry chap.
However if your local/ in wolves, we will be doing lots of training between now and then, with many canal rides. Not really my cup of tea, id rather be on the chase or llandegla, but need some distance in to prepare for this.
You're welcome to come and ride,

we're doing it the 9th/ 10th August, train back courtesy of virgin, one of the team work for them.

I believe the organiser wanted 9 and thats what he has got so dont believe will be taking any more on. Sorry chap.
However if your local/ in wolves, we will be doing lots of training between now and then, with many canal rides. Not really my cup of tea, id rather be on the chase or llandegla, but need some distance in to prepare for this.
You're welcome to come and ride,

cheers chap no problem, sounded intriguing, not sure if training rides along the cut is my thing either?

The Wyre Forest tends to be our choice for weekend mayhem at the moment , if you've not been or don't know it, or know it ,your welcome, i'm just kind of getting my bearings over there at the moment.

email in profile

cheers

Keith

Ok Keith Sound, well where do you live. I struggle to get far as I rely on mates who drive, I only have m/cycle license and no good for biking lol.
I have ridden ribbesford downhill in the winter, not since its started to dry out, i believe this is by the wyre forest.
We checked out sandwell yesterday, the new trail there is gonna be fantastic.

@ whathaveisaidnow

I will email you, sorry mate

ashbladez - Member
Sorry If im reviving an old thread, but no better thread for it.

9 of us are doing from Wolverhampton to London in August over 2 days.
All in aid of a local charity 'Compton Hospice'

I'm debating wether to use my patriot 66 or wether to look at hardtail.

Fair play to you, that's adding another 35 or so miles to what I did I imagine, that's going to hurt 🙂

How light is your patriot compared to your hardtail? I think rear suspension would be nice as there is relentless bumps and wallows for a lot of sections. I would have liked that myself but my only full suss option was my NP Mega and it's too much for that.
I think my ideal weapon of choice would have been the hardtail but with a suspension seatpost.
Still, either would be fine, whatever is most comfortable for extended periods.

Take some quick rolling tyres, and slime is essential. I had no flats on my trip, but later found around ten thorns in each tyre. I'd have lost so much time without the slime in there.

Are you going to camp?
If you have dry weather up to and on the trip, you'll be fortunate. I shouldn't have gone in the winter as the towpath was predominantly hellish claggy treacle nightmare..

Good luck. Post up your experiences.

Thanks kayak. We are staying somewhere I believe. Yes definitely going for quick rolling tires and slime. I run an air shock at the min so not too heavy, set up isn't great for the ride but around June I may get a bike through work which will be a hard tail. Thanks for the info.

** you'll probably be alright by then but bear in mind, the season, narrow canal paths, farmers, hedge trimming, hawthorn - in the last 3 week gf and I got 30+ punctures on two canal rides........

**Edit ** CHECK FOR ANGLING COMPETITIONS - it's in upper case as we had to go through one on Bath/Reading - carbon poled twunts one and all (*very few exceptions) but most got the hump and were slow to move their cradled poles all of which which were blocking the path - < 1 mph ...... inconsiderate, thoughtless r soles

Tubeless then 😀

Ash, don't suppose your doing the ride with Andy Hooper are you??

I am planning to ride back to Northampton along the GUC from Milton Keynes tonight. The bike has already been in the workshop having extra Stan's fluid in the tyres. I remember one morning attempting it and getting through all my spare tubes in less than a mile. It's not the most exciting of rides but it is nice to be out in the countryside away from traffic.

I must add that since doing this trip, I've found it very hard to cycle along canals again. It gives me nightmares...
Perhaps seek some counselling after your trip.
😉

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Thanks for the further info kayak, kinda, gusamc and mister p.

For all of you who may wish to donate here is the just giving page.

https://www.justgiving.com/Ryan-Fletcher4/

Name rings a bell kinda, but i know theres not an andy in the group

He lives in Smethwick, but works at Wolves station (I'm in the signal box) I know he's done it a few times but think he did London to Brum instead..

*strokes chin*

I'm doing this end of may... Anyone bivvied or camped this route. Planning over 3 to 4 days with 4 lads from work all non cyclists where did you stop?

Anyone bivvied or camped this route. Planning over 3 to 4 days with 4 lads from work all non cyclists where did you stop?

I didn't camp/bivi but there are plenty of areas that I'd say you'd get away with it if you're discreet. Some sections of the canal have very wide grassy towpaths where you could camp near the hedge, otherwise I suppose fields if you can find some that look suitable.