You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more
Hi all.
As the evening's get lighter I'll be looking for some post work road or MTB rides from the Barnwood area - I'd like to ride straight out, only looking to drive to the FOD mid summer.
Any recommendations or routes?
Thanks
Road - lots of pleasant rolling country lanes south of the city between the M5 and the river, and north of the city in the triangle between Gloucester/Tewkesbury/Newent. If you want a steeper challenge, head along the old Ermin Way/Hucclecote Road from Barnwood and straight up Birdlip Hill - that'll warm you up pretty quick... From the top up there you're into the Cotswolds, head down little lanes to Cirencester/Painswick etc
MTB - Cranham woods is on your doorstep (at the top of Birdlip Hill again, admittedly). Not sure what the latest is with riding up there, it was getting a bit controversial at one point
From Barnword, head to Cranham and Painswick golf Course if you have an hour or so. Birdlip hill isn't the nicest climb at rush hour but it is the quickest.
random segment to get you in the area
https://www.strava.com/segments/24356768
The latest with Cranham i am aware of, don't be a dick and don't ride the shrine as the new owners are dicks.
I grew up in Newent. As many quiet lanes as you can shake a stick at. Lots of great road riding over that way, both North up towards Tewkesbury, and South into the Forest. Shouldn't be too bad to reach from Barnwood way I'd have thought?
Ah awesome thanks for the heads up, just spent some time getting familiar. No issues with Birdlip hill as I'm used to climbing a 1 in 12 to my local escape to Essex / entry to Epping forest. These rides will mostly be replacements for mid-week intervals I'd do at home, a decent hill is ideal to play on for those.
When working in Gloucester I'll be splitting my time at Holiday Inn Barnwood, and Hotel Du Vin Cheltenham, so can ride around that triangle for the latter, and just need work out how to avoid the A40/A417 for the former to get to Birdlip - anything I can't see on Google maps that helps with that?
With the tips above I found some Cranham woods guides (and contraversy!) in the 'net so will continue to look.
Thanks for the pointers!
https://www.strava.com/activities/5604150936
https://connect.garmin.com/modern/course/23654389
https://www.strava.com/activities/6553411423
If you are at the hotel du vin, a few ideas from a cheltenham base.
To avoid the A40/A417, you can ride off road, or you use the A46, or the old Gloucester Road, be aware of bridge works on the M5, a number of the minor roads are shut for months with NO access.
To avoid the bigger roads from Barnwood, you can use Brockworth Road or Churchdown Lane to go over the hill to Churchdown, then little lanes to Innsworth, Norton (short section on A38) and Bishops Norton. From there you're down to the river and away
Churchdown Lane to go over the hill to Churchdown,
That's one of the ones that shut depending on which way you go.
Ah, okay, it's been a long time since I've ridden around there (I lived in Churchdown about 15 years ago)
Great thanks. Some goggle map work shows a walk/cycle way around the corner from the Barnwood Holiday Inn on Barnet Way that’ll quickly get me to the Barnwood road so I can head south to Birdlip. Seems the world is my oyster in that direction.
Will have a look at riding out of Cheltenham today, not sure if the HDV is going to be as receptive of a bike in the room…
Thinking about it, from 'Nam you can head north via Bishops Cleeve and Gotherington, or straight over Cleeve Hill into Winchcombe, or up the A40 to Withington, and again, the globe is your mollusc, absolutely tonnes of attractive country lanes. A loop around the base of Bredon Hill wouldn't be the worst way to spend an evening on a bike, f'r'example.
Riding out of Cheltenham with a MTB you can go up Lecky hill via a few routes and XC to Birdlip wood onto Cranham and Painswick Beacon tons of bridleways above Cheltenham and Gloucester also Cleeve Hill/Standish woods above Stroud and if you have a CX bike or gravel bike Gloucester to Sharpness on the canal is nice ride and the Forest is GREAT.
Road wise I would tend to go out Ledbury way the roads have got very busy in the last 20 years up around Birdlip/Air Balloon/Peglesworth etc.
Hi all - staying in Gloucester in a few weeks in the Bowden Hall - would someone local check my proposed route for sensibility please - essentially I'm creating a 1hr road rode with a few hills for intervals.
Thanks!
As said above earlier in the thread try not to do the the Birdlip climb in rush hours and you'll be tailgated by overtaking vehicles, other than that great.
Yep, what he said.
Great thanks - I imagine this'll be 6:30-7:30 ish, but I'll leave as late as possible looking not to ride in twilight.
Noted there is an 18-20% section at the top, ouch.
Yes it gets progressively harder, quite often see people off and walking in the wooded section - I only ever go down it as I live at the top 🤣
Well, I can't NOT do it now, sounds like a challenge! My bike is 52/36 25-11 built for the Essex flatlands so it could be fun 🙁
My bike is 52/36 25-11 built for the Essex flatlands so it could be fun
*points and laughs
😉
Cheltenham & County do MTB rides on a Tuesday night. Leaving from Pitville Pumprooms at 6:45
52/36 25-11
For contrast my 'road' bike is 40 10-42 for around here.....
Ah well, I'm supposed to be improving my climbing strength so this is one way to go about it.
Cheltenham & County do MTB rides on a Tuesday night. Leaving from Pitville Pumprooms at 6:45
Good to know, thanks @doomanic
Some intervals up and down your final descent will do it, that is an absolute b@$tard... Or whizz over to Bishops Cleeve (other side of Cheltenham) and have a crack at Bushcombe Lane.