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I'm planning on riding up to Cambridge in a few weeks time and was wondering about doing it on the Icknield Way from Ivinghoe.
Is it similar terrain to the Ridgeway?
Is it suitable for a gravel bikes rather than mtb?
What are conditions like this time of year?
I've not been on the Icknield Way beyond Great Chesterford, but regularly cycle on the bit between there and Newmarket; it goes passed about a mile from the house. Bit's of it are singletrack through woods, bits of it are gravel (of various sizes) farm roads and some of it's the main road. There are a couple of bits that can get clarty, but should be easily ridable.
The Ichnield way from Luton, Hitchin, Letchworth, Baldock to Royston is a mixture of Singletrack, gravel tracks & some roads linking the off-road bits. It’s very doable on a gravel bike. I live in Letchworth & have ridden parts of it often.
I’ve ridden the bits from Luton towards Letchworth. “Gravel”bike imo. Hardtail for comfort.
It can be clarty but it’s really dry at the moment. Bliss.
Did some of it a few weeks back. Not as interesting or as much elevation as the Ridgeway. Definitely doable on a gravel bike. I would recommend following a gpx route as not all the signing is clear (yes, I got lost, but did eventually find my way back to the route)
There's an Icknield Way Path and an Icknield Way that run North and South respectively of Royston, that's confusing. What's best? Glad to hear it's ideal for gravel bikes, shall pass that on to my son who lives in Bedfordshire.
I think one calls itself the icknield trail and the others the inknield path, the former is the bridleway and the latter a walking route?
I'm not local, just working near the northern end and contemplated riding home to Reading on it!
You want the Icknield Way Riders Route, the signage (what there is of it anyway) is different. Instead of the small circular tokens screwed to wooden posts, you're after stubby green pointy aluminium signs on metal poles for the riders route. Lots of the signs have faded, or are now behind bushes etc, so you do need to pay attention occasionally.
Thanks k1100t, sounds as though it's not used much.
tinas - why not if the opportunity is there, always good to ride somewhere different. This may help:
https://mtb.waymarkedtrails.org/#route?id=3422897&map=12!52.1463!0.1542