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just started to do a bit of road riding over the winter and wondered if there are any great 'classic' rides anywhere around the UK that I should plan to do (any info or pointers to where I can find out more would be good).
Thanks.
p.s. yes I have posted on road.cc too (no replies yet though).
Mine are all a bit Scotio-centric, so apologies, but
Arrochar-Oban via Inveraray and Hells Glen. Great ride with some stunning scenery and lots of hills. Great switchbackuy descent from the top of the Rest and Be Thankful towards Lochgoilhead before the beautiful climb through Hell's Glen. Coastal to Inveraray then a climb/descent to Dalmally and views of the Cruachan range. Reach Taynuilt via Pass of Brander then turn left through Glen Lonan to reach Oban, a fantastic chippy (Onorio's) and the train back to Arrochar.
Good options around Killin, either up and over to bridge of balgie (brilliant descent) then back via 'un-mapped' road from Pubil. If you reverse it and descend the 'un-mapped' road to Pubil, you then get a long gradual descent through Glen Lyon before climbing back up and over via the Ben Lawyers road.
Road circuit of Mull is good, lots of new tarmac and silly windy climbs/descents.
Think you could plan a good loop from Kyle of Lochalsh on to Skye, south then east on a minor road to the Glenelg ferry, cross and climb/descend the Ratagan pass to Glen Shiel, then ride to Plockton and then back to Kyle of Lochalsh.
Lots of roads around the Aberfeldy/Pitlochry/Dunkeld region, two or three great climbs/descents that can be combined in 60-100mile rides. Just don't follow the route of the Etape Caledonia as it avoids all the good stuff!
All the "club runs" from my youth are classics. Stafford to t'other side of Buxton, Stafford to Llangollen, Stafford to West Wales via Newton and Devil's bridge (that wasn't a 1 dayer). Getting the bonk at age 15 is a bit grim, but a valuable lesson.
Try reading that book [url= http://www.amazon.co.uk/One-More-Kilometre-Were-Showers/dp/0006532284 ]One More Kilometre and We're in the Showers[/url] for some personal inspiration.
'bonk at 15' fnar fnar.
oh might be able to try some Scottish ones this year, as we are plannng a road trip up that'away
thanks. anymore - I'm from down south, but do venture north too.
Thanks.
You can't get more classic than the route of the Fred Whitton in the Lakes.
Perhaps not ideal as your first foray into road riding though....
Its a good route as a 2 dayer if you aren't up for doing it in one.
Out of the front door, big loop into the countryside, through some lanes, over some hills, stop at a cafe, home after 100 miles and a grand day out.
They're the classics.