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I understand that there are no hills anywhere near the place, but there has to be somewhere to ride. Where is it?
Just ride into the wind, then you don't need hills, every time I'm there it's been blowing a gale. But as I've only been there visiting uni mates I haven't taken a bike, and only know my way round the town centre pubs, clubs and greasy spoon cafes. Nice place though.
Well Lincoln is actually on a gert big hill so you could try riding up and down that.
Other than that it's pretty poor. There are loads of great cycle ways and the like to ride out on, but it is flat as a pancake.
I'm living there temporarily and somehow my Patriot seems a little out of place......
Yeah, I always thought Lincoln would be a good place for one of those fatface mini dh street things like they did in Scarborough. Other than that its pretty flat until you get into the wolds.
Quite a few Lincoln people on here now.
Actually in Lincoln, there isn't much riding to be had, although the [url= http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=53.238407,-0.500307&spn=0.013176,0.038581&t=h&z=15 ]quarry[/url] up by Carlton Boulevard has some potential for playing around in (managed to put together just over 4 miles of riding the other day in there without riding the same trails over and over again) and there are some bridleways over towards the south of the city/Bracebridge Heath.
Market Rasen is only 30-40 minutes away depending where in Lincoln you are, and from there you can get out onto the wolds.
Hello!
I'm in Lincoln. We have only one hill, Steep Hill, it has cobbles and is about as close to off-roading in the heart of Lincoln as you're going to get. But I wouldn't advise it as there are too many obstacles (read 'tourists') to make it down in one piece 🙂
But seriously, last weekend I went out for a cross country cycle round the villages - just get yourself an OS map and pick out your own route. Ok, so it is relatively flat but there are some good stretches of bridal way.
If you want long distance (and flat...flat is the running theme here) then take the national cycle path out from the centre of the city (near the Lincs FM building) and follow the water (south side) as far as you like to the east, you could go to Woodhall Spa and back in a day.
Or follow the same cycle path heading out west of Lincoln (from the Brayford Pool, keep north side of the water) this takes you to the Pyewipe Inn, when you get there go right, through their carpark, through the tunnel then follow the cycle path on your left up and over the bridge. This then takes you to Skellingthorpe woods where there are a few bridal ways to play on.
And that is it. Otherwise you've got Sherwood Pines out near Mansfield, which I've heard is pretty good and I intend to check it out soon. There looks like some interesting countryside on the Grantham OS map, but I've not explored it yet so can't say from experience.
If you do happen upon a mountain, or indeed any terrain that makes it above sea level, then please do let me know.
Good luck!
Joolz
Its not the peaks, and in the wet the clay mud is a bit of a pig, but there are some half decent rides. If you are into downhill/big drops, try www.trailblazerz.net at Market Rasen, or if you are more xc oriented try www.louthnet.com/LAMB - a decent forum with a few riders from the Lincoln area, although based more over towards Louth.
Another vote for the cycle track out to Skellingthorpe (where I'm currently living!). Ride out through the village and follow the bridleway signs into the Old Wood - it's not bad in there (flat still).
Or, Sustrans now have a decent surfaced track beyond this point and over the Trent near the old power stations. Again, it's dog flat, but quite pretty, and you'll see almost no-one.
Just been thinking about this some more. Last time I checked there is an early morning train from Lincoln to Edale (changing at Sheffield) day return is relatively inexpensive. From there, the world is your oyster.
Go on the bicyclemania website for a 40+ mile XC route around the Wolds. I've been over to do it today as its dry and flows well; when wet it is a slog. It is by no means technical riding, but exploring with a map is always a joy.
Be warned though, it is far from flat.
The Peaks aren't that far away, you can be at Cutgate in about 1hr 30mins.
I used to night-run in the Old Wood at Smellythorpe.
Coming at it from the north, if you stick Grimsby side of caistor, and eastwards, there's actually plenty of elevation to play with, and willingham woods at mkt rasen is good if you like 60 sec dh runs.
We use alot of routes from market rasen.
its not flat round there.
I live in North Hykeham, sadly it is pretty flat - I ride a Heckler so its a little out of place here.
I mainly ride in the Dark Peak (60ish miles) and the DH/Freeride park at Hamilton Hill!
Any one fancy a ride partner I am happy to show you round the Dark Peak!
Thanks for the info. I'll go explore and see what I can find.
I don't come from Lincoln but I've rode from Mansfield/Sherwood pines area via Tuxford - Cycle route to Harby/Lincoln then follow river out of city, on to viking way and finally to West Ashby - 54 miles. And then back again. Lots of off-road, lot of flat but always interesting.
If you're prepared to be a bit sneaky the cycle-route before Harby is an old rail-way passing over the Trent on a old bridge that is the only way to get across apart from the road. It's a bit naughty but I reckon this could be come a dedicated route at some point.
http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-kingdom/mansfield/357431245
You don't need to be sneaky anymore - Sustrans have done / are doing their magic and the cycle trail runs from near Tuxford, over the trent and down into Skellingthorpe.
It's very flat, but very underused so you see some good wildlife down there.
hey, is that joolz from cyclesport? if so hi there, hope you had a good holiday, next time you see brett get on his back about Mayhem, if not, hi anyway!
I've done the train out to edale before, it's really easy from lincoln. The trains out of sheffield have great bike space but the lincoln-sheff ones generally have a very pokey bike space. Nice cheap day out from lincoln, give yourself enough time and you can ride straight out from sheffield and save some train fare.
So is it possible to ride lincoln-sherwood pines on the sustrans routes? edit- just clicked your link, that looks ace, I'd been thinking there must be a way to get over there off road, looks like I've got myself an all-day-er in the making!
I think us flatland dwellers should have a group flat ride 😀 I live near Sleaford and boy it flat 😆
Lol, hi John Duke.
I'm afraid not, no, I'm Joolz of BG Theatre in Lincoln. But if I meet this other Joolz then I will say hi for you 🙂
I think us flatland dwellers should have a group flat ride
Like some sort of support group for those in need? 🙂