It’s competition week here on London Cyclist! We’ve teamed up with the Norfolk Broads holidaymaker Richardson’s Boating Holidays, to offer readers the chance to win three Laser lane bike lights. The Norfolk Broads and surrounding area are a haven for nature lovers and attract fervent cyclists keen to explore the Broads after they have moored up.
Entering the competition is easy. Simply, answer the below question in the comments:
What is your favourite place to cycle in the UK when you are not pedalling around London?
By entering you agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of the competition. Competition closes on the 9th of November and the three winners will be announced right here!
Our winners are: S popple, Victoria and Maria Gilbert. All three have been contacted and if no reply is received within a reasonable time frame we’ll be picking another winner.
There’s a wonderful circular route starting in Henley, through the Chiltern Hills which I love at any time of year. There’s a fine pub on the way which serves very good food and is tolerant of slightly muddy bikers too – bonus!
Anywhere by the sea, or any former railway line converted to a cycle path – I don’t like hills! There’s a nice one from Bamber Bridge into Preston city centre.
The black mountains in Wales, hard up hills, easy down for a long way and views to die for.
Food, drink, bike spares all easy to get to plus camp sites.
BHF London to Brighton bike ride, Father’s Day, with my son on our beloved tandem. Save something for Ditchling Beacon.
The ex-railwayline bike path from Bristol to Bath.
I like to take the train to Frant (near Tunbridge Wells) and ride around the twisty country lanes to a beautiful boating lake called Bewl Water. En route I collect my mum and dad and we have jolly time cycling around this expansive lake before sitting down with a nice flask of tea and one of my mums homemade cakes to watch the wind surfers. My passion for cycling has inspired them to hit the road in their early 50s and I would love to be able to present them with a brand new bike.
Haven’t had the chance to cycle outside London yet, but I think I would love the seaside. Any!
The Camel Trail in Cornwall. Rode it in June. Miles of beautiful scenery along side rivers and railways.
I guess this still counts as cycling in London but it’s still my favourite: the London Skyride.
Such a shame they didn’t do it this year (2012), due to the Olympics apparently.
Otherwise cycling around my home town of Croydon is always fun.
Anywhere in Essex or Suffolk. Typically from Colchester to Manningtree-Harwich-Frinton-Clacton and back to Colchester.
My favourite cycle route outside of London is from Parkstone, near Bournemouth to Swanage taking the Sandbanks Ferry. This takes you across the Isle of Purbeck and has a great descent into Swanage.
Will cycle anywhere just love being on my bike even better when out with my buddies and our new little group Faversham Velotec.
High Peak and Tissington trails in the peak district, an excellent circular 40 mile route through lovely countryside
When not pedalling around London my favourite place to cycle in the UK, has to be out and about in Norfolk, great country pubs and incredible sea views. Plenty tourist traps and fish and chip shops…
What more could you want? Apart from a laser lane lining up your slipstream
Reculver to Margate, fish and chips and then back – almost all along the coast. Would suggest Whitstable to Margate but there is a off road section not suitable for all.
There’s an overgrown trail at Millet in St Lucia that winds through the rain forest up the mountains. It’s a real dog of a ride, and definitely not for the faint-hearted, But the view from the top will take your breath away.
Just a pity I can’t do it every day.
And I know it’s not in the UK, but just had to share it.
I loved cycling in Cambridge as a student. Proper cycling culture and the closest thing to proper infrastructure the UK gets. And being an experienced cyclist among newbies only allowed me greater leeway to show off.
JF
The New Forest. Good rail connections, quiet roads, great off road tracks and great towns, coffee shops and pubs! Everything you need for a great ride!
Lee Valley Nature reserve in London
Bristol was an amazing place to cycle around. But when we were there we took a cycle out to Cheddar Gorge. Eat cheese, drink cider, look at the countryside then tootle back to Bristol amazed at how much it feel like you’re cycling downhill after you’ve had a cider, we thought.
We accidentally got diverted onto the motorway, decided to get off at the next exit then realised we were completely lost. We took a diversion through a wood and a disused mental health facility (creepy movie style) and had to throw our bikes over a fence and haul ourselves over too.
Nonetheless, once back on track it was an amazing route and Bristol is a susper-cycle friendly place (other than the occassional hill, which just makes you feel like a champ!)
I rode from Ludham to Clippesby a couple of years ago, it was absolutely brilliant. Without a doubt the Broads are one of my favourite places to cycle. The beer was really good too, excellent in fact.
The normal ride to work takes me through Southall and Ealing to Paddington, it is fairly up and down and full of cars with broken indicators.. it is therefor an exagerated joy for me to ride around Portsmmouth and Southsea. There isn’t must better than the flat ride along the coast buy Southsea Common!
Cliffs over Hastings. Best view ever.
Surrey Hills, either on off-road on my MTB, or on-road on my road bike. Close to London (and even closer to my house) and some of the best riding in the South East. And since the Olympics, the resurfaced Zig Zag Road is like riding up a billiard table. Lovely.
I had a couple of lomg w/e’s cycling in the Isle of wight when I was younger. We would catch the ferry and stay at a campsight near Cowes so we could offload all our gear and be free to explore – and it’s not flat!
Would love to go back when the kids are old enough to do it.
York, like Cambridge, is cycle friendly and my favourite quick outing there is from Skeldergate bridge down the banks of the river ouse, past the greylag geese (and goslings if you pick the right time of year), over the blue bridge, and eventually crossing over York’s millennium bridge. You then have the option of a short excursion onwards to the racecourse, skirting around its southern edge, or, if inclement weather, heading back to Skeldergate up the other side of the Ouse, stopping at the viewing points on the way. Get a puncture, and forgot your spares? No fear – you won’t be that far from a cycle shop (nearest is Bishopthorpe Road).
Hartside on the ctc ride; 1902 feet of hell; followed by a a cup of tea and rock cake heaven at the cafe at the top [ open summer only]
Definitely the wonderful promenade in my home town of Morecambe which has won a National Transport Award for cycling improvements.
The South Downs Way
The Down’s Link is a great day out!
The Jurassic coast in Dorset where we live.
Amusing how many people don’t bother making a comment, or I’m guessing even follow this blog, until a competition comes along.
Kent, green gentle hills, few cars and stunning sea views!
The Norfolk Broads!
From Woking to home takes me along the Basingstoke canal.
Lovely!
Foulness Island, Essex
Lincolnshire
any where in the countryside , if the weathers not to miserable !!
Between Dorchester & Axminster, on the Sustrans route!
Fylde Coast
Eastbourne East Sussex.
the Trossachs
Dunstable Downs heading towards Hemel Hempstead direction and an orange Calipo – yum.
The Peak District!
Richmond park out through to chilterns, Henley, just beautiful with some great hills
It’s got to be the peak district! Big, steep, leg burning climbs…and fast, alpine-esque descents! Not bad pubs for a lunch either!
Coastal areas in Cornwall……
The Peak Forest Canal, south of Stockport
The Kent area is lovely!
used to love cycling in the Chilterns & Cotswolds, easy access from NW London.
The Broads
I think I would have to say West Sussex, especially hills above Arundel. We attended the Easter Tandem Rally there a couple of years ago and it was fabulous.
By the way my local bike shop decided not to stock these lights, because they had not been “approved for use” at that time. Just curious if that has changed, or if they are given with that as understood? The reasoning was that this was a laser product and has particular safety concerns.