A strong candidate is the A49 between the A417 and the B4361
The A66 between Brough and Appleby, I wasn't on it for long but it was far too long.
The A66 between Brough and Appleby, I wasn't on it for long but it was far too long.
I think much of the perceived terror of any road is how fast the cyclist is moving.
A30 from Lands End to Oakhampton ans A74 towards Gretna (on same LEJoG journey).
A30 from Lands End to Oakhampton ans A74 towards Gretna (on same LEJoG journey).+1 for the A74. I hit some nasty debris while crossing the girder bridge on the hard shoulder; I expected it to tangle in the rotating machinery of the Windcheetah. I'd hoped that a 7am start from Carlisle would avoid the worst of the traffic, but all the northbound 18-wheelers had the same idea.
They are both motorways in all but classification except they don't have a wide hard shoulder like a motorway. Truly scary couple of days riding inches from traffic doing >70mph hoping that the drivers aren't messing with their car stereos.
A1 at Wetherby. No question. Even the urban motorway under Leeds didn't come close.
Actually you remind me of the right turn off the A1 featured on one of Toothgrinder's recent permanents.
A40 Gloucester at 5 pm on a winter Saturday, on an audax. Just a really bad idea.
What I noticed whilst riding LEJoG was the length of (dual carriageway) slip-roads onto some of the ' motorway-like roads that have been mentioned. Not only do you have cars missing you by inches on your right, now you have 2 lanes of cars cars joining from your left doing 70mph.
In a car, doing 70mph+, you don't even notice cars joining from the left, on a bike however, it suddenly becomes apparent that you are now in the middle lane of a 'motorway' and have to figure out the safest way of getting to the far left and the (relative) safety of the hard shoulder.
I reckon some slip roads are half a mile long. Scary stuff.
One day I'll do LEJoG again I reckon. I won't be doing it on main roads though, give me gnarly Cornish lanes any day.
When you get to an entry slip road, stop, check it's clear, then cross the slip road at 90 degrees. Yes it's slower for a cyclist, and no I don't normally advocate stopping/dismounting, but it's the only safe way.
Just past Exeter on my way to Plymouth, I can't remember which road. I had to get from the 1st to the 4th lane of a multi lane carriageway to turn off.
I was shocked that I was still alive when I was done!
A40 Gloucester at 5 pm on a winter Saturday, on an audax. Just a really bad idea.
I'd say the A40 between Cheltenham and Gloucester, not because of any particular levels of traffic, but because it's an extension of the M4 in every sense. Going across the junction slip roads was lethal, literally. Traffic leaves and enters at 70mph (at least!).
I think I cycled it twice, when it wasn't all that busy, before I decided it was a really really bad idea.
It was later signed up "No Cycling", and I assume it still is.
... depends where you need to get to in Chelt.
M5 btw fwiw.
A40 west of Gloucester is generally ok, but not pleasant in rush hour I would agree. Again there is no other good option by bike unless you want a massive detour via Highnam or somewhere.
True terror is when you get the sound of an articulated lorry changing down through the box just over your right shoulder as you ride into yet another ill-conceived bit of traffic calming. So the A59/ A 1079 between Preston and Hull takes a lot of beating. This video from 58 seconds YouTube - Daylight 2007 (http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=ah85hs8dJhE) sums up the special charm of the A82.
Damon.
A40 Gloucester at 5 pm on a winter Saturday, on an audax. Just a really bad idea.
I'd say the A40 between Cheltenham and Gloucester, not because of any particular levels of traffic, but because it's an extension of the M4 in every sense. Going across the junction slip roads was lethal, literally. Traffic leaves and enters at 70mph (at least!).
I think I cycled it twice, when it wasn't all that busy, before I decided it was a really really bad idea.
It was later signed up "No Cycling", and I assume it still is.
Yes, it's "no cycling", although I have seen one person cycling it. It does present a problem - there is no good way to get from Glos to Chelt by bike, because the cycle path along the B road through Churchdown is shocking, the B road itself isn't great and it is a really big detour compared to the nice and straight A40. I have used the A417/A46 route instead and it's not too bad - depends where you need to get to in Chelt.
For me I think the Maltese motorway and associated slip roads myself, TT, Regulator and Valiant found ourselves on one day has to feature.
The A34 Western Bypass by Oxford is fairly unpleasant. Occasionally a car will pass that's only doing about 75mph.
I cycled along the A40 btwn Gloucester & Cheltenham a couple of weeks ago on a Saturday afternoon. Didn't seem too bad to me although crossing the slip roads required some care. Didn't notice any "no cycling" signs, tho that may well just show how unobservant I am.
Just past Exeter on my way to Plymouth, I can't remember which road. I had to get from the 1st to the 4th lane of a multi lane carriageway to turn off.
I was shocked that I was still alive when I was done!
That would be at the turnoff for Torquay? Just after that you have the slog up to the racecourse (the old car I had then only managed the climb in 4th gear if atmospheric conditions were ideal) so you'd be doing under 10mph, being buzzed by traffic doing 80mph.
True terror is when you get the sound of an articulated lorry changing down through the box just over your right shoulder as you ride into yet another ill-conceived bit of traffic calming. So the A59/ A 1079 between Preston and Hull takes a lot of beating. This video from 58 seconds YouTube - Daylight 2007 (http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=ah85hs8dJhE) sums up the special charm of the A82.
Damon.
I've mentioned it before, but the tyre of a lorry *touched my shoulder* when overtaking me on the old A34 from Newtown up the hill to Newbury. It wasn't scary at the time, but it seems pretty terrifying in retrospect.
Quote from: nuttycyclist link=topic=9750.msg170559#msg170559
When you get to an entry slip road, stop, check it's clear, then cross the slip road at 90 degrees. Yes it's slower for a cyclist, and no I don't normally advocate stopping/dismounting, but it's the only safe way.
IIRC, the A5 near Milton Keynes has hard surfaced bike lanes that cut through the grass arrow-shaped bits just before the slip road so that cyclist can do exactly as Nutty suggests - cross the slip road at right angles.
The A4 Hammersmith Flyover - Mr Larrington's idea, The Hyde Park corner underpass and the A40 from the Wye valley to the M50 when I first went touring as a 14 year old.
I've had a few... er... invigorating experiences on the UK roads, but for sheer dull, spirit-sapping terror I'd have to nominate the Yungas Road (http://coolplaces-alex.blogspot.com/2007/11/yungas-road-highway-of-death.html), in the rain. :o
I'm glad I did it - Mainly because it means I don't have to do it again... ;D
Mine has to be the A6025 between Elland and Brighouse.
Mine has to be the A6025 between Elland and Brighouse.
I think the answer to that is to stop going to Elland and Brighouse. I used to swim in Elland baths though.
I've always wished to kick the designer of the junction of the A473 and M4 at Pencoed (East of Bridgend) in the head.
As you cycle westwards along the the cyclist will arrive at a traffic controlled roundabout under the M4. So start again and pop out under the motorway bridge to discover the M4 slip road has joined on the left as a new inside lane leaving the cyclist in the middle of a fast moving dual carriageway.
Ok after midnight but in the morning commute it is a very ill advised choice of route.
Mine has to be the A6025 between Elland and Brighouse.
I think the answer to that is to stop going to Elland and Brighouse. I used to swim in Elland baths though.
It was a bit tricky to avoid, when I did live in Brighouse :)
The road between Cooper bridge in Huddersfiel and Brighouse is a bit of a mare as well
Quote from: nuttycyclist link=topic=9750.msg170559#msg170559
When you get to an entry slip road, stop, check it's clear, then cross the slip road at 90 degrees. Yes it's slower for a cyclist, and no I don't normally advocate stopping/dismounting, but it's the only safe way.
IIRC, the A5 near Milton Keynes has hard surfaced bike lanes that cut through the grass arrow-shaped bits just before the slip road so that cyclist can do exactly as Nutty suggests - cross the slip road at right angles.
Yes, there are these on the A14.
Which leads me to believe that they are stealth "Do not consider cycling on this road" indicators!
I've been scared on some nice quiet roads in France, but that wasn't because of the drivers but because of the 500 foot sheer drops the other side of a little low wall - a wall which had gaps in places so that you could enjoy the view even more.I like roads like that ;D
Werl, mine sounds like a walk in the park compared to some of those, but I did have to do it every day...
It's (or rather was - I understand the road layout thereabouts has changed a bit in the last 2 or 3 years) the stretch from Temple Meads, down and up the Temple Way underpass in the middle lane and then on to the 1st 40 or 50 yards of the dual carriageway that leads to the M32.
Just about as much fun going home...
The A419 from Stroud to Cirencester is a bit hairy. 60+mph and not a lot of visibility.+1 It can be. We use the section(s) up to Coates & Sapperton from the R.A.C. for a couple of our lunchtime circuits. Most of the time it's OK...
another I avoid is the roundabout at Gildersome which is a major melting pot for the main Leeds to Huddersfield or Bradford roads plus the M62 and M602 where there is also a major retail outlet (Ikea et al )and it an accident blackspot for cars let alone cycles ,its the scariest place I have ever been on a bike.
We did a very short stretch of the A66 out of Kendal. It was most unpleasant, but there were 5 of us on 4 bikes so we made a car-sized knot and occupied the full lane for about 200 yards before turning right.The A507 from Flitwick to Shefford was pretty grim.
A507 heading west towards Baldock. It's a narrow winding A road full of fast vehicle-sized rats running between the A10 and A1.
A82 between Fort William and Corran Ferry. HGVs passing at 50mph inches away. Was supposed to ride to Oban but took Corran Ferry and island hopped in preference to dying.
I used to commute Streetly to West Brom - Queslett Rd, Scott Arms and Sandwell Valley.
The A47 Acle straight between Acle and Great Yarmouth.
It was near the end of a week long cycling holiday around East Anglia with a friend and his dad (we were only 13/14 so needed an adult with us). Started the day in Kings Lynn so what nicer way to end a 70 mile day than having huge lorries roaring past you for 5 or 6 miles - I hadn't had any input on the route planning (I did the next trip we did).
The A47 Acle straight between Acle and Great Yarmouth.
It was near the end of a week long cycling holiday around East Anglia with a friend and his dad (we were only 13/14 so needed an adult with us). Started the day in Kings Lynn so what nicer way to end a 70 mile day than having huge lorries roaring past you for 5 or 6 miles - I hadn't had any input on the route planning (I did the next trip we did).
Whoever planned that for kids is a bloody moron, accidents are very frequent on that stretch.
A couple of years ago I did a few miles along the A17 near Cranwell and made a 'never again' mental note.
It was 1989 though, all we had was an OS map.
The A47 Acle straight between Acle and Great Yarmouth.
It was near the end of a week long cycling holiday around East Anglia with a friend and his dad (we were only 13/14 so needed an adult with us). Started the day in Kings Lynn so what nicer way to end a 70 mile day than having huge lorries roaring past you for 5 or 6 miles - I hadn't had any input on the route planning (I did the next trip we did).
A82 between Fort William and Corran Ferry. HGVs passing at 50mph inches away. Was supposed to ride to Oban but took Corran Ferry and island hopped in preference to dying.
It seems you chose the very worst bit of the A82! Once you cross the Ballachulish Bridge just south of Corran Ferry, there is a superb off A Road cycle route all the way to Oban.
About the bit you mention, I did that with a couple of friends northbound about 4 years ago in the late afternoon. Not many lorries at that time of day, I suspect, and didn't feel as threatened as you did but then I was in the lead with my head down and we averaged more than 20mph for the whole stretch...
BTW, crossing the Ballachulish bridge was "fun" - the wind really gets funnelled through the narrow entrance to Loch Leven - we were almost blown over a few times crossing!
The A34 from Bicester to Oxford... at 5pm on a weekday. :facepalm:
The traffic was still flowing at full speed, but dense as it could be.
...
The A34 from Bicester to Oxford... at 5pm on a weekday. :facepalm:
The traffic was still flowing at full speed, but dense as it could be.
...
OK, Solocle wins. ;)
Arguably, via Wendlebury, Weston OTG, Islip->Oxford is 15 mins extra well spent. :)
For me, easily the A303 and A36 intersection. The A303 sweeps pass Stonehedge - along with lorries, white vans and cars...All these vehicles thundering pass you, really have to watch the drafts/washes else get sucked into the maw that is the A303.I was riding on the 303, close by Stonehenge, about 35 years ago, when I was passed by a skip lorry with a full load. On top of the load was a a sheet of corrugated iron/steel/whatever, which got caught by the wind, flew off the top of the skip, and damn near decapitated me. The sheet landed roadside, the lorry continued on its way, and I breathed a sigh of relief and followed in its wake.
Frere
Smalldean Lane ;DDon't tell me - you rode down it?
I have noticed Pat Kenny riding his trike occasionally on the A38 between Lichfield and Derby (dual-carriageway)This is very sad, in the light of subsequent events.
A82 again but specifically rannoch moor and Glen Coe. Last ridden on the daylight audax. Thankfully we came back down to Connel and Dalmally. Not ridden since and no plans to
A82 again but specifically rannoch moor and Glen Coe. Last ridden on the daylight audax. Thankfully we came back down to Connel and Dalmally. Not ridden since and no plans to
A82 again but specifically rannoch moor and Glen Coe. Last ridden on the daylight audax. Thankfully we came back down to Connel and Dalmally. Not ridden since and no plans to
Oh yeah and fucking Woodhead Pass, I've only done a few small stretches of not the whole thing but fucking Woodhead Pass.
Eskdalemuir and Lockerbie is innocent but rendered interesting by the cowboys driving the logging lorries with their cargos bound for the pulping plant near Wrexham.
When Jan and I did LEJoG in 2007 we spent a night at The Porridge Hoose in St john’s Town of Daley. Our host referred to them as “stick lorries” and there were plenty on the A713. We stayed there again in 2012 and we saw hardly any, largely because the conifer forest had disappeared.Eskdalemuir and Lockerbie is innocent but rendered interesting by the cowboys driving the logging lorries with their cargos bound for the pulping plant near Wrexham.
Ah the fabled "Timber Lorries"
Everyone talks about them, few truly claim to have seen one....
The A30 anywhere in Cornwall
The thing that nearly caused a trouser accident was the deer about half a mile back that jumped out of the hedge, skittered along beside me for about a hundred yards and then jumped across in front of me. I'm glad the two didn't coincide.
Yes, I'd set Google Maps to take me back to Oxford - it advertised 1/2 mile on the A34 (which I figured would be a cycle path).The A34 from Bicester to Oxford... at 5pm on a weekday. :facepalm:
The traffic was still flowing at full speed, but dense as it could be.
...
OK, Solocle wins. ;)
Arguably, via Wendlebury, Weston OTG, Islip->Oxford is 15 mins extra well spent. :)
Yes. That is grim in a car.
Makes my A40 Witney bypass look soft.
Oh yeah and fucking Woodhead Pass, I've only done a few small stretches of not the whole thing but fucking Woodhead Pass.
Having had a couple of interesting moments up there in a car, that's on my list of places to ride iff they close it to motor traffic (for reasons other than foul weather).
Oh yeah and fucking Woodhead Pass, I've only done a few small stretches of not the whole thing but fucking Woodhead Pass.
Having had a couple of interesting moments up there in a car, that's on my list of places to ride iff they close it to motor traffic (for reasons other than foul weather).
I concur - Woodhead pass does suck muchly...
Trouble is, you absolutely cannot avoid 1.1km of it if you come down off Holme Moss and want to get to Glossop :P
Have I got this right: you cycle on a motorway?A wrong turning, yeah.
How? That’s the M40 off slip to Oxford. I can’t see how you can end up on there without jumping a fence.
How? That’s the M40 off slip to Oxford. I can’t see how you can end up on there without jumping a fence.I think some Highways England folks left the gate at Milton open. So no statuatory motorway signs. So that's where I entered, and I went straight for Oxford after that.
Not exactly desperately, just expediently. If it had been utterly terrifying I'd probably have hopped the armco and walked. As it was, I at least knew that it was < 1 mile to the next junction, so just went onwards, instead of turning around and confusing everybody.How? That’s the M40 off slip to Oxford. I can’t see how you can end up on there without jumping a fence.
Desperately trying to get off the motorway? Is it about 2 miles from the previous one where a mistake was made?
Some other folk on YACF have ridden on motorways and report that big, busy A-roads are much scarier. It can be quite difficult to find the northern end of the cycleway over the Avonmouth Bridge late at night and before smartphones, allegedly.At least I now have an experience to back up that prediction... Although in fairness, I was straight onto the A40, and that was only a little scarier. Given the time of night, it would probably have been more dangerous riding down poorly sighted country roads potentially being used as a racetrack!
Glad you are safe!:thumbsup:
Some other folk on YACF have ridden on motorways and report that big, busy A-roads are much scarier. It can be quite difficult to find the northern end of the cycleway over the Avonmouth Bridge late at night and before smartphones, allegedly.It can be quite difficult to find even in the daylight, when you live maybe five miles away and have been over it numerous times before. But I've never ridden on the M5 itself either. TBH, the Avonmouth Bridge is unpleasant due to the noise, but it's also useful.
Even as a brave (stupid) teenager living in North London in the 70s, I very quickly learned to avoid the North Circular.
I once accidentally strayed onto the North Circular. Wouldn't want to repeat that..
Even as a brave (stupid) teenager living in North London in the 70s, I very quickly learned to avoid the North Circular.
I once accidentally strayed onto the North Circular. Wouldn't want to repeat that..
I have memories of being forced off a French N road by lorries in a village somewhere during my first (1973) foreign tour, but couldn't name the road, so cant count it in this thread.
The Clyde Tunnel terrified me when I used it in 1989. It was isolated, devoid of CCTV at the time and muggers were reputed to lie in wait at its deepest points. I was TERRIFIED of being unable to ascend into the light and safety...
Because i live in Holland, and have done on and off for 30 years, its hard to relate to a lot of the stories here. We are simply not
allowed to ride on trunk roads or there is a suitable (sometimes poor) seperate bike path.
The westbound North Circular, from Brent Bridge to Hanger Lane, was on my 5.30am summer 'fast commute' route. Would not have touched it later in the day but it was great for speed!Oh yes, that reminds me, I think I 'did' Hanger Lane once (I think that's what it was, underpasses etc).. Once was enough.
The Clyde Tunnel terrified me when I used it in 1989. It was isolated, devoid of CCTV at the time and muggers were reputed to lie in wait at its deepest points. I was TERRIFIED of being unable to ascend into the light and safety...
It's improved a lot since then.
But it's gated now, to protect it. So you wait at the entry after rinigng the buzzer for what seems a huge wait. Huge. The guy is probably watching you in the rain. You get in and down the very brightly lit, whitewashed, clean swept tunnel you go, and near the bottom you realise your locked in a tunnel. This plays with your head on the drag back up to the gate out, and the guy then takes even longer to respond to your ring.
I remember when I first started cycle commuting in London I got lost and ended up going through the Euston underpass in rush hour. That wasn't much fun.
I've ridden the A34 from Oxford to Bicester and the A421 from Bicester to Milton Keynes (and the reverse route), but that was 20 years ago and on the weekend - I wouldn't like to do that now.
I remember when I first started cycle commuting in London I got lost and ended up going through the Euston underpass in rush hour. That wasn't much fun.
I've ridden the A34 from Oxford to Bicester and the A421 from Bicester to Milton Keynes (and the reverse route), but that was 20 years ago and on the weekend - I wouldn't like to do that now.
I prefer Euston Underpass westbound to turning left then right then right again onto Tottenham Court Road, stuck amongst the buses and HGVs. Eastbound, staying at surface level is fine, and I've never used the underpass.
I remember when I first started cycle commuting in London I got lost and ended up going through the Euston underpass in rush hour. That wasn't much fun.
I prefer Euston Underpass westbound to turning left then right then right again onto Tottenham Court Road, stuck amongst the buses and HGVs. Eastbound, staying at surface level is fine, and I've never used the underpass.
Euston and Hyde Park Corner underpasses are both fine IMO, though there can be a knack to matching speeds on the exit.
Kingsway was fine too the couple of times I've done it, though it suffers from the minor disadvantage of being prohibited.
, and then the A11 between Newmarket and Red Lodge. It was dark and I wimped out at the next exit.
Having done the A420 a couple of times, last was a good few kms on the Full Fat Festive 500... I'd agree with it being grim. However, I've hit the A420 at 5 pm on the way into Swindon... and I was overtaking everything! :thumbsup:
Euston and Hyde Park Corner underpasses are both fine IMO, though there can be a knack to matching speeds on the exit.
Kingsway was fine too the couple of times I've done it, though it suffers from the minor disadvantage of being prohibited.
Hmm. This is the same jsabine who, returning from one of the ACME Audaxes one evening, persuaded me that the best way from Stratford to the Isle of Dogs was to pick up the A102 Blackwall Tunnel Approach Road at the Bow Roundabout.
Not THE most terrifying road I've cycled on - I think that may have been the A420 from Swindon towards Oxford, when a group of us took a wrong turn on the Poor Student a few years ago - but still high on my list of experiences I would prefer not to repeat.
(I agree, though, that the underpasses are fine if you can maintain a good speed on the incline outwards. When I used to use the Euston one on my commute the traffic was almost always stationary in any case.)
, and then the A11 between Newmarket and Red Lodge. It was dark and I wimped out at the next exit.
I've ridden TTs on that bit of road on Saturday afternoons and felt OK. Not sure I would ride as an audaxer, though.
It depends on the bit of the A420 - there is a timetrial course on it near Kingston Bagpuize and it's pretty good. Some of it is horrible though.Not THE most terrifying road I've cycled on - I think that may have been the A420 from Swindon towards Oxford, when a group of us took a wrong turn on the Poor Student a few years ago - but still high on my list of experiences I would prefer not to repeat.Having done the A420 a couple of times, last was a good few kms on the Full Fat Festive 500... I'd agree with it being grim. However, I've hit the A420 at 5 pm on the way into Swindon... and I was overtaking everything! :thumbsup:
(I agree, though, that the underpasses are fine if you can maintain a good speed on the incline outwards. When I used to use the Euston one on my commute the traffic was almost always stationary in any case.)
Kingsway was fine too the couple of times I've done it, though it suffers from the minor disadvantage of being prohibited.
Just after I started cycling properly I did Bessel's Leigh - A338 - Cumnor on the A420. I think it's one that generally falls in the category of "grim, but not utterly terrifying", just like the A44. At least on the bit out of Oxford, I've taken the A44 to Chipping Norton a couple of times! Pear Tree Interchange gets particularly interesting, especially as outbound you're dumped into the outside lane of a DC...It depends on the bit of the A420 - there is a timetrial course on it near Kingston Bagpuize and it's pretty good. Some of it is horrible though.Not THE most terrifying road I've cycled on - I think that may have been the A420 from Swindon towards Oxford, when a group of us took a wrong turn on the Poor Student a few years ago - but still high on my list of experiences I would prefer not to repeat.Having done the A420 a couple of times, last was a good few kms on the Full Fat Festive 500... I'd agree with it being grim. However, I've hit the A420 at 5 pm on the way into Swindon... and I was overtaking everything! :thumbsup:
(I agree, though, that the underpasses are fine if you can maintain a good speed on the incline outwards. When I used to use the Euston one on my commute the traffic was almost always stationary in any case.)
Not just which bit, but which A420. The A420 from Bristol to Chippenham is completely different from the A420 from Swindon to Oxford. And the A420 from Chippenham to Swindon? Doesn't exist. UK road numbers are weird.It depends on the bit of the A420 - there is a timetrial course on it near Kingston Bagpuize and it's pretty good. Some of it is horrible though.Not THE most terrifying road I've cycled on - I think that may have been the A420 from Swindon towards Oxford, when a group of us took a wrong turn on the Poor Student a few years ago - but still high on my list of experiences I would prefer not to repeat.Having done the A420 a couple of times, last was a good few kms on the Full Fat Festive 500... I'd agree with it being grim. However, I've hit the A420 at 5 pm on the way into Swindon... and I was overtaking everything! :thumbsup:
(I agree, though, that the underpasses are fine if you can maintain a good speed on the incline outwards. When I used to use the Euston one on my commute the traffic was almost always stationary in any case.)
.... And the A420 from Chippenham to Swindon? Doesn't exist. UK road numbers are weird.
Thanks. :thumbsup: I thought there must be some explanation like that, but wouldn't have known which roads..... And the A420 from Chippenham to Swindon? Doesn't exist. UK road numbers are weird.
(checks on 1947 map....)
That section used to be the A420, but is now A3102 and B4069.
On a later run at 2am on the A303 I caught 2 unicyclists on their way to the Henge from London for the summer solstice, with 3’ wheels and short handlebars. They were part of a Hackney based Unicycle hockey team.;D ;D ;D
A couple of hours later I fell asleep and came down very hard. Later found I’d damaged the AC joint in my left shoulder which still gives grief.:( :( :(
I was surprised to be stopped and spot fined on A120, and lectured as to how dangerous it was. I’d inadvertently pedaled past a single No Cycling sign many miles back. At the time it looked to me a wide and clear road with excellent visibility and safe for cycling quickly.
One regret. I never cycled the Hogarth flyover at Chiswick. Has anyone achieved this?
I was surprised to be stopped and spot fined on A120, and lectured as to how dangerous it was. I’d inadvertently pedaled past a single No Cycling sign many miles back. At the time it looked to me a wide and clear road with excellent visibility and safe for cycling quickly.
One regret. I never cycled the Hogarth flyover at Chiswick. Has anyone achieved this?
You would likely be fined if you did that, too, for having ignored the "only cars and motorcycles" sign".
You could go for the Full Monty and do it in the wrong direction :demon:I was surprised to be stopped and spot fined on A120, and lectured as to how dangerous it was. I’d inadvertently pedaled past a single No Cycling sign many miles back. At the time it looked to me a wide and clear road with excellent visibility and safe for cycling quickly.
One regret. I never cycled the Hogarth flyover at Chiswick. Has anyone achieved this?
You would likely be fined if you did that, too, for having ignored the "only cars and motorcycles" sign".
If you get caught, and if you failed to plead ignorance. I'd be tempted doing it at Audax'o'clock in the morning but the only time I'm out that way at that kind of time I'm going the other way.
You could go for the Full Monty and do it in the wrong direction :demon:I was surprised to be stopped and spot fined on A120, and lectured as to how dangerous it was. I’d inadvertently pedaled past a single No Cycling sign many miles back. At the time it looked to me a wide and clear road with excellent visibility and safe for cycling quickly.
One regret. I never cycled the Hogarth flyover at Chiswick. Has anyone achieved this?
You would likely be fined if you did that, too, for having ignored the "only cars and motorcycles" sign".
If you get caught, and if you failed to plead ignorance. I'd be tempted doing it at Audax'o'clock in the morning but the only time I'm out that way at that kind of time I'm going the other way.
It could only work for people pottering around on bikes or with children in tow.
You wouldn’t get caught like that, on account of being invisible.You could go for the Full Monty and do it in the wrong direction :demon:I was surprised to be stopped and spot fined on A120, and lectured as to how dangerous it was. I’d inadvertently pedaled past a single No Cycling sign many miles back. At the time it looked to me a wide and clear road with excellent visibility and safe for cycling quickly.
One regret. I never cycled the Hogarth flyover at Chiswick. Has anyone achieved this?
You would likely be fined if you did that, too, for having ignored the "only cars and motorcycles" sign".
If you get caught, and if you failed to plead ignorance. I'd be tempted doing it at Audax'o'clock in the morning but the only time I'm out that way at that kind of time I'm going the other way.
And in the dark with no lights :)
Good luck with that, it's pretty much just the width of a car for most of it:-There used to be a flyover in Bristol a similar width. Cycling was banned there too, IIRC. It had the added thrill of being made in rickety sections which thumped and shook visibly as you crossed the joins. I think it featured on some episodes of Casualty.
https://goo.gl/maps/jv9QnshpiCqmQchS6
Bailout space over the railings involves a nice 30' drop too.
Yeah, my strategy for not getting caught after finding myself on the M40 wasn't quite as drastic. I did switch my rear lights from flashing to solid, though! Hopefully passed for a motorcycle stopped on the hard shoulder...You wouldn’t get caught like that, on account of being invisible.You could go for the Full Monty and do it in the wrong direction :demon:I was surprised to be stopped and spot fined on A120, and lectured as to how dangerous it was. I’d inadvertently pedaled past a single No Cycling sign many miles back. At the time it looked to me a wide and clear road with excellent visibility and safe for cycling quickly.
One regret. I never cycled the Hogarth flyover at Chiswick. Has anyone achieved this?
You would likely be fined if you did that, too, for having ignored the "only cars and motorcycles" sign".
If you get caught, and if you failed to plead ignorance. I'd be tempted doing it at Audax'o'clock in the morning but the only time I'm out that way at that kind of time I'm going the other way.
And in the dark with no lights :)
Quite a lot of the A406 is off-limits to non-motorised traffic these days.It wasn't in the early 80's
Pont de Normandie to get to Le Havre. You are separated from the motorway traffic by a protective white line and there was a monster gale trying to blow me into the oncoming traffic. I resorted to scooting along.
Pont de Normandie to get to Le Havre. You are separated from the motorway traffic by a protective white line and there was a monster gale trying to blow me into the oncoming traffic. I resorted to scooting along.
Joining this very late, but when I last rode over it (2004) there was a completely separated pedestrian/bike lane on the western side of the bridge. It was joyful to stop at the top and look down at the ships below, which looked like toy boats.
Quite a lot of the A406 is off-limits to non-motorised traffic these days.It wasn't in the early 80's
It should have been :o
Pont de Normandie to get to Le Havre. You are separated from the motorway traffic by a protective white line and there was a monster gale trying to blow me into the oncoming traffic. I resorted to scooting along.
Joining this very late, but when I last rode over it (2004) there was a completely separated pedestrian/bike lane on the western side of the bridge. It was joyful to stop at the top and look down at the ships below, which looked like toy boats.
I was going north-south so over the other side of the bridge. I think you can just about see the sign for the pedestrian/bike path over on the right in that shot.
Current arrangement (as of 2016) looks like this (view from the north, path is on the east):
(http://www.ductilebiscuit.net/gallery_albums/normandy2016/2016_06_10_11_36_14.sized.jpg)
Wowbagger is, quite sensibly, riding on the footway.
Exit of the Cherwell Valley services at around 7am. I'd stopped for breakfast and a snooze on an overnight 300km DIY. I got as far as the roundabout and chickened out. Exited via the woodland path from the back of the lorry park onto some relatively quiet B roads.I stopped in at Cherwell Valley in the early afternoon of Upper Thames.
I stopped in at Cherwell Valley in the early afternoon of Upper Thames.[\quote]
Early afternoon is nice and quite, 7am is rally time to London.
Good luck with that, it's pretty much just the width of a car for most of it:-
https://goo.gl/maps/jv9QnshpiCqmQchS6
Bailout space over the railings involves a nice 30' drop too.
Someone OTP ended up on the M4 in Wales - on a 200k - due to this particularly nasty roundabout exit in Port Talbot:
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.5981732,-3.7857771,3a,75y,339.09h,71.65t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s_rD9HYHGCCSDrkD-dGIynA!2e0!7i16384!8i8192
You have to take the exit and immediately fork right, or you're on the M4 slip road. IIRC the route sheet was "Follow A48" for several miles.
Perhaps it was, but shouldn't the roundabout be negotiable without either?Someone OTP ended up on the M4 in Wales - on a 200k - due to this particularly nasty roundabout exit in Port Talbot:
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.5981732,-3.7857771,3a,75y,339.09h,71.65t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s_rD9HYHGCCSDrkD-dGIynA!2e0!7i16384!8i8192
You have to take the exit and immediately fork right, or you're on the M4 slip road. IIRC the route sheet was "Follow A48" for several miles.
Surely the GPX was a lot clearer than that, and the line on the GPS shows you forking right immediately?
J
Completely forking right.
Surely the GPX was a lot clearer than that, and the line on the GPS shows you forking right immediately?
J
Someone OTP ended up on the M4 in Wales - on a 200k - due to this particularly nasty roundabout exit in Port Talbot:
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.5981732,-3.7857771,3a,75y,339.09h,71.65t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s_rD9HYHGCCSDrkD-dGIynA!2e0!7i16384!8i8192
You have to take the exit and immediately fork right, or you're on the M4 slip road. IIRC the route sheet was "Follow A48" for several miles.
Surely the GPX was a lot clearer than that, and the line on the GPS shows you forking right immediately?
The first few miles north from Perth on the A9. I've done this on both my LEJoGs and both times I was in fear of my life. Worse than any other country (Italy, India, Morocco, etc) due to the speed, close proximity and general aggressiveness of drivers.
Someone OTP ended up on the M4 in Wales - on a 200k - due to this particularly nasty roundabout exit in Port Talbot:
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.5981732,-3.7857771,3a,75y,339.09h,71.65t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s_rD9HYHGCCSDrkD-dGIynA!2e0!7i16384!8i8192
You have to take the exit and immediately fork right, or you're on the M4 slip road. IIRC the route sheet was "Follow A48" for several miles.
Surely the GPX was a lot clearer than that, and the line on the GPS shows you forking right immediately?
J