Yet Another Cycling Forum
General Category => Rides and Touring => Topic started by: ramchip on 15 June, 2020, 08:19:14 pm
-
I'm off the bike this year until October or even later so looking for an epic tour for next year, before or after LEL if it goes ahead. I've always fancied cycling around the complete coast Britain. Is it actually doable keeping the sea in view most of the time? Anybody done it, got any advice? Anybody have the gpx file?
-
Ryan rode it a couple of years ago, and is going to ride it again this year. His FB page has the route somewhere.
https://www.facebook.com/ryanthecharitycyclist
-
Really good, laugh out loud read about doing just that.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/One-Man-Bike-Mike-Carter/dp/0091940567 (https://www.amazon.co.uk/One-Man-Bike-Mike-Carter/dp/0091940567)
-
It is certainly doable - I've met peole who have done it. But don't underestimate the distance.
I doubt that it is doable keeping the sea in view most of the time: in some of the marshier bits such as the Wash or the Essex coast there are no roads within several miles of the coast. But if you don't mind that, then fine.
-
There's a book about a woman who worked for Sustrans I think who did this also, I'll see i I can find it.
ETA: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00U7UG7G4/ref=kinw_myk_ro_title
-
Nick Sanders did this way back in 1984 - sponsored by Vimto (yes, really) - he did a recce ride and then went back and did the ride to set a record.
There is a book that's produced as a story of both rides - it's daily reports of both rides printed next to each other.
The book is out of print but I think I have 2 copies and may be willing to sell one of them. There's some detail here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/22-Days-Around-Coast-Britain/dp/0946940037
I've thought about the ride around the coast and planned to do it in stages over a few years - so far just one trip from Exeter to Whitstable along the coast (including the Isle of Wight) - I'm not sure that it's actaully possible to always have sight of the sea?
Rob
-
A couple of brothers even did it on tallbikes - Check out the photo diaries, and look for YACF-ites if you know many (I'm on there - I rode the start, finish, and a day in Norfolk with them, on the Wobblebike! :smug:) http://www.tallbiketourbritain.com/
-
A couple of brothers even did it on tallbikes - Check out the photo diaries, and look for YACF-ites if you know many (I'm on there - I rode the start, finish, and a day in Norfolk with them, on the Wobblebike! :smug:) http://www.tallbiketourbritain.com/
Oooh, I think I saw them, just north of Carlisle by the Solway heading for Gretna. Didn't realise it was part of a round Britain ride but the sight of 2 guys on these tall bikes sticks in your mind.
-
I still like to read "Postcards from the edge of Britain" by Peter Mann. He rode it on a Moulton and gives a nice account of the ride.
-
Thanks for the replies. There seems to be a few different routes ranging from 3600 to 5000 miles. I'm still looking for the total gpx file if anybody can help me.
-
I think the tallbikelists did about 6000, but they startedand finished in Central London, and did some islands too. They also tried to use the roads nearest the coast, even if that meant going extra miles through a village that had been bypassed.