There's something to be said for jumping on the cross bike, hitting the sustrans paths and riding through some industrial grime.

Old canals, derelict wharehouses, forgotten railway lines – this is the wonder of our industrial heritage, the wabi-sabi of decaying beauty. There's also the exhilaration of pedalling like f_k with a gang of scallies chasing after you throwing stones, because sustrans have routed a trail through their sh_thouse estate.

What so you reckon are good cities in the UK for this sort of industrial riding – a sort of Tour de Shi_thole?

Sunderland would be a good candidate

Manchester and birmingham canals

canals in stoke as well

My nominations are sort of obvious – Liverpool and London. Massive amounts of old heavy industry, extensive network of disused railways, huge, old dockland area (Liverpool). I've lived in both cities but it was before I was really into riding, so haven't done too many good routes. The canal that rings North London is a good one, loads of stuff to explore in east London etc.

Currently Edinburgh based and it's not a great spot for this sort of thing. Loads to explore but not much heavy industry, bit too genteel by and large.

the canals around birmingham and the black country are pretty good for this sort of thing.
plenty of abandoned builings and warehouses along the brum – wolves canal