every september, since pre suspension days, the older gentlemen of the sweary northerners go on a weeks drinking/riding week away.
we usually move on each day to a new location for the night. i plan the route taking in as much offroad as possible in the location. but the emphasis is on good bear, then good riding.
sadly age is catching up with us. i am the youngest at 60 the oldest fella is 70. all except me are on ebikes.
so we are looking for a good location for a week or so, need good beer, and good riding.
we have pretty much been everywhere in the UK that is good for the riding side, also done the alps and pyrenees.
somewhere new would be ace.
any ideas greatly appreciated.
A couple of questions to get us started. Is biking more important than beer or the other way round? And where have (or haven’t) you been so far in the UK?
Is biking more important than beer or the other way round? And where have (or haven’t) you been so far in the UK?
50/50 split on importance of riding and beer.
from the top,
hebrides,
tour of cairngorm...... twice, differant routes
badger divide, before it was a thing
cheviots
northumberland
scottish borders
scottish border to huddersfield
lakes x 3
dales x 2
peaks x 2
trans wales
tour of welsh bike parks
exmoor and north devon
oh and coast to coast twice, not same route.
oh, and the alps twice and those other french/spanish mountains once.
trying to push em for a gravel/cobbles tour in belgium..... but they want to do whatever we choose on ebikes.
For a 'Moving On' tour, how about the SDW and back? That'd neatly occupy 4-5 days or so. Plenty of accommodation options, and there must be pubs en route, or very close to it.
I've booked a month off work for my 60th next year and current favourite option is a big loop down into France and back using ferries (don't want to fly). So - France. But I'm not far enough into the planning to suggest a shorter trip (and I guess it might be a bit lacking on the beer side of things), maybe others can help with that.
Ardennes in Belgium. Fabulous scenery and great beer. Perhaps around Rochefort and Houffalize.
I was going to suggest something like starting in Amsterdam and heading out to the coast via perhaps Texel. No hills mind but lots of traffic free cycle infrastructure.
For a 'Moving On' tour, how about the SDW and back? T
Or a leisurely one way - I was going to suggest the SDW seeing as that didn't feature on Ton's list. It's ideal for a leisurely beery trip. Pubs for each night's stay, lot's of craft breweries to sample.....
Holyhead to Cardiff?
Tweed Valley - plenty there for 5 days
You could put together a cracking Scottish Island hopping trip : Arran, Islay, Jura, Oban return for example.
Sandstone way from Berwick to Hexham and Bolts Law or something, plenty of good riding in and around Tynedale
You're missing the Quantocks and the Mendips. You could go:
FoD
Wye Valley.
Bristol (Leigh woods).
Mendips.
Quantocks.
did the Quantocks when we did Exmoor. was ok but not to fill a 5 dayer.
also done the Sandstone way.... in both directions, from Alnwick to Berwick, and from Berwick to Rothbury.
has a confab yesterday, looks like it may be a Lakes trip again. ride up through Trough of Bowland and 5 nights at a yha. i have a library of Lakes rides that should keep us entertained.
all because the lazy ****ers want to use cheating bikes.............. ;o)
Sounds like you light be sorted but Madeira looks good and so many places in Europe to ride - Finale Liguire, Dolomites etc.
I guess with e-bikes the challenge might be batteries
I guess more 'gravel' than MTB but you can do a decent mainly off road tour following the North York Moors moor to sea cycle network .
https://www.northyorkmoors.org.uk/things-to-do/cycling/moor-to-sea-cycle-network
Alternatively one of the Cycling UK routes. You say you've done Traws Eyri but the others also look decent. The new one in Galloway could be worth a look.
