biking on the beach

Does anybody know what the legal status of cycling on the beach is? I fancy trying my 29er Plus bike on the sand somewhere – but do we have a right to cycle on the beach? Obviously I’m thinking of relatively empty beaches – not Bournemouth on August Bank Holiday!

Can’t see why it would be a problem, see plenty of people cycling on W-S-M. My only concern is sand and salt water.

It’s not like you are going to cause damage that isn’t going to get fixed next the tide comes in 😆

Google throws up nothing, so I imagine that it’d be down to local councils and their by-laws.

I ride on the beach at Formby as do plenty other folk. Just get out there and ride.

Been done…

I ride my local beached in North Devon and never been told I can’t.

Can’t see why any tidal beach wouldn’t be a problem, but non-tidal beach area…dunes, foreshore etc is likely to be very different as a lot more sensitive.

I occasionaly ride on the beach at Formby,never had any issues apart from the post ride maintainance.

The queen can legally shoot you and feed you to her corgis for riding on her beaches..

Come to Scotland and you can ride on as many beaches as you want (though you might want to avoid a couple when the military in playing).

thanks everyone – to be honest I don’t even know what the legal rights to go to the beach with a bucket and spade are – let alone on a bike. There is probably no legal right to ride a bike on a beach – but you can probably get away with it as long as you’re not a dick!

Below the high tide line isn’t seen as anyone’s property, so provided you stay below you shouldn’t have a problem. Besides, with 29+ tyres you’ll probably be glad for wet/damp sand as it can be hard work in dry sand. Be prepared to give your bike a good clean afterwards!

Posted up a load of photos this morning on this thread of our weekends jaunt along the coast.

http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/weekend-riding-plans-pics-9/page/2

Most of my “mountain biking” is actually fat bike riding along the beach living in Norfolk, but it doesn’t have to be dull, what i find is that the beach and the coast constantly changes depending on weather, the tide and the time of day.

Only tips really would be to use marine grease when fitting anything with bearings and if you are going to doing a lot of coastal riding, think of everything as perishable, no point having XTR brakes and carbon everything.

I’ve ridden the beach between Brean Down and Burnham on Sea a few times, it’s actually part of the National Cycle Network (Route 33)so must be legal to cycle.

On this note – How do 4″ tyres cope on the sand? workable or is 5″ needed?

Depends on the sand.

See also “what tread pattern for sand”

scotroutes – Member
Depends on the sand.

See also “what tread pattern for sand”

You forgot to mention whether tyre pressure should be 4.31 psi or 3.851psi – of course, that’s with an Endomorph. Larrys are different. 🙂