I’ve found myself with a free weekend mid-October and have managed to convince the other half that accompanying me on a gravel ride for the day would be great way to spend the time - as final prep for a week away in Wales with the mountain bikes later in the month.
So im on the hunt for ride/route suggestions in the Cotswolds (no idea why I’ve picked there but it’s not too far from “home” (Winchester) and always guaranteed to find a decent pub not too far away!!
As much off-road/gravel as possible or small back roads - will be on gravel bikes not mtb’s so want to avoid the really muddy/tech stuff if possible as I’ve sold it as a nice ride!! 40-60 miles or thereabouts
Any suggestions??
cheers
This is a cotsduro route that I haven’t done. But they are usually good
https://www.strava.com/routes/2842200233660676072
This I did ride but we missed a bit of off road and deviated into Cirencester for a mechanical. It’s a good route apart from those climbs at the end which were a bit savage for me. But they are easily missed out
https://strava.app.link/6S6KIvKcyDb
Some bits in the Cotsduro routes may stretch your idea of gravel, the one that went out Ciren way is more gravelly than most.
The Fosse Way from Kemble to the M4 is a good easy to navigate route, either as an out and back or loop back via Sheraton, Westonbirt, Chavenage.
The HONC route is probably available somewhere too.
(thought I’d replied yesterday but it didn’t save for some reason!)
thanks all for the replies - I like the look of the cotsduro loop - might understate the hills and give that one a go. That’s what the 50 cog is for surely!!
S
Although strictly speaking mtb routes, many of the routes on MTB FOODIE are pretty chill.
Some sections not so for a gravel bike but nothing is too sustained.
Live locally and lots of routes for bridal ways and footpaths. Check kimoot or OS map for building routes.
You will need the 50 at the back and watch for rain next couple of weeks as it’s heavy clay and can turn into a mudfest after a few days of rain.
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/40639584
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/34935565
couple of routes there that are suitable for gravel. Second one has one climb that will probably need some hike a bike in current conditions
The trouble with the Cotswolds outside summer in that the local horse fraternity turn all bridleways into impassable mud baths.
The trouble with the Cotswolds outside summer in that the local horse fraternity turn all bridleways into impassable mud baths.
Some of them, depends where. There's boggy valley bottom tracks and generally dry, higher-up limestone tracks. I used to live in the Chilterns so my idea of 'impassable' may be skewed .. but I reckon the winter riding around this part of the Cotswolds is pretty good.
Thanks (again!) all,
@jameso / @tonyf1 / @supernova - same issue in south hampshire.. It's either very muddy due to horses or wet chalk which is like ice!
Will check out Komoot this eve and the routes from Rak - thanks again all
S
Some bits in the Cotsduro routes may stretch your idea of gravel, the one that went out Ciren way is more gravelly than most.
The Fosse Way from Kemble to the M4 is a good easy to navigate route, either as an out and back or loop back via Sheraton, Westonbirt, Chavenage.
There's also a decent bit south of the M4 around Burton, Marshfield, West Kington and Castle Combe with some decent country lanes and...(cough) footpaths linking them. Not usually too muddy, but I'd stay clear of most of the bridleways that link the villages that don't look like hardpack. It's horse county round this way and the big beasts and their riders usually make quite a mess of it.