King Alfred and Cantii way are both > 1 day long which, whilst appealing, adds a level of complexity.

Something along the Ridgeway might work, but it would be nice if it didn’t have to just be out and back.

I think I just spotted something. I tried to start a new forum topic but when I pressed submit it just disappeared. On re-doing it I *think* its because I didn’t have a Forum selected (it defaults to “No forum”).

@ruggerbugger13 Shame about that, it only shows up as a marked trail when I zoom right in on bing.com/maps (with the OS overlay) which is how I plotted the first part of the route.

I see its a mix of footpath and road, what’s the situation with riding it (is it “allowed” or even possible?

Rob

I’d planned to use my Gravel bike with new Hutchinson Override 35mm tyres but I had endless problems with punctures in the “test” rides (just my usual commute to the office) in the week leading up. In the end I took my hardtail, and didn’t regret it at any point.

Aside from a few miles at the start, the first 40 miles or so were road, on reasonably quiet lanes (I left just before 06:00). The first proper off-road was the Icknield Way through the King’s Forest, and I really liked this. It would be worth further exploration at some point. However, the rain of the previous day had certainly left it mark, and parts were a bit boggy (only one place where I had to get off an push for about 10 yards).

I was heartened that the Peddars Way is more off-road than I was anticipating, though its possible that I was on some of the “wrong” bits, since some is walkers only (I borrowed part of the route from @ogg who posted further up).

I can’t really comment on signage, as I was following my Garmin, but it looked to be OK. I had stops at a shop in Barrow, just off the route at about 33 miles, and a shop in Castle Acre, right on the route, at about 80 miles. I passed a couple of other things, but it doesn’t have the infrastructure (e.g. Taps) of the SDW.

Overall a nice day, perhaps a bit hillier than I was expecting (and cold for the first 3 hours or so) and TBH, by the time I reached Ringstead and started the last few miles of road to my destination (Burnham Overy Staithe) I’d had enough ;-)

https://www.strava.com/activities/7703997585/overview

Thanks for everyone’s help and suggestions.

Rob

Will post more fully at some point, but I survived. 106.5 miles

Done, job jobbed.

LR

Ta. I aim to crack on then. I’ll report back and let you know how I got on.

LR

Bit of a thread resurrection. I am (was?) planning to do this tomorrow, but its been raining fairly heavily since about 03:00 this morning, and my Strava feed is full of runners getting bogged down in mud.

Is there anyone on here from Thetford upwards who would care to comment on the conditions?

FWIW I’ll be on a hardtail (had a ‘mare with the gravel bike).

LR

Many thanks all, some food for thought there. It looks like an approach show of some sort might fit the bill. Sadly, I’ve got clown’s feet (size 46/10.5 -ish) so that limits both what is available, and what looks right.

The time savings are not that great (and somewhat pointless in a T2 ;-) but it does mean that you don’t have to open the window in bad weather, or wake the passenger if the booth is on the “wrong” side. TBF, when we started contactless payment wasn’t a thing.

I find it slightly annoying that it actually costs slightly more than paying at the time (because there is a monthly fee) but we’ve had ours about 7 years and I wouldn’t go back.

We’re looking for a C# developer working on a healthcare application. Mostly WFH, but 1 day a week in an office near Chelmsford would be desirable.

Might as well be looking for a unicorn.

If anyone is thinking of signing up to Emovis PM me because we can both get 5 Euros off ;-)

@ocrider that’s the one.

@thegeneralist the down-side of a doofer is that you see in one place the actual cost of the peage. The alps and back is something like £150 (to say nothing of the fuel prices ;-)

I think it senses the height, so you don’t need to worry except that you can’t use all lanes. I put one on a T2. With the (empty) roof-rack on the cab we’re just over 2m so I took it off. This meant that we could go through the fast-lanes.

Talking to Emovis (or someone I forget who) I think we should have been OK with an empty rack. However, it *might* incorrectly identify as class-2. In this case they suggested contesting the bill, as the monthly statements show which class you have been charged at.

I couldn’t get anyone to answer the question about how much more class-2 was but finally found a French peage cost-checking site (that I can’t now find) that suggested class 2 is 50% more.

<<One thing to bear in mind is that routes which are easily accessed get popular, so they tend to be pretty polished (Col Rodella in Dolomites is a great example) hence making them harder.>>

Also, just busy. If you’ve got your own kit then start early is my advice. We were on the VF last week at about 8:30 (there was a bit of a walk in) and I was sweating buckets. An hour later and:

a) It would have been unpleasantly hot.
b) It would have been a lot busier (we returned to a full car-park).

Nothing worse than either being stuck behind a slow person, or having people behind.

We’ve done a few, initially with a guide, and the last 7 or so on our own as a family. I would say that Google is your friend. They are graded, and whilst not an exact science, it gives you some clue as to the likely difficulty (and remoteness).

e.g. The last one we did (was it really only a week ago today ;-( was https://www.viaferrata-fr.net/via-ferrata-71-La-via-ferrata-du-Mont-Sixt-Fer-%E0-Cheval-Haute-Savoie.html its graded AD/D, and the agreement amongst ourselves, and with another person who happened to be there, was that it was probably under-graded. Mostly fine, but with couple of tricky overhangs.

I carry a rope and belay kit, because my fear was that one of the kids would get cragfast, but TBH, its never been used, and I’m probably (now) the most likely person to fall. Probably time to either not bother (most people don’t) or hand over the torch.

Which one are you aiming to do?

LR

FYI (for future searches) this is how we got on.

1. We hired MTB from Evaision Sports. Bikes were good, (not 100% sure what they were, but some sort of carbon Specialized enduro bikes, rather than full DH). All very simple. Would do again.

2. Got a day of guided riding with Benjamin from Season Guiding. Really nice bloke. Very easy not having to navigate (when we’re not good enough to just ride anything). Would do again.

3. Did the Joux Plane route. The descent to Tanninges is pretty shonky and I got a pinch flat on a crap bit of tarmac. The climb up from Samoens is type 2 fun, but a great climb. The descent into Morzine was epic.

4. Rode to Morzine to watch the start of the TdF stage 10. Bonkers, and so much bigger than when we watched stage 3 in the UK in 2014. The 4 mile climb back to Les Gets is fine (fun for the whole family ;-)

5. Did the road climb to top of the Chavannes (2.5 miles at around 7-8%) Not easy fasted (did it before breakfast) but a nice enough climb. Descent isn’t all that, the tarmac isn’t great.

Didn’t do any other riding as it was too hot (i.e. didn’t fancy an evening ride after a day out, was generally just wilting and in need of cold beer).

In non-biking things

Canyoning with Frogs Rafting from Nyon was really good.

The Via Ferrata in Sixt-fer-a-cheval is rated AD but I think is probably under-rated. We all agreed it was pretty tough in places, and we’ve done a few as a family. Good though.

Overall, 10/10 top holiday. I was worried that Les Gets would be Morzines “little brother” but we had a great time.

LR

I’ve seen articles referring to what is mentioned here as the “Windscreen Effect”. All I can say about that is that we have a VW T2 (Brazilian) and the windscreen, and indeed entire front of the van, gets in a terrible state. On a couple of recent trips I’ve had to clean the screen (with a spray and cloth) daily.

So, on my sample (n=1) I think it has more to do with modern car aerodynamics than insect numbers.

Good news – it sounds like the gravel bike might be OK, especially given the road before and after.
Bad news – I need to get ready for it. I’m having a pretty poor year bike wise (worst for probably the last 6 or so) so I really do need to pull my finger out.

Thanks for all the advice. @ogg I might pinch most of your route. I’m going from North Essex to the Burnhams (Overy Staithe specifically).

Thanks for the replies. I may have to re-think my route a bit. There’s quite a lot of road at the beginning and end, so I was hoping for the answer “gravel will be fine”. The total distance would be ~120 miles (50 road, 50 Peddars way, 20 road).

Ta anyway.

LR

Thanks for all the replies. I’ve just found out that Stage 10 of the TdF is in Morzine whilst we’re there, so now I think we need to take 4 bikes, as I can’t imagine driving anywhere near there.

@robz Is it possible to do a circular route via Les Mines D’Or, or were you thinking of an an out and back. There’s no google streepmap of the area and most of the pictures seem to be on piste ;-)

@igm I like the sound of that. Looks to be about 2.5 miles at ~ the gradient of the first part of Rowsley Bar – a climb I hate ;-)

I’ll give it go.

Just back from a bit of a road-trip. Did:

Ferry Harwich-Hook of Holland. No checks (other than passport) but its possible that the missus had uploaded stuff pre-departure. Only issue was first getting out of the ferry port (gates after passport control were locked) and then finding way North (Garmin and Google maps had little idea of the route and ended up in a housing estate !).

Did further (internal) ferry to Texel with no checks.

Also, border crossings to Germany, Liechtenstein, Belgium, and France. All unmanned, all taken at top-speed (OK, ~60mph in a VW T2 “Brazilian” ;-)

No problems with any covid stuff. Only one shop in Germany suggested masks, but they were very much the exception.

Not particularly relevant here, but had a brilliant time, and some great riding esp. in the Ardennes around Rochehaut. Great beer there too.

@footflaps Oh dear, that’s a shame. Shows how often I get out there.

I’m just off that map, but I concur with the above:

* The roads are flat(ish) but relatively safe (so long as you stay off the obvious major ones)

* There are *lots* of good coffee stops (add to the list The Snug at High Easter, Owl Tea Rooms in Terling, The Tea rooms in Greenstead Green, Debden Barns)

* There’s good provision for off-roading along bridleways/byways if that’s your thing (it is mine).

There are some good clubs around as well. e.g. North Essex Velo, who organise TTs through out the summer from Rayne.

LR

Just back from 3 days in the van in France. 2 observations to make:

a) It was all relatively easy.

b) What a joy to be back in France. It was lovely.

The only thing that was checked in the van was that the gas was switched off. Also had a slightly embarrassing conversation with the UK border control:

Him: Do you have any knives on board:
Me [sitting in campervan]: No
Several minutes pass as they swab a line of cars
Him: Don’t you have any cutlery on board?
Me: Oh yes, I thought you meant stabbing knives!

The other issue worth checking is that my wife’s NHS app didn’t show both vaccinations so that took a bit or sorting at the last minute. Also we had failed to upload some document or other to Eurotunnel so had to go into the building and show our “TousAntiCovid” app and APL document, but it was no biggie.(but clearly something we could have done better).

Rob

Can recommend https://www.tayna.co.uk/ Used them for a leisure battery for a van and, more recently, a new battery in my VFR. Both times they arrived very quickly.

I’m not sure that I have a great deal more to add, but wanted to post just to echo what others have said. We went to Vietnam in 2018 and had a fabulous time.

Before arriving, after being quite hassled by street traders in Bali 20+ years ago, we lectured the kids (18 & 16) about how to kindly brush aside potential street hawkers. On arriving we found all of the Vietnamese to be super friendly, and nobody hassled us about anything, at any point, for the whole trip.

Hanoi was brilliant, loved it. Homestays were great, We liked Hue, Hoi An, and Can Tho. The Mekong was great (lovely home stays and bike rides) but I would echo that I was not bothered about Ho Chi Minh city. There’s nothing wrong with it, but its just a mega-city. The kids wanted cocktails on the 51st floor of a tower-block, which was nice, but not what I’d gone for.

Its worth learning some of the language, though that might be tricky if you are doing multiple countries. No one learns Vietnamese, so the fact that I did made some of the evenings in the homestays so much more fun. I wasn’t able to have in depth conversations (obvs) but I would say what everyone’s name was, and how old they were, and the Viet kids loved it. A very simple book is https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1479123528/ and Duolingo has Vietnamese.

I’d go back to Vietnam in heart-beat.

Rob

@jekkyl looks like a good ride. Its not bad for most of the year, the worst bit is after the climb from Carlton Lees when you turn left (the segment called “Big field” or “Up Hill o death”) which can be boggy and unrideable. Another option is to turn right and descend to Chatsworth (Nice views) then through Edensor and eventually down past the golf-course and onto the Monsal trail at Bakewell.

The section past the golf-course has some good tracks (just follow your nose sort of stuff) but not so much fun when I’m on my hard-tail ;-)

after Darley Dale which does not serve up any reward for the climb

If you mean Northwood Road I quite like the traverse from there to the bends on Rowsley bar. I wouldn’t skip it, but yes it is steep (On road on an MTB not that bad though).

I’ve not ridden on Stanton Moor, but I know that its possible (as in people do, not that its “allowed”). The track from Birchover – Clough Lane is a good descent, and you can turn off (through a narrow squeeze-gap/stile onto a footpath/track through Clough wood that is fun too. Take a look on Strava heatmaps to see where people go.

Once down in Darley dale you can link up with the 5 dales loop https://outbiking.co.uk/5-dales-route-peak-district/ take the track beside the railway line to just before the curry house then up Northwood Road.

@morecashthandash the climb up to Stanton in Peak (@jekkyl note there is no “the”) isn’t that bad, and its certainly not even close to being the worst around. Try Rowsley bar or Riber for that or, for that matter, the climb up past the chapel in stanton Lees (the road is closed but passable).

HTH

Rob

Thanks for the replies. If I’m honest the bikes aren’t super important (they are cheap gravel-ish bikes, not top-end CF ones) but I’d like the process to be simple and reproducible.

Ideal would be some sort of simple clip-in jobby, but the rack is fitted to a T2 camper (Brazilian) and has to avoid the rear-mounted spare.

.

I’ve had the same for the last 6 months of so on my Edge 1000. Its currently “correct” I presume because of the hour change, but was wrong prior to that (but fine for the previous 4 or 5 years).

@donslow I am in Essex, but the other side. Check out today’s ride ;-)

@donslow this is me doing it (solo) in 2017 https://www.strava.com/activities/1105992251 and this is me with my brother-in-law in 2019 https://www.strava.com/activities/2450057825 also I recced a bit in 2019 (I was going to Portsmouth on business, so stopped at QE2 park https://www.strava.com/activities/2425388862 which is a good idea if you are unfamiliar with the terrain)

I did it over 3 days in 2013 (with my lad who was only 13 at the time) but didn’t have strava back them. Hope the route/pictures are useful. One day I’d like to do it in good conditions!

FWIW, I’ve never bought anything on the route, it doesn’t really lend itself to that (other than in 2013) so I carried bars/gels etc, and for “proper” food 2 rounds of cheese and pickle sandwiches. Other flavours are available ;-)

I carry 2 bottles, one with high-5 sports drink, and one water. The High-5 is available in sachets so I was able to refill on the way.

Hope this is useful

Rob

I agree with much of what has been said, and I can confirm that you shouldn’t do it if its wet. In 2017 I binned the bike twice because of wet chalk. It really is like ice. The 2nd time I knocked the mech out of alignment so wasted some more time (and 2 or 3 more stops until I figured it out properly).

I think it *is* hard. 100 miles, and 11,500ft how can it not be, but the fact that I’ve done it 3 times now (over 3 days, and twice in 1 day) and I’m contemplating doing it again says a lot for what a lovely ride it is.

I “double-bag” (padded liners under padded shorts) use liberal chamois cream, and sun-cream if its warm.

As others have said, don’t wear, eat, or carry anything, that you haven’t tried out in practice (for miles). I can point you at my strava for 2017 and 2019 if you are interested.

Do it, its brilliant.

LR

FWIW I’m 1 week post jab and only now getting back to where I was, and being able to get any Z4 into my rides.

Jab on Wed evening, Thur/Fri off because I felt sub-par, Sat off because I was busy, Sun off because I couldn’t be bothered, Mon, Tue, and Wed morning commutes were pretty sorry affairs, finally last night, and again this morning, I was able to give it a bit of welly.

I don’t get the hype with Komoot. I’ve tried it a couple of times and it’ll do stupid things, like take me through places where no right of way exists, or down pointless bridleways (to avoid quiet country lanes). That’s just when I check places that I already know (e.g. The start of routes). God knows where I’d end up if I blindly relied on it.

I can only think that they sponsor a lot of riders who don’t actually use it.

We’ve certainly done bits of the Tissington Trail and the High Peak trail on road bikes fitted with 25/28mm gatorskins (or similar). Its a pretty good surface.

Its busy and, though I’ve not been anywhere near the place recently, if its anything like the tracks round here, it’ll be busier still at the moment. Useful to link up bits though.

LR

Following with interest as I spent part of yesterday trying to find some (preferably Rab) trousers (not necessarily water-proof, just “winter”) in 32 waist, 34 leg with no success. Its a size they show, and refer to as “M-L” but appear to be non-existent.

As above, pretty much for dog-walking duties only at the moment. Feats of mountain derring-do may follow (one day).

LR