Shrewsbury to London
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Mike
Shrewsbury to London
I am riding to London from Shrewsbury on a tandem trike. I wanted to follow the A5 but would like advice about other routes that do not add too much mileage. The trike needs good surface. Our son riding with me is registered blind and hemi, (his feet are strapped in)it is akward getting on and off the bike at short intervals. Thanks
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handallyingharry
Re:Shrewsbury to London
Don't follow the A5 however much attention you think you will attract. Look in the CTC archive if you are a member, for good routes. What about
Sustrans? They are useable by disabled
"vehicles" and a pleasanter experience by far.
Is your son using handalls to help with the cycling?
Good Luck,
Handallying
Sustrans? They are useable by disabled
"vehicles" and a pleasanter experience by far.
Is your son using handalls to help with the cycling?
Good Luck,
Handallying
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handallyingharry
Re:Shrewsbury to London
www.sustrans.co.uk/default.asp?sID=1090921140094&pID=
Shrewsbury to Leominster looks quite good on sustrans route guide above... all off road marked green
Leomister to Oxford(?) on road but waymarked and quite good.
Oxford into the centre of London should be marked more or less off roads all the way in to Tower Bridge. Thames Cycle route map.
If you want to go to Canterbury then you just mosey on along through!
Handallying
Shrewsbury to Leominster looks quite good on sustrans route guide above... all off road marked green
Leomister to Oxford(?) on road but waymarked and quite good.
Oxford into the centre of London should be marked more or less off roads all the way in to Tower Bridge. Thames Cycle route map.
If you want to go to Canterbury then you just mosey on along through!
Handallying
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Jon
Re:Shrewsbury to London
If you were thinking of using the Sustrans route, all I can say is don’t. At least not the Thames Cycle Path. There a some points – gates, narrow bridges, barriers – that are almost too narrow to get an ordinary bike through. You’d have no chance with a tandem trike. Some of the surfaces are a bit ropey too.
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Mike
Re:Shrewsbury to London
Thank you. Cycle tracks have proved troublesome and not always suitable for the trike. Narrow gates etc would be impossible. Unless we know the route is suitable it is a gamble. We did consider the canal tow paths but have had to reconsider. Mike pedalls. Thanks again..
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handallyingharry
Re:Shrewsbury to London
Jon and Mike,
Well, if it is a waymarked Sustrans route it is suitable for wheel chair access. I am still planning and writing up in advance the Wessex Ridgeway then down the Thames Cycle path into St. Paul's. I have most certainly discovered that it cannot be done with trike becoz I tried sections of it last year and the County Council has abandoned the idea that it should be considered suitableforWheelchairs/Trikes, as a result. I shall still be doing it as closely as I can.
That is County council NOT Sustrans/CC waymarked routes.
I do not know a Sustrans Waymarked route which is NOT suitable for wheelchair/trike access. Mike says he has a tandem version which would be more difficult to lift in the event of there being one or two stiles to lift everything over.
Looking at the gist of our discussion I hope you will allow me to say, with respect, that I think it is irresponsible to suggest that the A5 could possibly be anywhere near the right route for somebody to take compared with thoroughly researched and planned Sustrans/CC routes, done over several years.
In my way of seeing things it is a crime for a cyclist to go on an A road at all That latter bold remark cannot be considered respectful!
But let the discussion be brisk.
I think it is quite wrong to suggest such a thing to Mike, Jon.
By the way You say Mike pedals, Mike; presumably you are refering to Mike jr. One Mike pedals and handals and the other pedals, or one pedals and the other handals?
Do check the sustrans map again above
Handally
Well, if it is a waymarked Sustrans route it is suitable for wheel chair access. I am still planning and writing up in advance the Wessex Ridgeway then down the Thames Cycle path into St. Paul's. I have most certainly discovered that it cannot be done with trike becoz I tried sections of it last year and the County Council has abandoned the idea that it should be considered suitableforWheelchairs/Trikes, as a result. I shall still be doing it as closely as I can.
That is County council NOT Sustrans/CC waymarked routes.
I do not know a Sustrans Waymarked route which is NOT suitable for wheelchair/trike access. Mike says he has a tandem version which would be more difficult to lift in the event of there being one or two stiles to lift everything over.
Looking at the gist of our discussion I hope you will allow me to say, with respect, that I think it is irresponsible to suggest that the A5 could possibly be anywhere near the right route for somebody to take compared with thoroughly researched and planned Sustrans/CC routes, done over several years.
In my way of seeing things it is a crime for a cyclist to go on an A road at all That latter bold remark cannot be considered respectful!
But let the discussion be brisk.
I think it is quite wrong to suggest such a thing to Mike, Jon.
By the way You say Mike pedals, Mike; presumably you are refering to Mike jr. One Mike pedals and handals and the other pedals, or one pedals and the other handals?
Do check the sustrans map again above
Handally
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Jon
Re:Shrewsbury to London
Just to be clear, I didn’t suggest that anyone cycle on the A5, I was just pointing out that it would be very difficult if not impossible to take a tandem trike down the Sustrans Thames Path.
I’ve cycled part of this in my area (Route 5 from Windsor to Hampton Court) so I know what I’m talking about. It may be possible to lift the trike over gates, but there is a narrow bridge in Chertsey that’s going to be impossible. It’s barely wide enough to get a normal bike through and has high sides. To get the trike through there it would have to be lifted to shoulder height and carried some distance. I got the impression that was something Mike wanted to avoid.
I know some people are great fans of Sustrans, and of anything that gets cyclist off roads, but my experience of their routes is that they are only suitable for slow Sunday afternoon potters where you have time to dismount for obstacles and spot tiny ‘waymarks’ stuck to lampposts. For long distance tours, with luggage, large bikes, or less able companions, I think not.
I would suggest Mike tries to find a ‘middle road’ that avoids both the A5 and Sustrans.
I’ve cycled part of this in my area (Route 5 from Windsor to Hampton Court) so I know what I’m talking about. It may be possible to lift the trike over gates, but there is a narrow bridge in Chertsey that’s going to be impossible. It’s barely wide enough to get a normal bike through and has high sides. To get the trike through there it would have to be lifted to shoulder height and carried some distance. I got the impression that was something Mike wanted to avoid.
I know some people are great fans of Sustrans, and of anything that gets cyclist off roads, but my experience of their routes is that they are only suitable for slow Sunday afternoon potters where you have time to dismount for obstacles and spot tiny ‘waymarks’ stuck to lampposts. For long distance tours, with luggage, large bikes, or less able companions, I think not.
I would suggest Mike tries to find a ‘middle road’ that avoids both the A5 and Sustrans.
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handallyingharry
Re:Shrewsbury to London
I appreciate those remarks Jon as I have planned a route along Wessex Ridgeway into london that way.
Mine is not Tandem but it is still a heavy machine. I would not be able to carry it fifty metres let alone 500 hundred. I have got the Thames Cycle Path Cartographical map here so I shall have a closer look at that problem.
I don't know whether we have lost Mike but I agree with you entirely about a hybrid route, not forgetting that if Mike is a member of CTC he has got the archive routes at his disposal which may still be the best approach to the problem.
Looking at the hyperlinked map above there is not a definitive Sustrans route from Shrewsbury anyway only projected blue routes so Mike would be doing everybody a favour to follow what he can of the Sustrans recommendations
and letting us know how he fares.
He would do nobody a favour at all, least of all himself, if he has any idea whatsoever of A5 at any time!
I sometimes see people taking the Tolpuddle bypass an extremely fast and dangerous road on which there are numerous fatalities at the Dorchester end; that is where cyclists join the road to accompany traffic at 80mph on a narrow road.
UTTERLY INSANE
I am so bold!
Handal
Mine is not Tandem but it is still a heavy machine. I would not be able to carry it fifty metres let alone 500 hundred. I have got the Thames Cycle Path Cartographical map here so I shall have a closer look at that problem.
I don't know whether we have lost Mike but I agree with you entirely about a hybrid route, not forgetting that if Mike is a member of CTC he has got the archive routes at his disposal which may still be the best approach to the problem.
Looking at the hyperlinked map above there is not a definitive Sustrans route from Shrewsbury anyway only projected blue routes so Mike would be doing everybody a favour to follow what he can of the Sustrans recommendations
and letting us know how he fares.
He would do nobody a favour at all, least of all himself, if he has any idea whatsoever of A5 at any time!
I sometimes see people taking the Tolpuddle bypass an extremely fast and dangerous road on which there are numerous fatalities at the Dorchester end; that is where cyclists join the road to accompany traffic at 80mph on a narrow road.
UTTERLY INSANE
I am so bold!
Handal
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handallyingharry
Re:Shrewsbury to London
Mike,
Perhaps you could see how much of this route can be done, and then follow as closely as you can
National Cycle Route 44
National Route 44 will run from Cinderford to Shrewsbury via Hereford, incorporating the existing Great Western Way railway route in Herefordshire. This is wonderful news, and with enthusiastic support from the local authorities involved, we hope to get things moving as quickly as possible.
From Gloucester things get much better, and we could talk about that.
You say "It would be too much of a gamble"
re routing but it would not be one tenth the gamble of going on the A5! Lethal from local reports!
I'll check the Western Railway details for you.
Dally
Perhaps you could see how much of this route can be done, and then follow as closely as you can
National Cycle Route 44
National Route 44 will run from Cinderford to Shrewsbury via Hereford, incorporating the existing Great Western Way railway route in Herefordshire. This is wonderful news, and with enthusiastic support from the local authorities involved, we hope to get things moving as quickly as possible.
From Gloucester things get much better, and we could talk about that.
You say "It would be too much of a gamble"
re routing but it would not be one tenth the gamble of going on the A5! Lethal from local reports!
I'll check the Western Railway details for you.
Dally
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handallyingharry
Re:Shrewsbury to London
National Cycle Network 45 in North Shropshire - from Shropshire CC, tel: 01743 253 035
On the sustrans website www.sustrans.org if you search
carefully you will find phone numbers for
Free maps of every county you wish to travel though, mapped by County council.
I have been from Bournemouth to West Wales using this method and it works. You can then express an informed opinion about sutrans routes! You probably need the Os maps as well
to be certain of staying off dangerous A roads
I have not got Ordinance survey website here at the moment but I will post it.
You can order those maps online. Shrwesbury to London will take about 5 maps of 1:50,000
cost about £35. The combination of free county cycle maps and the 1:50 is a fool proof way of planning your journey.
Remember ALL those county cycle routes are waymarked already long before sustrans ever gets there!
No fool for the A5!
What wheel size do you have for the TT?
Handally
On the sustrans website www.sustrans.org if you search
carefully you will find phone numbers for
Free maps of every county you wish to travel though, mapped by County council.
I have been from Bournemouth to West Wales using this method and it works. You can then express an informed opinion about sutrans routes! You probably need the Os maps as well
to be certain of staying off dangerous A roads
I have not got Ordinance survey website here at the moment but I will post it.
You can order those maps online. Shrwesbury to London will take about 5 maps of 1:50,000
cost about £35. The combination of free county cycle maps and the 1:50 is a fool proof way of planning your journey.
Remember ALL those county cycle routes are waymarked already long before sustrans ever gets there!
No fool for the A5!
What wheel size do you have for the TT?
Handally
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handallyingharry
Re:Shrewsbury to London
maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=Shrewsbury,+Shropshire,+SY1&spn=0.044956,0.123940&hl=en
The MB may not be good enough to get you to that map but try it.
www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/oswebsite/getamap/
I have not seen this one before but that also looks good.
www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/oswebsite/mapshop/
Map shop will get you there!
Regards
Dallying
The MB may not be good enough to get you to that map but try it.
www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/oswebsite/getamap/
I have not seen this one before but that also looks good.
www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/oswebsite/mapshop/
Map shop will get you there!
Regards
Dallying
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handallyingharry
Re:Shrewsbury to London
Mike,
I think I can see why you say "Just follow the A5..... because you have got lots of NCN routes in your area but you cannot see any way to the bigger map being organised by Sustrans and so on. It is one of the difficulties of Sustrans that they are more and more dependent on the individual Counties and ven districts for their resources so the UK cycle route map and waymarking suffers because of the local
school routes and safe routes to stations and so
on.
I presume u r a member of some of these things and that you will be at the discussion at the beginning of Sptember in Shrews?
www.shropshire.gov.uk/cycling.nsf
I think I can see why you say "Just follow the A5..... because you have got lots of NCN routes in your area but you cannot see any way to the bigger map being organised by Sustrans and so on. It is one of the difficulties of Sustrans that they are more and more dependent on the individual Counties and ven districts for their resources so the UK cycle route map and waymarking suffers because of the local
school routes and safe routes to stations and so
on.
I presume u r a member of some of these things and that you will be at the discussion at the beginning of Sptember in Shrews?
www.shropshire.gov.uk/cycling.nsf
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handallyingharry
Re:Shrewsbury to London
Bingo!
www.thenationalbyway.org/national_map.asp
The national byways route operational from now on
seems to be the best route! Are you aware that it dovetails to some extent with Sustrans but is not bound to the towns in the same way; anything but!
That map route is by far the best for ANY trip from Shrewsbury to London.
If you are frightened of "Gambling" or "Adding to the miles" then forget about cycling to London. Take the train and book in advance to take the trike asw ell and do a jaunt round the royal parks for a bit of fun.
DallyingHarry
www.thenationalbyway.org/national_map.asp
The national byways route operational from now on
seems to be the best route! Are you aware that it dovetails to some extent with Sustrans but is not bound to the towns in the same way; anything but!
That map route is by far the best for ANY trip from Shrewsbury to London.
If you are frightened of "Gambling" or "Adding to the miles" then forget about cycling to London. Take the train and book in advance to take the trike asw ell and do a jaunt round the royal parks for a bit of fun.
DallyingHarry
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handallyingharry
Re:Shrewsbury to London
OR
www.sustrans.org/default.asp?map.x=45&map.y=158&sRegion=The_Midlands&nZoom=5&LastMapView=False&bFromRegion=True&bLDRoute=False&sLDRoute=
all these hypers are working to get you going.
CTC mapping facility is actually excellent and if you go Shrewsbury/Bromsgrove/Stratford-on Avon/Oxford then follow the Thames Cycle route as closely as you can, you will have a very enjoyable ride.
Otherwise the waymarked cycle routes of National byways will take you much further west
and a longer route..
Print off the maps from the sustrans board maybe about thirty of them and with care you have got the whole route down into London.
That's all I'll do for you
Handallyingharry
Ps I'll see you for some Dallying in Piccadilly
www.sustrans.org/default.asp?map.x=45&map.y=158&sRegion=The_Midlands&nZoom=5&LastMapView=False&bFromRegion=True&bLDRoute=False&sLDRoute=
all these hypers are working to get you going.
CTC mapping facility is actually excellent and if you go Shrewsbury/Bromsgrove/Stratford-on Avon/Oxford then follow the Thames Cycle route as closely as you can, you will have a very enjoyable ride.
Otherwise the waymarked cycle routes of National byways will take you much further west
and a longer route..
Print off the maps from the sustrans board maybe about thirty of them and with care you have got the whole route down into London.
That's all I'll do for you
Handallyingharry
Ps I'll see you for some Dallying in Piccadilly
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Mike
Re:Shrewsbury to London
We successfully completed the ride over 4 days. Cycle paths / routes were not a good idea for the trike. We used A roads, B roads, Non classified roads, cycle lanes and cycle routes. Very few cycle routes were suitable in fact they were a night mare! Traffic on the A roads were 99% fine until we hit London. Although some cycle route surfaces in London were the best encounted. But to follow a dedicated cycle route is impossible for the trike. And I don't care what anybody says because WE HAVE BEEN THERE ..... Thanks for all your comments it certainly helped and made us think. I should add that we are not true cyclists but the trip has been adventful and will give us hope to cycle more. That is when our bits have recovered and that includes Mike's knee that he has strained. It was a trememdous acheivement on his part. determination and a will of steel. Cheers
Thanks again
Thanks again