CityCyclingEdinburgh was launched on the 27th of October 2009 as "an experiment".
IT’S TRUE!
CCE is 16years old!
Well done to ALL posters
It soon became useful and entertaining. There are regular posters, people who add useful info occasionally and plenty more who drop by to watch. That's fine. If you want to add news/comments it's easy to register and become a member.
RULES No personal insults. No swearing.
Am doing Way of Roses in Sept with a few friends and as I seem to have a lot of unused holiday I was musing on pedaling to the start.
Have an Uncle in Longtown so ideally placed for end of day 1.
question is .. anyone cycled to Lancaster? A6 looks hideous on Google Street ie fast and narrow. Alt routes seem longer and lumpier.
Length & lumps just = more of a challenge, no?
As I understand it, the A6 is generally very quiet, because everyone is using the M6.
You could try asking Jon Hodkin, aka InnerTuba, as he did JoGLE in 2016 and was using quiet routes on account of his towing of an enormous (and enormously heavy) trailer. I think he used a lot of the A6.
I've done it northbound, from pretty close to Lancaster to Carlisle via the Lake District. The route was very pleasant indeed, but you might not want to do the Kirkstone Pass while you're on the way to your ride. I can share a Strava activity if you're interested.
As I understand it, the A6 is generally very quiet
I have used it going to and from Heysham for the TT on a motorcycle. I think it would be OK to cycle on normally.
I did try to work out an off-road route to Preston once. Didn't manage.
I've done the stretch of the A6 from Shap down to Kendal several times before and that's been fine. It's a fast road, but on the way up the hill it's a double lane, so plenty of room for folk overtaking you. Once you're over the top it's a fun road to cycle - twisty in places, but you can get a fair speed up and I didn't suffer any dodgy overtakes (although I'd avoid it around rush hour).
I think I'd be less keen to cycle on the A6 between Penrith and Shap - It's a faster road and just doesn't have the feel of a road I'd want to cycle.
A more pleasant (but hillier) road from Penrith to Shap is via Askham and Bampton Grange, which has the advantage of nicer countryside, Shap Abbey and the fact it passes a number of locations from Withnail & I. The road via Ullswater and Kirkstone Pass is considerably hillier and would take you much more out of your way.
Leaving Kendal, I'd go via Natland (the A6 becomes dual carriageway, so no fun on a bike).
Further south, all anecdotal, but Milnthorpe seems to be a cyclist accident blackspot. I don't know the specific circumstances, but it's probably a busy road at rush hour.
Here is my Edinburgh to Bristol route, successfully ridden last April. Goes through Lancaster. A6 to Kendal is fine. Worst bit is directly south of Kendal which this route avoids. It does go back onto the A6. Wasn't too horrible there, just boring mostly, endless sprawl towns with tiny remaining bits of green in between.
Decent options to avoid more of the A6. Never had a problem on the Penrith to Shap bit though.
You must log in to post.
Cycling in Edinburgh Flickr group
Video embedded using Easy Video Embed plugin
posts