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steve3742 
| 28 Jul 09:05 |
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Joined: 28 Jul 2006 Posts: 7 Bike: My Profile | Hi. It's always struck me as strange how hard it is to get cycle route information about cycling from one city to another. Even nearby cities. Like Nottingham to Derby - only a twenty mile route but it's actually quite hard to find (on the internet) details of how to cycle there. It's part of Cycle Route 6 and you could buy the Sustrans Derby to York map - but it seems a lot of hassle to go to for a relatively short route (and am I the only one who thinks that getting details on Sustrans routes is quite hard? The major routes are covered by their map series, but info about the minor ones like route 15 or 64 isn't too easy to get.) Anyway, I thought it'd be a good idea if everone who's a member here posts rides from the town/city where they live to the adjacent ones. That way, we could build up a database of routes that could all join together. So, for example, for Nottingham I could post details of Nottingham-Derby, Nottingham-Leicester, Nottingham-Loughborough, Nottingham-Newark, Nottingham-Lincoln and Nottingham-Sheffield. And someone who lives in Leicester could post Leicester-Nottingham and also Leicester-Northampton. Then the Northants guys could post Northampton-Milton Keynes and Northampton-Oxford... well, you get the idea. Eventually, it would be possible to plot a route from Sheffield to London. Cycle routes are different from the results you'd get from AA Routemaster or similar. We prefer to ride away from the main roads and we often have the option of taking short cuts that cars can't. Local knowledge will often give you these details, but local knowledge is, well, local. But if everyone posts [b:95cf0164c7]their [/b:95cf0164c7]local knowledge, we'd soon have a good cycling database. What does everyone think? For my part of the deal, I'm going to post the Nottingham-Derby details soon (that's the Sustrans route - would there be copyright problems?) And I'm planning a cycling holiday around Lincolnshire soon so I should be able to post Nottingham-Newark and Newark-Lincoln (which, of course, combine to make Nottingham-Lincoln) along with some others in Lincolnshire (assuming the Lincolnshire people don't get there first.) So, anyone else who's got any knowledge of cycle routes, post away. |
| My Latest Route: Aug 2006 Nottingham to Newark | |
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happy
| 28 Jul 11:19 |
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Joined: 15 Mar 2006 Posts: 302 Bike: Orange P7 with Rock Shox, Michelin Wildgripper Lites, XTR Chainset My Profile | Hi Steve, Welcome to cycle-route. This was really my aim on starting this site, I find the detail of routes is really minimal on some sites. Some council sites give you the name of the route, the starting location and where it finishes. Then they just talk about the sites you can see on the way, which to be fair probably would be nice if you knew where to go! I think details on the ground level, like turn left onto this road, just after so and so shop, e.t.c. are so much easier to follow than routemaster say. Right now, there isn't that many members but hopefully as you say, if you can post the first part and other people can help that would be ideal. As long as you don't copy the text exactly from the other site and just write the steps as if you were riding it would be fantastic. Thanks again Steve, I am hoping we can help you out. Alan |
| My Latest Route: Oct 2010 Livingston to Ayr Avoiding A71 | |
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spokeslady
| 29 Jul 05:55 |
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Joined: 29 Jul 2006 Posts: 14 Bike: My Profile | Hello Steve, agree totally with your comments on Sustrans. I am cycling to Norfolk in September for a short holiday, intending to cycle some routes around north norfolk while there. I thought I would be able to use mainly cycle ways to get there and thought I would seek help from Sustrans. I was very disappointed when I spent £10.99 on their 'Official guide to National Cycle Network'; I thought I was investing in an AA-type route map for cycle ways - not at all, it is a combination of advertisements for their expensive maps, some very nice photography, short travel-guide type editorial and a few snapshots/short guide of some and part-only of national cycle routes. Be warned don't waste your money! I am a great fan of google earth, I look forward to when they update sattelite pics of England. I was very impressed with Norfolk as I have just about planned my trip using GE. It would be dead easy to link towns and cities using it, if it was all in focus, which of course it is not. However, an OS map is still needed, shame you can't differentiate between paths and bridleways. Yes, we all have so much local knowledge of cycle routes. I shall certainly spread the word of this site around my cycle mates. I intend to submit routes as long as I have assurance that they remain free for all. I remember somewhile ago that the Government had commissioned Life Cycle UK to produce cycle route information for the UK. What became of that? Excuse the pun, but this is reinventing the wheel, most local councils, sustrans and the ctc have a wealth of cycle route information. Enjoy the journey. |
| My Latest Route: Mar 2010 Ebury Way | |
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happy
| 29 Jul 08:37 |
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Joined: 15 Mar 2006 Posts: 302 Bike: Orange P7 with Rock Shox, Michelin Wildgripper Lites, XTR Chainset My Profile | Hi Spokeslady, Rest assured this site will remain free and the routes are for all free of charge. I like yourself and many others get frustrated at the lack of detail and the complexity of other sites just trying to find basic routes, hence I started this site. Some of the routes on this site I have added myself, some have been added by others, but all the google earth maps I have plotted myself and uploaded for others to make it easier to see where the person who added the route is going. If you can do your own, all the better, they will be added without modification, and of course include no copyright :wink: Looking forward to seeing your routes. Alan |
| My Latest Route: Oct 2010 Livingston to Ayr Avoiding A71 | |
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steve3742
| 29 Jul 10:39 |
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Joined: 28 Jul 2006 Posts: 7 Bike: My Profile | OK, I've posted part of the Nottingham to Derby route - I ran out of time after I got to West Park in Long Eaton. What I'm planning to do is to copy all the details so far into another route and finish it (the rest of the route's relatively simple as it soon goes onto a cycle path alongside the Derwent and you just follow that for about 7 miles.) The existing one could be deleted at that point, if that's possible, or renamed "Nottingham-West Park, Long Eaton" - if [b:c26756dbba]that's[/b:c26756dbba] possible. Cycle_alan, you seem to be an administrator, could you help with this ([b:c26756dbba]after [/b:c26756dbba]I finish the route)? I was a little surprised to find that I couldn't edit the route once I'd posted it, I'd planned to do this (probably adding someting to the "Places to see" box also.) I like the Google earth Map. Is it possible to get a printout in some way? Pages of directions are all very well, but a picture (or in this case a map) is worth a thousand words. I guess OS maps and Streetfinder and so on are all copyright, which is a pity. Mind you, I think you can link to Streetfinder, and I may do that. Spokeslady, I scanned through the Sustrans guide in Waterstones and decided not to bother. Their maps are better and they produce some good leaflets (Newark-Harby and Harby to Lincoln is going to form the basis of my Nottingham to Lincoln ride later - I already know how to get from Nottingham-Newark.) But it's quite hard to find out what they have available, let alone get hold of it. www.cycle-routes.org looks promising, but it's new and doesn't have much at the moment (a bit like here.) |
| My Latest Route: Aug 2006 Nottingham to Newark | |
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happy
| 29 Jul 12:21 |
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Joined: 15 Mar 2006 Posts: 302 Bike: Orange P7 with Rock Shox, Michelin Wildgripper Lites, XTR Chainset My Profile | Hi Steve, That's the route updated now, although I will have to do the map later on. I will see if it's possible to have an 'edit route' section too, it sounds like a good idea. I am also not sure about print outs of the routes, some of them may be a little long to get detail into them, but I will investigate this too and see what we can do for you. Thanks for your comments, much appreciated, and hopefully if people like your self keep adding we will have more routes too. Thanks again Alan |
| My Latest Route: Oct 2010 Livingston to Ayr Avoiding A71 | |
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steve3742
| 29 Jul 13:38 |
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Joined: 28 Jul 2006 Posts: 7 Bike: My Profile | I'm planning to add a Nottingham-Newark Route and then extend it to become a Nottingham-Lincoln route after I've ridden that bit. Thing is, the Nottingham to Newark route I usually use is published in a book called "City, County, Forest" by Pedals and the CTC which has a number of routes in around Notts. I'll contact them and ask what they think about me putting the details up - they don't own Nottingham - Newark, after all. I'll get back to you about this. |
| My Latest Route: Aug 2006 Nottingham to Newark | |
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happy
| 29 Jul 14:03 |
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Joined: 15 Mar 2006 Posts: 302 Bike: Orange P7 with Rock Shox, Michelin Wildgripper Lites, XTR Chainset My Profile | As spokeslady was suggesting, I don't think anyone can copyright a route. As long as you do not reproduce what it says in the book, that is, copy it word to word, and use their knowledge as such. If however you have been on this route personally, write it from your own point of view, what you see when you turn, what the terrain is like e.t.c. it should be fine. If you do contact them, let us know what they say. Alan |
| My Latest Route: Oct 2010 Livingston to Ayr Avoiding A71 | |
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steve3742
| 30 Aug 12:21 |
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Joined: 28 Jul 2006 Posts: 7 Bike: My Profile | Hi everyone. I just came back from cycling round Lincolnshire and I'm going to post some routes. First up, Nottingham-Newark, which I've posted - it's presumably being reviewed now. I intend to post Newark-Lincoln soon, which should give allow them to be combined into a Nottingham-Lincoln route. I don't know whether it's worthwhile writing a Nottingham-Lincoln cycle route, which is 49 miles in total. Anyone interested could surely combine the two themselves. I was staying at a friend in Wragby's house and didn't realise that Wragby is a further 12 miles from Lincoln. Likewise, I underestimated the distance from Nottingham to Lincoln, figuring that it was 40 miles, not the 49 it actually is. The upshot of this is that I ended up cycling 61 miles in the first day, instead of the 40-50 I'd thought. We arrived at midnight after a disturbing 12 mile ride along an unlit major road (Has anyone else noticed that cars hardly ever dip their headlights for cyclists?). |
| My Latest Route: Aug 2006 Nottingham to Newark | |
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happy
| 30 Aug 15:33 |
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Joined: 15 Mar 2006 Posts: 302 Bike: Orange P7 with Rock Shox, Michelin Wildgripper Lites, XTR Chainset My Profile | Thanks for another route steve. It is now uploaded and can be found here. Nottingham to Newark i started another post on the car issue as its definately one discussing. thanks alan |
| My Latest Route: Oct 2010 Livingston to Ayr Avoiding A71 | |
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steve3742
| 31 Aug 10:34 |
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Joined: 28 Jul 2006 Posts: 7 Bike: My Profile | I hate to seem inconsiderate, but the map is wrong. It sort of loses track at the bridleway (which I've done physically in the past) and doesn't end up in Newark at all. I'd fix it myself, but i don't know how. |
| My Latest Route: Aug 2006 Nottingham to Newark | |
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happy
| 31 Aug 12:10 |
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Joined: 15 Mar 2006 Posts: 302 Bike: Orange P7 with Rock Shox, Michelin Wildgripper Lites, XTR Chainset My Profile | hi steve, no problem at all, if you can let me know roughly where it is wrong and how to correct it I will try my best to correct it. Unfortunately unless you have Google Earth Plus you will not be able to change the files. I have added the last part of the route to Newark. thanks alan |
| My Latest Route: Oct 2010 Livingston to Ayr Avoiding A71 | |
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steve3742
| 02 Sep 11:51 |
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Joined: 28 Jul 2006 Posts: 7 Bike: My Profile | OK, it's almost perfect now, just one slight change. As you come out of Sibthorpe, going down Church Lane, you have the route turning right down Newfield lane. In fact, it goes left, down Baxter Lane (the Bridleway I mentioned - none of my other maps name it, but it's on Google Earth.) Go down this to the T junction then turn right and join up with the rest of your route, which is correct as far as i can see (it doesn't go along a road, so it's hard to check.) Thanks Steve |
| My Latest Route: Aug 2006 Nottingham to Newark | |
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happy
| 02 Sep 13:43 |
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Joined: 15 Mar 2006 Posts: 302 Bike: Orange P7 with Rock Shox, Michelin Wildgripper Lites, XTR Chainset My Profile | I think that is it now, hopefully its all ok. |
| My Latest Route: Oct 2010 Livingston to Ayr Avoiding A71 | |
| Cougar | 10 Jan 09:01 |
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Joined: 10 Jan 2007 Posts: 2 Bike: | Now why did I not find your Derby to Nottingham map before I went that way this morning? Just a quick ask for a clarification on point 7 of that route (tried to add this as a comment but wouldnt let me for some reason) when you leave parkside avenue (going from Derby to Nottingham) what exactly are you looking for as I missed that junction completly and neither google earth or the windows version (which has better photographs of the Derby area if anyones intrested http://maps.live.com) seemed to answer that question fully? Thanks Evan |
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happy
| 10 Jan 10:51 |
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Joined: 15 Mar 2006 Posts: 302 Bike: Orange P7 with Rock Shox, Michelin Wildgripper Lites, XTR Chainset My Profile | "tried to add this as a comment"--Evan Hi Evan, I have added it in as a comment for you (and fixed the problem), hopefully Steve3742 will be able to answer your question. thanks |
| My Latest Route: Oct 2010 Livingston to Ayr Avoiding A71 | |
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steve3742
| 15 Jan 05:36 |
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Joined: 28 Jul 2006 Posts: 7 Bike: My Profile | It's been a while since I rode this, but from Parkside Avenue, you're trying to get into West Park, so look for the park entrance. I usually get lost in West Park - it's a big park and all the paths look the same. |
| My Latest Route: Aug 2006 Nottingham to Newark | |
| Cougar | 15 Jan 12:41 |
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Joined: 10 Jan 2007 Posts: 2 Bike: | Thanks I am probably going to ride it again somepoint this week weather permitting (a fair portion of it was flooded last week) So hopefully Ill be able to report that your directions helped |
| lloydie | 23 Sep 06:50 |
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Joined: 23 Sep 2007 Posts: 1 Bike: | do you have a suggested route to York from Notts/newark? Looking for a quiet cycle on tarmac to stretch our legs a little and get out of our usual catchemnt area. |
| Wanderingwebster | 31 Jan 12:49 |
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Joined: 31 Jan 2008 Posts: 1 Bike: | Hiya I'm after a nottingham to leicester route but can't seem to find one at all...Sustrans isn't very clear at all....hmpf! I don't mind it being on minor roads but am really hoping for some idea of route and time.... |
| Magna | 01 Feb 17:54 |
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Joined: 01 Feb 2008 Posts: 1 Bike: | I want to know a good Newcastle-London route. I hope to copy Alan Shearer in the summer who is undertaking this in 2 days for Sport Relief. |
| kingal86 | 22 Mar 20:34 |
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Joined: 22 Mar 2008 Posts: 2 Bike: | The only online directions software of much use to cyclists is the Multimap.com directions set to "Walking": however they essentially treat you as a car moving at c. 3 miles an hour, and still send you up a lot of main roads. It does cut out all the motorways however, and does help give a rough idea of a rote's distance and can help in planning with a map. One of the things I find is it's hard to tell from a map how busy a road is, or how crazy or dangerous a roundabout or other junction would be for a cyclist. After all, the odd dual carriageway and single A road are actually quite quiet, while some B roads are busy nightmares, which you'd never know from the map. |
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Murray Barnes
| 25 Mar 10:57 |
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Joined: 07 Jan 2007 Posts: 64 Bike: My Profile | kingal86, I recently discovered another option: Via Michelin, which has a "by bicycle" option hidden away in there. I tried it out for a route from Glasgow to Perth, and it suggested cycling on the A9, which was a bit disappointing, but the rest of the route was probably ok. |
| My Latest Route: Jul 2008 Great Glen Cycleway | |
| Roger | 25 Feb 10:50 |
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Joined: 25 Feb 2009 Posts: 1 Bike: | Iid be interested in a Nottingham Loughborough cycle route. Is there a an attractive quite speedy one or do I have to mess with the A60? Roger W |
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Leafy
| 02 Jun 17:24 |
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Joined: 02 Jun 2010 Posts: 9 Bike: My Profile | I have just added Nottingham-Derby route 6, although it's awaiting moderation at present. I will also put up the short link route from route 6 down into Nottingham city centre at some point - route 6 doesn't actually go all the way into Nottingham, it skirts the city centre. The link route is very short and easy but I didn't want to plot it as part of route 6 because officially it's not part of it. I agree about Sustrans though. I got their guide to route 6, Derby-York, and it's just so damn vague about everything. I know it covers a long way and therefore proper detail isn't always feasible but I need more to look out for that just a kink in the road! I have resorted to contacting local councils for their cycle maps as they very useful - as mentioned above, you can't go from a normal map because they show the best routes for cars, whereas there may be better, prettier, more suitable routes for cyclists. Indeed, there usually are and these cycle maps show them. They usually show where there are on-road, off-road cycle paths, and where there aren't cycle paths they show quieter alternative routes to busy roads. I guess you lot probably know that already though, and the main downside to these maps is that if you are planning any long journey it would take loads of these maps - I am currently planning to cycle Nottingham to Stoke-on-Trent (about 50 miles as the crow flies) and for that I need maps of South Nottingham, Derbyshire, East Staffordshire, Staffordshire Moorlands, and Stoke-on-Trent. If nothing else it's to give me a good idea of what to expect and even if I don't take them with me when I eventually make the journey, I will use them a lot in planning. It's my first time submitting a route so I hope it's adequate. |
| My Latest Route: Jun 2010 Wesport Lake to Stone Via Trent & Mersey Canal | |
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soren
| 03 Jun 16:08 |
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Joined: 09 Jan 2010 Posts: 90 Bike: My Profile | Happy, I had a look at your Newcastle to Edinbourgh route, I notice it is on A class roads, are you able to comment on how cycle friendly they are? |
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Leafy
| 28 Jun 16:14 |
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Joined: 02 Jun 2010 Posts: 9 Bike: My Profile | Incidentally, I tried to submit a route for the city centre link from Nottingham train station to route 5, but it wouldn't let me because it was under 5 miles. Bah! |
| My Latest Route: Jun 2010 Wesport Lake to Stone Via Trent & Mersey Canal | |
| saddleup | 29 Jun 14:29 |
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Joined: 29 Jun 2010 Posts: 1 Bike: | I am currently journeying by car frequently from Saddleworth, Oldham to Ross-on-Wye. It has struck me that I might wish to reminisce (at age 73) by indulging in a route (cycle, that is) similar to those done when a youngster....except for the wretched main-road traffic now! Whitchurch, Market Drayton, Shrewsbury, Ludlow kind of thing. It beggars belief that no city-to-city routes seem to be available on the web...I have just looked at Sustrans and CTC and all on offer seem to be circular rather than linear. I know that this moan provokes a challenge....why don't I have a go and let others know how I managed? But I had hoped that there might be some helpful hints to start with......a vicious circle...! Just thought I'd chip in my twopennuth, thah noes. BG |
| Daeve | 22 Jul 17:57 |
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Joined: 22 Jul 2013 Posts: 1 Bike: | Added a route from Anstey (NW Leicester) to Clifton (Nottingham) via Loughborough avoiding the A60, and staying to quiet(er) country roads, rideable tracks (ok for road bike) and cycle paths. |
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herbie
| 23 Jul 13:29 |
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Joined: 17 Oct 2009 Posts: 98 Bike: My Profile | Try , http://www.cyclestreets.net/journey/ enter start & finish points and then choose Fastest / balanced / quietest you can then print off route or download GPX for free !! |
| My Latest Route: Sep 2012 Birmingham to Worcestor Via Canal | |
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