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Grand Union Canal Milton Keynes to London

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Velocipede	03 May 04:03
Joined: 03 May 2008 Posts: 10 Bike: My Profile	I am planning on cycling Milton Keynes to London along Grand Union Canal. Would like help on where to get decent map in case of diversions and also wondered, from those that have done it in the past, would it be possible to do in a day? Plan to do the ride in August. Look forward to all the help I can get! Many thanks

sunidorset	08 May 07:42
Joined: 05 Mar 2008 Posts: 2 Bike: My Profile	Hi I'm just about 60 & like flatish rides. Live in Dorset & had to bring a car back from Luton on Monday 5th May. Got off train at Waterloo. Used www.tfl.gov.uk for a traffic free London route. You type in "where to & from" &, hey presto, it gives u a printable route. I wanted to use the Lea Valley which is cyclable on a Hybrid, ATB or Mountain bike. I arrived @ Waterloo @ 1045 , got to Limehouse (1115) to Hoddesdon & then roads to Ware, Hertford, Welwyn & Luton(1615). It was very pleasurable with pubs on the way (if u need). Even though it was a Bank Holiday, the traffic was not a problem. The towpaths were very Bank Holiday Monday busy so perhaps too slow for you. Good Luck!
My Latest Route: Mar 2008 Swanage to Portishead

sunidorset

08 May 07:42

Joined: 05 Mar 2008

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Hi
I'm just about 60 & like flatish rides. Live in Dorset & had to bring a car back from Luton on Monday 5th May. Got off train at Waterloo. Used www.tfl.gov.uk for a traffic free London route. You type in "where to & from" &, hey presto, it gives u a printable route. I wanted to use the Lea Valley which is cyclable on a Hybrid, ATB or Mountain bike.
I arrived @ Waterloo @ 1045 , got to Limehouse (1115) to Hoddesdon & then roads to Ware, Hertford, Welwyn & Luton(1615). It was very pleasurable with pubs on the way (if u need). Even though it was a Bank Holiday, the traffic was not a problem. The towpaths were very Bank Holiday Monday busy so perhaps too slow for you.
Good Luck!

My Latest Route: Mar 2008 Swanage to Portishead

Darkrider	31 May 13:28
Joined: 30 May 2008 Posts: 13 Bike: My Profile	Hi You should be able to get the maps you want from the outdoor pursuits shop in the Food Hall its to the left side as you look at sainsburys, they carry most of the os maps you could ever want LOL. On another note though make sure you have some form of anti puncture fitted or you'll be stopping every couple of Miles to make repairs. good luck with your planning from a fellow Milton Keynes cyclist. rgds Dave
My Latest Route: Jun 2008 Willen Loop

Darkrider

31 May 13:28

Joined: 30 May 2008

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Hi

You should be able to get the maps you want from the outdoor pursuits shop in the Food Hall its to the left side as you look at sainsburys, they carry most of the os maps you could ever want LOL.

On another note though make sure you have some form of anti puncture fitted or you'll be stopping every couple of Miles to make repairs.

good luck with your planning from a fellow Milton Keynes cyclist.

rgds

Dave

My Latest Route: Jun 2008 Willen Loop

Velocipede	31 May 14:37
Joined: 03 May 2008 Posts: 10 Bike: My Profile	Hiya Thanks for replies. I've now managed to get map and will pop up the city as suggested for more info. I'm still hoping to hear from someone that has done part or all of the route for more info on towpath conditions, etc. Wish me luck! Sharon

Velocipede	31 May 14:39
Joined: 03 May 2008 Posts: 10 Bike: My Profile	Hi Dave As fellow MK cyclist, have you done much canal cycling or are you a speedy roadster? The furthest I've gone so far is Cosgrove to Fenny, so hoping my bottom will still be in tact with the additional miles! Sharon

Darkrider	01 Jun 18:00
Joined: 30 May 2008 Posts: 13 Bike: My Profile	Hi Sharron yes have cycled the length of the MK stretch much like yourself several times and then went south through Leighton Buzzard as far as Tring resovoirs, this was a coule of years ago mind, however the towpath was in fairly good condition just watch out for the Bramble bushes play havoc with non protected tyres lol (not that i would know that from my own journey of course not lol). you said you were going to do your trip in August do you know when if I were you I would avoid weekends and bank holidays or you could find your trip slowed down to a crawl by other users and fishermen. hope this helps Dave
My Latest Route: Jun 2008 Willen Loop

Darkrider

01 Jun 18:00

Joined: 30 May 2008

Posts: 13

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Hi Sharron

yes have cycled the length of the MK stretch much like yourself several times and then went south through Leighton Buzzard as far as Tring resovoirs, this was a coule of years ago mind, however the towpath was in fairly good condition just watch out for the Bramble bushes play havoc with non protected tyres lol (not that i would know that from my own journey of course not lol).

you said you were going to do your trip in August do you know when if I were you I would avoid weekends and bank holidays or you could find your trip slowed down to a crawl by other users and fishermen.

hope this helps

Dave

My Latest Route: Jun 2008 Willen Loop

Velocipede	02 Jun 13:17
Joined: 03 May 2008 Posts: 10 Bike: My Profile	Hi Dave Think the weekday suggestion is a good one, don't fancy tripping over fisherman and pushchairs all the way! I'll let you know how I get on and if I actually make it in one day, which is the plan. Will get some puncture resistant tyres and take along a couple of spare inner tubes. Had a few punctures myself on the tow paths especially just after the hedges are cut. Regards Sharon

Darkrider	02 Jun 13:41
Joined: 30 May 2008 Posts: 13 Bike: My Profile	Hi Sharron you dont have to get new tyres you can get a product called slime tube protector. its availiable at most cycle shops I just got mine from halfords. heres a link for some on ebay so you can see what its like. Tyres Good luck with your ride Dave
My Latest Route: Jun 2008 Willen Loop

Velocipede	02 Jun 17:47
Joined: 03 May 2008 Posts: 10 Bike: My Profile	Hi Dave Is this stuff a liquid? and won't it make my already cumbersome bike a whole lot heavier? And, most importantly did it work? or did you still get any punctures. How long did it take you to get to Leighton Buzzard? and where did you start from in MK Ta Ta for now Sharon

Murray Barnes	02 Jun 21:12
Joined: 07 Jan 2007 Posts: 64 Bike: My Profile	It's not a liquid, it's a strip of jelly, basically, that goes between the tube and the tyre. It's not that heavy, but I've never tried it myself, so can't tell you if it prevents punctures. But since the manufacturer have that guarantee to replace any inner tube punctured while using the stuff, it must work fairly well
My Latest Route: Jul 2008 Great Glen Cycleway

Velocipede	03 Jun 11:49
Joined: 03 May 2008 Posts: 10 Bike: My Profile	Thanks Murray I'll consider my options, maybe a little more investigation required there then reach some kind of decision. Good luck with your next ride! Sharon

Darkrider	03 Jun 14:33
Joined: 30 May 2008 Posts: 13 Bike: My Profile	Hi Sharron From Willen lake area to Leighton took me a little over 1.25 hours but that was plodding lol Dave
My Latest Route: Jun 2008 Willen Loop

Peter C	30 Jul 11:12
Joined: 30 Jul 2008 Posts: 10 Bike: My Profile	Hi thereyou may already have done the ride (I've only just logged on to the forum) but I did the route from Near Warwick to Little Venice (Edgware Road) in one and a half days a few years ago. I have the write-up if you want to read it. Cheers Peter

jpd6	04 Aug 08:58
Joined: 04 Aug 2008 Posts: 1 Bike:	Hello! I did cycle from Campbell Park in MK to Brentford along the Grand Union on Sunday 27th July. It was very hot day thus I ended up using much more water than I expected! I finished at Brentford at the end of the Grand Union canal and got the train from Brentford station to Waterloo, cycled over to Euston and train back to MK. Apparently, it is possible to carry onwards toward Central London via the Thames from Brentford or turning off along the Paddington branch of the Grand Union canal. The towpath along most of the route is very good. Parts of the path between Leighton Buzzard and Marsworth was overgrown thus wearing gloves and a helment was very handy! Hillingdon and Southall were the only other parts that were not too good due to the amount of rubbish scattered along the path with sharp objects. The whole ride trip with the stops I'm guessing took about 6 to 7 hours for me. Some things I didn't quite appreciate before the ride is that Sunday is probably the busiest day of the week! There was a lot of anglers that had camped out with tents along the way with an angling contest going on. The ride is certainly possible in a day, and I would recommend it. I enjoyed it and I will certainly plan to do it again finishing along the Paddington branch.

jpd6

04 Aug 08:58

Joined: 04 Aug 2008

Posts: 1

Bike:

Hello!

I did cycle from Campbell Park in MK to Brentford along the Grand Union on Sunday 27th July. It was very hot day thus I ended up using much more water than I expected! I finished at Brentford at the end of the Grand Union canal and got the train from Brentford station to Waterloo, cycled over to Euston and train back to MK. Apparently, it is possible to carry onwards toward Central London via the Thames from Brentford or turning off along the Paddington branch of the Grand Union canal.

The towpath along most of the route is very good. Parts of the path between Leighton Buzzard and Marsworth was overgrown thus wearing gloves and a helment was very handy! Hillingdon and Southall were the only other parts that were not too good due to the amount of rubbish scattered along the path with sharp objects.

The whole ride trip with the stops I'm guessing took about 6 to 7 hours for me. Some things I didn't quite appreciate before the ride is that Sunday is probably the busiest day of the week! There was a lot of anglers that had camped out with tents along the way with an angling contest going on.

The ride is certainly possible in a day, and I would recommend it. I enjoyed it and I will certainly plan to do it again finishing along the Paddington branch.

Marrrow	23 Oct 09:27
Joined: 23 Oct 2008 Posts: 2 Bike:	I am planning to cycle from Leicester to London on the canal. On a offroad single speed rigid bike hav be buying os maps to plan the route.

papers	02 Jul 06:56
Joined: 02 Jul 2009 Posts: 1 Bike:	Having done the whole length of the GU I can honestly say that the trip from MK to London is y far the easiest stretch. Most (if not all by now) is paved or of a good quality. Totally agree with the anti puncture thing. I had kevlar coated tyres and slime and managed to avoid mishaps. My fellow riders did suffer though. It should take you around 4-8 hours depending upon how fast you go.

munchkin	11 Jul 16:30
Joined: 11 Jul 2009 Posts: 2 Bike:	Is it legal to cycle on the canal paths of Grand Union, I have read an article in a mountain bike magazine where a guy got into trouble for not having a permit to ride on a canal path but not sure if this applies to all canals.

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