How to plan a great cycling route
Bike rides. They come in all shapes and sizes, from hitting the open road epics, to pootles around the park and off-road mud fests. But what makes a great bike ride? A great cycling route, of course. Here are our top tips for planning your own cycle routes:
Facilities
Regardless what type of bike riding you’re into, it’s a good idea to start and finish your ride at a local facility. It could be a bike-friendly café, a forestry visitor’s centre or even the local leisure centre – ideal for grabbing an energy boosting flapjack or making a last minute toilet trip before setting off.
Weather check
Some of the best cycling routes out there are only at their best at certain times of the year. Mountain biking through the woods is fantastic in the height of summer, not so much in the rainy autumn when the muddy bog sets in. It’s worth factoring in the seasonal weather when planning your route.
Round in circles
Are you longing for a well-rounded cycling experience? Then plan a circular cycling route rather than a there-and-back outing. It’s far more enjoyable to discover lots of new places and spaces whilst out on your bike, rather than seeing the same things twice over.
Plan a mid-way pit stop
Whether you plan on riding 10 miles or 50 miles, scheduling in a mid-way pit stop is definitely worth it. Perfect for giving you and your cycling buddies a well-deserved break and the chance for a bite to eat, if you happen to stop at a café or country pub.
Is there room for two?
If you’re planning a new route for your next outing with friends or local cycling club, give some thought to how much room there is to ride together. Riding side by side and having a chat along the way is much more fun than cycling in single file all the way around.
A sneaky short cut
When the time comes to brave the unknown and cycle further than you’ve ever done before, it’s a good idea to plan a sneaky short cut. This way you’re prepared, just in case your legs aren’t quite up to the challenge or you need to get home sharpish for some reason.
Time to turn around
Our final top tip for planning a great cycle route is, where possible, when riding on the road, cycle-anti clockwise. If you ride an anti-clockwise loop you’ll avoid the need to make lots of right hand turns and crossing potentially busy traffic. So that’s left, left and left again everybody!
If you need a little more inspiration to get the creative cycling route planning juices flowing, then why not join us on a free guided bike ride near you this summer. We’ve got some cracking routes to share with you and inspire you to keep cycling all year round.
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