Cycling on disused lines?

[yorkie]

It may not be cycling weather now, but Advance tickets are already on sale for April! So now is the time we start planning cycle rides along disused lines.

Several members of this forum participate in various rides around the country, and we'd like to welcome any new members who are interested in joining us?

We do a wide variety of routes, and can be flexible for people who are slow or do not wish to cycle very far, so don't worry about that (some routes will go past, or near, railway stations so you can do a part of the ride).

We've done rides in Norfolk, the Peak District, Yorkshire, the North East of England, Scotland, North & South Wales, and the South of England.

One of the most exciting rides we plan to do this year is the re-opened tunnels on the Monsal Trail. Work has started on lighting the tunnels in the last few days and the tunnels are planned to re-open in the Spring. This is a fantastic route, sadly it will never see trains again, but why not join us for a leisurely ride and experience the fantastic scenery that passengers between Manchester & London would once have experienced? Our plan is to combine this ride with a trip on Peak Rail. The lines to Buxton & Matlock are both covered in a Derbyshire Wayfarer, making ticketing inexpensive.

What rides have you done?
Are you interested in join us for any rides this year?

 

[43021HST]

It may not be cycling weather now, but Advance tickets are already on sale for April! So now is the time we start planning cycle rides along disused lines.

Several members of this forum participate in various rides around the country, and we'd like to welcome any new members who are interested in joining us?

We do a wide variety of routes, and can be flexible for people who are slow or do not wish to cycle very far, so don't worry about that (some routes will go past, or near, railway stations so you can do a part of the ride).

We've done rides in Norfolk, the Peak District, Yorkshire, the North East of England, Scotland, North & South Wales, and the South of England.

One of the most exciting rides we plan to do this year is the re-opened tunnels on the Monsal Trail. Work has started on lighting the tunnels in the last few days and the tunnels are planned to re-open in the Spring.

Thats a shame they they have lit the tunnels, I have a wierd fascination for walking through pitch black tunnels. I always thought that winter was the best time for cycling because everthings not overgrown and you dont get too hot.

 

[starrymarkb]

I'll probably be doing the Exmouth to Budleigh Salterton run a bit in the summer, getting the train to Exmouth and ride from there.

 

[Dai.]

It's whether I have time which is the problem! - As cycling is a regular for me now.

 

[90019]

I'll try and do any rides that aren't too far for me, but I'm likely to be more pushed for time than I was last year.

 

[devon_metro]

I've done the Stawberry line from nr. Yatton to Axbridge, very interesting. Not amazingly fond of the pitch black tunnel however!!

 

[Dai.]

I've done the Stawberry line from nr. Yatton to Axbridge, very interesting. Not amazingly fond of the pitch black tunnel however!!

Is this one worth doing? Where abouts does it start?

 

[185]

Regular trips....

Wirral Way
Buxton-Ashbourne-Derby
Buxton-High Peak Junc / Matlock Bath
Dinting-Sheffield
Manchester-Stretford-Alt-Lymm-Warrington-Liverpool
Warrington-CLC-Southport
Rose Hill-Macclesfield
Manchester-Bolton/Wigan

And like doin
Okehampton-Gunnislake
Inverness-Fort William

All or part on ex rail lines, so mostly nice and flat. Except the bit off the Woodhead Pass where I got my Trek mountain bike up to 57mph

 

[Mojo]

I've done the Stawberry line from nr. Yatton to Axbridge, very interesting. Not amazingly fond of the pitch black tunnel however!!

We've had a look at this one in the past and the problem is we tend to do circular rides or point-to-point rides for added interest. The problem with this one (and why it's not been planned to date) is because once the line reaches Cheddar it ends and there's not really anywhere feasible to go once you reach there, unless you go back the way to Yatton.

 

[devon_metro]

We've had a look at this one in the past and the problem is we tend to do circular rides or point-to-point rides for added interest. The problem with this one (and why it's not been planned to date) is because once the line reaches Cheddar it ends and there's not really anywhere feasible to go once you reach there, unless you go back the way to Yatton.

Indeed, I only did it because I live on the route!

 

[dickdarlington]

I'll be back on top of the pennines this year. Getting the train from Darlo to Bish Vegas, then the Weardale up to Stanhope. From there on the bike very slowly up to the top joining the Waskerley Way (you have no idea how steep it is - and I am a big fella). Down to Consett on the C2C and all the way to Chester-Le-Street where I can hopefully time it to get a train back to Monte Darlo. Failing that, I'll cycle to 'wor lasses' folks in Gateshead (taking in part of the bowes incline railway) and have a shower before freewheeling to Central and getting on a train from there.

I can also recommend the old Middleton In Teesdale route.

 

[starrymarkb]

Something that might interest (though it isn't a disused line) if anyone fancies Pacer Racing is the new Exe Esturary trail which parallels the Avocet line very closely (only Deviating at Lympstone) from Exmouth to Lympstone

There is an extension to Topsham under construction, but not sure whenh that will be opening

http://openrouteservice.org/index.p...le&lang=en&noMotorways=false&noTollways=false

 

[deltic1989]

i'd be interested in 1 or 2 of the Norfolk or yorkshire rides if im not busy, please let me know the details closer the time.

 

[yorkie]

Please keep the replies coming!

I'll be back on top of the pennines this year. Getting the train from Darlo to Bish Vegas, then the Weardale up to Stanhope. From there on the bike very slowly up to the top joining the Waskerley Way (you have no idea how steep it is - and I am a big fella).

Evil_Hippo, Metrocammel, NickW, DaveNewcastle, Max, myself and probably one or two others here do!

Down to Consett on the C2C and all the way to Chester-Le-Street where I can hopefully time it to get a train back to Monte Darlo. Failing that, I'll cycle to 'wor lasses' folks in Gateshead (taking in part of the bowes incline railway) and have a shower before freewheeling to Central and getting on a train from there.

Waskerley Way is great. We will do it again this Spring or Summer, for sure. Would you be interested in joining us?

I can also recommend the old Middleton In Teesdale route.

Any more info on that?

i'd be interested in 1 or 2 of the Norfolk or yorkshire rides if im not busy, please let me know the details closer the time.

We also plan to do Lincoln - Boston; have you done that?

Do you know if there will be Skegness HSTs next Summer? If so, we will do the ride then. If not, we may do it this Easter.

 

[DaveNewcastle]

Slightly off-topic, but this is probably relevant to anyone wanting to read a thread about cycling on a railway website!

I'm a very regular long distance traveller who takes my bike on most journeys.
My reasoning is simple - its easy for me to get to my local station by bike (with no parking charges); taking the bike on the train is free (and staff are nearly always exceptionally helpful); travel between interchange stations (mainly London) is so very easy by bike; I can carry my laptop and all my business files and personal stuff in my briefcase (with long shoulder strap); I'm totally independent of the quirks of local public transport, both at home and at destination (and at any intermediate cities); and its all for free!!!
Personal additional benefits are the opportunities to see some intersting sights and developments on the way (which London Underground denies us), and the brief opportunity to engage with the rail staff who will be travelling with you and have responsibility for your train.

But the my main reason for posting this right now is seasonal. While there can be difficulties in getting bikes on board during summer months (when capacities may be limited by tourists and leisure cyclists), at this time of year, there's plenty spare capacity! I can tell you that I've been travelling the length of the country on a fairly regular basis this winter and only seen a tiny number of other bikes on-board - usually (even on very busy trains) my bike has been the only one.
(My only problem is the lack of grip of my treadless tyres on the icy roads - but that's definitely NOT a railway issue!)

So, this post is just a reminder to all bike users that this is the very best time of year to take our bikes on the train. And hopefully, save some money in the process!

 

[dickdarlington]

Hi Yorkie. Alas, as much as I would like to join in this year and do some cycling with board members, I have somehow got into an aid pact. My partners uncle has just had a major operation, and we will be spending this summers weekends building up his stamina again (culminating in the Hadrian’s wall C2C route for charity). As such, I won’t really have too much time in 2011. But on the bright side, I will be about 10 stone lighter by autumn.

As for the Middleton In Teesdale route. Best thing is to log onto sustrans and follow the map for an idea of the route. I think from memory it rises about 100M over the course of the route. So not too bad. It’s completely in the valley, and there is quite a bit of cuttings to cycle through. But there are a couple of excellent bridges to cross. And when the sightlines do open up it does make up for it. You can do it comfortably (B Castle to Middleton and back) in an afternoon (including stopping in Middleton for a pint).

 

[yorkie]

i'd be interested in 1 or 2 of the Norfolk or yorkshire rides if im not busy, please let me know the details closer the time.

We are considering doing Lincoln - Boston this Spring.
Plus the re-opened Monsal Trail (Matlock-Buxton), and more.
There is a Doodle to choose dates here: http://railuk.doodle.com/fkg98rfky7qwthg8
For more info, click UserCP then under Networking click Group Memberships and then apply to join Cycling disused lines.