How To Use These Routes (Types of Bike & Navigation Advice)
Types of bikes to be used
All cyclecircuit.co.uk rural and urban routes take in either off road sections and/or quiet, sometimes poorly maintained lanes. This means that you will need to use an off road bike. However, the commuter routes can also be completed with a road or folding bike. Please note that you may encounter some unmade roads depending on where you start from, in which case dismount your bike and walk those sections. Other than the commuter routes, the types of suitable bikes are:
Mountain Bike (MTB)/All Terrain Bike (ATB)
Mountain/All Terrain Bikes are probably the most popular bikes on the market today, as they offer the cyclist an ‘all round’ everyday bike for use on and off road. These bikes are distinguishable from other bikes by their wide, extra grip tyres and in many cases front and/or rear suspension.
Hybrid Bike
Very similar to an MTB/ATB, but probably slightly more comfortable, favoured by commuters, but can be used on gentle off road routes.
Route Navigation
Byways and bridleways can be difficult to navigate. This is because they are criss-crossed with footpaths, tracks or other byways/bridleways and council maintained signage is limited. Even with an Ordnance Survey map navigation can be difficult. We have therefore created a comprehensive guide which incorporates 4 different methods to keep you on the right track and, used in conjunction with one another, should make navigation easier. They are:
- Step by step narrative description:
- Every relevant twist and turn has been described
- A route illustration, produced by using a cycle computer and average compass readings, is broadly to scale and is located on the front page. It includes:
- Road names
- Numbered points – these refer to the same numbered points in the narrative description. This helps you to understand where you are on the route and visualise the direction you should travel
- Road and byway/bridleway junctions
- Photos
- Where there maybe points of confusion we have included a photograph along with arrows showing the direction you should go. These photos are referred to in the narrative description and are available with every route.
- Cycle Mileage
- We have designed our routes so that all cyclists can find their way around, not just those with a cycle computer. However, if you have one, we often refer to the cumulative mileage throughout the route as an additional navigational aid. For urban/commuter routes, mileage from the previous point is used.
How to roughly tell your mileage without a cycle computer
At certain points in the step by step narrative description the cumulative mileage is quoted. Look at the point number in the text and locate the same numbered point on the route illustration. This will tell you approximately where you are on the circuit and the distance you have traveled so far. You can therefore gauge distances to the next point and beyond.
