New England - Scotland 800 mile cycle path

[mikeprice]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-49541621

 

My wife has just pointed this out to me - looks interesting

 

Do you think she is trying to get rid of me???

 

 

anyway - not sure my ebike battery will last 800 miles

[Jobos]

That looks fantastic. When I was younger I walked 125 miles of the pennine way and the scenery was just breathtaking.

[supportman]

I've done lands end to Jon O Groats which was 900 miles, amazing trip, probably the best travel I have ever done. Again the scenery was amazing.

[mikeprice]

I've done lands end to Jon O Groats which was 900 miles, amazing trip, probably the best travel I have ever done. Again the scenery was amazing.

 

I always think it is better to go the other way - it kinda seems more downhill for some reason

 

or maybe because you are walking into warmer weather

 

anyway - impressive that you did it

[supportman]

I always think it is better to go the other way - it kinda seems more downhill for some reason

 

or maybe because you are walking into warmer weather

 

anyway - impressive that you did it

 

Cornwall is the real killer due to the huge rolling hills for 100+ miles. Best get that out of the way early from experience

 

The last 100 miles of Scotland are incredible and mostly flat too! I definitely would recommend that way round although tempted to do it again the opposite way

[jmak]

I always think it is better to go the other way - it kinda seems more downhill for some reason

 

or maybe because you are walking into warmer weather

 

anyway - impressive that you did it

Most people do it south to north to take advantage of the prevailing wind; on average it should be behind you....

[rom1984]

What sort of bike would you recommend for doing this kind of trial? (i.e mountain bike, road bike etc). Really want to get into cycling but I'm too nervous to cycle on the road lol. There are a few trails like this near me but not sure what kind of bike would be appropriate

[mikeprice]

In the old days when I was a teenager and dinosaurs roamed the Earth I used to have a road bike - thicker tyres than is normal nowadays but otherwise the same

 

My attitude to cycling has always been to wander off down any old path that takes my fancy. That bike went everywhere except up mountains

Ok - I did have to carry it at time - mostly when it got stupidly muddy

But it made it

 

My current bike is en ebike - but basically it is a hybrid commuter bike - so slick(ish) tyres but a frame and wheels that are similar to a mountain bike - even suspension on the front forks

I have taken it along many rough paths around here (therefore no mountains) and it is just fine.

I wouldn;t have tried that on a modern road bike - mostly because the wheels are not really strong enough - and the very narrow tyres would be a problem on rough tracks and would dig in like mad on soft ground

 

If I was going to do something like a proper trail then I would choose a mountain bike - but if I was going to use the bike for other things and was happy wandering along the trail at slow happy speed than a hybrid should be just fine

 

The tyres would be important - I used to have a mountain bike with 'semi off orad' tyres - knobbly around the sides but with a flat bit around the middle to keep the rolling resistance down on proper roads

 

 

But what do I know - have a go on some local trails with whatever you have got - and talk to your local bike shop - they are normally helpful

If you haven;t got anything - look for something cheap secondhand - get it sorted by the bike shop (or DIY) and give it a go - when you know what you want you can upgrade

[E_G_R2]

Well all the bikes in the article are mountain but maybe a good hybrid would do. I use one for paved and un paved canal cycling and public type footpaths.