3 days of cycling - suggestions?
Discussion
After thinking about getting away from Reading for this weekend due to the festival, it occurred to me I could simply get on the bike and bugger off somewhere for a few days.
I initially thought of starting from here and planning to reach a different place each day with B&Bs but I could get on the train and start from somewhere else, within reason.
So to that end, has anyone got any suggestions for areas in the south that could sustain 3 days of cycling? Not sure what mileage per day we're talking about - I'm a lot fitter than I was but I'm certainly no Lance Armstrong, plus my bike's a GT Avalanche 3 so not the ideal road bike. I'm not averse to using bridlepaths, following canals etc though.
Or any input at all really.
I initially thought of starting from here and planning to reach a different place each day with B&Bs but I could get on the train and start from somewhere else, within reason.
So to that end, has anyone got any suggestions for areas in the south that could sustain 3 days of cycling? Not sure what mileage per day we're talking about - I'm a lot fitter than I was but I'm certainly no Lance Armstrong, plus my bike's a GT Avalanche 3 so not the ideal road bike. I'm not averse to using bridlepaths, following canals etc though.
Or any input at all really.
the North Downs and South Downs are good cycling.
For mountain biking:
====================
Chiltern Hills are good (travel to Henley and cycle NW from there)
The North Downs around Dorking are good - Leith Hill, White Downs, Box Hill, Holmsworth Hill(?) [you don't need to be Lance Armstrong and the tracks are excellent and numerous - weeks of cycling to be had)
The South Downs - e.g. start at Amberley
Parts of Salisbury planes are good (but not the parts with tanks driving over it!)
As a long multi day trip you could do either the South Downs way or the Ridgeway (Chiltern Hills) as suggested.
or, drive out the M4 to the Breacon Beacons in Wales for a bit of a challenge.
Road Biking
===========
Big Ride: Reading - through the hills round Dorking, on towards Tonbridge and keep going towards Eastbourne
Ian
For mountain biking:
====================
Chiltern Hills are good (travel to Henley and cycle NW from there)
The North Downs around Dorking are good - Leith Hill, White Downs, Box Hill, Holmsworth Hill(?) [you don't need to be Lance Armstrong and the tracks are excellent and numerous - weeks of cycling to be had)
The South Downs - e.g. start at Amberley
Parts of Salisbury planes are good (but not the parts with tanks driving over it!)
As a long multi day trip you could do either the South Downs way or the Ridgeway (Chiltern Hills) as suggested.
or, drive out the M4 to the Breacon Beacons in Wales for a bit of a challenge.
Road Biking
===========
Big Ride: Reading - through the hills round Dorking, on towards Tonbridge and keep going towards Eastbourne
Ian
Bit far at this stage really 
(Brecons that is)
I'm thinking maybe do 3 separate day trips now. Saves cash on the B&B front.
Kennet & Avon as far as I can get for one day then train it back (seeing as the train lines follow the canal more or less)
Ridgeway for another (can get to Streatley easily enough from Reading)
South Downs from Winchester (ditto)
(Brecons that is) I'm thinking maybe do 3 separate day trips now. Saves cash on the B&B front.
Kennet & Avon as far as I can get for one day then train it back (seeing as the train lines follow the canal more or less)
Ridgeway for another (can get to Streatley easily enough from Reading)
South Downs from Winchester (ditto)
Edited by graham@reading on Tuesday 22 August 16:37
Sounds good.
However, do make a note to try the Dorking area. It is really easy to get to from Reading and is a mountain biking honey pot. Take a look at a 1:25,000 map of the area and you will see what I mean - more tracks and bridleways than you could shake a stick at.
Its really easy to plan any number of 25-35 mile routes almost entirely offroad + there are special built to purpose areas (fun jumps etc... built by the locals and hidden in the woods) & purpose built decents *(e.g. 'Summer Lightning' on Leith Hill) if you just want to have some fun.
Leith Hill is a good area to start with. Plenty of mountain bikers there every weekend.
However, do make a note to try the Dorking area. It is really easy to get to from Reading and is a mountain biking honey pot. Take a look at a 1:25,000 map of the area and you will see what I mean - more tracks and bridleways than you could shake a stick at.
Its really easy to plan any number of 25-35 mile routes almost entirely offroad + there are special built to purpose areas (fun jumps etc... built by the locals and hidden in the woods) & purpose built decents *(e.g. 'Summer Lightning' on Leith Hill) if you just want to have some fun.
Leith Hill is a good area to start with. Plenty of mountain bikers there every weekend.
Gonna pore over some maps tomorrow 
Only got as far as Hungerford today, which isn't bad considering I only started cycling 3 months ago and I've been without for the last 3 weeks. 31 miles all in.
I made 2 fatal flaws.
1) I didn't have any breakfast. As a smoker I was always limited by my CV - I've never actually experienced "proper" fatigue until today. By 12 I was struggling so had to dive into my lucosade stuff that I was keeping back to mix with water for my main bottle. (I quit the tabs over a year and a half ago)
2) I had a slightly liquid lunch at Kintbury Puts you right off your stride, does that Just to give non-locals an idea, Hungerford is just 4 miles further on. Saw the station from the towpath and thought "sod it, I'm going home" 
Was only 2 pints as well. And 3 packets of crisps (food stopped 15 minutes before I got there).
So more planning required next time.
My arse is absolutely killing me now too - and yes, because of the saddle
I didn't know Dunsfold's Wings & Wheels show was on tomorrow so I'm going to that instead of doing a second day cycling. I might get back in the saddle on Monday and explore the Ridgeway though.
It was a bit optimistic really wasn't it
I made 2 fatal flaws.
1) I didn't have any breakfast. As a smoker I was always limited by my CV - I've never actually experienced "proper" fatigue until today. By 12 I was struggling so had to dive into my lucosade stuff that I was keeping back to mix with water for my main bottle. (I quit the tabs over a year and a half ago)
2) I had a slightly liquid lunch at Kintbury
Puts you right off your stride, does that Just to give non-locals an idea, Hungerford is just 4 miles further on. Saw the station from the towpath and thought "sod it, I'm going home" Was only 2 pints as well. And 3 packets of crisps (food stopped 15 minutes before I got there). So more planning required next time.
My arse is absolutely killing me now too - and yes, because of the saddle
I didn't know Dunsfold's Wings & Wheels show was on tomorrow so I'm going to that instead of doing a second day cycling. I might get back in the saddle on Monday and explore the Ridgeway though.
It was a bit optimistic really wasn't it
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