Newcomer with ride routes request

[andyals]

Hi.

I'm Andy.

I have recently moved to Plymouth having lived in the London area since I was 18, 27 years ago (I'm from Exeter originally).

Up there I was on the bike all the time, commuting in the smoke daily and doing all the other riding about stuff we all do on sunny weekends.

I know London and the surrounding area's in the SE like the back of my hand and know the best places to ride.

Down here I'm like a fish out of water.

I mean here I am in the most beautiful county of England, and I haven't really a clue where to ride my bike.

I don't commute anymore, and ride only for pleasure now and need a portfolio of rides that I can do ranging from short blasts, to afternoon jaunts further afield.

If any of you can give me some ideas I'd really appreciate it.

I'm more into enjoying the scenery and poodling along than footpeg scraping around challenging roads, and it's always nice to have a destination, like a good cafe, bike shop etc.

I'd appreciate any good routes both in the Plymouth area, and further afield.

Thanks.

[Rsv4Col]

Hello matey,
Welcome to the madhouse

If your interested in a bimble follow this link http://southwestbikers.com/viewtopic.php?f=37&t=85094

[adam]

hi andy, i know a wicked ride if u ever come down to the south west. from landsend to st ives. really twisty, well know to bikers down here.

[TLS-Moose]

A bit depends on the type of bike you ride and the speed you like to travel at

Most of the roads down here are good for all types of bikes, but what suits a gixxer thou might not suit a hardtail chop (and vice versa) if you see what I mean

[adam]

A bit depends on the type of bike you ride and the speed you like to travel at

Most of the roads down here are good for all types of bikes, but what suits a gixxer thou might not suit a hardtail chop (and vice versa) if you see what I mean

thats true, + cow pats

[Cheese Monkey]

Get on some rideouts and you'll soon pick up the good roads

[andyals]

A bit depends on the type of bike you ride and the speed you like to travel at

I've got a Moto Guzzi Griso, and for when I'm in a more sedate mood, a BMWR1200C Cruiser.

There does seem to be a different way of riding down here that's true.

Within a month of moving here I got tugged twice by plod, both times for my "aggressive" filtering technique which they didn't like.

The last time was on Exeter street in Plymouth by a bike cop, and I explained to him I'd been riding in London 25 years and that's the way you do it there.

Even the Police ride like that in the city.

He accepted that but gave me some wise words.

In London, there are 100X's more bikes on the road at busy times and other motorists are used to them, and more aware.

Down here, he said, because there are relatively few bikes on the roads, local drivers are less bike aware and consequently less likely to be looking out for you.

I thought that was fair comment and have since adapted my town riding style.

That said, since living here, I never ceased to be surprised at the amount of riders I see when I'm filtering through busy traffic, that seem quite happy just to sit in the queue.

That just doesn't make sense to me.

[Funky]

I'm now in the south east in kent, so maybe you can give me a couple pointers on rides around here!

Plenty of places around exter heading upto north devon, the moors is a great playground. If you're in plymouth I can reccomend going up to newton via salcombe and dartmouth and then back over the moors via widecombe and princetown.

It's more easy going down in devon though, rather than in the south east where you have to get everywhere as soon as possible. The riding style up here is definately point and squirt, hard on the brakes chuck it in and point and squirt again. I would say it's alot smoother in the south west.

[adam]

hello again, you do get cars pulling over to stop u white lining, even more so in jams. just kick there mirrors.

[A_T]

Hiya, welcome to the forum

[Blue]

Hi and welcome to SWB.

What's a queue? Is that where all the car drivers see sence at one and stop to let you pass