CX LEJOG Route (Gravelejog)

[Dave Barter]

Right, I'm going to do it, hopefully in October if work allows.

Let's crowdsource a route. I'll start with day 1

http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=zvdajakriypsqdtp

It's tricky to find much gravel in Cornwall so I head up the coast (ridden this route before it's lovely) to Padstow and then hit the Camel trail for some offroad. The aim is to end up near Camelford where there are lots of food options and also B&B's.

Any ideas for improvement? Day 2 to follow shortly.

[Dave Barter]

Day 2 - Again not many off road options for CX so we stick to nation route 3 which looks to be quite a nice ride

http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=xfinmqcybptbbwrc

[Chicken Legs]

Looks good so far, how many days do you anticipate the whole route taking ?

Andy

[Dave Barter]

Last time I did 11 days for some 1100 miles in total. I'm trying to get this one to 10 days ~ 120 miles a day.

[Nevis]

Despite growing up in Kernow and having cycled much of the Southern / Western area I don't have any bright ideas for Day 1. The coast road to St. Ives is indeed lovely.

Day 2: It's pretty enough coming over Exmoor from Barnstaple to Dulverton but once you're on the Devon c2c route you could follow it up to Ilfracombe.

From Braunton to Ilfracombe there are road sections but also some nice off-road / traffic free sections too.

Once at Ilfracombe you'll be back on the road but it's pretty vaguely exciting round there with stunning views and a few little naps (up and down!) thrown in for amusement.

You can take the toll road off Exmoor into Porlock or the main road if you ignore the "Cyclists dismount" sign! From there you can head off road again and follow the coast round to Minehead.

Back on the road again, dash past Butlins and on to Blue Anchor. From there it's Watchet and then climb the Northern end of the Quantocks and follow the ridge South East dropping off the other end somewhere suitable.

By now you've probably head a belly full of hills so instead of tracking the M5 up round Bridgewater go straight across the Somerset Levels on road to your destination.

It may not be a fast enough route form your schedule but it will certainly be spectacular. You'll get every type of riding from traffic-free pancake-flat tarmac, gravel and full-on off road.

[Ian]

I reckon I can put something together between Chepstow and Cannock, crossing into Wales.
Depending on the dates and approvals etc, I could be up for joining you (assuming you want company...)

[mountainbaker]

Dave, those gpsies links are broken.

Are you taking in the Camel Trail? It's a nice ride up it, then up over St Breward onto the top of Bodmin above Camelford.

[Dave Barter]

Gabe - Links work for me in the office

Ian - definitely love your input. I am thinking of 16th - 26th October at the moment, depends on work and me being able to get out of a drunken agreement to go and see the Sisters of Mercy

Nevis - which sections would be "full on off road", really trying to keep it to decent tracks in the main in order to keep the daily average up

If I get time I'll finish a proposed day 3 tonight

[Nevis]

My bad, I didn't pick up on the cx gravel clues despite the subject title!

The Quantocks would be full on. Not bad once you're up top but coming down off road could be fun. Nothing stopping you taking a road back down though.

The off road pull up from Porlock towards Minehead would be most likely be hike a bike. Once you're up to I think you'd be ok.

[fatbikephil]

Hey Dave, instead of finishing at John O groats, finish at Cape Wrath then you get to do the Glengolly / bealach horn path again - should be no bother jogging along it with a cross bike over your shoulder

[AlasdairMc]

Hey Dave, instead of finishing at John O groats, finish at Cape Wrath then you get to do the Glengolly / bealach horn path again - should be no bother jogging along it with a cross bike over your shoulder

Nah, get to Cape Wrath then ride the coast road to John O'Groats. The constant up and down will make you think you're back in Cornwall...

[ctznsmith]

If you want 'off road' but not 'gnar' then canal network through the midlands?

Also they may be too far east but perhaps look at the 'Five pits trail' in Derbyshire and the north to south parts of the Trans penine trail in Yorkshire.

[Nevis]

Talking canals... you can ride from Newport to the Brecon along the canal if that's any help.

[Zippy]

I'll watch this with interest, and may well pinch the route for 2016, seriously want to do a lejog, graveljog sounds better!

[Dave Barter]

Very rough day 3 - not a huge amount of off-road but lots of quiet lanes and a diversion up Cheddar Gorge. I may need to tinker a bit to see if I can squeeze some more tracks in.

http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=gukaiqmhqxfpozbh

This is almost definitely happening in October now

[Single Speed George]

i can work something out for the Lake district / dales depending were you want to go / where you will enter my neck of the woods ( north west)

wanna try out my new CX bike so will be a good excuse

[AlasdairMc]

This is almost definitely happening in October now

If you can get yourself to the Scottish border (Kirk Yetholm) then the Scottish National Trail might be an idea. I don't think anyone has ridden the full thing yet, but it's a variety of trails from field-based trudges to canal paths to Glen Tilt, Fisherfield and Cape Wrath. If that trail isn't of interest, I'm sure a few of us on here could come up with an amazing Scottish route from the Border to the top.

[Bearbonesnorm]

Are you planning to go through or bypass Wales Dave ... obviously bypassing it makes sense from a 'get to JOG' perspective.

[Ian]

I was going to route up through the welsh borders. Talybont > Llanbedr > Gwaenceste > New Radnor > Beacon Hill > Kerry Ridgeway > Long Mynd > Wenlock Edge > Cannock. Someone else can take it from there.

[jameso]

I was going to route up through the welsh borders. Talybont > Llanbedr > Gwaenceste > New Radnor > Beacon Hill > Kerry Ridgeway > Long Mynd > Wenlock Edge > Cannock. Someone else can take it from there.

That sounds like a great ride in itself, interested in the GPX / local knowledge there.

[Ian]

Sure thing James. I'll ping it to Dave when I'm done and he can post to gpsies for people to pick up from there.

[Blackhound]

From Cannock not a lot until Ashbourne where you can pick up the Tissington Trail and from there lots of PBW / TPT or Derby / Berwick route.

If you head further West when down South there is a massive canal network from South of Milton Keynes to Loughborough area. More options from here all the way to Worksop which is a bit more interesting then just canal bashing but also good to get the miles in. From Worksop back on canal to Rotherham area and then North or North West.

Once you know if you are heading West or East side of the Peak I may be able to offer more.

[Dave Barter]

Ian, that sounds good, I will re-route to Talybont. I quite like the idea of others in control of my destiny...unless they have a death(march)wish.

[Dave Barter]

Are you planning to go through or bypass Wales Dave ... obviously bypassing it makes sense from a 'get to JOG' perspective.

No plans to do either really. Just want ten days spot on riding. A few years back I rode from Llanberis along the north coast then via the Wirrel to the Lakes and remember that as a not too stressful CX route. Fancy tagging on?

[Scattamah]

...Kerry Ridgeway > Long Mynd > Wenlock Edge > Cannock...

Following the EWE for this section, Ian? If so, I have a small amendment for you that would make the Stiperstones decent a little more fun (thanks to Slacker and his D2D route).

Greetz

S.