The Best Biking Roads in the UK
This week I'm going to cover some of my favourite roads in the UK now that the weather is becoming liveable for those on two wheels again.
Up first is Cheddar Gorge in Somerset - home to the famous cheese and the oldest human remains found in the UK. It's also home to a fantastically twisty bit of road that is unlike anything else in the UK.
Sadly during the summer months it can be chock-a-block with tourists and overtaking in the Gorge is not a simple matter, but this allows you to enjoy the scenery much more. If you want to give it some it's worth going nearer to sunrise or sunset when people have gone home. It takes full concentration and a bit of nerve to get some pace on this road and you might encounter goats and/or gravel. When the conditions are just right it's a very rewarding road to ride that I can only recommend.
My second recommendation is the Black Mountain Pass in the Brecon Beacons in South Wales. Unlike Cheddar Gorge this road is remarkably quiet, especially compared to some other spectacular roads. The roads in the area are superb, but this is my favourite for its long sweeping bends on the south side, and the hairpin that dives back down towards the woods which hide twisty bends for miles. Abergavenny is only a short ride away where bikers gather with all sorts of machinery before heading out for a ride on the fantastic surrounding roads.
Close to the Black Mountain Pass is my third recommendation, the A483 running from Llandovery to Bulith Wells which is chock full of every type of bend, with decent opportunities for overtaking. Rolling green hills make it a classic British ride and the area means you can link it to other roads to keep you entertained.
Heading further north I'm choosing the Cat and Fiddle - a classic biker road that is infamous with some. Recent developments mean that speeding is now extremely frowned upon, and average speed checks make it an unwise decision. The average speed of 50mph is perfectly acceptable for what is a very twisty road, on which almost all corners 50mph is not a possible speed without sticky tyres on a supersport bike. Keep your speed in check on the open areas, and you can ride as hard as you like around the corners without fear of reprisal - just be careful not to out-ride yourself as it has claimed many bikers over the years. The Peak District is packed with great roads so don't just limit yourself to this one!
Heading even further north I'm selecting the A68 running between Northumberland and Scotland - elevation changes, lovely scenery and sweeping bends make this a great road to incorporate into a trip that crosses the border. It's worth being wary of speed cameras, but the speed limit is generally generous enough to keep you more than entertained. Traffic is generally minimal and overtaking places are plentiful so holiday traffic is not a worry here.
Coming much closer to Bike Stop in Stevenage, there are rural roads to recommend here, running through rolling countryside. The A507 between Baldock and Buntingford that goes up and down continually and links up nicely with A1 if you're coming from further afield. The nearby B1039 is another great ride that links nicely to the A507 and will take you back over towards Essex if you're coming from that direction. A ride to Bike Stop wouldn't be complete without some decent riding action and these two nearby roads can provide that!
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