TICKET TO RIDE
Started as a laugh….During lockdown I got bored of riding the same loops, so I started riding about 100 miles from home in London, in whatever direction the wind was blowing - and let the train take the strain back. Twenty rides later, these have been excellent for both mind and body – sometimes finishing hilariously quick due to wind, discovering new roads, new towns and new coffee stops and enjoying a moment of me-time on train back. It’s created adventure where me and my cycling buddies (Bill) had little.
I wrote a book about working from coffee shops many years ago so took time to make sure stopped for best (open) cake and coffee. Booked train at least 48hs in advance, so tickets rarely cost more than £10. Trains always turned up on time, always got onboard with bike, always tired by the time I got home
Here’s the routes and details if anyone interested in doing them.
I’m now trying 120km gravel / off-road routes from London
Cheers
Chris
LONDON TO....
IPSWICH
route: https://bit.ly/3frs2kH
160km / 1254m
Coffee stop: Blue Egg, Bardfield (excellent)
PETERBOROUGH
route: https://bit.ly/3foMBOR
171km / 1546m
Coffee stop:
Westerly route
DOVER
route: https://bit.ly/3hzLTB2
147km / 1710m
Coffee stop: Puddings coffee shop, Maidstone
DISS
route: https://bit.ly/3tW3VzX
174km / 1264m
Coffee stop: Café Coucou, Saffron Walden, (best cakes within reach of London)
BOGNOR
route: https://bit.ly/33Vlup3
113km / 1212m
Coffee: Dabbling Duck, Shere
DUNGENESS
route: https://bit.ly/3eYsBUh
173km / 1426m
Coffee: 65mm coffee, Tonbridge
ELY
route: https://bit.ly/2S7klYM
148km / 1231m
Coffee: Miss Green Fingers, Letchworth
(incl Britain’s first roundabout!)
NORWICH
route: https://bit.ly/3tY1PiM
208km / 1294m
Coffee: Café Coucou, Saffron Walden (best cakes within reach of London)
EASTBOURNE
route: https://bit.ly/3wig5o6
147km / 1896m
Coffee: 65mm coffee, Tonbridge
(via Beechy Head)
HARWICH
route: https://bit.ly/33PDt0i
165km / 1083m
Coffee: Driftwood, Maldon
(via Clacton-on-sea)
BRIGHTON
route: https://bit.ly/3fotsg0
117km / 1275m
Coffee: Fletching Village Store & Café
(via Newhaven)
SWINDON
route: https://bit.ly/3oo2XeE
135km / 1261m
Coffee: The Buzz Café, Wantage
SALISBURY
route: https://bit.ly/2RYWef0
152km / 1225m
Coffee: Chococo (best chocolate cakes within reach of London)
BURY ST. EDMONDS
route: https://bit.ly/3varZjK
144km / 1384m
Coffee: Café Couccou, Saffron Walden (best cakes within reach of London)
RUGBY
route: https://bit.ly/3tUYGAj
149km / 1571m
Coffee: More+, Aylesbury
PORTSMOUTH
route: https://bit.ly/2RXRQwN
123km / 1177m
Coffee: Costa coffee, Haslemere (had to do it once)
By mountain bike as ice around.
KETTERING
route: https://bit.ly/3v3Ulwo
144km / 1338m
Coffee: Costa coffee, Bedford (nothing else open)
IPSWICH
route: https://bit.ly/2S0JQes
145km / 1036m
Coffee: Culver Street, Colchester
HASTINGS
route: https://bit.ly/3eVG3Io
120km / 1823m
Coffee: Groombridge Farm Shop
MARGATE
route: https://bit.ly/3uSsMWB
161km / 1224m
Coffee: Greggs, Sittingbourne
BOURNEMOUTH
route: https://bit.ly/3or5g0i
161km / 1163
Coffee: Coffee: Chococo (best chocolate cakes within reach of London)
PETERBOROUGH
route: https://bit.ly/3oo7PjW
161km / 1043m
Coffee: Spoke Cycles barn, Codicote (excellent)
easterly (best) route)
