Tips on finding good roads on a map.

[Seggons]

I seem to have a gift of finding the type of roads that look stunning on a map, only to find when I get to them they are nothing more then boring dual carriageways or farm tracks. Every now and then I'll find a great road but most of the time it's depressing riding over 150 miles only to find one or two semi decent roads.

So what tips can you give me to help me plan a great ride out?

[Lissa]

Stick to B roads, or A roads with more than 3 numbers after.:p

[Sean_C]

Stick to B roads, or A roads with more than 3 numbers after.:p

The lady talks sense!

Also, take a map book out with you, I've got the AZ atlast of East Anglia which goes with me absolutely everywhere. When you've stopped for a drink/fag/whatever, have a look at the map, and take the most squiggly minor roads you can. Discovered some great roads this way.

Alternatively, fill up, and just follow your nose. But pay attention, and definitely have a decent map with you for that one!

[yorkie_chris]

Stick to B roads, or A roads with more than 3 numbers after.:p

Went down to Wales this weekend, and the "ask luckypants" method worked well!

[ScottishRawker]

Stick to B roads, or A roads with more than 3 numbers after.:p


what about the A82 in scotland, glasgow to inverness, some of the nicest roads in the uk! and thats only 2 numbers.

[suicidesam]

what about the A82 in scotland, glasgow to inverness, some of the nicest roads in the uk! and thats only 2 numbers.


Ahh.. but then we also have the A821 :cool:

[Ed]

Come to Shropshire:smt041

[gettin2dizzy]

There's a motorcycle specific map company that marks which roads are good, and they're extra-tough biker proof ones. I threw the flyer away last week so you'll have to google for them ;)

[Seggons]

Thanks for the tip, googling brought it up straight away. :)

[Jinxy43]

Thanks for the info

Map ordered, gonna be in my hands in about 5 days

[thor]

Could you post up a link? That would be much appreciated!

[Seggons]

Take your pick. ;) (http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&safe=off&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-GB%3Aofficial&hs=ufH&q=motorcycle+Atlas&btnG=Search&meta=)

[gettin2dizzy]

That's the buggers ;)
http://www.thebestrides.co.uk/

[Luckypants]

Perhaps I'll order one to find out which roads to avoid because they will be crawling with too many bikes and not a few speed cameras.

[Mogs]

Get a rough idea of the route you want to take, using your road map A & B roads are best. Next follow the route using OS maps at 1:50,000 scale paying close attention to the contours. Finally fly the route using arial photos such as google earth, tilt the view so you get some idea on tight corners / dualed sections etc. If the images are of high enough resolution you can even see the amount of white road paint.

[carnivore]

This ones easy! just find roads with the highest body count. there usually top roads with demanding sections. a lot of the roads around Hawes in north yorkshire have these kind of attributes.

[gettin2dizzy]

That's it- look for the ones with the 'Think Bike' or similar signs :)

[yorkie_chris]

This ones easy! just find roads with the highest body count.

That was one thing I noticed when I went to isle of man last year, lots of "x number of people killed" signs ... but they were for individual corners never mind the whole stretch of road!

[Mogs]

That's it- look for the ones with the 'Think Bike' or similar signs :)

No, the A37 running south from Bristol has loads of this type of sign, but the only challenge is to stay awake.

[plowsie]

Seggons, take a trip up the M1 to J15 meet me and I'll find us some roads :D See my post in your video thread also.