does a ride have to have a purpose?

[sir thomas blanchard]

not sure, if it doesn't then it seems rather aimless

usually head for a cafe at least, what about you?

[Kwacky]

When I first got into biking I was happy just to get out, no destination, just see how I feel.

Now I ride every day I'm not inclined to get a bike out for the sake of it.

[D6Nutz]

For me, sometimes the purpose of the ride is just to ride. The destination, route, and stop off points are irrelevant. But I don't get as many chances to ride at I'd like.

[duke63]

The only purpose for me is to have fun.

I do sometimes just go for a ride with no direction planned and just turn down roads that look interesting.

[kiwikrasher]

The purpose is enjoyment, the destination is arbitrary for me theses days. If it’s more enjoyable to take the bike, I take the bike.

[Frankie]

Nope, many rideouts have a reason, but for me getting out for a quick spin, is the purpose a lot of the time, it's a kind of stress reliever in a way. If not for a solo ride for unwitnessed nuttery, but also to meet up with pals.

[Rossgo]

Really depends. If I am with others then we tend to head towards a cafe. If I'm by myself j sometimes just go out for a spin on a route I know well which is around 100miles. If it's a ride just to town or very local roads then I don't really bother as it s a hassle getting the bike out and getting kitted up for ride that could be done in the car!!

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[Cavetroll87]

Depends on the time of year for me, in the summer I'm more than happy to just go out for a ride just to kill a few hours, may not stop at all and just go riding, in the winter I deffo need a reason to be on the bike, especially as Kwacky said after riding commuting all year round last couple of years it just zapped the fun away a bit.

[sir thomas blanchard]

well thanks for those comments.


i never really got on with sat nav, i think mainly because i don't have an ear piece.

if i had sat nav i might just go wherever that looks interesting and pleasant took me then use the get home function but i don't.


what i tend to do now is roughly plan something using google maps with streetview to check landnarks where there are important junctions

i look for a cafe at the furthest point for a bit of a rest break and sense of destination.


the route itself is something i plan, too narrow then it can be a pain with on coming vehicles, too busy a road then less pleasure to ride on

so a mix of 'a' and 'b' roads - avoiding congestion in the form of towns or village that i know to be a bottleneck


one thing that i have been doing recently is picking a road, like the a44 for example and following it from one end to the other

in that case i started in oxford and ended up in aberystwyth stopping at the Bringsty Cafe and Evesham both ways.



me and my friend have the same model yamaha, photo taken at the bringsey cafe

[Kwacky]

The A44 is a good road with some nice routes off it.

[sir thomas blanchard]

yes, it is almost asthough the route is better than the destination in that case, couldn't help but feel everso slightly disappointed with aberwystyth and its one way system.



my bike is the red one, not the green, haha

Another road i like is the a417, well the part between goring and cirencester anyway because there are some beautiful historic towns en route. Of course, with a bike, parking is never the issue or expense that you get with a car.

[Kwacky]

The A483 off the A44 is very popular from Crossgates up to Newtown.

The A456 out of Kidderminster has some excellent roads off it.

We often meet up at Stow on the Wold for the roads around that way.

[sir thomas blanchard]

ah Stow on the Wold, stopped there on my way west, early one morning



this is my other bike, same as the above except grey. built it from two, one in boxes off eBay and the other an MOT failure.

[D6]

At the moment all my rides have a very important purpose. To get to work on time.

[sir thomas blanchard]

understand - i'm retired, well made redundant actually but able to pick up my pension and, at at my age, it wasn't worth trying to find another job

[Kwacky]

So where are you based?

[sir thomas blanchard]

The A483 off the A44 is very popular from Crossgates up to Newtown.

The A456 out of Kidderminster has some excellent roads off it.

We often meet up at Stow on the Wold for the roads around that way.

wow, the A483 is over 150 miles long, liverpool to swansea. i think i have been on the section that you mention, agree those roads are good but take a bit of getting to for me.

Woofferton must be a good kick off point for wales, for you that is

[sir thomas blanchard]

So where are you based?

10 miles west of aylesbury bucks at thame which is just in oxfordshire.

[Kwacky]

Yep, around Ludlow is good. It depends where we're going. I like to use the A4177 and A44 is a good run (as you know) to Crossgates. The A489 takes me the north route up to Newtown.

[sir thomas blanchard]

Yep, around Ludlow is good. It depends where we're going. I like to use the A4177 and A44 is a good run (as you know) to Crossgates. The A489 takes me the north route up to Newtown.

been to leamington spa and stratford but generally stick to the cotswolds proper, i like evesham (as previosly mentioned) and broadway despite being rather a tourist hot spot - fantastic chips at russells

A489 somewhat out of range for saddlesore of thame although i did 525 miles in a day last year but the last 150 weren't that comfy