If you’re stuck for ideas for where to go for a ride then the cycling traffic free series of books may have suggestions. Written by cycling author Nick Cotton (no relation to Dot), this series of books each contain 30 ride ideas for their respective geographical areas.
The type of rides featured are predominantly river and seaside towpaths with a few circuit rides thrown in for good measure as well but, as the title suggests this is about cycling traffic free so the downside is that you are restricted in where you can ride and how far you can ride.
These books are primarily aimed at young families who might want to go out for a leisurely weekend ride with their children but without the hassle and stress of juggling them and busy roads so the longest towpath route featured here is 12 miles or if you cycle it back which is suggested, 28 miles.
The longest circuit ride featured is 12.5 miles so seasoned and competent riders may not find anything too challenging in these books though Cotton makes an overture to these riders by linking rides with each other to extend the distance. Cotton is sometimes over cautious in his appraisal of traffic conditions but that is understandable given who he’s aiming the books at. Geographically speaking he misses out large chunks of area in the books but that’s probably because he is restricted by the amount of rides he can include.
For families and leisure cyclists these books give some decent suggestions on where to ride without the need to wear yourselves out but people looking for more challenging ideas may have to look elsewhere.
