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Following the path less travelled
Marcus Farley Friday, Feb 27, 2009 10.00am
Following the path less travelled (Jonny Gawler)
Yep, it’s muddy again, and I’m sick of spending more time cleaning the bike than riding it. What’s more, family commitments and an environmental conscience mean day trips to trail centres are a no-no. I need a more local solution.
I’ve thought in the past of getting a road bike, but armchair Tour de France watching has always appealed to me more than trying to emulate it.
Thankfully, whilst out on a ride at the weekend, we happened to traverse the canal and suddenly a very local solution dawned on me – the canal tow path, of course!
Ok, so they’re a bit flat, but they’re generally as well surfaced and drained as trail centre paths, and, what’s more, they’re more sustainable considering most have been there for a century or more.
Their flatness can even be an advantage - you can get a real steady heat on, really burn some energy pushing the big cogs. Hell, you could even get a low maintenance singlespeeder for tow path jaunts, adding to the sustainability factor.
Ok, so canals aren’t everywhere, but there are literally hundreds of miles of them within easy reach of loads of people. In addition, our canals and canal sides are much improved from how I remember them from my youth - less derelict buildings, less semi-submerged shopping trolleys, and thankfully less used condoms and broken glass.
Sure, there are downsides - you will have to share the narrow tow paths with others, especially families, who won't take too kindly to being forced into the canal as you approach silently at speed with little warning. Equally there are the oblivious walkers who step out in front of you without looking, forcing you instead into the canal! Then there's the dreaded dog poo that unfortunatley sometimes still permeates our tow paths.
But, the aforementioned families and walkers can be avoided if you set out early or late enough, and the dog poo helps hone the bunny hopping skills…
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User Comments
There are 5 comments on this post
Showing 1 - 5 of 5 comments
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aventine willie
Posted Mon 2 Mar, 12:37 pm UTC Flag as inappropriate
Re 'approach silently at speed', what's wrong with using a bell? It is only good manners after all, as welll as being a safety feature (your safety as well as others). After all your bike was sold with one attached.
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marcus Farley
Posted Tue 3 Mar, 3:42 am UTC Flag as inappropriate
good point...i don't know a mtber that has one...feedback welcome...
i usually rely on freewhiling the hope pro 2 hubs, that make a racket!
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pemsey
Posted Wed 4 Mar, 10:55 pm UTC Flag as inappropriate
And don't forget that not all towpaths have ROW for cyclists - and you're supposed to have a permit from British Waterways (free) for any where it is permitted.
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Stiffy
Posted Tue 10 Mar, 3:19 pm UTC Flag as inappropriate
You mean to say you've only just discovered the towpath ???
I've been riding the towpaths around Leicestershire here for several years , they are brilliant all year , all weather rides.
Even though they may be considered a bit flat, there are the times when they get pretty technical aswell especially when it comes to the locks and those steep stairways and low bridges.
I have never had any problems when out riding them, a quick ding on the bell or a cheerful hello and a smile and there's no problem , even with British Waterways people.
I can do 10 or even 20 miles on a ride depending which way round I go and am never that far from home, I pick up the canal at the end of the roud and within 20minutes I'm out riding through open countryside, and let's not forget the canalside hostelries for a quick ( !! ) rest stop.
I agree that tiimg the ride right helps avoid the majority of peolple and dog walkers ( first thing weekend mornings or middle of the day in the week seems about right here ).
If the canal was not at the end of the road I don't think I would get out as often as I do so I can whole heartedly recommend them.
The permits mentioned before can be downloaded from the British Waterways website.You just need a little plastic holder or get it laminated to but it on your frame. Someone did moan at me once for being on the canal but they were a lot happier and a lot chattier after they'd seen the permit on the bike ... works a treat.
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marcus Farley
Posted Tue 10 Mar, 10:50 pm UTC Flag as inappropriate
nice one, Stiffy, good post...
we generally use them as short cuts to get back on to bridleways...but thee's a real attraction to the idea of riding them thru winter on a singlespeed...
cheers.
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