Preparation
Whilst cycling the Way of the Roses is not in the same league as a polar expedition or round the world trip, it’s worth taking a little time to get prepared.
What Bike?
As this route is either on roads or surfaced off-road tracks most bikes will be suitable. Your choice of bike may be dependant on how you intend to carry luggage (see below). Tandems, recumbents, handcycles and tricycles may find some sections awkward but not impossible due to the occasional barrier (eg the level crossing a mile or so out of Morecambe). It goes without saying that you should check that your bike is in a roadworthy condition. Pay special attention to your brakes - there are some steep hills on this ride.
What equipment do I need?
With any cycle tour it’s a balance between taking too little and taking everything but the kitchen sink. There are cycle shops on the route but it’s definitely worth taking a basic toolkit with you including spare inner tubes, tyre levers, pump, multi tool and adjustable spanner.
Waterproofs - this is the North of England after all. It’s up to you if you want to take along a full set, and we would recommend waterproof not showerproof, personally I prefer to just keep my top half dry and forget about trousers but then that’s me.
There are plenty of pubs, cafes etc en route but it’s always a good option to have a couple of snacks on board.
Take a copy of the official map with you (available from Sustrans). The route is well signposted but it’s always possible that a sign is missed or missing, plus there’s lots of other useful info on it.
Carrying Luggage
So how do you carry all of this stuff? The best option is one or a set of panniers, although I’ve known plenty of people do the trip with just a small rucksack on their back. It’s recommended that you carry the least amount that you can get away with - you’ll notice every additional kilogram when you’re climbing.
It’s worth making a list or laying out all of your kit and working out which bits are essential and which are not. If you’re travelling with a group perhaps there are some things you can share.
The Ride
Most people do the Way of the Roses over three days - although some have done it in a lot less (see our news pages). The cummulative distance table on the terrain page will give you an idea of the distances involved and help you plan where to have breaks and stay for the night. The official map shows the location of various rural pubs, cafes etc.
Way of the Roses isn’t a sportive type route but can be used for training for one provided time is allowed for slower paced cycling on narrow lanes and shared use sections.
Many people will plan to do the route in just two days - especially if doing it as a charity challenge - however many others will take four or five days. This route is not flat (at least not at first) and so you should plan your ride according to your own ability…. Which brings us onto the next point.
Fitness
A cyclist of reasonable fitness should have no problems completing this route. However we realise that it can be difficult to work out what is reasonable fitness…. Just how high are those hills and how wil I feel after cycling for 3 days?
Be realistic - if the furthest you’ve cycled previously is ten miles along a canal towpath then aiming to complete the route in two days is probably not a good idea.
The profiles on the terrain page will give you some idea of what’s in store. The biggest hills are between Settle and Brimham Rocks (a few miles east of Pateley Bridge). This is roughly between miles 35 and 65, so you could get them all out of the way on day one if you’re feeling particularly brave/energetic. The highest point of the route is at Greenhow at 402m (1312 ft).
If you’ve never ridden a ‘fully loaded bike’ before we would recommend that you do at least a couple of short rides carrying luggage to get used to the feel and weight of the bike. Some riders would recommend that you use tyres 25mm or above for comfort and coping with variable road and path surfaces,
Getting to the start
The biggest problem many riders face is getting to the start/making their way home with their bike. Anyone that has travelled by train and bike can testify that it can be a frustrating experience. But plan well in advance and you should be ok. The main problem is that trains are generally restricted to carrying only 2 or 4 bikes, which when travelling as part of a large group can make things awkward.
Lancaster is on the West Coast mainline so well served by direct trains from Scotland and the NW england and also from Birmigham and London. There are also plenty of regional trains. You can then get the train to Morecambe from Lancaster - it only takes about 11 minutes, although the trains are not as frequent as you might expect. You could just ride the 4 miles to Morecambe, there’s a cycle path right outside the station (gate by platform 1).
Bridlington is on the Yorkshire Coast Line between Hull and Scarborough run by Northern Rail. Experience suggests that you’d be unlucky not to get a small number of bikes on the these trains (smiling and being polite to the conductor helps), but more than four and you may well be struggling to all get on the same train.
For train services and informatio on all operators visit the National Rail website or call 08457 48 49 50.
Luckily I live near the start of the route as did all of my riding companions so that didn’t trouble us. To get back from Bridlington we used a hired minibus and helpful friend, who drove over and picked us up. This way about 7 people and bikes could travel back together. You will need to check out the minibus beforehand to check how you’ll all fit in (on one trip the company removed a row of seats - at a cost).
Accommodation
If planning on staying in B&Bs etc then it’s probably best to book these in advance. You can find a range of accommodation on the where to stay page. Please bear in mind that if doing the route over a weekend it can be difficult to find accommodation for one night only in some locations.
Good Cycling Code Please be courteous! Always cycle with respect for others, whether other cyclists, pedestrians, wheelchair users, horse riders or drivers, and acknowledge those who give way to you. Be sure to let walkers and horse riders know you’re approaching by using a bell or calling out.
Read Sustrans Good Cycling Code for more information. Keep safe, be courteous and enjoy your cycling on the National Cycle Network