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what are some good quiet roads to ride around devizes wilts?

by racefaceec90
Sun, Apr 03, 2022 19:59
5

am just wondering what people might recommend as i live in devizes wilts.

i have to admit that i do have a fear of riding on the road nowadays (i never used to i have to add but for what ever reasons unfortunately i do nowadays) not because of anyone driving dangerously i must add. (i suffer with depression i have to admit and get the bad thoughts in my head about going to be run down.also had a bike crash a few years ago that had hit my confidence also/ nothing to do with any dangerous driver i must add just stupidity on my part lol).

 

it's really annoying as i bought my dream road bike last march but have barely ridden it in the year (probably only ridden it about 500-600 miles since march last year total).  the anxiety gets so bad that i resort to only riding after midnight on the road bike tbh as least amount of traffic at these hours.

 

tbh am fed up of the anxiety controlling us and want to be able to ride on the road during the day but if possible quiet roads that don't have much traffic if possible.

 

i have to admit that although i have lived in devizes my whole life (am 47 now) there are plenty of country lanes etc that i haven't ridden/or know about that i'm sure people on here might know.

 

i do cycle co places like bath on the towpath (tried it on the road bike but was absolutely pummelled by the end of it lol) and places like marlbrough,swindon,westbury,melksham at night.

 

any good recommendations for roads to ride would be most welcome (especially any quiet routes to bath from devizes as i do love cycling to bath whenever i do ride there).

 

apologies for the long winded post and thanks for reading this drivel 1

If you're new please join in and if you have questions pop them below and the forum regulars will answer as best we can.

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5 comments

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mykidsdad | 2 years ago
1 like

Sorry to hear about your anxiety - it can be very limiting but it sounds like you're ready to push on a bit more - nice one. Have you looked at a website called cycle.travel? It plots routes to/from places and prioritises the quieter roads/cyclepaths.

I typed in Devizes as the start, and Bath as the end point and it made this route: https://cycle.travel/map/journey/301163 - see if you can open it. It's possible to download it as a gps file and open in in Komoot or similar for turn-by-turn directions, or you can just take it on your phone and check it as you go! The 22 mile route is 20.4 miles on an off-road cycle route, with only 710metres on a busy road.

Do take it easy and see how you get on - and well done for wanting to improve. Keep us posted!

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andystow | 2 years ago
1 like

I find the Strava Global Heatmap useful to see where other cyclists are riding. I've discovered some great quiet roads using it.

https://www.strava.com/heatmap#12.79/-2.01492/51.35047/blue/ride

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pockstone | 2 years ago
3 likes

Sorry to hear that anxiety is spoiling your cycling. I've been off the bike for a few months due to working from home (no commuting) and v. minor surgery and can relate to feeling trepid about returning to riding on busy roads.

I appreciate that your dream road  bike is sitting in the shed, but given all the great off-road riding nearby (Salisbury Plain, as suggested by David9694, the Ridgeway & White Horse trail, Marlborough Downs and Savernake) maybe a cheap/2nd hand gravel bike might be money well spent in getting you out on the bike and would make the towpath more appealing. ( I've had much more use out of my gravel bike than the road bike.)

If you're set on road riding, perhaps joining a club, or organised rides (Cycling UK?) might ease you back into daytime cycling. ( I never thought I'd write that as I'm a bit 'club averse'.)

Best of luck.

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David9694 | 2 years ago
1 like

Salisbury Plain for-car free gravel.

Circular route around to Pewsey.

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jollygoodvelo replied to David9694 | 2 years ago
2 likes

Not sure I'd be riding my best road bike around the Plain - all the bits I've visited are pretty choppy gravel.

Worth checking out the Tuesday night cycling events at Castle Combe?  Half an hour up the road and you can ride all evening traffic free for a couple of pounds.

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