Coast-coast 2006

Quoted message said:

Yes folks, it is back! Devon's best charity- across the county, from
Ilfracombe to Plymouth- returns this year for the third time- bigger
and better. The route- a 75 mile ride across some of Devon's finest
hills- will see the riders once more ride, this time in aid of the
Children's Hospice South West. Check out the website -
www.coast-coast.co.uk !

Good grief! That's a lot of riding on the A386 - the very road
I put most effort into avoiding! You must really love the
fragrance of exhaust fumes!

/me has an additional excuse of singing in a concert in Plymouth.

--
not me guv

The route goes via Barnstaple, Torrington, Hatherleigh (bypass) and
Tavistock, so very little 'big' main road. The fumes really has not
been a problem at all!

Simon

The route goes via banrstaple, Torrington, Meeth, Hatherleigh (bypass),
Tavistock and around to Plymouth- so very little 'big' main road
riding.

Simon

Quoted message said:

The route goes via Barnstaple, Torrington, Hatherleigh (bypass) and
Tavistock, so very little 'big' main road. The fumes really has not
been a problem at all!

That leaves you plenty of much nicer options. I'm not really familiar
with the northern part of it. But for example, from Okehampton, take
the railway path to Lydford, then the semi-minor road to Tavistock
via Brentor. Not only is there vastly less traffic, it's even an
easier ride, as it reduces Okehampton-Tavistock to just one
medium-size hill. Then from Tavistock, take the back road to
Horrabridge, and past the old station up the moors to Yelverton,
and the minor road across Yelverton airfield and golf course to
Roborough Down. You can stay off the main road until you hit the
Plymouth suburbs at Roborough (the "dartmoor chef" eyesore).

Or you have countless variants, if you're happy to do some steeper
hills, or offroad bits. The above is just a suggestion that will
give a hugely nicer ride without increasing mileage or hilliness.

As for the A386, it's not a nice road. It's busy with traffic of
all sizes, and it's sufficiently narrow that where a considerate
driver will wait behind you, an impatient one will pass closer
than is really comfortable. There are parts - such as the bridge
approaching Horrabridge - that see quite a few smashups a year.

--
not me guv