What follows is just a bit of information on and my impressions of riding in the UK. These are some basic things that a North American rider may find interesting. When I left for the UK I had originally intended to spend a few days in Bedford and then head north, ultimately ending up in Scotland. Well... as Robbie Burns said, the best laid plans....
Riding on the left side of the road
While seemingly the biggest problem, it isn't. You’ll adapt to it almost immediately... at least I did. I’m thinking it has to be much easier on a bike than in a car. Just mentally remind yourself to keep on the left, especially when turning onto other roads as this is where there’s a tendency to drift over to the right side.
Road types/categories
You’ll find three main categories of roads in the UK - M class, A class, and B class. M roads or Motorways are what the Brits call ‘dual carriageway’ roads, meaning two (or more) lanes in each direction. These are similar to our multi-lane interstates. Speed limit is 70, and trucks are limited to 60 and are supposed to keep to the left lane. A nice arrangement!
A-type roads are ‘single carriageway’ roads (though they may change to multiple lanes around cities). They could be compared to many of our state or provincial roads. The number of the road can give you some idea of its importance and hence the traffic. A# roads are fairly important routes connecting major centres (like the A1 from London to Edinburgh. A## roads would be less important regional roads with less traffic, and A### roads are usually more rural and meander between smaller towns. Unless marked otherwise, speed limit is 60.
The A6... single lane each way... nice riding!
Never did find out what those arrows meant.
B roads are the real country roads that you’ve probably dreamed about riding down. They are usually narrower, winding, and out in the ‘boonies’ somewhere. On some of the narrower B roads I felt that if I stretched my arms out I could have touched the trees on both sides! They pass through picturesque little villages, each of which seems to have a old church that could hold three times the village’s population, and a local pub. It’s along these that you’ll probably find the Britain you’ve been looking for. They can be challenging as well as fun, and tempt you to ride too fast. I saw roads which had some of the twistier curves marked with signs indicating where motorcycles have had gone down. Also watch for tractors and other farm equipment. You never know what will be pulling out of a laneway or what’s around the next blind curve. Enjoy these roads, but ride carefully.
Typical B roads. I think this may be somewhere on the B665
Shoulders on British roads seem almost nonexistent. I missed many a nice photo op simply because I wasn’t about to stop on the road to take a picture and there was nowhere to pull off. Not even narrow gravel shoulders!
One day while riding I saw a sign that said “Ford’s End” . It sounded like it might be an interesting place and so I turned down the road, passing through a couple small villages. Eventually the road came to another sign which said “Ford”, and there it disappeared... into a stream! It reappeared on the other side. There was a footbridge for pedestrians, but vehicles drive right through the water. At least they have a depth indicator so you can see if the water will swallow your vehicle! My daughter tells me that such fords are not that uncommon in rural areas. Weird - gotta love it!
Road through a river... well, at least a stream!
The dreaded Roundabout
What we would call a traffic circle. They are everywhere in the UK - towns and hi-ways alike. In North America we would have all-way stops or traffic lights in the towns instead; and on the major roads, ramps with overpasses. In the UK you will find roundabouts. In town they’re confusing, and on hi-ways they’re annoying, as you have to slow down and possibly stop before proceeding into and out of it. With an overpass you’d just keep on truckin’. They do take some getting used to, and I suggest you study them a bit beforehand and get yourself mentally prepared. Here’s a good site.
Roundabouts
How they work (sorry... shown for right side driving)
Well OK... this one below is worse than most!
What did that sign say??
Humps, anyone?
As mentioned above I originally intended to head north to Scotland. Well, after a few days trying to take day trips to closer places I decided not to. Every time I headed off to some specific destination I didn't get there. I’d get lost about five minutes out the door! I’d check the map, get directions, and then promptly get lost while trying to get back on my original plan. And no... I’m not that senile yet! I blame it all on British road signs! First, in those towns that I did ride through, street signs almost seem to be an afterthought! After one particularly frustrating experience dealing with streets without street signs and buildings without street numbers I asked a local how anyone managed to get their mail! I was told that the postman knows where everyone lives. Outside the towns you’ll find considerable signage as you approach roundabouts. First a large green sign diagraming the roundabout and telling you where the various ‘legs’ lead. A bit farther on, a similar white sign indicating the minor destinations. Then perhaps a sign indicating noteworthy historical or tourist destinations available off the roundabout. Once actually on the roundabout each ‘leg’ has its own sign. In theory all this should work fine. In theory... Unfortunately, you’re in totally unfamiliar territory and you’re traveling along at maybe 60. You'd need several minutes to take in and digest these roundabout signs, and of course you’re gone before you understand what any of the information says. And then you’re on the roundabout, not knowing where to go. So you either take an exit leg of opportunity, or circle around for a time while you think about it. The former will probably get you lost - the latter will certainly make you dizzy! After several days of this I decided that since I obviously couldn’t get anywhere I planned on going, I wouldn’t go anywhere! So I just wandered around - and had a great time.
Simple, eh?
Planning routes
If you do dare to try to get somewhere, the
RAC has a great website complete with interactive maps. Just enter your origin and destination, give it a few parameters, and it will present both a route map and detailed instructions. While perfect for a car with a navigator, the instructions can’t really be followed while you’re on the bike. The maps, however, are useful. I suggest you also pick up an AA Road Atlas. Personally, I found the best method of eventually zeroing in on a route or destination was to pull over and ask directions. The locals were always helpful and often ‘colorful’ - from the local police constables who tried to help me get out of Leicester, to old Tom at The Saddle pub in Kimbolton, who started with “my grandfather had a motorcycle in 1895...” and continued chronologically nonstop while I had my lunch!
Tom at The Saddle
Bob :-g
Linear Mode
