When you’ve established a solid group of activity-buddies with whom you engage in all manner of outdoor activities, the challenges you put each other through could have you all bettering yourselves to the point where things get a bit too easy, so if you’re looking for a new challenge with regards to your cycling exploits, perhaps a trip across the UK’s major cities is in order.
Family-run cycling store Leisure Lakes Bikes took the liberty to compile a list of how long it would take to cycle across the UK’s busiest cities and if you’re up for the challenge, why not try and see if you can match the times it would take to cycle through each of these cities?
London
Cycle Route Challenge: Royal London Hospital to King’s Cross Station
Time to complete: 27 minutes
Best route for cycling: via the A5201
Birmingham
Cycle Route Challenge: Cadbury World to Birmingham New Street Station
Time to complete: 23 minutes
Best route for cycling: via Pershore Rd/A441 and Bristol Rd/A38
Leeds
Cycle Route Challenge: Kirkstall Abbey to Leeds Station
Time to complete: 20 minutes
Best route for cycling: via the A65
Glasgow
Cycle Route Challenge: Hampden Park to Glasgow Central Station
Time to complete: 16 minutes
Best route for cycling: via Aikenhead Rd/A728
Sheffield
Cycle Route Challenge: Meadowhall Centre to Sheffield Train Station
Time to complete: 22 minutes
Best route for cycling: via the A6109
Bradford
Cycle Route Challenge: Shipley town centre to Bradford Interchange
Time to complete: 26 minutes
Best route for cycling: via the A6037
Liverpool
Cycle Route Challenge: Aintree Racecourse to Liverpool Lime Street Station
Time to complete: 29 minutes
Best route for cycling: via the A59
Edinburgh
Cycle Route Challenge: Fort Kinnaird to Edinburgh Waverley Railway Station
Time to complete: 27 minutes
Best route for cycling: via the National Cycle Route 1
Manchester
Cycle Route Challenge: Old Trafford football stadium to Manchester Piccadilly Station
Time to complete: 22 minutes
Best route for cycling: via the A56 and B6469
Bristol
Cycle Route Challenge: Woodspring Golf & Country Club to Bristol Temple Meads Railway Station
Time to complete: 22 minutes
Best route for cycling: via the A38
Cardiff
Cycle Route Challenge: Radyr Golf Club to Cardiff Central Railway Station
Time to complete: 28 minutes
Best route for cycling: via National Cycle Route 8
Belfast
Cycle Route Challenge: Balmoral Golf Club to Belfast Central Station
Time to complete: 18 minutes
Best route for cycling: via the A1 and National Cycle Route 9
Newcastle-upon-Tyne
Cycle Route Challenge: Intu Metrocentre to Newcastle Central Station
Time to complete: 29 minutes
Best route for cycling: via National Cycle Route 14
You can pace yourself and do all of these cities over a period of a year maybe, but it would make for a really good challenge, offering something refreshingly different from what can become a rather stale and predictable weekend outdoor activity routine. Try to see if you can make it quicker than the indicated average times, but be vigilant of all the regular precautions required of anyone making their way through a major city.
