Читать книгу Cycling in the Cotswolds. 21 half and full-day cycle routes, and a 4-day 200km Tour of the Cotswolds онлайн

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Terrain

The terrain statistics shown in the information boxes at the start of each route give some clue as to the amount of off-road involved.

‘Trails’ are purpose-made traffic-free cycle routes, such as Sustrans-style routes. Such sections tend to be gently graded with a smooth, firm (gravel or tarmac) surface.

‘Off-road’ is any other non-road (or sometimes a former road) section, which may be steeper, rougher and muddier – or just an unclassified bit of road. In technical terms, it’s a middle ground between ‘out and back’ totally car-free cycling and that which more properly falls into technical mountain biking. Hybrid bikes (often referred to as ‘sturdy’ bikes, although this term includes any road bike that isn’t too narrow-tyred or fragile to be taken off-road) should usually manage most off-road routes in dry conditions, except for rough sections. Most of these are highlighted in the route description, but remember that the condition of the ground is variable depending on prevailing weather conditions. Also see additional notes in the information box at the start of each route.