London <-> Manchester

Going up North on Sunday for the footy and coming back same day. My usual
posse aren't coming, so I'm thinking about taking the bike. Thing is, even
though I find the 9R quite comfortable, I'm not sure I fancy 400 miles of
M1-M6-M62-M602 in one day.

Anyone got any suggestions for alternative, non-motorway routes? I'm looking
for something more interesting, without too many twisties - the idea is to get
there reasonably quickly, not GMKD[1] every two minutes.

Options look to include A6 from Luton - seems to go all the way there, or
A5->A444->A50->A515->A6. Is this going to be too slow and should I just sit
on the motorway and bear it?

[1] As if.

 

Take the Train

 

61 squids, yes I know I'm late again, but they can stick it up their arse.

If I end up not taking the bike, I'm going to take the Pikey Express coach.

 

That's about as good as it'll get. Probably take an extra hour each way
to do that. You could to do twisties on the way up and motorway back if
it takes too long.

 

Which one?

How long you reckon in total? A ballpark will do. Not like the motorway is a
picnic, especially on a Sunday. Luton roadworks are a pain, and there's
always something else.

Indeed. How twisty are the above non-motorway routes? Will I have to keep
slowing down to 80 for roundabouts? <VBG>

 

A roads.

4 hrs A roads, 3 hours non? Depends how licence friendly you keep the
motorway miles.

The A5 is boring. The A444 is lovely if quiet or tricky if you get
loads of caravans/assorted other sunday traffic. A50 is straight dual
carriageway with the odd roundabout but you're not on it for long on
that route. The 515 isn't too bad (if it's the road I'm thinking of,
but I'm not sure) but the A6 near Manchester will be 30s and 40s all
the way for miles, with speed cameras and heavy traffic in both
directions.

If you wanted a reasonably quick, but still enjoyable route home you
could head out of Manchester on the A56 then go:
A556, A50 all the way down to the A500 and Stoke(parallel to the M6,
but far more enjoyable), blat along the A50 to the A515, down to the
A444 then pick the A5/M1 as you see fit.

Ok, it's not super-entertaining twisty stuff, but it's about as
interesting as you'll get on that route while still making reasonable
progress.

 

I do Bedford to Manchester in three hours, leaving at 8am using M1/M6
in the car. London is prolly an hour from me. (leaving later will add
on extra time) but its a Sunday so there should be no major hold ups.
have you considered the M40 rather than the M1? take the toll road if
you go by car.

have you considered where you plan on leaving the bike. round Old
Trafford is not a good plan, but then neither is central Manchester.

pity we arent playing at home I could have given you a lift.
--
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Which is exactly what I'm looking for, ta.

 

I live very near junction 1 of the M1. Car is not an option. Fuel is a
fortune and traffic is annoying. I have just found out that I can get a lift
back with friends which makes the National Express £12 deal look like a
winner. All the same I'd like to take the bike on one long footy trip this
season[1].

There are official car parks about the stadium, I'm sure they'll take pity on
me and let me in. After all, being southern, they'll assume I'm a home fan.

Oh, you still can.

[1] Other options are Derby and <gulp> Sunderland.

 

If you need somewhere safe to park the bike if you go to this match
I'm near pride park.

 

Oh come on. Your arse isn't that big.

 

<fx: corrects post>
<fx: starts again>
<fx: composes suitable smutty reply>
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Thanks, appreciated. I might prefer to ride to this one rather than Mancland,
as it's less Northern.

 

I hope you're feeling sheepish about that reply.

 

Wise man.

Just page me and let me know.

 

Horny, perhaps?

--
_______
..'_/_|_\_'. Ace (brucedotrogers a.t rochedotcom)
\`\ | /`/ GSX-R1000K3 (slightly broken, currently missing)
`\\ | //' BOTAFOT#3, SbS#2, UKRMMA#13, DFV#8, SKA#2, IBB#10
`\|/`
`

 

Is that the best ewe can do?

 

I didn't want to ram the point home.

 

Lady Nina wrote:

In the old days, you could have used a baseball bat, surely?

 

Of parking for a match at Pride Park

I was desperately searching for the sheep reference then the real
meaning ground into view.

 

Bloody newbies. Os must an' rode there at some point.

--
_______
..'_/_|_\_'. Ace (brucedotrogers a.t rochedotcom)
\`\ | /`/ GSX-R1000K3 (slightly broken, currently missing)
`\\ | //' BOTAFOT#3, SbS#2, UKRMMA#13, DFV#8, SKA#2, IBB#10
`\|/`
`