Suffolk Route 1:
Circular route starting at Hadleigh car park on Magdalen Road, Route goes via Cockfield and Halstead.
Anti-clockwise route. Twisty with plenty of national speed limit sections and some villages too.
Total Distance: 62 miles
Approx time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Suffolk Route 2:
Scenic circular route starting at Tesco Martlesham Heath. Route takes you via Aldeburgh, Thorpness and Sizewell cafe. Then you head west out to Yoxford and back via Framlingham, Wickham Market and Grundisburgh.
Total Distance: 69 miles
Approx time: 2 hours
Essex Route 1:
Circular route starting at Saffron Walden Tesco car park on Radwinter Road, Route goes via Hempstead, through the pretty village of Finchingfield, and Stansted Mountfitchet, then back to Saffron Waldron
Clockwise route. Slightly challenging in places. Plenty of twisty roads to enjoy.
Total Distance: 47 miles
Approx time: 1 hour 10 minutes
Essex Route 3:
Circular route starting at Harwich - there is a cafe by the quay and parking is easy. The route takes you via Walton on the Naze, Clacton (and even detour to Frinton) and Mistley - all lovely places to take a look and have a drink or ice cream!
Total Distance: 53 miles
Approx time: 1 hour 35 minutes
Norfolk Route 1:
Circular route starting at Great Yarmouth. Route takes coast road North to Bacton, and then back through the Norfolk broads
Anti- Clockwise route. mainly 'B' roads
Total Distance: 58 miles
Approx time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Norfolk Route 2:
Circular route starting just south of Norwich off A47 - Take care as the route includes a ferry crossing at Reedham!
Total Distance: 42 miles
Approx time: 1 hour 10 minutes
Riding Tips for Country Roads
Riding your motorcycle on country roads can be great fun, but sometimes it is hard to predict where the road is actually going. How sharp is that bend? What is coming the other way? Here are a few basic tips to help make your rides safer:
Look ahead , dont look just in front of your bike, or just at the vehicle immediately in front of you. The further you can see, the safer you will be. The vanishing point is simply the furthest point at which you can see the road. In a tight blind bend its often where the verges and hedges seem to blend. If the vanishing point seems to be coming towards you the corner is tightening and you need to reduce your speed. If the vanishing point is moving away from you, the bend is opening up and you can begin to accelerate out. Looking as far up the road as possible means you can predict potental hazards rather than simply reacting!
On a motorbike, your eyes and focus will be constantly flitting between the vanishing point, close up (eg machine controls), middle distance (up and coming junctions and cars) and the far distance.
There are often clues as to what the road will do beyond the vanishing point. Road furniture like lamp posts and telegraph poles, buildings and even large vehicles can be seen over hedgerows on the road ahead. Taking on board these clues and helps with your predictions.
Inexperienced riders often need reminding to look up and ahead. There is a tendency to fixate on the middle distance. Let your eyes search for the furthest possible view ahead and then less is going to surprise you.
For example, knowing a right hander is coming up as soon as it appears allows you to adjust your road positioning early to adopt the ideal line.
Think about the best position on the road for both safety and visbility - Never ever compromise safety to get a better view! On right hand bends your ideal position is towards the left hand side of the road (the outside of the bend) but not in the dirt, so you can see through the bend and into the next corner or straight. For left hand bends this means not being near the centre line - think for a moment of where a tractor or large vehciel coming towards you might be!
These simple rules will enable you to spot, and be spotted, by on coming traffic.
