Good Tiv roads around Caterham, Surrey

[thenick]

Hi all, I have lived around Caterham all my life but until I got the Tiv, I never really went looking for good roads to drive for more than a couple of miles. After spending most of my time with the Chim in Birmingham city where there are loads of amazing roads found fairly easily, I have got used to being able to just 'go for a blast' for as long as I feel like as there are pretty much endless choices out towards Wales/Worcester etc.

When a nice sunny day emerged the other week though, Wildfire and I decided to go for a bit of a blast with a pub stop on the way and it surprised me how hard it actually was to find some good roads with some peace and quiet! We started off towards Westerham and beyond and ended up going round towards Tonbridge Wells, then to East Grinstead and back up the A22. These roads lacked the speed, sweeping bends and general niceness to drive on of the roads found near Brum though and I was thinking there must be some good routes around here somewhere!

So does anyone have any good suggestions of good roads/places to head for around here that are TVR friendly??

Nick

- Yes I am getting very bored now... Entering the 12th hour at work and i'm starting to go a little crazy thinking of things to do! Only an hour left though!

[sound chaser]

Thought Surrey would have some good driving roads, Nick. Maybe its just a case of finding them. Try and locate some quiet B roads, that what i tend to do. Though once you've driven some of the roads in Wales its nearly impossible to find ones that compare. Still can't get over driving the evo triangle, that stretch of tarmac is something else! Think you're going to enjoy the next run into Wales.

[davidlscott]

Try around the A29 in West Sussex. I have done my two Ride Drive days round there and there are some great stretches of road. Watch out for fixed and mobile speed traps in the villages though.

I have found severe limitations living in East Sussex. I left home at 6.30 this morning to take the car to Fernies for a service and it was slow moving all the way to beyond the A24! Things perked up after that though and the traffic thinned right out.

[FUBAR]

davidlscott said:

Try around the A29 in West Sussex. I have done my two Ride Drive days round there and there are some great stretches of road. Watch out for fixed and mobile speed traps in the villages though.

I have found severe limitations living in East Sussex. I left home at 6.30 this morning to take the car to Fernies for a service and it was slow moving all the way to beyond the A24! Things perked up after that though and the traffic thinned right out.

Or drive the A272 West to East then back again

[jellison]

Always observe the speed limits though.

[im]

FUBAR and JELLISON said:

Or drive the A272 West to East then back again...Always observe the speed limits though.

Yep...you'd have to be a complete d*ckhead to speed along that particular road at anytime of the day or night...

[davidlscott]

I was on the A272 from Uckfield - that was what made it worse.

[FUBAR]

Its better west of the A24

[rev-erend]

The road from EG to Tundridge wells is superb in places..

It's always listed in Biker magazines as one of the best in the south..

No good TVR roads around Caterham .. mind you the A22 down hill to Westerham used to be superb when it was 2 lanes ..

[derekg500]

You need to come down to West Sussex, we have the best roads in the South East, if you fancy a "spirited" drive, set your alarm for 5a.m. and come and see us on 6th May.

Derek

[jellison]

derekg500 said:

You need to come down to West Sussex, we have the best roads in the South East, if you fancy a "spirited" drive, set your alarm for 5a.m. and come and see us on 6th May.

Derek

Derek is RIGHT - I lov it down there - not sire on the 5 am start though!

[thenick]

Good suggestions people! Yeah that road from EG to Tun Wells had some great bits to it, was a little busy by the time we reached it around lunch though! That run sounds great (if a tad early) but unfortunately I have to be back up in Brum from the 30th of this month... I will however be back for summer from the beginning of June until October so: 3 months, lots of free time, sun, TVR... Its going to be a good one! So i'll be up for runs and the finding of great roads then. Also, once i've stuck some new brakes on and possibly new dampers if I can afford it, i'd quite like to take it to a track day at some point - although I have absolutely no experience with this so how much? where? how do I meet noise restrictions? (are the ACT cans enough?) etc. - any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Nick

[davidlscott]

If you want to try a tricky one, but only when it's quiet, go from Rye to Appledore along the Military canal road.
It has good straights with a succession of chicanes. There are various loops you can do from there including down to Brenzett (a bit bumpy though) and back to Rye on the A259.

The only problems on the canal road are an unprotected dyke on one side and the corners are a little blind so be careful. It's great by car or bike but does get busy, particularly at weekends as Rye gets full of bikes and dodderers. The average speed in East Sussex seems to be down to about 35mph now!

[FUBAR]

If you're in Caterham, get yourself booked here Nick

www.pistonheads.co.uk/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f=13&t=381752&p=1

[thenick]

That looks perfect! Unfortunately I have my last exam of the year on the Friday up in Brum and its Fluid flow and Thermodynamics and Heat Transfer... not one I can really skimp on revision for... If theres another one over summer I would be up for it for sure, looks like great fun!