Ipswich is surrounded by gentle Suffolk countryside that’s crisscrossed with cycling-friendly lanes, but the infrastructure in the town needs work.

The largest settlement in Suffolk and its county town, Ipswich has been shaped by two things on its doorstep: the North Sea and the vast arable farmland of East Anglia. In Anglo-Saxon times Ipswich’s port was one of the most important in the country, and the town is one of the UK’s oldest, dating back to at least the 7th century like nearby Sutton Hoo. The impact of farming on its economy is summed up in the nickname of its football team: Ipswich Town are the Tractor Boys.

The docks at Ipswich, built on a meander of the River Orwell, are still in use today handling cargo. Although the river is dredged it’s not deep enough for container ships, which unload at nearby Felixstowe. During the Second World War the docks were badly bombed. Although rebuilt, it’s only in the last couple of decades that the waterfront has been thoroughly regenerated. There’s been an influx of yachts and bistros. There’s also a £70m flood barrier, like a smaller version of Thames Barrier, to protect the low-lying town from tidal surges.

Until recently, Ipswich was a centre for agricultural machinery and fertiliser production. While service industries and tourism are important for Ipswich these days, farming still plays a role and has left its mark – not least on the landscape. Arable land that’s been farmed for centuries has given rise to lots of pretty villages to pass through on day rides!

The best type of bike for cycling in Ipswich

The East of England is the driest part of the UK; Suffolk gets about half as much rain as the UK average. But dry by UK standards doesn’t mean objectively dry. You’ll still want mudguards for much of the year.

Unless you have mobility issues or want a cargo bike that will haul heavy loads, electric assistance is unlikely to be a must-have. Nor will you need super-low gears for hill climbing. There are hills in Suffolk – Ipswich even has a dry ski slope – but they’re not high or steep. The terrain ranges from flat to gently rolling.

Off-road cycling is limited less by topography than by the lack of trails. A gravel bike will see plenty of use; a mountain bike not so much. What Ipswich does have is access to a great network of country lanes, some of them through Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It’s worth having a bike that will let you explore these.

One option is an endurance road bike like the Liv Avail AR 3 (£1,199 RRP). It’s a sporty road bike with an aluminium frame and carbon fork but the handlebar sits at a reasonable height, so you can look around instead of starting down at the tarmac. Wide tyres for a road bike (32mm) offer more comfort, and the 2x9 Shimano Sora drivetrain and mechanical disc brakes are par for the course at this price. It has mounts for mudguards and a rear rack so is practical for commuting, too.

Another option is gravel bike like the Genesis Croix de Fer 10 (£1,299 RRP). Its lightly-treaded 40mm tyres will readily tackle bridleways and unsurfaced tracks like you’ll find on the Wolf Way (below) but won’t drag too much on tarmac streets or lanes. It has fittings for mudguards, front and rear racks and bikepacking fork cages. Like the Giant, this Croix de Fer has a 2x9 Shimano Sora drivetrain and mechanical disc brakes – although these TRP Spyre-C brakes are somewhat better. Frame and fork are chrome-moly steel, which isn’t light but is tough and strong.

Ipswich’s transport network

Parts of Ipswich’s original road plan survive to this day. The city centre is tightly packed as a result and not really suitable for cars – something that Ipswich Borough Council has acknowledged by pedestrianising much of it. Cyclists are nevertheless permitted to use certain streets before 10:30am and after 4:30pm under the council’s Safer Cycling scheme. It’s a great idea – and the highlight of the town’s cycling provision.

Elsewhere, like most UK towns and cities, the cycling infrastructure is patchy. There are some traffic-free cycle paths in the city centre, in the Kesgrave/Grange Farm area and alongside some major roads. There isn’t a joined-up network, however. You can at least report a problem with a cycle lane on the Suffolk County Council website.

Ipswich is well connected by rail. It’s on the Great Eastern Main Line from London to Norwich and is only an hour from the capital. It’s also on the East Suffolk Line to Lowestoft. Other routes offer direct trains to Peterborough and Cambridge. All trains are run by Greater Anglia. These carry either four or six bikes, generally on a first-come, first-served basis. Norwich-London intercity trains require a reservation. Note that rush hour trains in and out of London and Cambridge don’t normally permit full-size bikes, only folders, although some services will carry reserved bikes.

Buses are operated by: Ipswich Buses, which accepts covered folding bikes only, subject to space availability; First Bus, which also takes only folders “provided that they are stowed safely and that they are not ridden on board and do not block the aisles or access to seats”; and Beestons, which doesn’t mention bikes at all, so you can assume only something as inconspicuous as a bagged Brompton will pass muster.

Local rides in Ipswich

Ipswich is within cycling distance of two Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty: Suffolk Coast and Heaths, and Dedham Vale. There are some downloadable guides on the Suffolk Coast website to leisure rides in the Suffolk Coast and Heaths. They’re all loops and range from 12-24 miles, so they’re well suited to relatively casual cyclists. The eight-mile track around Alton Water is easily accessible from Ipswich if you’re seeking a traffic-free ride. Bikes are trailers are available for hire there.

Finding a good road ride from Ipswich is as simple as unfolding an OS map; there are so many minor roads to choose from. If you want a steer on where to go, Sustrans NCN routes 1 and 51 run through Ipswich and there are others nearby, mostly on smaller roads. You can view them on the OS Maps website (click the ‘Show National Cycle Network’ button) or on Sustrans’ Suffolk Cycle Map. If you want to go on a group ride, join a local club such as Ipswich Bicycle Club or CTC Suffolk.

Suffolk doesn’t have the mountain biking facilities of Wales, Scotland or Northern England but it’s not a singletrack desert either. Twisted Oaks Bike Park and Trails is just seven miles away at Bucklesham. There are blue and red trails, with some optional black sections and more on the way. There’s also a BMX track in Ipswich itself at Landseer Road. For those wanting a gravel bike adventure over a few days, the Wolf Way bikepacking route passes through Ipswich.

Bike shops in Ipswich

Ipswich has quite a few bike shops in the town or in easy reach. Here are three of those most highly rated by Cyclescheme customers.

Elmy Cycles on St Helen’s Street has been in business for more than a century, having been established in 1922. Its bike brands include Bianchi, Brompton, Eddy Merckx, Forme, Genesis, Ridgeback, Ridley, Saracen and Tern. Cyclescheme customer comment: “Really helpful people. I knew nothing about bikes walking in but they talked me through the different options in a way that made sense.”

Pedal Power Cycles is on the outskirts of Ipswich in Rushmere St Andrew. In business for 20 years, the shop has won multiple awards for customer service. Bike brands stocked include Bombtrack, Colnago, Merida, Orbea and Time. Customer comment: “The people at Pedal Power Cycles were genuinely amazing and always helpful, and it never took much time to get anything sorted.”

Cycle Revolution on Foxhall Road offers bike fitting and home delivery among other services, and also supports local cycling clubs and events. Its bike brands are BMC, Cannondale, Cervelo, Cube, Giant, Haibike, Liv, Pivot, Raleigh, Scott and Specialized. Customer comment: “Excellent service throughout. I was given lots of option and support when deciding what I needed. Would highly recommend.”

Keeping your bike secure in Ipswich

By post code areas of England and Wales, Ipswich is in the bottom third for the number of bike thefts. While that makes it a relatively safe area for somewhere this size, it’s important to bear in mind that a lot of rural areas are included in that headline figure. Thefts in Ipswich itself are above the national average.

Always lock your bike whenever you turn your back on it, ideally with a Sold Secure Gold or Diamond rated lock. Lock the bike through the frame to a sturdy piece of street furniture or a dedicated cycle stand. If you have a high value bike or will be leaving it locked up for an extended period – for example, overnight – use two locks.

The vast majority of bike thefts take place not on the street but in ‘semi-private’ locations at home. That means on your property but not in the house – for example, a garage, shed or garden. Lock your bike to a wall or ground anchor if it will be in one of those locations. Alternatively, park it indoors.