Guides

Planning the perfect breakfast run

Timing, route length and café choice for the great British Sunday morning ride.

· 4 min read · The Tarmac team

Empty roads, cool air and a bacon roll at the end: the breakfast run is the best ride of the week. Here's how to plan one that everyone turns up for.

Timing

Meet between 7 and 8am. You get the good roads before traffic, cyclists and tourists — and you're home before lunch.

Length

Aim for 40–90 minutes of riding before food. Any shorter and it's barely a ride; much longer and people get hungry and impatient.

Choosing the café

  • Confirm it opens early enough on Sundays.
  • Check there's parking for your group.
  • Bike-friendly cafés with hard standing are worth the detour.

The route

Pick the twisty option for the outbound leg and the direct way home. Save it in your group and reuse it — the best breakfast runs become traditions.

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