A few weeks ago, when Storm Miguel was visiting, I joined some friends in Rydal for a bike ride back to Cockermouth.

They had ridden from London via Liverpool as part of a trip round Britain. I did wonder what they thought of the Lakes as we trudged up Dunmail Raise in the pouring rain, but the clouds parted over St Johns-in-the-Vale and the Lakeland fells showed off their full grandeur. My friends were suitably impressed.

I was more interested in their bikes – full touring gear with panniers(front and back), racks and comfy steel frames. One had been used to cross America.

I was suitably jealous as I said my goodbyes a few days later. One friend was cycling back to Windermere and then on to Berlin (by plane), the other was going to Paris by bike. And I was reminded of the fun in cycle touring.

I used to do more long-distance cycling routes. There is something special about crossing large distances by bike and escaping our busy lives by getting into a simple routine of sleeping, eating and cycling. And with the Bank Holiday weekend almost upon us, you could make use of that extra day and get some miles in.

My friends introduced me to Komoot, a great app that can help you plan a journey. It even lets you decide whether to stick to roads or take to rough paths. Whilst they carried a tent with them, they also used the website “Warm Showers” which puts cycle-tourers in touch with like-minded people who have a bed or a sofa ready for them at the end of a long day in the saddle.

Of course with three days available, you could also follow one of the signed national routes which start (or end, depending on your viewpoint) in West Cumbria. There are three to choose from, all travelling across the country meaning you can catch the train back.

The Coast-to-Coast route is the best-known and starts in Maryport, Workington or Whitehaven. Once over Whinlatter, there are probably nicer rides through the Lakes, but the trip across the Pennines is a real treat, with steep climbs and long fast descents (as long as you go west to east). Don’t forget to dip your tyres in the sea at the start and finish.

You can join the Hadrian’s Cycle Route anywhere along the coast and it’s well worth doing. It takes you through the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty near Silloth before following the route of the Roman Wall to Newcastle. But with so much to see you may have to extend your time off work!

The least known is the Reivers Route that heads inland from the coast, through Cockermouth and out to Uldale, Hesket Newmarket before turning north to Carlisle and into the wilds of Northumberland and Kielder Forest. If you ever want to get away from it all, this is the route for you.

So maybe it’s time to ditch the carbon dream machine, dust off the panniers, and get out on the open road before the nights draw in and winter is upon us.