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Morning all,
Re. the part of the path between the car park and Icknield Way: Apart from the muddy bit in the dip, my perception is that the surface is now worse to cycle on than it was before they started work. Previously, it wasn’t in great condition but you could pick a reasonably smooth line through it. Now it’s like a washboard with patches of large loose stones on it. Anyone else agree/disagree?
Steve West
There is a limit to what we can do about what I hope is a minority of cyclists; someone who is ill-mannered will be so irrespective of what mode of transport they are using. However, if the landowner decides to close the track to cyclists then it closes off one of the best routes we have to and from Wantage. Whether you consider him to be in the wrong or not; he has the right to close the track to us and there won’t be much we can do about it; I suggest we don’t press too hard for him to apologise for his driving.
There are quite a few farm drivers who don’t bother thanking me for getting out the way if they need to bring say, a tractor, through. It’s irritating, but I’m aware that I am on land owned by their employer; not somewhere where I actually have right of access.
The danger with “Cycle Route Ahead” signs is that a significant number of UK motorists think they mean “No Cycling”. They may worsen the problems with Mr Angry Man.
I’ve had three punctures in quick succession since it got its new gravel surface; is anyone going to feed this back to OCC? It probably wasn’t their intention for the contractor to install tyre-rippers.
Presumably, you will still be able to cycle from Upton as far as the junction by the reservoir and then continue straight on past the farm (using the Icknield Way). It would get you to the campus but on less-than-ideal surfaces judging by previous posts on this forum.
You should report this to the police; if they don’t know about it then they aren’t going to take any action, informal or otherwise.
Anyone know anything about the accident outside the main gate on June 30th? Someone was obviously injured; are they OK now?
Re trailers on route 44: most of the way between Wantage and Didcot you’d be ok (it’s tarmac or equivalent). There are one or two places which are problematic; the worst is the section between the Harwell tank farm and the Hendred road, part of which is rough and muddy while the remainder is just a couple of ruts full of wet limestone dust. I don’t think many trailers would work well down there unless they are single wheel. It’s the kind of “facility” that shouldn’t be included in the Winnaway or Chilton Interchange projects.
I very rarely go anywhere near the Chilton interchange or the Winnaway on a bike but I can see why others want the improvements and extra features included. However, a word of warning – if the powers that be do agree to extra cycle provision you need to make sure that they aren’t going to be to the standard of Route 44 to Wantage. I imagine most commuting cyclists want a hard surface, not a rut full of limestone mud.