'Ginge Link'

Yup. I’ve been avoiding as many of the filled holes as possible because I feel like I may slip on the loose chippings.

This was also done to the route between the George and Dragon and Chilton (not sure of the name, part of it is called Dene Hollow I think). It made the route significantly worse, and not a little bit hairy on the descent. In fact I switched to the Icknield way shortly afterwards for this reason.
Certainly we should all be careful on these routes, the route I am referring to was filled in rather slowly (a few holes at a time) and they caught me by surprise twice.

I use the Ginge “Private Road ” I do find it slightly better. Probably because I’m slower! I have thicker tyres which cope with the loose chippings. It does stop me having to negotiate around large craters, particularly in shaded areas which you don’t notice until its too late!
However, I can understand for faster bikes with different tyres this wouldn’t be an advantage.

I was cycling in to work, think it was 25 June, while they were filling in the holes. It’s just loose gravel, not rolled or compacted in any way. I’m not sure which is worse, the pot holes or the gravel traps they’ve now become.

The same was done before. All that happens is the loose gravel gradually gets washed or moved away by vehicle traffic and the holes are back again.

My understanding is that cyclists have permission to use the track through an arrangement between Sustrans and the landowner. Can anyone confirm that?

Has anyone come off their bike and been injured on the Ginge track, either due to a pothole or the gravel? A personal injury claim might focus the minds of Sustrans and the landowner a bit. I suspect there’s a clause denying liability in any agreement covering the use of the track.

It always used to be called “Mr Pill’s track”. You are quite right that the gravel filling in the holes is pretty hopeless for cyclists. But beware that we use it only with his permission as far as I know – any whiff of legal action and all he has to do is shut the gates!

I’ve cycled along this a couple of times in the last week. On a mountain bike it’s absolutely fine, even at speed, provided you avoid foolhardy swerving on the loose stuff. Probably better than the craters. I’ve been sceptical before about loose fills like this and indeed the larger aggregate takes a long time to bed down, but the finer material that appears to have been used here consolidates quite quickly.

Surely, a personal injury claim would very quickly result in permission for the route being withdrawn. To understand the impact of this, try taking the Icknield Way or the Hendred bridleway in winter, or go up to Scutchamer Knob and enjoy the ‘exciting’ descent off the Ridgeway to Betterton.

My comment about legal action was meant to be taken with a pinch of salt!

Seriously, I am curious to know if HarBUG members have suffered injury or damage to their bikes while using what are supposed to be designated cycle routes promoted by Sustrans and shown on OS Maps as part of the National Cycle Network, like the Ginge Track.

Not everone has or wants a mountain bike for commuting.
Just for fun, anyone tried the 544 and Ginge Track from Wantage to Campus on a Brompton or a road bike, even with 28 mm tyres? Could be good training for Paris-Roubaix!

I can see the track isn’t a concernt for experienced cyclists, but what about new commuters which HarBUG is trying to encourage?

Is the drivers solution to pot holed roads a 4 x 4 ? 🙂
No?
(Given the number that passed my on the A417 tonight, maybe yes!)
Is the solution to a poorly maintained part of the National Cycle Network a mountain bike?
Yes?

Hi,

These routes have long stretches of heavily damaged farm tracks where bicycles are allowed.They can’t be seriously used for commuting with anything less sturdy than a hybrid with good tyres and a careful rider that can take some punishment.

The footpath is called the Furlong and I cycle down there quite often. Never seen any signs. This time of year the path is quite narrow due to foliage – but very pleasant!

Update on the Furlong: I cycled this yesterday. If you enter the path from the West Hendred direction there is a sign which states “no cycling (unless for school journeys)”. At the East Hendred side there is no sign, just the footpath signpost.