Ridgeway

[palinurus]

Right. I lent an old steel (rigid) MTB to someone and, several years later, I've got it back.

I feel a proper reclaiming ceremony is in order. First thing is I need to fix it up- transmission, shifters, headset need replacement (annoyingly the shifters work fine, but the plastic casing around each has been broken). I've got most of the parts I need in my bits box, so it won't cost much. A wheel service is probably in order.

Then I need to use it for something, I've got two spare days coming up so I'm thinking: train to Swindon, ride to Avebury, ride Ridgeway/ Swans way /Icknield way up to ashridge or somewhere (depending on where the bridleway sections lead), then ride home.

What's the going like? Obviously that's dependent on the weather so I'm only after a general idea of what sort of surface to expect.

 

[palinurus]

I've only just noticed the MTB/ Off-road section. Don't post in here too often.

Just had a long session sorting out the MTB. Shifters and gear cables installed, rear hub serviced, new cassette and chain, looks like the headset is serviceable- just adjusted it and it feels OK. Just got to replace the brake cables. It looks shoot but should go nicely enough.

Christ, bar grips are difficult to install. Even with oodles of hairspray I couldn't get the last few cm over the end of the bars without an incredible amount of effort. Given myself a blister doing it too.

Sometime soon I'll need to replace the City Jets with some knobblies.

 

[Bodhbh]

It's varies a fair bit. From Goring the middle section is a very easy double track that mounts the ridge and carries on west pretty straight for 20-25 miles (iirc) before coming down just south of Swindon. But also has the best views and passes some of the hill forts etc, if you're into that sort of thing.

The section East of it is pretty hilly and easy to get lost and end up on the foot path (with my navigation skillz anyhow, ended up doing a full circle over an hour in the woods). The west section leading up to Avebury is also hard work, but the bridlepath is pretty clear to follow. Some sections here extremely rutted, at times unridable - messed up by 4x4s or the farmer. Probably someone with more experience can comment, but I didn't think much if it is 'technical'. My mate with no off-road experience did it one weekend with an old steel frame MTB with most of his gear just bungeed to the rack, so it can't be too much bother.

The ride into Avebury thru the corridor of stones and a pint at the Red Lion is a great way to end, so I'd consider doing that way

 

[palinurus]

Maybe doing it that way around would be better, I think I'll give it a shot.

 

[Willow]

Avebury is sooooooooooo boring we used to go there for school trips! When I was young - a long time ago, I used to cycle from the centre of Swindon where we lived to Broad Hinton where my grandparents lived some nice hills to climb, not sure how I did it with my 3 geared Raleigh, my parents must have been very trusting or wanted to get rid of me letting me cycle that distance on my own.

If you go by road I;m guessing you'd go Wroughton, Broad Hinton, (Winterbourne Bassett?) Avebury. I don't know much about the ridgeway now, certainly if it is like it was then I would think it is mountain bike terrain, pretty bumpy and stony but given the lack of rain the chalk should be pretty dry beneath you. My parents still live at Liddington and once I have a bike rack the boys and I will be cycling up over the downs - mind you just cycling up the slope on their drive would be a major feat!

Out to the West Swindon had a relatively good set of cycle paths I could cycle 5 miles to work all on off road paths. But I am not sure what is available the other side of town.

 

[palinurus]

Took a while but I've just done it.

Not quite how I planned it. I eventually gave the MTB to a friend who was commuting on a horrible old BSO.

But I had a couple days spare so I did it on the cross bike. Got the train to Swindon and rode back home via the Ridgeway.

First day, from the start near Avebury to Streatley YHA was relatively easy- did that in an afternoon. Surface was variable but I was able to make pretty good headway.

The second day- I rode from Streatley to near Tring before turning home- was much more challenging. Once I got into the chilterns the bridleway surfaces were mostly deep mud. It was raining in the morning too. I hadn't reckoned on the nettles either- thankfully I had some Ronhills in my bag. Hard work, at one point it took me nearly two hours to do 11 miles.

Left at 9 am, got home at 5 pm. Impressively muddy.

You should've heard the noise my transmission was making after all that.

 

[ianiab]

Just spotted your Ridgeway post , I've planned the same trip this weekend same direction. Can you remember how long the first day Swindon / Avebury / Streatley took ? ( depends on fitness I know ) . Any other tips apart from nettles and mud ?

 

[palinurus]

First day was quite long. I arrived at Swindon around lunchtime, got lost a few times on the way to the start of the Ridgeway- started the Ridgeway proper at about 2 pm, arrived at about 7 in Streatley. Second day was even longer as the terrain is more challenging and the routefinding harder.

Take quite a bit of food and water, there are some taps along the way and opportunities to refuel but I preferred to have full pockets and not to have to stop too much.

Pack some longs and some overshoes.