We are planning to ride the rideable part of the Ridgeway then on thru Swinley to Dorking on Friday and I was wondering of the Ridgeway track surface reacts well to the rain or if it becomes a swampy sludgy morass?
Any guidance would be much appreciated...
Thanks , Rich
It's a sort of chalky clay on the sections that aren't just grassy fields or farm tracks, which means it's either lightning fast in the dry, or like an ice ring after even a bit of mist. I'd say it's mostly rideable but be prepared to push up some hills that really aren't that steep if they're slippy!
Also depends if 4x4's and horse boxes haven't turned the bit around Marlborough to a quagmire, the ruts they leave are hard enough to ride even once they're dry!
From Reading I'd take route 23 south over the motorway to Three mile cross, up the hill to shinfield, then find the footpath/bridleway that takes you through the university farm, the golf course and most of the way to woosehill, then take the cyclepath behind the two poplars pub into gorrick wood which then becomes hatch ride and almost all the way into Swinley off road (either via muzzys kebab and crothorne woods, or follow the cycle path on nine mile ride to the lookout).
Not much help but last Saturday it was very dry between Swindon and Marlborough a lot of these are hard packed now as they keep grading the tracks wrecked a good byway above Osbourne ST Mazy as said above when wet the chalk is like ice very very hairy on a motorbike mind saying that never seen it dry down that way for so long this year.
I'm in north Chilterns so similar chalk and clay. It was remarkably OK on Sunday, even after heavy rain on Saturday. I'm assuming the water table is low and all the rain is still draining quickly.
Still a few wet leaves on wet chalk moments though!
It dries very quickly even after heavy rain if it's been dry. But once it's saturated, forget it. It's an utter mess.
Thanks for the replies everyone, very helpful. So in short, it's holding up well considering the rain.
@thisisnotaspoon thanks for the route tips, will have a look on an OS map. I've ridden Wokingham to Dorking many times but everything before Wokingham is new to me.
<div class="bbp-author-role"></div>
If you get another downpour, dont waste your time, it will be shite. But the weather forecast looks OK all week, so you might get away with it.
If it has been dry then rains it’s like concrete but harder.
Thanks again for comments. Will keep an eye on the weather. 100 miles through gloop is not much fun and the idea of having to pedal downhill is not appealing either.
I live 600m from the Ridgeway and TBH i wouldn't go anywhere near it at the moment from anywhere from A34 to Goring... would be pure horrific gloop.
Rode Wendover to ivinghoe the other week, was pretty good, getting a bit muddy now though
Top food tip for anyone doing the north end of the Ridgeway, Buckmoorend farm shop (very close to Chequers, nr Wendover) has just opened a burger trailer type thingy, not cheap but way better than risking leaving your bike outside a shop elsewhere. Open everyday except Mon & Tues.
+ 1 for the Buckmoorend farm shop. Warm homemade scotch eggs - I had to be restrained from eating all of them.
Infact, now think about it, I could actually put up with the gloop just for the Farmshop grub.
Just back from the section to the West of Wantage: generally conditions were good. A few puddles but other than that fine
Anyone else doing the Badlands CX sportive at the weekend? I'm anticipating the 50% road, 50% trails turning into 90% of the wrong tyre choices (I've put 2.1 SB8's on, but suspect 2.2 Race Kings might fare better).