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Sun Aug 4th 2019
Oxford Urban Safari 1*
Leader:
John Tranter
Start Time:
2:00 pm
Start Location:
Seacourt Park and Ride, Botley, OX2 0HP
Description:
**UPDATE THURSDAY** The weather for Sunday is looking good! I can confirm that the Seacourt entrance height restriction is 2.2m or 7ft 3inches. I will arrive a little early and wait at the bus turning circle. Anyone with a bike on a roof rack should drive there first to unload and then head into the car park. It would be useful if you could let me know if you are riding so we don't miss anyone.

A very special opportunity to use tracks, riverside and canalside paths and quiet streets to do a 17 mile 'urban safari' around Oxford. This ride really gives a remarkable insight into some hidden corners of this complex city and is almost entirely traffic free. This is an away-day ride, run at a beginner 1* pace. Major building work in Botley means that the best place to park is the Seacourt Park and Ride (bring 2 pounds in coins). Note there is a height restriction on the entrance so let me know in advance if you have bikes on a roof rack for further instructions. There is also some parking in front of the West Way shops. We use the separated bike track on Botley Road to get to Osney, then up the river, across Port Meadow to the canal, up to Wolvercote and then through the exclusive back streets of leafy Summertown until we get to the Marston Ferry Road. Then there is a fascinating series of hidden tracks and roads through to the Oxford Brookes University campus (including an unexpected manor house), a swoop down to Florence Park and a final section of beautiful riverside towpath. Some of the tracks will be rough in places, so this is not the ride for carbon super bikes. Mountain bikes would actually work as well as hybrids for this.

Really interesting - don't miss it!

17 miles at a leisurely pace - 10 or 11 mph.
Report:
It was a new idea to begin the ride at Seacourt Park and Ride - I wasn't sure if this would help or hinder. Well, we had a great group so I guess it wasn't too bad! Wonderful to see so many people turn out, some had done similar rides before, many hadn't. The ride went very well - I was slightly worried about how such a large group would work on some of the smaller tracks and alleyways, but it all seemed to go fine. We saw lots of sights - the Thames Path, Port Meadow, the Oxford Canal, leafy Summertown, the wonderful Marston Ferry cycle path, the extremely wealthy back side of Headington Hill and, of course, the mysterious surprise of Headington Hill Hall. We also decided on a bonus pitstop on the main campus of Oxford Brookes University - very handy for 'facilities' and ice cream!

The second half was equally pleasant as we swooped down through east Oxford alongside Florence Park and up into Iffley village. The final section was a lovely run along the river towpath past all the College boathouses and along to North Hinksey.

Thanks to all for a most enjoyable afternoon - particularly to Trish on her first ride with the club.
Distance:
25.75 km (16.00 mi)
Ride Details:
https://ridewithgps.com/trips/38167267
1* away day ride to Oxford
1* away day ride to Oxford
1* away day ride to Oxford
1* away day ride to Oxford
1* away day ride to Oxford
1* away day ride to Oxford
1* away day ride to Oxford
1* away day ride to Oxford
1* away day ride to Oxford
1* away day ride to Oxford
1* away day ride to Oxford
1* away day ride to Oxford
1* away day ride to Oxford
1* away day ride to Oxford
1* away day ride to Oxford
1* away day ride to Oxford
1* away day ride to Oxford
1* away day ride to Oxford
Proposed Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/30406924"
Comment on this ride

Ride Filter
Start Locations
WMP
Wantage Market Place
OMH
Old Mill Hall, Grove
Categories
1* - Suitable for irregular, social, beginner or family riders, pace will match the slower riders. Not hilly or long. Expect rides up to 3 hours. Gentle exercise.
2* - Suitable for regular riders who prefer to cover some distance but at a more relaxed pace. Likely to be half-day rides. Solid exercise.
3* - Suitable for experienced riders, may be hilly, long, quick, or any combination! Likely to be half or full-day rides. Challenging exercise.
4* - Suitable for athletic riders who can ride safely above the 3* standard. Quick rides for the fit.
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