Cycle paths between Newbury and Westminster

cycling_simon

Hello.

I am wanting to cycle the Devizes to Westminster kayak race to support my dad who is competing this easter.

I know the canal path is good up to newbury, but not sure what the situation is from newbury to london.

Do you know if there is a path that follows the canal to the thames?

is there a cycle path that runs the length of the thames?

has any one else done it?

Please help

Thanks

Simon

el_presidente

I have cycled the Thames Path between Windsor & Richmond. Straighforward enough though there are muddy sections and numerous dog walkers. IMHO you might struggle to keep up with a racing kayak due to pedestrians, stiles, crossing back and forth over the river etc (e.g. you need to take the ferry at Shepperton).

Not sure whether your Dad isdoing the overnight sections but that would add more complications. I would want good lights to ride the rural sections otherwise an unsceduled dunking might be on the cards

Also, in theory it is a footpath only for lots of stretches:

http://www.nationaltrail.co.uk/ThamesPa ... geId=7&p=2

The Thames Path National Trail is not a long distance route for cyclists. Most of the length of the Thames Path has public footpath status on which cyclists have no legal right to ride unless they have permission from the landowner. Cycling on a public footpath without permission is a trespass offense against the landowner. Outside London a few cycle routes have been established by local authorities on sections of the Thames Path, primarily close to London, with the longest stretches being the 3 miles (5km) stretch from Reading to Sonning and the 10 miles (16km) length from Weybridge to Teddington Lock. On some other public footpath sections of the Thames Path cycling has also become established by tradition and is tolerated by landowners. These include the section through Oxford. Additionally, the riding of cycles through lock gardens is prohibited by the Environment Agency. Within London some boroughs allow cycling on the Thames Path but it is a disjointed picture. See the FAQ on London cycling below for further information.

cycling_simon

yes he is doing it over night, but fortunatly between my family, i think i can get 6sets of high power lights between 2 of us!

my dad will only be paddling at about 6mph so i dont think it iwll be too hard keeping up.

thanks.

do you know if there are any good maps/guids to help me plan my rout?

daniel_b

Simon,

this website says that the canal path runs up to Reading, though seems a little unclear about how much is towpath, and how much is path:
http://www.bath4u.com/kennet_and_avon/bath4u_KandA_Route.htm

The Thames runs through Reading:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/River_Thames

So it looks likely that you can carry it out, perhaps with a little bit of road.

Sounds like it should be a good jaunt though!

Dan

Fixedweasel

The Kennet and Avon part should be OK to support by bike. My brother did the same for me some years back. He did however find it tough due to it being very muddy and having to navigate paths, some of which were not that clearly marked.

I think you will find your work cut out to support from Reading onwards due to the flow of the Thames (especially if there is a reasonable flow!!) as a K2 should be ‘motoring’. In addition I would suggest that navigation will become a quite a challenge.

As a support crew you need to be at the portages, there is nothing more annoying than showing up to a portage and your support are no where to be seen. You should expect some ‘colourful language’ if you do miss a portage!

cycling_simon

so do you think it is possible to cycle the rest (from reading to westminster?)

el_presidente

cycling_simon wrote:

so do you think it is possible to cycle the rest (from reading to westminster?)

yes it is possible

it may not be quick enough (and not legal either) though

cycling_simon

i am not sure any one will be there to tell me off in the small hours of the morning! I think i will hit westminster at 7am.

el_presidente

cycling_simon wrote:

i am not sure any one will be there to tell me off in the small hours of the morning! I think i will hit westminster at 7am.

you will need an alternative route through Shepperton. the Thames path uses the ferry which I doubt is 24h

whome

Route 4 goes away from the K&A at various points, so I am not sure if the whole Newbury to Reading stretch has a usable canal path alongside - Just saying that I get the impression the path wanders away from the river/canal at times, especially near Theale where it looks a mess on the maps. And as others point out it may have some path that is not supposed to be for bikes. But If it's only for locks etc. I would expect there to be access somehow at that point.

K&A goes past the Oracle shopping center (part of Route 4) where there are traffic lights for the boats! and then meets the Thames. I am not sure exactly what you need to do when they meet. ie. which side etc. There are limited crossing points here - 2 upriver of where the K&A meets and I think not one downriver for quite a way if you do need to cross. So advise some careful planning or get better advice round that area.

el_presidente

there is a footbridge over the Kennet at the mouth into the Thames so that is OK

you will be on river right anyway as you leave the last lock on the Kennet

As noted it might well get complicated through Reading. Get the 1:25,000 OS maps and study them carefully. A reconnaisance ride will not hurt if you have the time.

whome

Sorry, I know about the bridge over the Kennet I meant which side of the thames you need to be. If the south side that's OK. If the north , not so easy.

el_presidente

whome wrote:

Sorry, I know about the bridge over the Kennet I meant which side of the thames you need to be. If the south side that's OK. If the north , not so easy.

good point

supportcrew

Hi Simon,
just a quick observation in case it is useful.

I've supported (by car) for the Junior event (i.e. not overnight) the last two years. Last year one other crew I know had one of their two supporters in a car and the other on a bike. Up to Reading I think things were OK, but between Dreadnought Reach and Marsh it all went pear-shaped.

- the bike supporter couldn't find a suitable route and ended up in the middle of a field somewhere;

- the rudder cable snapped on the K2;

- the tools were with the biker.

Tears all round :^(

The crew fixed their cable eventually - with a shoelace - but their chance of a good time was blown, and effectively, all the bike supporter had achieved was a good workout for himself, which is kind of missing the point.

A couple of thoughts, if you're determined to do it by bike:

- make sure you know the whole route so well that you will have no problem doing it in the dark, in the small hours. Remember, it might well be foggy/raining.

- plan carefully how much you will need to take in the way of fluids/carbs for your crew... and for yourself. Both you and the crew need to function throughout...

- consider whether you will carry a canoe repair kit... (putting it in the canoe is risky).

Bottom line: I think DW is challenging enough as it is, for all concerned. If you have the option of a car, I would strongly recommend it.

waud

Most of this has already been mentioned in the previous replies but just to confirm.

I commute from Newbury to Reading, sometimes on the A4 and somestimes on the tow path.

Most of the tow path (from Thatcham onwards) is packed hardcore so it's fairly easy going, although there are a few fields to cross which in wet eather get a bit boggy.

P.S. watch out fo the cows in the fields as the obstinate buggers and won't move out of the way.
:?

Wooliferkins

Kennet and Avon is doable to Reading. To be legal you need to download the free license from http://www.waterscape.com/things-to-do/cycling/permit Thames path from Reading I do not know. Grand Union from Slough to central London is brill but I reckon the canoe may be out of sight.