CALNE to CHIPPENHAM CYCLE PATH (NCR403)

[bobgreen123@sky.com]

Sustainable Calne need your help on Friday 18th June and Saturday 19th The Sustrans cycle route going from Calne towards Chippenham (NCR403) is a very well used route, but is limited by the quality of the surface and the future of it remains insecure as the leases for the land are very short-term. To address this it is useful to collect data about users and their opinions. To this effect Sustainable Calne are carrying out a survey over the days of Friday 18th June and Saturday 19th June (7am to 7pm at both Calne end and from small car park between Stanley and Studley). The survey has been prepared in liaison with Wiltshire Council and is supported by Calne Town Council. A version of the survey will also go on-line.
To carry this out we need as many people as possible to assist for an hour or so on one or both days. No one will be on their own, and volunteers will be supported. If you could help at all, please contact Celia Stevens on celiafstevens@aol.co.uk or on 07855 672212 with an indication of when you might be available and how long you could help for. A rota will be put together on Monday 14th June and you will be informed of the times you are allocated and details of where to be. All help would be much appreciated.

IF YOU CAN’T HELP, PLEASE CYCLE ALONG THE PATH AND TAKE PART IN THE SURVEY!

[Zulu Eleven]

What a tragedy it would be to replace that perfectly usable, multi-user friendly surface, in keeping with its rural surroundings, with more bloody Tarmac.

[toontra]

Personally I use the A4 as I want to travel in a timely way, but each to their own.

The problem with many/most tarmac cycle paths is that they are laid so badly you end up bouncing in the saddle when going at any speed. It's clear that the specification when levelling bike paths is a lot less rigorous than that for "proper" roads

I tend to agree with Zulu 11- dirt tracks are often preferable.

[Bmblbzzz]

A couple of years since I last rode it, but I've always enjoyed it. Especially the bridge over the A4! Most of the surface is "dirt" and quite decent but there is a section just after that bridge which is distinctly "mud" even in summer and needs improving. However, improvement doesn't have to mean tarmac. Compressed "gravel" (concrete dust or whatever) does a decent job, doesn't annoy people by looking "urban" and isn't prone to cracking like tarmac or concrete.

[jezer]

I live close by and use it frequently. There is a short section after the A4 bridge going towards Chippenham where half the width is tarmac. This is much rougher to ride on than the other half which is normal gravel/dirt. I'll make a point of riding the route during the survey.

[the snail]

What a tragedy it would be to replace that perfectly usable, multi-user friendly surface, in keeping with its rural surroundings, with more bloody Tarmac.

I disagree, the surface is pretty awful, so it's not much fun if you're not on a mountain bike, really not usable on a road bike, and pretty rough on my tourer. It gets horrendously muddy in wet weather. Lovely route though. Chippenham council were talking about not renewing the leases to save money - is this what the survey is about?

[Richard Fairhurst]

Interesting new study on cycleway surfaces in rural areas: https://pro.eurovelo.com/news/2021-06-2 ... ural-areas

Calne to Chippenham is such an obvious case for everyday cycling that I can't see why you wouldn't put down a smooth tarmac-like surface tbh. It's six miles, a very accessible distance for Calne residents accessing Chippenham station or other facilities. The alternatives are a 10% climb by the Dumb Post or dodging the traffic (and another unnecessary climb) on the A4. That's not to say that every rural route should be surfaced, but this is a really strong candidate.

[Bmblbzzz]

The worst section of this route is neither gravel nor tarmac but mud, so that study is starting from a slightly optimistic place in this context! Interesting about compaction, I would have thought bicycle tyres (even fat bikes) were too narrow to affect anything other than the soil directly below them.

[simonhill]

Not this path, but supporting a better surface.

Last week I was doing a short tour. There had been rain. My route sent me off the B road onto a lane. OK, but it then became 'off-road'. I turned around, back tracked and picked up the B road again. Why? Not anti off road, but I wanted to keep my bike clean as I wanted to take it into my hotel room.

Being able to travel without getting covered in mud is often an important requisite for a variety of reasons.

[Zulu Eleven]

really not usable on a road bike, and pretty rough on my tourer.

Isn’t the answer there in the title “road bike”?

If you want to ride on a surface suitable for road bikes, then you ought to be riding on the road.

[jgurney]

If you want to ride on a surface suitable for road bikes, then you ought to be riding on the road.

Are we talking about a route connecting two towns intended to be a useful cycle transport link, or a leisure facility intended for people using specialist rough-surface suitable bikes?

[jezer]

It's the former

[Tigerbiten]

Initially good tarmac is better than good macadam.
But give it 5-10 with no maintenance and the macadam may well retain a better surface than the tarmac.

Luck ..........

[the snail]

really not usable on a road bike, and pretty rough on my tourer.

Isn’t the answer there in the title “road bike”?

If you want to ride on a surface suitable for road bikes, then you ought to be riding on the road.

A decent compacted crushed gravel surface makes for a pleasant ride on any type of bike. I don't think you should have to buy a mountain bike to use these routes in comfort, or return from your ride completely plastered with mud.

[Xbigman]

I rode this route doing Yate to Avebury on Thursday. I agree the Chippenham to Calne section is rough and muddy in places but after Calne it is far worse. There's a field with a 6 inch wide gravel track that has parts where you have to get some speed up and coast through because the rut is so deep you can't turn the pedals over. That's only briefly a problem as no one has cut the hedge back for years so after riding sitting off the side of the bike to avoid the branches you eventually get forced into the field itself.
The whole route has been under maintained for years. South Glos and Bristol are the same.


Darren