Ride Out Route Help Required

[squirrel_hunter]

Hello Thames Valley. I need a little help please...

I shall be in Oxford on Saturday and I have a hour to kill on a bike. But I'm unfamiliar with the local roads as my play ground has usually been the South West and Wales. Thus I turn to you my brothers in my hour of need.

The only criteria I have is its only a short ride 1 hour tops, preferably taking all types of road in but mostly country side would be appreciated. If anyone could help by way of suggestion or Google Map (or similar) then my thanks will be forthcoming.

Oh and if the suggested route could begin and end at Oxford BMW (big clue about what I'm up to) then that would be great. Thanks in advance.

[Sosha]

Oy someone wake up the oxford mafia.....

[plowsie]

Harsh place to test ride a bike... :lol: The A44 is a good road but don't think you get to the good bits and back within an hour.

[Warthog]

You have come to the right place my friend :)
I'll get a google maps ready...

[walkaboutandy]

Ok. How about this. I assume you will be riding one of those BMW off roady/touring things. ie. not a sportsbike.

A44 to Enstone. Dual and single carriageway. Good to get a feeling for the bike with some fast curves.

Turn left after the petrol station in Enstone onto the B4022 to Charlbury. Smaller road but with decent straights and a bit wiggly.

Through Charlbury then right and first left onto the B4437 towards Burford. Small road again wiggley some tight turns (good for testing the brakes) and a bit bumpy in places but I like it on my SV. Watch for tractors and potential for mud on the road.

Left onto the A361 to Burford. Larger road, pretty straight. Burford is quite pretty too.

Left onto the A40 back to Oxford brings you straight back to the dealer on the roundabout. Nice, big road. See how she cruises, overtaking, fast riding, etc.

Should take less than an hour. I have ridden all of those roads but not done that loop so thats a time guesstimate.

[Warthog]

Ok, I'd recommend either this: http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Unknown+road&daddr=A329%2FThame+Rd+to:A418+to:51.879034,-1.119919+to:Oxford+OX2+8JP,+UK&hl=en&geocode=FRBAFAMdcQ_u_w%3BFTrmEwMdYKLu_w%3BFZi4FQMd cgbx_w%3B%3BFTA-FgMdJWvs_w&mra=dpe&mrcr=0&mrsp=3&sz=11&via=1,2,3&sll=51.798424,-1.047134&sspn=0.308714,0.615234&ie=UTF8&ll=51.772939,-1.095886&spn=0.308888,0.615234&z=11

Or

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=A413&daddr=A413+to:A4421+to:A41+to:51.754665,-0.98465+to:Oxford+OX2+8JP,+UK&hl=en&geocode=FTzmFgMdRo_z_w%3BFa4SGQMdaFbx_w%3BFXLlGAMd 5j7v_w%3BFWKcFwMdJvXu_w%3B%3BFTA-FgMdJWvs_w&mra=dpe&mrcr=0&mrsp=4&sz=11&via=1,2,3,4&sll=51.845959,-0.98053&sspn=0.308388,0.615234&ie=UTF8&ll=51.840444,-1.041641&spn=0.308426,0.615234&z=11

Basically the two best roads around are the B4011 from Thame to Bicester and The A413 from Aylesbury to Buckingham. Try to hit those babies and have fun!

[plowsie]

Basically the two best roads around are the B4011 from Thame to Bicester and The A413 from Aylesbury to Buckingham. Try to hit those babies and have fun!
+1 on that, the other side of Buckingham to Whittlebury isn't a bad run either, couple of potholes.

[walkaboutandy]

Yeah, they are good rides but a bit far. You could do the first one and then from Thame do a right and join the A40 back to the dealer.

[Warthog]

+1 on that, the other side of Buckingham to Whittlebury isn't a bad run either, couple of potholes.

I dunno, you risk getting dangerously near to Northampton that way :-P

[plowsie]

I dunno, you risk getting dangerously near to Northampton that way :-P
Mwahaha, and trust me, you don't wanna ride around here :twisted:

[ogden]

Basically the two best roads around are the B4011 from Thame to Bicester and The A413 from Aylesbury to Buckingham. Try to hit those babies and have fun!

Hope the weather's OK on Sunday. I have a clinical need to take the thou on a FOT.

[Warthog]

Hmm, I'd also quite like to see the thou in action. Will see, maybe I can join you if it is nice.

[ogden]

It's set to be a bit nippy (11 degrees or so) but dry and a bit cloudy. So it'd be rude not to get out for a hoon. If I take it out I'll mention it here first, most likely departing the Horse & Jockey in Aylesbury around 11.

[Sosha]

Would consider annoying people on the 400. Don't know why the 400 so don't ask.

[squirrel_hunter]

Cheers for the route suggestions, I know you guys would come up trumps.

As for the bikes, I have a R1200GS lined up and my friend who will (weather permitting) be with me will be taking a F800ST. I'll let you know what route we choose...

[Stig]

I'll be in Winchester slogging my guts out running 10k.

[walkaboutandy]

Why you running? Has your car broke down too? ;)

[ogden]

It's set to be a bit nippy (11 degrees or so) but dry and a bit cloudy. So it'd be rude not to get out for a hoon. If I take it out I'll mention it here first, most likely departing the Horse & Jockey in Aylesbury around 11.

Cold seems to be lifting a bit, so this is a possible. I'll start a thread.

[squirrel_hunter]

Just wanted to say thanks again for the route suggestions. We opted for walkaboutandy's suggestion (http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Oxford+OX2+8JP,+UK&daddr=A44%2FOxford+Rd+to:Charlbury+to:Burford+to:O xford+OX2+8JP,+UK&hl=en&geocode=%3BFbYfGAMdUOTp_w%3B%3B%3B&mra=ls&sll=51.851049,-1.459465&sspn=0.198712,0.41748&ie=UTF8&ll=51.852746,-1.472168&spn=0.397409,0.834961&z=11), good selection of roads and pretty much bang on the money for an hour.

Also spotted 2 SV's one Blue one Yellow, both Curvy at a petrol station half way round. Not sure of the village but if that was anyone from here... hello.

[plowsie]

Just wanted to say thanks again for the route suggestions. We opted for walkaboutandy's suggestion (http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Oxford+OX2+8JP,+UK&daddr=A44%2FOxford+Rd+to:Charlbury+to:Burford+to:O xford+OX2+8JP,+UK&hl=en&geocode=%3BFbYfGAMdUOTp_w%3B%3B%3B&mra=ls&sll=51.851049,-1.459465&sspn=0.198712,0.41748&ie=UTF8&ll=51.852746,-1.472168&spn=0.397409,0.834961&z=11), good selection of roads and pretty much bang on the money for an hour.

Also spotted 2 SV's one Blue one Yellow, both Curvy at a petrol station half way round. Not sure of the village but if that was anyone from here... hello.
Idiot, that was us!!!!!!! I thought for a second it was youuuuuu! It didnt click at first.

[squirrel_hunter]

Well hello then!

I did consider turning round but that really would have confused the guy I was with. However if thats a regular start point (and assuming I can remember how to get there), you've got some nice looking roads around... You might be seeing more of me.

[plowsie]

Unfortunately that was a stop off in a ride due to a puncture, you must've missed the red duke and the two svs over the other side with Pete and Lissa's duke.

Are you chopping in the SV then mate?

[squirrel_hunter]

Nope still keeping it the ride home yesterday made sure of that. I just fancied a ride on something a little different, I'm thinking about riding a little KTM next...

[the white rabbit]

Just wanted to say thanks again for the route suggestions. We opted for walkaboutandy's suggestion (http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Oxford+OX2+8JP,+UK&daddr=A44%2FOxford+Rd+to:Charlbury+to:Burford+to:O xford+OX2+8JP,+UK&hl=en&geocode=%3BFbYfGAMdUOTp_w%3B%3B%3B&mra=ls&sll=51.851049,-1.459465&sspn=0.198712,0.41748&ie=UTF8&ll=51.852746,-1.472168&spn=0.397409,0.834961&z=11), good selection of roads and pretty much bang on the money for an hour.

Also spotted 2 SV's one Blue one Yellow, both Curvy at a petrol station half way round. Not sure of the village but if that was anyone from here... hello.

I was at NOG on saturday, a friend is a salesman there. Would have been funny to have bumped into you.

[squirrel_hunter]

It's been so long would we have recognized each other?

The guy that was dealing with us was Steve IIRC. You never know you might have been there when we were out. I parked my SV round the side as not to lower the tone of the establishment.

[the white rabbit]

Yes, that is he.

[squirrel_hunter]

Nice bloke. My friend is in negotiations for the F800ST with SWMBO...