Dorney Lake. Cycling Around it.
Discussion
Any PH'ers local to the Windsor area know if there is open access to Dorney lakes for a cycle ride?
I'm staying over down that way tomorrow evening, and rather than be bored in the hotel, I thought about taking my bike down and going for a spin around the lake.
Can I just ride in? or is it closed when nothing is happening there?
TIA
I'm staying over down that way tomorrow evening, and rather than be bored in the hotel, I thought about taking my bike down and going for a spin around the lake.
Can I just ride in? or is it closed when nothing is happening there?
TIA
I am doing the cycle leg of a triathlon around there in a couple of weeks (I have less than no interest in swimming, hence not doing the whole thing). I am told it can be annoying as you will go from stonking headwind to stonking tailwind and back and it could disrupt any kind of rhythm.
You can do loops around it but as said above it's pretty dull the second time around, pleanty of good cycling roads around the Windsor & datchet area & all pretty flat too.
The park is indeed beautiful & you must resist the urge of a full out assaut on the castle, you'll know the spot when you get there.
The park is indeed beautiful & you must resist the urge of a full out assaut on the castle, you'll know the spot when you get there.
Vocal Minority said:
I am doing the cycle leg of a triathlon around there in a couple of weeks (I have less than no interest in swimming, hence not doing the whole thing). I am told it can be annoying as you will go from stonking headwind to stonking tailwind and back and it could disrupt any kind of rhythm.
I'm too doing the cycling leg of a tri around there in September, so thought it a good idea to scope it out while I had the chance.Sounds like it is doable, but the roads around there are nicer. Saying that, my experience of the area as a driver is that the roads are very narrow and not very cyclist friendly with regard to cars passing close by.
My plan is to find a nice little loop around the area and then do a lap or two of the lake, then back to the hotel for some grub.
I'm local, it's usually open unless a club are using it for training but it is dull.
Where are you staying? You are a stones throw from the Chilterns which would be a nicer place for an evening ride, Windsor Great Park is not far but a load of the roads were being tar'n'chipped last week so might not be that much fun.....
Post up where you are staying and how far you fancy riding and I will ping you a suggested route on Garmin....
Where are you staying? You are a stones throw from the Chilterns which would be a nicer place for an evening ride, Windsor Great Park is not far but a load of the roads were being tar'n'chipped last week so might not be that much fun.....
Post up where you are staying and how far you fancy riding and I will ping you a suggested route on Garmin....
OK - can't quite get you into the Chilterns for 30-ish but can get you close! Here you go - a couple of options for you;
30-ish miler, mainly on quiet roads, last few miles back into Windsor can be a bit busy but is the quieter of roads back into the town. When you leave Windsor it will take you over Eton footbridge (pedestrianised) - just in case you think Garmin has had a brain fart! There are a couple climbs in there, nothing too serious, and one quick descent plus a viewpoint over the Chilterns/Marlow at the top of the climb.
https://connect.garmin.com/course/9926175
The second option is only 18 miles, stays local to Windsor and takes in the 1948 Olympic Road Race circuit through the Great Park. Only one little climb in there really and it's nothing to write home about, this is a nice little spin if it's later and you can't be arsed to go too far!
https://connect.garmin.com/course/9926246
30-ish miler, mainly on quiet roads, last few miles back into Windsor can be a bit busy but is the quieter of roads back into the town. When you leave Windsor it will take you over Eton footbridge (pedestrianised) - just in case you think Garmin has had a brain fart! There are a couple climbs in there, nothing too serious, and one quick descent plus a viewpoint over the Chilterns/Marlow at the top of the climb.
https://connect.garmin.com/course/9926175
The second option is only 18 miles, stays local to Windsor and takes in the 1948 Olympic Road Race circuit through the Great Park. Only one little climb in there really and it's nothing to write home about, this is a nice little spin if it's later and you can't be arsed to go too far!
https://connect.garmin.com/course/9926246
Nice one, thanks MD, they look ideal.
But can I FAL get them to download
The Garmin connection plug-in thingy doesn't work in Chrome (my default browser) and it seems there's a problem with IE too.
I'll try again later.
Edit: I've quickly copied them in Strava "my routes" and downloaded the GPX files to my Garmin (to be honest, I find that easier than the Garmin Connect)
But can I FAL get them to download
The Garmin connection plug-in thingy doesn't work in Chrome (my default browser) and it seems there's a problem with IE too.I'll try again later.
Edit: I've quickly copied them in Strava "my routes" and downloaded the GPX files to my Garmin (to be honest, I find that easier than the Garmin Connect)
Edited by CoolC on Tuesday 16th June 14:43
Dorney Court garden centre cafe is the only reason to go to Dorney 
Aside from that, I'd look at MadDad's routes. The 1948 Olympic Road Race lap is good fun, although you'll have to get through several gates to ride it. Buttons on pillars to open the gates, apparently. Though I didn't find that out until a few laps in, and up to that point I'd been squeezing the bike through pedestrian gates, vertical on it's back wheel...
This is the Strava route I used to guide me around the Olympic lap, but to be honest you don't really need a route guide, as it's fairly obvious...
https://www.strava.com/routes/2356347
Video of the actual road race from 1948 here...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBv0yixAGdY (ffwd to 4'45")
...so you can watch the old time hard men ride it, then go play on the exact same route yourself. Seven miles per lap, the 1948 competitors rode it seventeen times. The bottom (southern most) section is out on the public road, but most of it is inside the bounds of the Great Park. There is some traffic within the park, but not much, and so long as you keep your eyes peeled for walkers, you can pretty much relax and concentrate on the riding without worrying about vehicles too much. If you get bored with the 1948 lap, there are plenty of other roads within the park to explore, too. Those on which cycling is prohibited are clearly marked as such.
Aside from that, I'd look at MadDad's routes. The 1948 Olympic Road Race lap is good fun, although you'll have to get through several gates to ride it. Buttons on pillars to open the gates, apparently. Though I didn't find that out until a few laps in, and up to that point I'd been squeezing the bike through pedestrian gates, vertical on it's back wheel...
This is the Strava route I used to guide me around the Olympic lap, but to be honest you don't really need a route guide, as it's fairly obvious...
https://www.strava.com/routes/2356347
Video of the actual road race from 1948 here...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBv0yixAGdY (ffwd to 4'45")
...so you can watch the old time hard men ride it, then go play on the exact same route yourself. Seven miles per lap, the 1948 competitors rode it seventeen times. The bottom (southern most) section is out on the public road, but most of it is inside the bounds of the Great Park. There is some traffic within the park, but not much, and so long as you keep your eyes peeled for walkers, you can pretty much relax and concentrate on the riding without worrying about vehicles too much. If you get bored with the 1948 lap, there are plenty of other roads within the park to explore, too. Those on which cycling is prohibited are clearly marked as such.
zIt's a nice surface & traffic free of course. A few runners like me & assorted dog walkers / skaters etc. But quiet enough unless there is an event on. They don't mind as long as you don't take the Michael, check out their website for the rules. A nice place to ride around IMHO. If on a hybrid etc it's easy to detour via Thames towpath adjacent to it..
Plus your mates will be more impressed than if you tell them that you had a great ride around Datchet!
Plus your mates will be more impressed than if you tell them that you had a great ride around Datchet!
Edited by anonymous-user on Tuesday 16th June 21:05
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