Reading to Bracknell Commute

Quoting Ian <[email hidden]>:

Quoted message said:

I'm starting a new job in Bracknell and I was wondering if anyone has
any experience cycling down the A329 from Reading center ? Will I
survive in the traffic or does it all go down the A329(M) ?

Yes. Until I broke my jaw and started telecommuting, I took that route
most days, albeit in the opposite direction. The final stages into Reading
and Bracknell centres - which I omitted owing to the position of home and
work - are a bit hairy, but generally it is very pleasant - it's a good
wide road with good visibility and most of the fastards are indeed on the
A329(M).

The final stage into Bracknell is a huge dual carriageway. If you're happy
with the idea that that's excellent visibility and few sideroads, you'll
be OK - otherwise you may want to consider an alternative route from the
junction of the A329, A329(M), and B3408. Unfortunately stabbing up the
B3408 earns you a bit of a climb but from there you might be able to
divert up John Nike Way, depending on where your workplace is.

The final stage into Reading is just full of cars, except for half of it
on Kings Road on the bus lane on the way in.
--
David Damerell <[email hidden]> Kill the tomato!
Today is First Leicesterday, September.

"Ian" <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

I'm starting a new job in Bracknell and I was wondering if anyone has
any experience cycling down the A329 from Reading center ? Will I
survive in the traffic or does it all go down the A329(M) ?

You could consider going through Woodley to the air museum, with a track
across to Sandford Lane, alomg country lanes to the A321, & then Forest
Road to Binfield.

DavidR said:

"Ian" <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

I'm starting a new job in Bracknell and I was wondering if anyone has
any experience cycling down the A329 from Reading center ? Will I
survive in the traffic or does it all go down the A329(M) ?

You could consider going through Woodley to the air museum, with a track
across to Sandford Lane, alomg country lanes to the A321, & then Forest
Road to Binfield.

That does look quite a pleasant route - I'll give it a test on the
weekend and see if it's do-able for a daily cycle.

David Damerell said:

Quoting Ian <[email hidden]>:

Quoted message said:

I'm starting a new job in Bracknell and I was wondering if anyone has
any experience cycling down the A329 from Reading center ? Will I
survive in the traffic or does it all go down the A329(M) ?

Yes. Until I broke my jaw and started telecommuting, I took that route
most days, albeit in the opposite direction. The final stages into Reading
and Bracknell centres - which I omitted owing to the position of home and
work - are a bit hairy, but generally it is very pleasant - it's a good
wide road with good visibility and most of the fastards are indeed on the
A329(M).

Broke your jaw on the commute ? That's one of the reasons I was a bit
concerned about taking the A329 all the way. My current commute takes
me along tow paths and back roads which makes for a fairly stress free
ride.

Quoted message said:

The final stage into Bracknell is a huge dual carriageway. If you're happy
with the idea that that's excellent visibility and few sideroads, you'll
be OK - otherwise you may want to consider an alternative route from the
junction of the A329, A329(M), and B3408. Unfortunately stabbing up the
B3408 earns you a bit of a climb but from there you might be able to
divert up John Nike Way, depending on where your workplace is.

The final stage into Reading is just full of cars, except for half of it
on Kings Road on the bus lane on the way in.
--
David Damerell <[email hidden]> Kill the tomato!
Today is First Leicesterday, September.

Ian said:

Hello,

I'm starting a new job in Bracknell and I was wondering if anyone has
any experience cycling down the A329 from Reading center ? Will I
survive in the traffic or does it all go down the A329(M) ?

Rgds,

Ian.

I used to use the Wokingham Road, through Winnersh and Wokingham and
then over to Bracknell ( on route to Sunbury). Not the quietist road,
but plenty of visiblity and no major climbs. Plus there's a Tesco's on
the route where I used to pick a few groceries on the way home.

Laters,

Marz

Quoting Ian <[email hidden]>:

Quoted message said:

David Damerell said:

Yes. Until I broke my jaw and started telecommuting,

Broke your jaw on the commute ?

No. Although I had a bicycle with me when I broke it, the bike was not
involved in any way besides being an awkward object when staggering back
to the road, phoning an ambulance, etc.
--
David Damerell <[email hidden]> Kill the tomato!
Today is First Brieday, September.

Quoting DavidR <[email hidden]>:

Quoted message said:

"Ian" <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

I'm starting a new job in Bracknell and I was wondering if anyone has
any experience cycling down the A329 from Reading center ? Will I
survive in the traffic or does it all go down the A329(M) ?

You could consider going through Woodley to the air museum, with a track
across to Sandford Lane, alomg country lanes to the A321, & then Forest
Road to Binfield.

I used to take that route. Bad plan. Those lovely country lanes are filled
with the stench of manure half the year - and hence with insect life - and
in the dark you meet unlikely pieces of agricultural machinery moving at a
fair clip.

Sandford Lane is also prone to flooding in wet weather.
Bottom-of-the-panniers flooding, I mean.
--
David Damerell <[email hidden]> Kill the tomato!
Today is First Brieday, September.

"David Damerell" <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

Quoting DavidR <[email hidden]>:

Quoted message said:

"Ian" <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I'm starting a new job in Bracknell and I was wondering if anyone has
any experience cycling down the A329 from Reading center ? Will I
survive in the traffic or does it all go down the A329(M) ?

You could consider going through Woodley to the air museum, with a track
across to Sandford Lane, alomg country lanes to the A321, & then Forest
Road to Binfield.

I used to take that route. Bad plan. Those lovely country lanes are
filled with the stench of manure half the year - and hence with insect
life -
and in the dark you meet unlikely pieces of agricultural machinery moving
at
a fair clip.

Which direction did you take between Sandford Lane and the A321? Straight
over from Sandford Lane or up to the next junction a couple of 100 yards in
the Hurst direction?

Quoted message said:

Sandford Lane is also prone to flooding in wet weather.
Bottom-of-the-panniers flooding, I mean.

Not a show stopper for most of the year... or maybe even for most years. I
only remember such an occasion when the Lodden also flooded every access
south of Reading.

Quoting DavidR <[email hidden]>:

Quoted message said:

"David Damerell" <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

I used to take that route. Bad plan. Those lovely country lanes are
filled with the stench of manure half the year - and hence with insect life -
and in the dark you meet unlikely pieces of agricultural machinery moving
at a fair clip.

Which direction did you take between Sandford Lane and the A321? Straight
over from Sandford Lane or up to the next junction a couple of 100 yards in
the Hurst direction?

I've tried both routes; both had the same problems. To be fair, I'd be
less worried about the dark now I have a SON and decent headlight.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Sandford Lane is also prone to flooding in wet weather.
Bottom-of-the-panniers flooding, I mean.

Not a show stopper for most of the year... or maybe even for most years.

One trip through two feet of water was sufficient for me to switch to the
A329.
--
OPTIONS=name:Kirsty,menustyle:C,female,lit_corridor,standout,time,showexp,hilit
e_pet,catname:Akane,dogname:Ryoga,fruit:okonomiyaki,pickup_types:"!$?=/,scores:
5 top/2 around,color,boulder:0,autoquiver,autodig,disclose:yiyayvygyc,pickup_bu
rden:burdened,!cmdassist,msg_window:reversed,!sparkle,horsename:Rumiko,showrace

"David Damerell" <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

Quoting DavidR <[email hidden]>:

Quoted message said:

"David Damerell" <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I used to take that route. Bad plan. Those lovely country lanes are
filled with the stench of manure half the year - and hence with insect
life -
and in the dark you meet unlikely pieces of agricultural machinery
moving
at a fair clip.

Which direction did you take between Sandford Lane and the A321? Straight
over from Sandford Lane or up to the next junction a couple of 100 yards
in
the Hurst direction?

I've tried both routes; both had the same problems. To be fair, I'd be
less worried about the dark now I have a SON and decent headlight.

I quickly adopted the southern route as the quieter one. Mind, I only only
rode during BST.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Sandford Lane is also prone to flooding in wet weather.
Bottom-of-the-panniers flooding, I mean.

Not a show stopper for most of the year... or maybe even for most years.

One trip through two feet of water was sufficient for me to switch to the
A329.

Maybe you encountered the wash from a colleague's 4x4 (he did mention a
damp cyclist once). He was worried that with the exhaust under water the
engine would stall if he slowed down...

I took that route today and it's quite pleasant indeed. 19km door to
door in about 1hour with only a few potential dodgy spots (read:
dangerous junctions). The only problem is that most of the last
section is unlit and would require an upgrade to my current lighting
system :-)

As for the flooding issue down the lane - there is a sign saying it's
liable to flood but it doesn't look like it would be that much of a
problem. Besides, i'd probably take the car if it was raining that
hard !

Thanks for the suggestion.

Ian.

Ian said:

DavidR said:

"Ian" <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

I'm starting a new job in Bracknell and I was wondering if anyone has
any experience cycling down the A329 from Reading center ? Will I
survive in the traffic or does it all go down the A329(M) ?

You could consider going through Woodley to the air museum, with a track
across to Sandford Lane, alomg country lanes to the A321, & then Forest
Road to Binfield.

That does look quite a pleasant route - I'll give it a test on the
weekend and see if it's do-able for a daily cycle.

"Ian" <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

I took that route today and it's quite pleasant indeed. 19km door to
door in about 1hour with only a few potential dodgy spots (read:
dangerous junctions). The only problem is that most of the last
section is unlit and would require an upgrade to my current lighting
system :-)

Certainly Forest Road requires decent lighting so the ditch can be seen
against oncoming headlamps

Quoted message said:

Thanks for the suggestion.

You're welcome.