Having lived in four different places in the last few years
I've had to find new places to ride fairly regularly. You
can't beat an OS map of the area and the willingness to go
explore places that look promising.
I look for green bits - especially if they have the purple
outline of Forestry Commission land, they often contain well
maintained and interesting tracks to ride on - contour
lines, car parks in the middle of nowhere and bridleways.
Looking at the OS map of Oxford, the random car park appears
to be next to the Farmoor reservoir to the west, which looks
flat (not too surprising) but a nice length for an evening
lap assuming the path is decent enough.
Just to the north of that are the contours, at Wytham Hill.
The map doesn't show any paths other than a fireroad or
something through the middle, but it looks worth a peek.
East and out a bit from Oxford there's some Foresty
Commission land; one bit is called "Drunkard's Corner",
which must be worth a visit if only to get a photo of
the signpost!
Slightly south of the city is Bagley Wood, which looks
smaller but has a few tracks marked that makes it look a
possibility.
These places may turn out to be rubbish, but you might find
somewhere better while trying them out. I've done that a few
times; spending an afternoon riding somewhere really boring
and featureless only to find a downhill track or something
on the other side of the car park. Seek and ye shall find,
as it were.
As for safety equipment... I generally stick to a helmet and
some light fingerless gloves for muni. I only use any more
if I'm riding somewhere really extreme; normally I find the
extra hassle, sweat, chafing and general inconvenience isn't
worth the bother.
Phil
--
phil - ex-studenty type
"Cattle Prods solve most of life's little problems."
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