Trail Information - The Thames Path, Whitchurch to Goring

Start of trail: Streetmap Link
End of trail: Streetmap Link
Difficulty: 2/5 (steps... 5/5!)
Fun rating: High
Speed: High
Length: Approx 1.5 miles
Winter conditions: Mostly good
Notes: Can be very crowded

While rarely particularly steep, this is arguably the pick of the trails in the Reading/Goring/Nettlebed triangle containing most of the good riding in this area. It is great fun for experienced and novice riders alike.

This trail REALLY needs to be ridden from East to West, starting at the end of a nondescript lane just north of Whitchurch, and ending, at river level near Goring station. The lane is a bit of a false-flat slog on good tarmac... nothing too interesting here. Suddenly, though, the lane ends with a sign saying "DANGER - STEPS".

These aren't normal steps. Alex Leigh of the Chilterns 1XV mountain bike club took this great photo of club member Andy Hooper riding down:


With a depth of over a foot in some cases, and an awkward pitch that drops both wheels at once on some occasions, they are a good challenge to ride down, especially on a hardtail. When riding solo, I tend to opt for the walk! They are steep and there are some solid things to land on.

Once the steps have been ridden down, there is a short singletrack section before more of those steps, upwards this time. I've seen plenty of people ride down (I've done it myself on a number of occasions, which is pretty brave by my standards... they really are steeper than the photo implies), but I've never seen anyone climb them without dabbing, even with a few possibilities for going around the edges.

The fun starts now. A brief, straight, wide bit of trail arrives at the edge of the woods here. A dropping zig-zag (a bit muddy here at times, but it's an exception) ends in a left curve that brings the rider to the start of the best section of trail... a hardpacked, swooping blast that rollercoasters from high above the River Thames, cut into the side of a steep valley, finally spitting out into a somewhat mudder flat trail to Gatehampton Manor. The more speed you can find, the more fun it is (and the more you'll be able to roll up the few sharp climbs on the way, which rise up briefly to offer more fun on the other side).

This trail is great fun, and the best bits stay in good condition all year round. A word of warning, though: as part of the Thames Path it is very busy at times. Early Sunday afternoons in summer are worth avoiding - the fun is in the speed, and though you usually have a clear view ahead with little in the way of blind corners, the trail isn't half as much fun if you're stopping frequently.

I'll add some more photos to this writeup when I get some. Here are some links to other peoples pages with photos...

The view from the top of the steps, from the excellent Tracklogs online shop.
A walking site's picture of part of the fast section. The point where the trail dips out of sight is a jumpable compression... great fun.

Oh, one more thing. Twice now I have had big punctures on the quick section of this trail, from small sharp flints on the hardpacked trail. I've ridden it scores of times without problems but it's something to keep an eye on.


Addendum

I've just found a photo which gives a far more accurate appraisal of most of our various club attempts at the steps...