Author Topic: A bridge I cycled over... (Read 9523 times)

andyoxon · « **on:** 06 June, 2020, 02:35:10 pm »

So I thought the Curly-Wurly bridge over the M4 on NCN45 between Chiseldon & Swindon, deserved a bit of a mention for starters. Not exactly elegant, but kind of fun, with the two turn spiral on the North side. Been over it a few times, but know nothing about how old it is, and whether there are any other examples. Anyone?

Lead up to, on south side. Rather good section of the NCN45:

IMG_20200605_1 by a oxon, on Flickr

IMG_20200605_2 by a oxon, on Flickr

IMG_20200605_3 by a oxon, on Flickr

IMG_20200605_4 by a oxon, on Flickr

orienteer · « **Reply #1 on:** 06 June, 2020, 03:11:22 pm »

J9 to J15 of the M4 was completed in 1971, so the bridge is probably the same age.

Most such bridges I've used have zig-zag approaches rather than spirals. Tend to avoid them on the tandem!

Cudzoziemiec · « **Reply #2 on:** 06 June, 2020, 03:26:04 pm »

I've noticed that bridge from the motorway so it's interesting to see it from the other side.

hellymedic · « **Reply #3 on:** 06 June, 2020, 07:10:11 pm »

This bridge https://www.google.com/maps/@51.5808845,-0.2115591,3a,75y,245.22h,94.27t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sRRl37GmCWosbjS0DVnhM-w!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo1.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DRRl37GmCWosbjS0DVnhM-w%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D283.4997%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i13312!8i6656 over the A406, at the junction of the A502 was built circa 1980 after the death of my father's friend, a local resident pedestrian aged around 60, crossing the A406 one Friday night. The widow campaigned hard for a footbridge and two houses were demolished to allow its construction.

It is one tenth of a mile to use the footbridge and this is around eight times the width of the carriageway.

A classmate of my sister's complained bitterly about dragging her buggy up those ramps, but was widowed at 26 when her husband walked across the carriageway one Friday night. He was related to the first victim.

andytheflyer · « **Reply #4 on:** 07 June, 2020, 08:12:06 pm »

I don't have photos, since I was earnestly engaged on the Legend of Gelert Audax on those occasions and had other things on my mind, but the cycle/pedestrian bridges that carry the cycleway along the N Wales coastline, in and out, over and under the A55 Expressway at Penmaenmawr and Llanfairfechan are pretty spectacular and devious. And steep in places. It would have taken a Machiavellian mind to work out the route.

T42 · « **Reply #5 on:** 24 March, 2022, 03:16:39 pm »

Electric Cow and clavicle-eating bridge:

Hit a well-camouflaged post in the middle of the path here in 2002. Bent it, crashed, broke collar-bone. A few weeks later all the posts on the path disappeared for around 10k either side. Collar-bone still here.

sg37409 · « **Reply #6 on:** 20 April, 2024, 11:54:58 pm »

Kim · « **Reply #7 on:** 21 April, 2024, 12:49:09 am »

I suppose this thread needs this video...

https://youtu.be/f48-J1Vl4Lo

★☆☆☆☆ Not recommended for bikes.

Cudzoziemiec · « **Reply #8 on:** 23 April, 2024, 10:17:20 am »

Is that a greeting for Southend-on-Sea's baggeriest cyclist?

bikepacker · « **Reply #9 on:** 23 April, 2024, 11:46:08 am »

When I lived near Oswestry I regularly cycled the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct it has to be one of the scariest bridge rides. The first time was a real nervy ride following a guy who used it to ride to and from work. After a few times I got quite used to it. Everyone should pay it a visit well worth the trip.

andytheflyer · « **Reply #10 on:** 23 April, 2024, 12:54:17 pm »

Quote from: bikepacker on 23 April, 2024, 11:46:08 am

When I lived near Oswestry I regularly cycled the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct it has to be one of the scariest bridge rides.

I have enough difficulty walking over it!!

Little Jim · « **Reply #11 on:** 23 April, 2024, 01:09:49 pm »

Quote from: andyoxon on 06 June, 2020, 02:35:10 pm

So I thought the Curly-Wurly bridge over the M4 on NCN45 between Chiseldon & Swindon, deserved a bit of a mention for starters. Not exactly elegant, but kind of fun, with the two turn spiral on the North side. Been over it a few times, but know nothing about how old it is, and whether there are any other examples. Anyone?

There is another one of those curly bridges on the M4 just west of Junction 12 at Reading. We also rode down one in Vienna last year that had possibly 3 turns in it! Would have been even better (faster!) if it did not have pedestrians on it as well.

andyoxon · « **Reply #12 on:** 23 April, 2024, 03:43:36 pm »

The curly wurly near Reading jnct 12 M4, doesn't seem to be a cycle route, footpath only.

Little Jim · « **Reply #13 on:** 23 April, 2024, 04:10:13 pm »

Yes, it is only a footpath looking at the OS map, and I have never been over the bridge either so I do not know what the path is like on the north side of the motorway. You can drive to the south side as there are some industrial units there.

Feanor · « **Reply #14 on:** 23 April, 2024, 04:23:30 pm »

I seem to remember that there are clever curly-wurly bridges over canals ('turnover bridge'), so that the 'orse can go from the towpath on one side to t'other without having to un-hitch...

Cudzoziemiec · « **Reply #15 on:** 23 April, 2024, 04:55:03 pm »

Also at some international borders where traffic changes from driving on the left to driving on the right, and vice versa, eg Hong Kong-China and Suriname-Brazil.

cycleman · « **Reply #16 on:** 23 April, 2024, 06:19:38 pm »

Quote from: bikepacker on 23 April, 2024, 11:46:08 am

When I lived near Oswestry I regularly cycled the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct it has to be one of the scariest bridge rides. The first time was a real nervy ride following a guy who used it to ride to and from work. After a few times I got quite used to it. Everyone should pay it a visit well worth the trip.

I rode the trice adventure over it then bivvied up a gated lane a few miles away

IanDG · « **Reply #17 on:** 23 April, 2024, 07:53:24 pm »

Scalpay Bridge

IMG_2541 by ian, on Flickr

andyoxon · « **Reply #18 on:** 24 April, 2024, 09:51:36 am »

Views aren't bad from Scalpay bridge...

Flite · « **Reply #19 on:** 24 April, 2024, 12:16:35 pm »

I do like your winged wheel CTC badge.
Are they available anywhere?

Morat · « **Reply #20 on:** 05 June, 2024, 05:46:01 pm »

Quote from: Feanor on 23 April, 2024, 04:23:30 pm

I seem to remember that there are clever curly-wurly bridges over canals ('turnover bridge'), so that the 'orse can go from the towpath on one side to t'other without having to un-hitch...

There are, I find them fascinating - especially when they still have the angle iron on the sharp masonry corners that protected the bridge from the ropes. Presumably they would have been replaced when needed but many still show the grooves worn by years of horse drawn canal boats.

bobb · « **Reply #21 on:** 10 June, 2024, 08:52:26 pm »

Quote from: Kim on 21 April, 2024, 12:49:09 am

I suppose this thread needs this video...

https://youtu.be/f48-J1Vl4Lo

★☆☆☆☆ Not recommended for bikes.

At least there's a ramp! The below is on NCN1* would you believe. An absolute nightmare. Notice the incredibly useful channel on the left hand side for wheeling your bike:

*Apparently there is an alternative route, but I never saw the signs for it...

IanDG · « **Reply #22 on:** 11 June, 2024, 07:12:33 am »

Quote from: Flite on 24 April, 2024, 12:16:35 pm

I do like your winged wheel CTC badge.
Are they available anywhere?

It's a 25 years membership badge from before they became Cycling UK - so probably not. CUK seem to have stopped producing the CTC heritage badges and patches

Flite · « **Reply #23 on:** 11 June, 2024, 12:54:53 pm »

I think I have clocked up about 25 years with CTC/CUK, but I suppose cloth badges are not trendy enough these days.
And how many young people would be able to sew on a cloth badge?

Cudzoziemiec · « **Reply #24 on:** 12 June, 2024, 08:05:08 pm »

I'd like a cloth winged wheel badge, and I might "qualify" for one as I first joined in 1986 – but I certainly haven't been a non-stop member (and I have a small pile of other badges waiting to be sewn onto something suitable, so I probably couldn't be bothered, even if I'm able!)