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@clubman
Although this thread was not related to the Icknield Way, a subject on which I am no expert, I’ll respond for two reasons.
First, it gives me a chance to mention again that my clubmate, Rob Gilmour, the hero of the 2008 post above, is still defying his advancing years: see my post about this year’s Hounslow Open 25 ( #4933 in the TT thread.)
Second, I always like an opportunity to advocate the use of maps as opposed to electronic devices.
You are quite right to say that the Rapha write up is sparse on detailed information, but this is perhaps understandable when it is realised that the Icknield Way, like many ancient things, is a bit of a vague concept. In the section of O.S. map below you will see that there are at least two ‘Icknields’ – Upper and Lower. However there is also the Ridgeway Path, at this point running along the lower slopes of the Chiltern escarpment, and I suspect that this too may qualify as the ancient road.
So, I’m afraid the answer is to look at all the O.S. sheets (1:50,000 scale) between the start and finish points, and then decide which version you want to use.
I believe that although satnavs may be good at telling you how to get to somewhere you already know about, they are useless when it comes to telling you where you want to go. A small amount of experience with good maps will teach you to recognise roads that look interesting to ride on, and this principle should be applicable to the Icknield Way.
I don’t know much of the route, but I have been along some of the Ridgeway Path in the area between Watlington and Chinnor. It struck me that it looked like the road described in Lord of the Rings when Gandalf’s party are approaching the inn at Bree, and since Tolkien spent much of his life in nearby Oxford this may not be fantasy.
It sounds a great project – get the maps!
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