Despite the obvious lack of mountainous terrain around Oxford there are nonetheless good areas locally and within short car/train journeys to cater for all riders.

Shotover Country Park

Shotover Country Park is located 2 miles due east of the city centre just beyond Headington and offers some off-road riding for everyone within a short ride of the city centre. Its location makes it ideal for a quick evening blast and there are regular OUCC evening rides during Trinity term.  Please be aware that certain areas are dedicated footpaths, while wide cycling paths are way-marked with a light-blue colour. Shotover is a fairly large area of mainly woodland riding, which is criss-crossed with lots of short but fun sections of singletrack, which can be difficult to find (OUCC members know and incorporate these into their rides, so coming on a group ride is a good means of learning one's way around Shotover). The area is located on a hillside so there are plenty of ups and downs, and the trails remain comparatively dry year-round and only really become muddy in the depths of winter. Shotover also includes a fun, albeit small, mountain bike play area at it's eastern edge, containing jumps and berms.

Although South Parks is technically 'No bikes allowed' there are very nice stretches of singletrack running through the trees on each side of the park which are great fun as an alternative to the road when heading to or from Shotover.

The towpath along the Thames, as well as the Oxford Canal (starting on Hythe Bridge street ) provide easy off-road routes for getting out into the countryside or making out-and-back routes.

The area around Long Hanborough, about 35 minutes ride north-west of Oxford (or a train to Hanborough station) is well worth visiting for the cross-country loops which can be made using the bridleways to link up the good woodland singletracks on either side of the Evenlode valley. The real gem here is Pinsley Wood, which contains a 9-minute loop of fast woodland singletrack winding through the trees.

Chiltern Hills

The Chiltern hills are only a quick train journey south of Oxford and provide a huge wealth of riding and possibilities for OUCC weekend rides. There is good riding around nearby Goring. Checkendon is only a short ride away too where excellent permanent cross country and downhill courses are maintained by the Reading All Terrain MTB Club (RATz) which regularly play host to SAMS and National Points Series races.

Swinley Forest

Swinley Forest in Bracknell , which is a regular venue for the excellent Gorrick races, is a popular venue for OUCC rides because of the very large network of good well-drained singletrack, which tends to remain dry all year. The area is only an hour's drive from Oxford (trains are available too) and is well worth the trip. The trails can best be described as twisty and flowing and the best trails such as the legendary 'Sidewinder' can be found in the area around Surrey Hill and 'The Wall'.

Aston Hill

The excellent Aston Hill near Wendover has been justifiably called the 'South's premier mountain bike location' and regularly plays host to SAMS and NPS cross country and downhill races. Aston Hill is only about a 28-mile drive north east of Oxford. The 100-acre area of woodland contains two technical permanent downhill courses, a duel course and a 4.5 mile cross country course which is the favourite course in the country of many riders due to the high proportion of singletrack, as well as numerous other trails. All the courses provide fairly challenging riding with plenty of roots, twists, switchbacks and steep sections to keep riders happy. The riding at Aston Hill is for members only but day passes can be bought at the site for £4