After a cloudy and dull start it turned out to be one of those crisp but sunny autumn days just made for cycling. Hampshire was resplendent in golden colours and the route is a belter. The Yard at Chilton Candover provided a welcome early coffee stop and is a great place, very popular with many other cyclists coming and going. A great ride through some stunning scenery at its best at this time of year.

Due to the number of riders, we deliberately split into two groups as we left the marketplace and made our way out of town. Then, along the way, we reformed and split up again several times as the conditions dictated. Seemed to work pretty well on the whole I thought.

Given the group size we decided to give the small cafes in Lechlade a miss and ride on to the larger Blakes at Coleshill. This might have backfired given that even at Blakes most of the inside tables were occupied. Fortunately the sun burst through the clouds just as we arrived and made it very pleasant to sit in the courtyard. Many cinnamon buns and a few other cakes were consumed.

Five of us enjoyed a pint and more patter in the the Fred's Head after the ride.

A beautiful day.

Still mild, still dry but also still cloudy although the cloud seemed to be breaking up by the time we reached Lambourn on our return. Nice, sociable ride, particularly pleasant through the quiet lanes between Marsh Benham and Membury - the beech trees were at their autumnal best. Our timing at Hungerford, arriving just before 2 minute silence at 1100 was ideal and everyone was happy with the Tutti Pole snack options. Good collective effort on one of our hillier rides.

An experimental route:
- Do we split into small groups to allow cars to pass? Yes!
- Do we use cycle paths when available? Most of us much of the time.
- Do we sit far enough away from the log fire in the Snug and not get roasted? Mostly.
- Does the route planner take us on paths suitable for bicycles? No - fortunately there were no pedestrians and the surface was dry.
- Can we navigate the cycle paths in Didcot successfully? 8 out of 9.
- Can we all arrive back together in Wantage? No, 7 out of 10.
- Did we miss the kitchen at The Snug? No - fabulous cake selection.

And as a bonus, Richard was in The Snug showing us the shiny blue cast for his fractured wrist.

Decent conditions for this time of year tempted out a good number of riders to the start line. Nine started out from Wantage but we had three deserters at various points along the way, for a variety of legit personal reasons.

The route took us through the northern suburbs of Oxford, making good use of the decent cycle paths in that area. We made good time out to The Old Flight House which is a quirky antique centre. The cafe there was on balance a hit, especially the bacon & egg butties, although some thought that the coffee could be stronger.

I very pleasant and sociable ride I though, using some roads I have never ridden before and a new to us cafe too. Three of us topped it off with a cheeky post-ride pint in the blue Boar.

The weather fluctuated between warm sunshine, overcast and a light drizzle and a good turnout of seven again for a Tuesday ride. Time at the Forge at Aldbourne provided good cakes, scones and coffee next to the village library. Nothing in particular to report but a nice, sociable ride with a post-ride drink at KAH for four of us.

Report by Nick (Richard injured!)

Another mild and pleasant autumnal morning. Despite the hour change I was somewhat late joining the ride, catching the others (less Pam who waited for me) at the T junction out of Denchworth. At this point Richard and Louise were down on the ground, victims of a slippery patch on the road, probably a greasy patch of mud on an unusually (for Oxfordshire!) smooth piece of tarmac. They were quickly up and we thought without serious injury or bike damage - however Louise soon left the ride with handlebars twisted out of position. Richard soldiered on and finished the ride but was clearly having some pain from his wrist.

We found a comfortable corner in Lynwoods at Bampton. The ride back to Wantage was uneventful.

After the ride Richard went to get his wrist checked out at the Minor Injury Unit (Didcot or Abingdon?) where a fracture was confirmed. Wishing him a quick recovery!

It was a numbers game today with double digits temperature (Centigrade) in sunshine
It was also double digits riders (at times)
- seven started from the market place
- three joined the ride at Sparsholt Firs
- five took more direct routes home
- five returned to the market place
Thanks for the company - it was great

Another good turnout on a misty but mild morning for a relaxed, sociable ride. We split into two groups on the busier roads and I can't remember any close passes! After the usual multitude of sweet and savoury options Chez Java in Abingdon we headed back via Peep O'Day Lane and Steventon Hill. Richard dropped off at West Hendred and three chose to brave the A417 while the remaining quartet followed the wiggles through Ginge and Ardington. Four enjoyed a drink in the KAH. Special thanks to Richard for sweeping throughout.