Wantage to Eynsham...very wet, chilly and grim!
Lyall's coffee shop...lovely and warm, nice coffee and cake. Didn't stay long enough to dry out the gloves unfortunately!
Eynsham to Wantage...not quite so wet, multiple puncture repairs and still pretty grim!
Feel better for getting out...a little!!

It was easy northwards to Charney but we then turned into the fierce southwesterly all the way to the Baking Bee at Ashbury where the staff were struggling with a new point of sale system.
The cross tail wind on the springline road required our full concentration. Fortunately, West Dragon Hill was sheltered and we enjoyed mince pies, mulled wine and renewed acquaintances with local cyclists in the White Horse car park.
We crested the hill in the wind and returned to Wantage where a number of us enjoyed a meal at Alfie’s.

The forecast of heavy rain and strong winds restricted numbers to just the three of us. As it turned out, there was almost no rain and the southerly wind, whilst still strong, had abated.
We knocked off the only hill of the day - up to Challow Cricket Club - and soon enjoyed the tail wind as it blew us to Southmoor. It was great to see Nick Dunton: as ever, his flapjacks were excellent and the conversation flowed.
We were well fortified as we headed into the slightly less favourable winds on our return to Wantage.

Surprised, and of course delighted, to see two riders appear on a really damp and dark morning. But plenty of hills on this route out and back from Hamstead Norreys cafe to keep us warm and the heavy rain didn't really appear until the final descent into Wantage.

Well, we were again blessed with another sunny but chilly day. Six of us gathered in the Market Place and we set off for a round trip to Lechlade via Southrop. Phil III turned off early as he was testing out he recent bike fit. Refreshments were taken at Lynwood & Co. The slightly shorter trip back to Wantage was uneventful. As forecast the clouds started to gather as we approached home. Overall a very pleasant route, thanks to Phil II, who was originally going to lead but an emergency called him away.

Glorious sunny morning though a little chilly in the shade - the temperature had not quite dipped enough to cause any icy patches Nice coffee stop at Time at the Forge - we were the only customers until just as we were leaving. Arriving back in Wantage the "artisinal market" was in full swing. The shortish hilly route kept us warm and seemed just about the right length for an end of November ride. Thanks everyone for your company.

We enjoyed a gloriously sunny autumnal ride in the Vale today.
The planned ride to Coleshill was amended to take in White Horse Hill and all agreed that the detour was worthwhile. (It's difficult to do justice to the view on camera - at least it is for me.) We each climbed West Dragon Hill at our own pace and were careful on the descent back to the Spring Line Road.
Navigation was also a bit of a challenge for the ride leader. Everyone else on the ride knew that the shortcut at the Watchfield Roundabout was blocked by a fallen tree.
As ever, the cinnamon buns were excellent.

Maybe it was the forecast of rain showers or the strong westerly breeze that deterred riders, but only two appeared. The ride out to Farringdon via Baulking was hard going at times with a brisk westerly wind. Despite that, we were in Farringdon by just after 10:00. We decided to try Sadlers, which was slightly quirky, but had excellent cakes and coffee. The ride home was slightly easier with the some tailwind assistance. Had an unusual encounter with a car going down Sandy Lane, he was particularly impatient sounding his horn wanting to pass, which did not endear himself to Pete and at the junction Pete was verbally abused, despite the driver having a young baby in the front seat. The rest of the ride back to Wantage was uneventful and as it turned out we were too early for drinks at King Alfred’s Head so we made our respective ways home.

Nice bright and dry morning. Five members congregated next to KA, plus Phil, potential new member - welcome Phil. After a few hundred metres Louise dropped out, victim of a mechanical (we think!). The remaining five kept up a good pace - largely to keep warm - out to Aston Pottery, where we enjoyed a sunny spot and quick service. After an early close pass the motorists behaved themselves and so did our bikes. We took a chance on Great Brook and were surprised to find a couple of very minor, passable flooded sections despite the largely dry autumn - it's likely to quickly become impassable after another day of heavy rain. Two of us topped up our caffeine levels post-ride in the new coffee shop. Not much else to say - it was a good, well-disciplined ride.

The cooler weather from the North was certainly evident, which may have explained the lack of riders which gathered in Lambourn, to be precise, only two set off. Phil had ridden over from home so was warmed up and ready for a coffee, no luck, Goodies was not open. We set off and reached the Three Trees Café, but that was not open, it was therefore Mercer’s of Marlborough next stop, that was not before we tackled Hackpen Hill, the second Hackpen Hill Phil had ridden on this ride!! Mercer’s of Marlborough was a welcome break. The ride home, into an ever cooling Northerly breeze, was fortunately less hillier and shorter. As we reached Lambourn the sun started to appear – overall an enjoyable ride.