Windy days make for tough rides, and this was definitely one of those! With 20 mph winds forecast I was prepared to make a few route changes but the only one we made was to head out through Grove and Denchworth to avoid the traffic on the A417. We did experience some attrition though; Joy started the ride but decided to turn back at Grove when an old puncture repair failed, and Paul had to head back at Ashbury to drive down to Cornwall.

The strong and warm SSW wind was against us on the sections from Fernham through to Upper Lambourn but the traffic was light and the wind never seemed intimidating. It became a tailwind at Great Shefford which swept us swiftly back to Wantage. This was not a ride for conversation as we were mostly in single file, except at the much-needed refreshment stop at Lambourn and at the KAH beer garden where depleted liquid levels were topped up.