On a fine day Snelsmore Common is a great place to start a ride, particularly if you get there with sufficient time for a pre-ride coffee and cake. Pete, Louis and Richard turned up for what promised to be a hot day’s activity.

The descent down from Snelsmore to Bagnor was a gentle introduction but followed by the strenuous climb up to Cold Ash, from where rapid progress was made through Upper Buckleberry, Chapel Row and Beenham down to the A4. After a brief stop at Sainsbury in Tadley for picnic provisions we headed off towards Silchester. A loud hissing noise and spray onto my thigh suggested a puncture but happily turned out to be my water bottle relieving pressure from the can of coke decanted into it at Tadley.

We picnicked in the shade of a magnificent oak tree at the South Gate of the boundary wall of Calleva, within sight of the 15th Century church of St Mary. With “picnic legs” we headed off again into the heat, relieved that much of the route had some tree cover. After a quick stop to view the remains of the Roman amphitheatre we worked our way through the quiet lanes of Stratfield Mortimer and Burghfield, down the “alpine” hairpin at Trash Green to Sheffield Bottom. Pete’s suggestion of an ice cream stop at Theale Co-op was unanimously agreed. After crossing the Theale-Pangbourne road a couple of steep little hills and the subsequent pulls up Marlston Road and Arlington Lane seemed quite tough but the descents provided plenty of respite. Arriving back at Snelsmore Common car park at 1445 allowed further consumption of ice creams and cold drinks.

I don’t think we suffered any close passing today; in fact most of the roads were pleasantly quiet. Yes it was hot, but with low humidity, and plenty of sun-screen, it was easily bearable.

Great day out. Thank you for your excellent company!