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Sociable leisure rides for enthusiastic cyclists

Ride Reports

11TuesdayFEBRUARY

Humble Bumble Brize Norton

 70 km  334 m  02:49  x4
Ride Category
I suppose this was one of the better weather days for a while. Although it was grey, quite cold and there was plenty of standing water, at least it wasn't windy and it didn't rain.

To cheer ourselves up we blasted along to Brize Norton at a decent lick. It was fun. Arriving hungry at the Humble Bumble cafe we were a bit deflated to find that pasties had completely run out and sausage roll stocks were dangerously low. I used my advanced cafe skills to snag the last traditional sausage roll while others had to make do with a dodgy marmite contaminated version.

Just as we were leaving Louise turned up after having missed us at the start. She ordered coffee and then gave us permission to go on without her, which we mercilessly did.

The last leg was going to smoothly so I introduced an element of jeopardy with a slow puncture. The tension within the group was palpable as I attempted to nurse it home with just a blast from the CO2 cylinder and unweighting of the rear wheel. I made it!!
9SundayFEBRUARY

Grits and pancakes for breakfast

 68 km  196 m  02:45  x6
Ride Category
Great turnout for a cold and damp February morning.
The route was defensive - taking gritted main roads after the ride leader's encounter with black ice on the preceding Wednesday. Up the A338 and along the A415. Yes, there was traffic but it was well behaved, as were we, splitting into two groups most of the way.
We turned onto the quieter B4449 for the run in to Eynsham. The ride leader was sweeping on our approach and the rider at the front, an experienced ride leader as it happens, pressed on towards the Swinford Toll Bridge. Faced with this 'mutiny' there was a pragmatic change of plan and we breakfasted at Farmoor Sailing Club. No grits or pancakes but an acceptable choice next to an almost empty reservoir.
The return ride was uneventful.
4TuesdayFEBRUARY

Tuesday Morning Ride - Stanford in the Vale

 51 km  286 m  02:12  x7  x2
Ride Category
A surprise guest appearance from John G (not normally sighted before March, but induced to come out by the mild temperature), who rode with us as far as the coffee stop at Stanford in the Vale, swelled the group to seven. The strong SSW wind flattered our progress out Kingston Bagpuize and gave us a hard time on the return leg, particularly up the hill from Childrey. An enjoyable ride despite lots of quite deep potholes which, happily, were all safely negotiated.

Nice to see Larry briefly, out riding again!
2SundayFEBRUARY

All-day Ride to Marlborough

 80 km  1100 m  03:50  x4  x3
Ride Category
What a beautiful spring-like day to take on this challenging hilly route. The sun was shining, snowdrops were blooming and Marlborough was buzzing. The riding was great and our brunch at The Food Gallery on Marlborough High Street hit the spot. In fact Libby's sausage sandwich was so huge that I imagine it was the consequent overloading from this that caused her freehub to give out. Thankfully she was just about able to nurse it back to Wantage under reduced power.
28TuesdayJANUARY

Tuesday Morning Ride

 61 km  324 m  02:44  x3  x2
Ride Category
Well another blustery rainy day saw 3 riders turnout. The ride down to Farmoor Reservoir was assisted by a brisk tail wind. A diversion was required at West Hanney due to flooding. Louis left us just before the coffee stop at the Sailing Club café. Fortunately, we were safely enjoying a coffee when the torrential rain came down. The ride back was less enjoyable, facing a strong head wind, with spells of heavy rain. We made it back to Wantage and thankfully the rain had stopped, Phil and I were both relieved the ride was over, but on balance felt it was worth going out – I think!!
26SundayJANUARY

Welcome Ride - Hightail to Highworth (see update)

 42 km  368 m  01:49  x3
Ride Category
A very unpromising morning for weather, but great to see two other nutters, Phil and Richard, game for a shortened ride. The strong wind pushed us rather quickly to Faringdon, via Fernham Road. At the T junction with the A420 there are currently 3-way traffic lights at roadworks for addition of a cycle/pedestrian crossing with central refuge - a very welcome addition!

As our usual cafe in the centre of Faringdon was closed/not yet open we snatched a quick coffee in Costa and checked the weather forecast. With rain still forecast to hit at 1030, and the wind freshening we re-traced our route to Fernham. In fact we were close to Uffington when the first drops started to fall, and the rain was quite heavy as we got to the Springline road. The last stretch back to Wantage proved quite challenging in the Strong Southerly cross wind, where we went our separate ways. Thanks guys - good to fit in a ride on a morning like that!
21TuesdayJANUARY

Cinnamon Bun Ride - Tuesday 21 Jan 25

 53 km  252 m  02:12  x6
Ride Category
A cold but sunny day encouraged six riders out, including Louis after his long holiday in Cuba. The ride got off to a bit of stuttered start, and at one point we lost Louis, who was experiencing some technical problems with his Wahoo. We all re-convened on the Denchworth Road and we made good time to Blake’s in Clanfield. It was a full round of cinnamon buns, with the exception of Pete who went for the apple and maple syrup cake, which by all accounts was excellent. The route back took us around Farringdon and onto Stanford-in-the-Vale and Denchworth. Louise did a loop back via Charney Bassett before heading home. An enjoyable morning ride at a good overall pace.
19SundayJANUARY

Away Ride - Islip to Quainton

 69 km  638 m  03:11  x5  x4
Ride Category
As I got out of the car in Islip I did question for a moment just why exactly I was there on this cold grey day. But, as is often the case, it only took a few minutes for the six riders to warm up and start to enjoy the ride.
This ride was packed to the gunnels with exciting points of interest, historical, geographical, meteorological, mechanical, philosophical and gastronomical. It would take to long to describe in full the sheer range and depth of pleasure we experienced on this ride today. You just had to be there.
14TuesdayJANUARY

Tuesday Morning Ride - Lambourn Valley

 61 km  608 m  02:40  x5  x1
Ride Category
At last some warmer weather! Louise joined four of us at the top of Court Hill for what seemed (to me at least) quite a tough ride - we omitted the extra deviation down to Uffington on the way back. We had a nice spot by the window in Goodies for our coffee stop before four of us set off up to Ashbury with a bit of sun appearing, while Louise headed back to Stanford. Phil and Peter narrowly avoided a collision with a red kite on the Springline road, where Simon P was briefly sighted and passed.
12SundayJANUARY

RIDE CANCELLED Morning Ride - Lambourn Valley

Ride Category