Just three hard core riders set off in windy conditions.
The initial climb past Challow to the windmill was much easier than the downhill into the fierce headwind to Childrey crossroads! Thereafter, we found a good deal of hedgerow cover as we crisscrossed the vale.
We refuelled at the community cafe in Stamford, which was especially appreciated by the ride leader who had set off under-caffeinated, and pressed on with renewed vigour.

Quite a hard ride on a windy day, particularly later on coming up Seven Barrows. The off-ride track into Marlborough was in much the same state as when I last rode it a few years ago i.e. uncomfortable but not too much risk of punctures, and its flatness and wind cover were very welcome. Mercer's in Marlborough was full of customers but a table for 5 was vacated just as we arrived at The Food Gallery and their hot food, coffees and £1 refills went down well. Louis turned a few heads there with his strip-down but we weren't thrown out! Most of the return ride was wind-assisted. Louis left us at the bottom of the Blowingstone and still no enthusiasm for post-ride refreshment - dry January moves into February!

Conditions were pretty good today, although we had to deal with a firm headwind all the way out to Carterton. The Tuesday team were well up to the task and each of us took some strong turns on the front. As a result, by the time we got to Brize Norton, everyone was hungry for coffee & calories. The Humble Bumble did not disappoint. The flapjacks were all huge but Louis won the day with an absolute monster of a slice. Mine was so big I had to bring 3/4 of it home although, in my defence, I did have a sizable Cornish pasty starter.

After the cafe we turned south and revelled in the tailwind. Passing motorists were seen to gasp and pedestrians were left slack-jawed at our physical prowess as we ruled the roads all the way home.

Well done all!

I was on standby as ride leader as Richard wasn't feeling great in the run-up to Sunday - in the event he felt OK but couldn't make it owing to having all his bikes stolen . Let's hope they return.

Paul, Louis and myself completed the shortish circuit around Didcot. Quite a tough head wind in places so we were glad for a coffee and slice of cake by the time we reached Blewbury.

I intended to finish back at the square but punctured near East Ginge - as predicted by Louis. I decided to cut short and return to base and the others carried onto Wantage.

With grey drizzle, a strong wind and showers forecast I wasn't expecting any takers so I was delighted to see Phil waiting next to the king - then Louis turned up to make three.

With some wind assistance we made rapid progress out to Bampton where I decided to give the Garden Centre a chance to redeem itself for previous misdemeanours. And it did okay with some nice bacon brown baguettes!

The return journey was a bit of a battle with the wind, sometimes a headwind, sometimes a cross wind but we eventually won out and reached Wantage about 1315. On days like this even a short ride feels very rewarding. Thanks guys!

We had mixed fortunes on this ride.

On the plus side we did the whole ride in the dry, got to the cafe before the wind picked up, had a great fry-up and then enjoyed the now building tail wind back to Burghclere - all before the storm hit.

On the down side we had two punctures to deal with and an abrupt unplanned dismount caused by some residual pack-ice. But we dealt effectively with the punctures and the crasher picked themselves up and continued stoikelly on.

On balance I'm calling it a good day out. Everyone agreed this route is a belter and would be great in the summer.

There were 5 riders ready in the market place at 9:56 before 2 LMSs arrived - Last Minute Stokells!
No Cobbs Farm today due to flooding in the Lambourn Valley.
We took it steady past the Cricket Ground and up to Sparsholt Firs warming up slowly.
The five who rode up White Horse certainly got themselves up to effective operating temperature.
As we rode over to Coleshill the weather brightened, but the excellent Blakes was busy so we had to spread out on several tables.
Our return ride, including Badbury and Fawler Hills, was in glorious sunshine.
A lovely January ride!

Five set out from the market square on a bitterly cold day with a fresh Easterly wind. The overnight temperature hadn't dipped low enough for any ice on the road surface, but we made some last minute route changes to avoid the road into Letcombe (still closed by flooding near Brook Barn) and the flooded section of road just East of Stanford. Gradually we warmed up by keeping a good pace which was tough on those sections with a headwind - not a day for relaxed conversation in the peloton. The workers repairing the road at Hatfield let us through the closed section and we were soon heading out of Faringdon with fine views to the North of the sunlit countryside.

Carpenter's Canteen was almost full but fortunately a table was liberated for us just as we placed our orders. Blake's seemed to do a very efficient job of taking and delivering our orders. After a 40 minute thaw out we resumed the ride. Richard peeled off at Baulking for an appointment with an electrician and the remaining four climbed up to Kingston Lisle and back to Wantage via the Springline road.

Good to get out on a bright Winter's day but we're all looking forward to some improvement in the mercury.

A chilly, but DRY day for cycling. Well, dry in that nothing was falling from the sky. We set off out towards Letcombe and it was not long before we encountered a “Closed” road sign. A slight diversion was required, and we were soon back on track. Halfway up Hackpen a driver coming the other way informed us that there was flooding on the Wantage to Lambourn Road – a decision was made to go down Sheepdrove to try and avoid as much of the floods and give some possible other options. We arrived in Lambourn and didn’t encounter any significant floods. The remainder of the route to Hungerford was clear and we arrived at the very quiet, but warm Tutti Pole café. Everyone thawed out and we enjoyed an excellent brunch. Having warmed up we set off again and worked our way to Wickham. At the original turning point off the B4000 we were created by “POLICE SLOW” sign, and not far down the road there were 3 or 4 police cars and ambulance. It was clear were not going to be allowed down, so we doubled back and took another route via Easton and onto Boxford. As we headed North Easterly, we hit the cold head wind, which we had most of way back to Wantage. The remainder of the ride was uneventful apart from encountering a lot of wildlife, including a stag deer that ran across the road about 2 metres in front of us. By the time we were back in Wantage everyone was ready for a hot shower. Thank you everyone for an enjoyable if eventful ride.

Well it was dry today and five members turned up at 10am under Alfie's statue in the Market Place. We had a nice chat with Pam who was passing through while running errands before four of us set off.

The ride along the spring line road was much drier than on Tuesday; Bodyhorse Hill was just as demanding and Three Trees Cafe was as busy but able to accommodate us.

The key decision for our return was whether we would follow the planned route into the Vale. We did as far as the Goosey turn off the A417. None of us fancied the submerged road from Denchworth to Grove so we switched our route to go to Challow Station and then back to Wantage via Childrey.