Another foggy day but not too cold nor windy for the four riders. After a steady start Pete succumbed to a puncture outside the Culham Site - an early chance to test out Nick's new electric pump.

An early stop at Mill View Garden Centre at Wheatley was programmed in, taking account of their 1130 cut-off for breakfasts. A nice hot breakfast would have gone down well but the place was closed (cue rant over unadvertised Xmas closures). So we pressed on into Oxford making use of the cycle paths through Marston and past The Parks to George Street where the Xmas market was in full swing with various food opportunities. Preferring a warm place to sit down to an alfresco lunch we found a table by the window in the Artisan Cafe on St Aldates, which provided decent breakfast baps at a reasonable price, but (for future reference) does not have customer toilets).

We took the Thames cyclepath Westwards out of Oxford from Folly Bridge but noted that the Grandpont cycle/pedestrian bridge is now (finally) open. After the climb up Cumnor Hill only the familiar route back to Wantage remained but this was interrupted by another puncture, Nick's this time, close to Denchworth. The repair was aided by the new pump and some gratuitous profanities (sorry for those!). Thank you guys - a good outing for the time of year!

Was it the carrot of a drink in the pub after the ride or the need for some exercise prior to the Christmas meal that enticed out seven riders on a very gloomy Christmas eve!! The ride was very straightforward with a few unplanned deviations, which included going down the new link road. The majority of the group used the very wide and smooth cycle way, a couple, who will remain unnamed, took it as an invitation to do a time trial!! We made it back to Wantage just before 12:00, surprisingly the majority of the group opted for a coffee at Marmalade as opposed to a drink at KAH, I think everyone wanted to pace themselves for their alcohol intake!! It was great to get out before the Christmas holiday and in the main a well disciplined riding group!!

Happy Christmas and hopefully see most of you in the New Year.

The low temperature and a strong westerly wind made for biting conditions today. To begin with we were all feeling it but, after some charitable redistribution of spare thermal clothing, with the help of clear blue skies and some steady pedalling, we soon warmed up nicely.

Entertainment was provided by the blindly reversing car driver of Shrivenham and the subsequent impressive display of obscenities this provoked from within our ranks. This was so severe and so unexpected that the blushing it caused kept me extra warm all the way to the cafe.

The recently re-opened Baking Bee Cafe at Ashbury is now a first class stop. Top notch bacon butties, cakes and coffee. Cosy in there too. Back out on the road but now with a strong tailwind, the last leg was a doddle. Post-ride drinks and dubious Christmas tunes were enjoyed in the Alfred's Head.

After the recent grim weather this felt like a lucky bonus ride!

(4 riders +1 mystery rider).

Nick filling in for Richard, out with a cold!

A rare December appearance from John and Paul brought the group up to five, with a few of the Tuesday regulars not available. We took a few liberties with Richard's route, seizing the chance to try out the new link road, King Alfred's Way I believe, across to Mably Way and taking the more direct route through Kingston Bagpuize. KAW seemed pretty good - I used the smooth and very generous width cycle path, while the others kept to the road. Very few other users of this long-awaited new infrastructure at this time.

After a few recent rides in calm weather the fresh wind made itself evident particularly on the Northward return route from Bampton. It was however rather mild so no issues with cold digits or toes.

Aston Pottery was only moderately busy for this time of year which was a pleasant surprise. Thanks to Richard for providing the route - a short , flat ride felt about right today.

A post-ride Christmas beer was enjoyed by three of us.

A mild day for mid-December and a hilly ride so we quickly warmed up and made good progress until Phil's puncture 1 mile short of our stop at Great Bedwyn. Pete made friends with a pony while four of us provided Phil with occasional help and the odd tool. Despite the delay we arrived at Wendy's Cafe well ahead of takers of their roast dinner offering and enjoyed some rather good Christmas cake and some rather large flapjacks. Once Pete had extricated himself from the clutches of the pet octopus we headed back via Froxfield and Lambourn. Good outing!

Five riders managed to maintain our enthusiasm even in the face off the windy, cold and dull conditions. At least there was no rain.
The cafe at Hampstead Norreys was great as always. A warm welcome and excellent service from the middle class ladies of a certain age who work there. The Christmas cake is deserving of a special mention; so tasty, big, fruity and moist that it would have got Gregg Wallace into big trouble no doubt . Here's a photo of me doing an impression of the said man of the moment.
All round, jolly good day out.

The tail end of Storm Darragh didn't stop us getting across to White Horse Hill for the annual mince pie and mulled wine event in aid of Whizz Kidz. Well done to the organisers for serving up seasonal fare in the face of a ferocious north wind.

A slightly later start and a tweaked route saw us getting to the top of White Horse hill nicely on time for pie-off. The ride across was actually fine with dry roads and a bit of brightness. A pleasant time was had chatting to old friends until cold forced us back on the bikes and a direct route back to Wantage.

Joined by Phil and Jez, we moved onto the Corallian Christmas lunch at Wildwoods where a lot of pizza was eaten. Thanks to Pete for organising!

For a slightly chilly December ride a good turnout of 7 riders congregated in The Market Place and we picked up Simon in Childrey on our way through. We made it in good time to Farringdon and stopped off at the Farringdon Coffee House, we managed to all squeeze onto one table! After suitable refreshments we headed back to Wantage, the sun appeared, and the temperature had increased a few degrees. Louise peeled off to Stanford-in-the-Vale the remainder went onto in to Wantage. An enjoyable ride and for the ride leader after a 5 week layoff with an injury, a relief to be out on the bike.

Great to see Richard make a return to road riding after his wrist fracture. He peeled off at Wallingford leaving the rest of the route to the two of us.
We stopped in Goring at the Village Cafe before the lumpy route to Pangbourne. (Preferable to crossing the river and climbing Streatley Hill.)
We made steady progress and were back in Wantage shortly after 1pm.

After the storm ... came a beautiful day. Five at the Market Square were joined later by Louise who had once again struggled to get out of Stanford. A hastily re-arranged route kept well clear of the flooded lanes of the vale but this necessitated a fair few hills - the climb of White Horse Hill was gratuitous but was worth it for the wide-ranging views. After a refreshment stop at Lambourn we took on Hackpen hill, the last of the climbs. Half of us enjoyed a post-ride drink at the KAH. Thank you all for a lovely ride!