Cycling UK Wantage | Programme of Rides and Events

Past Rides

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Sat Sep 1st 2007

Moderate Saturday Afternoon Ride from Grove - "Tour de Didcot"

Leader: Chris Walters	Start Time: 1:00 pm	Start Location: OMH
Description: A kind of mini Tour de France, all in an afternoon, starting with the flat north, heading to the Alpine southeast and returning through the Massif Harwell to the finishing circuit of the Champs Old Mill Hall. Yellow, green and polka-dot jerseys mandatory! The first third of the ride will be flat and quick (wind dependant) out through Denchworth, Hanney, Steventon, Drayton, Appleford, and the Wittenhams to the mountain section up Wittenham Clumps, to the Moretons, the Astons and the Hagbournes and the final top category climb to Chilton garden centre (KoM gets to buy the teas for all the stragglers!) for a well deserved cake and cuppa. Returning through West Hendred, Ginge, Ardington and Lains Barn for a final bunch sprint finish back to Grove (OK, I exaggerate, but I wrote this after watching le "real" Tour!) Overall a shade under 70km, all on road, and aiming to keep up a strong moderate speed for the whole ride (climbs excepted). Click here for route map.
Riders: Brian Hipwell Bryan Charleston Chris Lea Chris Walters Edith Hipwell Geoff Neill Ginny Henderson Jo Bindloss-Gibb Kevin Fairs Nick Dunton Richard Page Stephen Quartermain Steve Swanton Tom Millar Riders = 14 Report: A warm welcome to Eamonn from Oxford City Section - hope it was a nice change from your normal rides and that we see you again some time! We left Grove and set a cracking pace right the way to Wittenham. Kevin and Tom were the first to leave us, heading back over to Stanford when we got to Steventon. Bryan proved to have excellent local knowledge and guided us expertly over to Chilton, where we "lost" Bryan, Richard (going back to Twyford), Brian and Edith (Sustrans route back to Wantage), Nick and then eventually Ginny for her short cut back to Hanney. The remaining souls pressed on through Ardington and for the first time encountered a slight headwind just going into Grove. As advertised, a shade under 70km, we arrived back dead on 5pm, and I think Steve Swanton's yawning summarised how everyone felt! This was a ride very much on the "brisk" side of "moderate" - everyone coped really well, a sure sign that the rides over the summer have generated pretty solid fitness! The stats: Rolling average speed 23.1km/h, 350m of ascent, 69.0km. The first 29.5km to Little Witteham, covered in 70:43 minutes at a rolling average speed of 25.5km/h Chris W
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Tue Sep 4th 2007

Tuesday Evening Rides

Leader: Edith Hipwell	Start Time: 6:30 pm	Start Location: OMH
Description: We will plan to have two rides leaders most weeks for leisurely (12-18 ml)and sporty (20-25 ml)options. Lights recommended for your homeward journey.
Riders: Bryan Charleston Chris Walters Edith Hipwell Geoff Neill Henk Altmann (deceased) Jo Bindloss-Gibb Kevin Fairs Lee Wright Neil Mowforth Paul Wright Philip Thornton-Evison Sid Liddiard Sorrel Williams Steve Joyce Steve Swanton Wenfeng Yang Riders = 16 Report: A sunny cloudless evening for our penultimate ride of Tuesday season (and my last). Just one (moderate) ride. With the evenings drawing in, I kept it reasonably close to home, but with a bit of a twist - a climb or two, the wrong way round. To warm ourselves up before the climb, we took a loop out through Denchworth and Goosey back along the A417 to Challow Station and then up to Childrey - warm in the sun but surprisingly chilly in the shade. After a pause we continued to Sparsholt and turned left up to the B-road, then straight over and up Sparsholt Firs. Well done to Lee who made it all the way. Sid, apparently won the KoM. From the top the views across the vale were gorgeous in the evening light. There then followed the fast descent of Hackpen Hill and on through the Letcombes. By now it might have been dark save for the clear blue sky and lights went on. But the climbing wasn't done yet - avoiding Wantage we continued up Windmill Hill to the B-road, turned left and then an exhilarating drop down Silver lane into West Challow. We then returned the long way round via Circourt and Denchworth getting back to Grove at 8:20. A great way for me to finish my Tuesday season - roll on April 2008! Steve
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Tue Sep 11th 2007

Tuesday Evening Rides

Leader: Edith Hipwell	Start Time: 6:30 pm	Start Location: OMH
Description: These will be the last Tuesday Evening rides for this season. These rides will resume in Spring 2008. Lights recommended for your homeward journey.
Riders: Andrew Robertson Ben Faulkner Brian Hipwell Bryan Charleston Chris Walters David Bridge Dean Douglas Des Higgs Edith Hipwell Henk Altmann (deceased) John Tranter Peter Busby Philip Thornton-Evison Ryan Martin Sorrel Williams Riders = 15 Report: Last Tuesday ride for the year 12 riders were out with none of the slower group. I took the group on a fast circuit out to Stanford in the Vale via Denchworth, Lyford, Charney Bassett and back down Park Lane. We Did the ride in an hour that was 16 miles.
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Sun Sep 16th 2007

Regular Wantage Ride

Leader:	Start Time: 9:30 am	Start Location: WMP
Description: A full day ride of 80 to 100 km, including a pub stop for lunch.
Riders: Barry Eastwood Derek Boutle Des Higgs Matt Chambers Nick Dunton Nigel Stuckey Pat Hurt Riders = 7 Report: First section was relatively flat with some short sections of cycle-path and narrow, gravely lanes round Stoke Row [in part following Sustrans National Route 5]. Lunch stop at
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Tue Sep 18th 2007

Section Pub Evening

Leader: Chris Walters	Start Time: 8:00 pm	Start Location: WMP
Description: Join us for an evening social at the King Alfred's Head in Wantage Market Place.
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Sat Sep 22nd 2007

'Easy Rider' Saturday Afternoon Ride from Grove

Leader: Edith Hipwell	Start Time: 1:00 pm	Start Location: OMH
Description: Leisurely ride of 45 to 55km ride with tea stop The Planned route for Saturday ride. I plan to make it a little bit challenging for an easy rider this week. the aim is to do a few hills but a short route. heading out form Grove over the air field to wantage, Letcombe regis, Letcombe Bassett, climbing the hill at Hackpen, down to Lambourne, follow the Valley road to Great Shefford and then follow the Main rd back to Wantage and Grove stopping for tea at Court hill youth hostel. About 26 miles at a pace for the easy riders to climb the hills and the tea shop does not close until 5.30pm
Riders: Brian Hipwell Chris Walters Edith Hipwell Eve Thornton Ginny Henderson Henk Altmann (deceased) Neil Mowforth Neil Warner Richard Divall Sid Liddiard Steve Swanton Riders = 11 Report: Weather Perfect for a September ride. Completed route as above with an extension through Boxford, Chaddleworth. Woolley and back onto the A338 at the Mounument.
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Sat Sep 29th 2007

Off-road Ride

Leader: Geoff Neill	Start Time: 1:00 pm	Start Location: OMH
Description: An afternoon's exploration of local tracks - mountain bike and helmet recommended.
Riders: Chris Wyatt David Bridge Geoff Neill Lee Wright Neil Barson Paul Wright Riders = 6 Report:
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Ride Filter

Start Locations: WMP
Wantage Market Place; OMH
Old Mill Hall, Grove

Categories: 1* - Suitable for irregular, social, beginner or family riders, pace will match the slower riders. Not hilly or long. Expect rides up to 3 hours. Gentle exercise.; 2* - Suitable for regular riders who prefer to cover some distance but at a more relaxed pace. Likely to be half-day rides. Solid exercise.; 3* - Suitable for experienced riders, may be hilly, long, quick, or any combination! Likely to be half or full-day rides. Challenging exercise.; 4* - Suitable for athletic riders who can ride safely above the 3* standard. Quick rides for the fit.; More Information

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