Cycling UK Wantage | Programme of Rides and Events

Past Rides

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Sat Dec 1st 2007

Moderate Saturday Ride from Grove

Leader: Chris Walters	Start Time: 1:00 pm	Start Location: OMH
Description: Given the darker days we'll be doing a "Fast 50" through the Vale to Watchfield and back, a couple of hills but nothing major. This will probably be the easiest "moderate" this year! The tea stop will be at the end at the Cornerstone Cafe in Grove. Lights are likely to be needed towards the end of the ride.
Riders: Chris Walters David Bridge Juliet Bailey Sorrel Williams Stephen Quartermain Steve Boreham Riders = 6 Report: We had all kinds of weather! Started off with ominous dark clouds to the north, so we headed off into the wind in a westerly direction. There was a fantastic rainbow hiding behind us at Goosey. Steve (new rider) dropped out after 1/4 of the ride and enjoyed the wind-assisted return to Grove. Shortly after that at Baulking, we were subjusted to a torrential hail storm, and all you could hear from the group was cries of "OW!". After the summit at Compton Beauchamp, it was a nice sail back through Longcot and Chanrney Bassett, followed by a nice cuppa and cake at the Cornerstone in Grove, where everyone got well fed. The ride from there back to the car at Old Mill Hall was absolutely freezing! Well done to everyone for surviving - this ride was more a test of character than fitness! Chris W
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Tue Dec 4th 2007

Turbo Evening

Leader:	Start Time: 6:00 pm	Start Location: SITV
Description: Join us in Stanford in the Vale. Turbo trainer evenings to be run every Tuesday throughout the winter. This week and next we will do baseline fitness tests rigged up to a computer - really useful to compare with later in the winter to see how you've improved your fitness! Bring your bike, and a turbo trainer if you have one. We hope to have several extra trainers for loan. The venue is at the Dotbike premises see www.dotbike.com for details. Note, if you bring your bike on the roof of the car, check the headroom when entering the courtyard. Free tea and coffee and shower factilities should you require. We will be there from 6pm, feel free to arrive throughout the evening. Anticipate finish by 8:30pm
Riders: Chris Walters Des Higgs Diane Stuckey Ginny Henderson Henk Altmann (deceased) Neil Warner Riders = 6 Report:
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Sun Dec 9th 2007

Annual Mince Pie Ride to White Horse Hill

Leader: Steve Swanton	Start Time: 10:00 am	Start Location: WMP
Description: In aid of Whizz-Kidz, the children's mobility charity. Our annual Festive ride to White Horse Hill for mince pies and mulled wine. There will be two led rides from Wantage at moderate and easy pace. Meet for the ride(s) at 10 or join us in the NT car park GR293866 from 11:15 to 12:00 and afterwards for lunch at the True Heart in Bishopstone. Please book lunch with Steve by Thursday 6 Dec (numbers may be limited). Contact Steve for more info about the rides or Pat if you are bringing a group to make sure we cater sufficiently with mince pies. Choice of routes: Longer route will be a hilly warm-up via the Letcombes, Childrey, Kingston Lisle, Uffington before climbing directly up and over the manger beneath the White Horse (about 13 miles). The shorter route will be more direct (8 miles) along the foot of the Downs and up to the NT car park. 4 miles on to Bishopstone and back through the Vale after lunch. A full report of the 2005 event can be found here.
Riders: Andrew Robertson Angela Sanders Brian Hipwell Chris Walters David Roberts Derek Boutle Des Higgs Diane Stuckey Edith Hipwell Eve Thornton Ginny Henderson Henk Altmann (deceased) John Tranter Juliet Bailey Kevin Creigh Kevin Fairs Lucia Singer Martin Bate Matt Chambers Matthew Quartermain Neil Warner Nigel Stuckey Pat Hurt Richard Divall Robert Wyatt Stephen Quartermain Steve Sanders Steve Swanton Stuart Webb Tom Millar Wenfeng Yang Riders = 31 Report: With storm warnings along the South coast, landslides in S. Wales and the previous day
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Tue Dec 11th 2007

Turbo Evening

Leader: Kevin Fairs	Start Time: 6:00 pm	Start Location: SITV
Description: Join us in Stanford in the Vale. Turbo trainer evenings to be run every Tuesday throughout the winter. This week and next we will do baseline fitness tests rigged up to a computer - really useful to compare with later in the winter to see how you've improved your fitness! Bring your bike, and a turbo trainer if you have one. We hope to have several extra trainers for loan. The venue is at the Dotbike premises see www.dotbike.com for details. Note, if you bring your bike on the roof of the car, check the headroom when entering the courtyard. Free tea and coffee and shower factilities should you require. We will be there from 6pm, feel free to arrive throughout the evening. Anticipate finish by 8:30pm
Riders: Chris Walters Dave Smith David Bridge Des Higgs Diane Stuckey Ginny Henderson Neil Warner Sorrel Williams Riders = 8 Report:
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Sun Dec 16th 2007

Burn the pies before you've eaten them!

Leader: Neil Warner	Start Time: 9:30 am	Start Location: WMP
Description: Bit of a longer ride to give you an excuse for Yuletide excesses. A promt depart will ease things. LIGHTS REQUIRED!!!!!!! Out to Kidlington around Otmoor back through Oxford and Boars Hill. Lunch in Kidlington or Islip. Still checking venues, local knowledge appreciated. Route at http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=1495917
Riders: Bryan Charleston Neil Warner Richard Divall Riders = 3 Report: Well I truly hope you enjoyed your shopping/Sunday papers/lounging by the fire. Oh boy did you miss a beautiful day to ride. Yes it started cold. Richard,Bryan and myself arrived swathed in fleece, silks and windproofs and set off through the inevitable Grove Denchworth start. Richard was suffering from early on, a combination of a touch of "man flu" and not getting out enough took the edge from his legs. We span through the ice on the Hanney road, or rather some berk in a soft roader spattered us with it from the far side of the road, through to Cumnor where Richard succummed to late season fatigue. Bidding us farewell he chose to have a shorter ride at his own pace to start getting his legs back. Bryan and I span on across the Thames valley in the now bright sunshine. Through Cassington and Yarnton to Kidlington. As it was still pre noon we carried on to Islip and pulled up in the car park of the Red Lion bang on twelve 'o'clock. Unlocking as we arrived we soon remembered we had toes and settled into lunch. I think on a Sunday they normally focus on roast dinners, we caught them with their normal lunch menus up and ordered steak and kiney pie a pint for me and a pot of tea for Bryan. The lunch menu was turned over so no-one else could catch them on the hop and 2 fab pies fresh veg and decent chips appeared. Steak and kidney pie, normally you feel lucky if you have a slice of kidney? Not in Islip, steak, kidney in equal proportions plus gravy beneath a flaky crust top. Marvellous, top nosh on a cold day. An hour later suitably refuelled we were off into the pastures new of Otmoor. The cold windless day with huge winter skies showed off the flat wetlands, but for the trees you could have been on the Fens. Cresting the first real hill of the day we headed through Horton cum Studley back towards the city and over the ridges to Headington. Bryan had slowed a little with unexpected stomach cramps but gamely road through them and by the time we passed Sainsburys on the ring road was feeling better. By this time we had changed the route as the two of us were happy to use the cycle paths alongside the southErn and eastern bypass. As Bryan resides in Harwell he suggested we swung south on the Thames path and picked up the Sustrans route to Abingdon. What a top path, a few hundred yards of vaguely muddy towpath and then a packed gravel path alongside the railway to the southern edge of Kennington. The late afternoon quiet was broken by a steam locomotive steaming north always a sight for small boys of all ages. We wound through to Abingdon and then south through Drayton, Steventon and on toward Harwell. The sun was now a large orange ball on the pale western horizon and we reckoned that Bryan would just make it home before he needed lights. Parting at Q gardens Bryan headed home and I cracked on down Featherbed lane and along the 417 to Wantage. Fortunately I managed to avoid the temptation of a coffee in Arburys and got home as the sun slipped below the downs. A cold day but plenty of winter sunshine, no rain and stranger still, no wind. I heartily recommend a spin around Otmoor even if you do a car assisted start. The Red Lion was a great find, we ate in the bar but the other room was set out as a dining room. Two Steak & Kidney pies, a pint of bitter and a decent size pot of tea
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Tue Dec 18th 2007

Turbo Evening

Leader: Kevin Fairs	Start Time: 6:00 pm	Start Location: SITV
Description: Join us in Stanford in the Vale. Turbo trainer evenings to be run every Tuesday throughout the winter. This week and next we will do baseline fitness tests rigged up to a computer - really useful to compare with later in the winter to see how you've improved your fitness! Bring your bike, and a turbo trainer if you have one. We hope to have several extra trainers for loan. The venue is at the Dotbike premises see www.dotbike.com for details. Note, if you bring your bike on the roof of the car, check the headroom when entering the courtyard. Free tea and coffee and shower factilities should you require. We will be there from 6pm, feel free to arrive throughout the evening. Anticipate finish by 8:30pm
Riders: Bryan Charleston David Bridge Des Higgs Ginny Henderson Henk Altmann (deceased) Neil Warner Sorrel Williams Riders = 7 Report: Pyramid hill sessions with Ginny providing yet another variation to keep us on our toes. See you all in the New Year to burn those calories off.
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Sat Dec 22nd 2007

'Easy-rider' Saturday Ride from Grove

Leader: Edith Hipwell	Start Time: 1:00 pm	Start Location: OMH
Description: An easy-paced sociable ride of 45-55 km with tea stop. Lights recommended Saturday,s ride I aim to head West in the vale depending on the weather and who turns up I have a couple of different option. One with a few hills the other quite flat but both will be circular ride ending up at Brians and edith for mince pies and mulled wine or tea/coffee if prefered. See you all on Saturday.
Riders: Brian Hipwell Chris Walters Edith Hipwell Stephen Quartermain Steve Swanton Riders = 5 Report: A very pleasant amble around the Vale, coming back through Kingston Lisle and the Letcombes. Home-made mince pies and mulled wine at Brian and Edith's finished off the ride perfectly!
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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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