Cycling UK Wantage | Programme of Rides and Events

Past Rides

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Sat May 3rd 2008

Regular Saturday moderate ride

Leader: Chris Walters	Start Time: 1:00 pm	Start Location: OMH
Description: 70km ride out to Eynsham, stopping for tea at the Emporium there. Route here: http://bikeroutetoaster.com/Course.aspx?course=6024
Riders: Chris Walters Dale Sutcliffe Des Higgs Jo Bindloss-Gibb John Tranter Maurice Bawden Olly Swadling Philip Thornton-Evison Sorrel Williams Steve Joyce Riders = 10 Report: Wecome to Dale joining us for the first time - a great ride to start off with! Helped by the wind we scooted off through Charney Basset and Buckland around the outskirts of Witney, and arrived at Eynsham dead on 3pm, impressing the ladies at the Eynsham Emporium tea stop with our punctuality. The day was certainly warm enough to sup our sustenance outdoors, first time this season. The run back through Stanton Harcourt and Newbridge threatened rain a few times, but it only really manifested a few spots. Olly and Dale peeled off before we arrived at Grove via Lyford. The ride was a fine pace throughout and everyone did really well with the group pretty much keeping together for the whole ride; not many hills to worry about, but enough to stretch the legs a couple of times!
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Tue May 6th 2008

Tuesday Evening Ride

Leader: Edith Hipwell	Start Time: 6:30 pm	Start Location: OMH
Description: We will aim to have two rides leaders for leisurely and slightly quicker options. Lights are recommended until mid-May.
Riders: Alan Price Andrew Robertson Andy Belcher Bob Wyatt Brian Hipwell Bryan Charleston Chris Walters Chris Wyatt Des Higgs Edith Hipwell Geoff Neill Henk Altmann (deceased) Jo Bindloss-Gibb Lee Wright Maurice Bawden Paul Sanders Peter Busby Philip Thornton-Evison Richard Anstis Sid Liddiard Sorrel Williams Steve Joyce Steve Swanton Riders = 23 Report: A cracking evenings ride with a fine turnout matching the weather! We split into two groups, the moderate group being 17 people strong and being led by Chris headed out through the Letcombes, and then along the spring line to Blowingstone, swooping down Fawler Hill, and via Uffington to Park Lane and Denchworth. Bob suffered a puncture along the way and was supported by Peter and Steve, who got him back on the road and back to Grove. The route can be seen here. A really enjoyable route, starting out hilly and then dropping back into the Vale for a more mellow ending. It really was striking how many riders we had out tonight, no doubt encouraged in part by the weather - let's have a few more evenings like this! The more leisurely group also headed out to the Letcombes and then followed the road to Childrey and Goosey. As the weather was so pleasant, we decided to carry on further than normal to Charney Bassett and Lyford and then back via Denchworth and Grove.
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Sat May 10th 2008

Bike Maintenance Day

Leader: Chris Walters	Start Time: 1:00 pm	Start Location: OMH
Description: A ride to the Dotbike premises in Stanford-in-the-Vale for a practical demonstration of essential bike maintenance. Two departures from OMH at 13.00 and 14.00. Only 8 places available per trip - please contact Chris ASAP to book. The sessions will cover cleaning, safety checks, removing wheels/replacing inner tubes, drive train maintenance, brake and gear setup, replacement of cables and headset checking.
Riders: Bryan Charleston Chris Walters David Bridge Frank Schroer Geoff Neill Henk Altmann (deceased) John Tranter Kevin Fairs Marion Jones Melanie Leggett Nigel Stuckey Sorrel Williams Wenfeng Yang Riders = 13 Report: Would you believe it - stuck indoors on a fantastic sunny day! At least we had a great time and hopefully learnt a bit more about what makes bikes tick - and how to stop the ticking! The highlights of the afternoon were: me exploding an inner tube (sorry if I woke anyoneup!), John's carbon-fibre Trek Y-framed road bike, Bryan's new (for him) bike with a Mavic cassette that even Kevin can't find spare parts for, the source of Sorrel's ticking being isolated to her left pedal, and finally a rare appearance from a lesser-spotted Jan, who just happened to be passing and saw lots of bikes! Thanks a million to Kevin and Wen for providing a location, and I'm really looking forward to doing a few rides with silent bikes!
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Sun May 11th 2008

Classic Oxfordshire charity bike ride

Leader:	Start Time: 8:00 am	Start Location: Hawell
Description:
Riders: Chris Walters Sid Liddiard Sorrel Williams Riders = 3 Report: It'd be wrong to not write a report on this ride, not a formal Wantage CTC ride, but as it was "on our turf" and the weather was forecast to be fantastic - it was worth giving it a go! Sorrel showed up at around 8:05 with Dai in tow as caddy for her kit, joining Sid and myself at Harwell. We left at 8:15, in a very small group, which was going far too slowly to stay with, so we sped off, catching the unicyclists who'd dismouned at the thought of a downhill bit. It must have been a long day for them! You can have a look at the route here, but the high spots were joining a group at Long Wittenham, being whisked along in excess of 20mph all the way to West Hanney, and then hardly seeing another soul for the whole remainder of the ride. Fawler Hill after 70km is so much harder than after 15km, and this is where the pace slowed somewhat for the rest of the ride. Sorrel's support crew hadn't arrived at Harwell by the time we returned, as we were more than 30 minutes under our target time! In the end we rode 93.7km in 3 hours 27 minutes for an average speed of 27.1km/h or if you like old money, just a shade under 17mph. It was great to have a blast around familiar territory with lots of other cyclists in the sunshine - well worth considering again next year! Chris W
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Tue May 13th 2008

Tuesday Evening Ride

Leader: Edith Hipwell	Start Time: 6:30 pm	Start Location: OMH
Description: We will aim to have two rides leaders for leisurely and slightly quicker options. Lights are recommended until mid-May. The planned route of about 32km for the moderate ride is from Grove to Letcombe Regis, up Court Hill, along the A338, left at the monument to Woolley and Brightwalton then back to Wantage and Grove along the B4494.
Riders: Andy Belcher Brian Hipwell Bryan Charleston Chris Lea Chris Walters Chris Wyatt Des Higgs Edith Hipwell Frank Schroer Jo Bindloss-Gibb Lee Wright Maurice Bawden Neil Warner Phil Morris Philip Thornton-Evison Sorrel Williams Riders = 16 Report: Easy riders did quite a fast trip into Wantage, out to Ardington,Ginge, full cicle bcak to Ardington,down by Lains Barn,Right at the A338 to Hanney into Denchworth and back to Grove, a very pleasant evening some of the moderate cyclist thought they needed an easy ride, sorry to disappoint. Edith
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Sun May 18th 2008

Regular Sunday Ride

Leader: Des Higgs	Start Time: 9:30 am	Start Location: WMP
Description: A traditional day's touring ride at steady pace about 90km. Heading West following a flattish route to Cricklade cafe for lunch via Shrivenham, Sevenhampton and Castle Eaton. Returning via Lechlade, Coleshill and Watchfield with tea stop at Des's in Longcot (Mrs Des bakes exceedingly good cakes...).
Riders: Barry Eastwood Derek Boutle Des Higgs Paul Sanders Phil Morris Steve Swanton Steven Rogers Riders = 7 Report:
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Tue May 20th 2008

Tuesday Evening Rides

Leader: Edith Hipwell	Start Time: 6:30 pm	Start Location: OMH
Description: We will aim to have two rides leaders for leisurely and sporty options. Lights are recommended until mid-May. There will be a "Fast and Furious" ride this evening - please only consider joining in if you are comfortable riding at 25km/h in a group - route is http://bikeroutetoaster.com/Course.aspx?course=6038 There will still be the leisurely ride running this evening.
Riders: Alan Price Andrew Robertson Andy Belcher Brian Hipwell Chris Lea Chris Walters Colin Appleton David Bridge Edith Hipwell Frank Schroer Geoff Neill Henk Altmann (deceased) Kevin Fairs Lee Wright Maurice Bawden Neil Warner Phil Morris Philip Thornton-Evison Sorrel Williams Wenfeng Yang Yu Yang Riders = 21 Report: The fast'n'furious ride had 8 people on board for a blast around the Vale to Watchfield and back. Special thanks to Frank and Alan for solid turns on the front, and a big "well done" to Phil for staying on through sheer grit and determination. Looks like everyone enjoyed this ride format, so roll on the next one! The ride stats are at http://connect.garmin.com/activity/103020.
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Sat May 24th 2008

'Easy Rider' Saturday Ride

Leader: John Tranter	Start Time: 1:00 pm	Start Location: OMH
Description: An easy paced ride of around 50km (or 30 miles in old money) with no significant hills. From Grove out via Denchworth, Stanford, Fernham to Faringdon for tea. Back via Uffington and Goosey.
Riders: David Bridge Geoff Neill Janet Charleston Jo Bindloss-Gibb John Tranter Maurice Bawden Philip Thornton-Evison Stephen Quartermain Steve Boreham Steve Swanton Riders = 10 Report: A dodgy weather forecast proved to be false, a bit breezy but mostly sunny skies. Continental style tea stop sitting at the pavement tables in Faringdon - great cakes and great service as always from the Coffee Shop. A pleasant stroll around the lanes of the Vale, just a bit of stiff headwind between Baulking and Goosey.
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Tue May 27th 2008

Tuesday Evening Ride

Leader: Edith Hipwell	Start Time: 6:30 pm	Start Location: OMH
Description: We will aim to have two rides leaders for leisurely and slightly quicker options.
Riders: Alan Price Andrew Robertson Andy Belcher Andy Wells Brian Hipwell Colin Appleton David Bridge Des Higgs Edith Hipwell Geoff Neill Jo Bindloss-Gibb Lee Wright Maurice Bawden Paul Sanders Peter Busby Phil Morris Philip Thornton-Evison Sorrel Williams Steve Joyce Riders = 19 Report: Another excellent turnout with the slightly faster group heading out towards Charney Bassett through Denchworth and then onto Frilford. We crossed the A420 and then onto Hinton Waldrist. As law abiding cyclists that we are, we all stopped at the junction to cross the A420 back to Pusey and much to our amusement and surprise a lorry from either direction slowed down and stopped to let us turn onto the road and carry on with our journey. As we turned off the A420 we all waved as Mr Swindon bound Lorry Driver tooted goodbye - and they say all lorries hate cyclists! We carried on through Stanford in the Vale, to Park Lane and then back through Denchworth.
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Sat May 31st 2008

Off Road Ride

Leader: Geoff Neill	Start Time: 1:00 pm	Start Location: OMH
Description: An easy ride of about 30km. The ride will cross the ridgeway at the Monument,coming up from West Lockinge. Then over Chain Gang hill where right down track to the Monument near Fawley. Right through South Fawley before taking right track up to Segbury Castle and descend to Letcombe Regis and back to Grove.
Riders: David Bridge Dean Douglas Geoff Neill John Tranter Sarah Tranter Riders = 5 Report: A rain free short ride taking in 2 Monuments of about 15 miles. The route went up from West Lockinge over the the ridgeway at the monument. With a short ride along the road over Chain Gange hill the riders took a right turn down gravel road and picked up bridleway with a nice down hill section to the Monument near Fawley. Crossing the A338 the route went right through Fawley passing the very pretty church there. Next a right turn on to a bridleway that runs straight up to the ridgeway at Segbury castle. This section had a selection of puddles and overgrown paths to negotiate bringing the technical content up a bit. A very fast descent down into Letcombe Regis and ride back to Grove completed the run.
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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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