Cycling UK Wantage | Programme of Rides and Events

Past Rides

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Sat May 2nd 2009

Regular Saturday Afternoon Ride 3*	3*

Leader: Angela Sanders	Start Time: 1:00 pm	Start Location: OMH
Description: This is a 3* or 3 banana ride as you will need at least 3 bananas to get you round this great loop. The routes takes us from Grove over the downs to Lambourn and onto Hungerford for tea. We will then cross Hungerford Common to follow the River Kennet valley through Kintbury and over the canal to Marsh Benham before heading back over the downs through Brightwalton. There are a couple of climbs and some great downhills. You can view the course at http://bikeroutetoaster.com/Course.aspx?course=44815 . The approximate length is 70km
Riders: Angela Sanders Bryan Charleston Chris Walters David Bridge Dean Douglas Geoff Neill John Tranter Neil Mowforth Olly Swadling Sorrel Williams Steve Sanders Steve Swanton Riders = 12 Report: Great ride! Great group! Great weather! All in all a great ride. The route was varied with some nice little hills and some lovely views across the downs. We passed some spectatular bluebell woods. At the bottom of Snake Pass (Marsh Benham) Bryan's bike got a bite which warranted a short stop to fix the puncture. We finished the ride having riden 48 miles at an average pace of 14mph.
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Sun May 3rd 2009

CTC Oxfordshire 85th Anniversary ride

Leader:	Start Time: TBC	Start Location:
Description: Please note that this ride has been cancelled
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Tue May 5th 2009

10-mile club (*)

Leader: Steve Swanton	Start Time: 6:30 pm	Start Location: OMH
Description: A few short uphill stretches on our ride this evening when we will be following cyclepaths and regional route 44 out to Lockinge and Ardington. We'll return with a long downhill via Lains Barn.
Riders: Amelia Preece Derek Bolt Jane Bruffell Liz Buckle Lorna Swanton Richard Preece Steve Swanton Susan Holdroyd Vanessa Simonite Riders = 9 Report: Despite the breezy evening, we had 9 riders out on the 10-mile club. All enjoyed the two long downhills from Betterton to Ardington and into the Vale via Lains Barn. Young Millie did excellently on the climbs and on the return along Grove Park road into the wind. Another enjoyable ride. Steve S
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Tue May 5th 2009

Tuesday Evening Rides

Leader:	Start Time: 6:30 pm	Start Location: OMH
Description: We will aim to have two rides leaders for 2* and 3* options.
Riders: Angela Sanders Brian Hipwell Chris Walters Colin Appleton Dean Douglas Des Higgs Edith Hipwell Frank Schroer Ginny Henderson Jo Bindloss-Gibb John Stamp Michael Tayler Neil Warner Peter Busby Philip Thornton-Evison Sorrel Williams Steve Joyce Riders = 17 Report: 2* ride with 8 riders headed out into a strong SW wind this evening making for Denchworth then Charney Bassett. Turning into the wind and headed for Gainfield, Stanford in the Vale then with the wind behind headed back home to Grove via Park Lane. Edith The 3* ride picked up Neil at Charney Bassett on the way out and then sheltered pretty successfully from the wind to complete a figure-of-eight circuit via Fyfield, Longworth, West Hanney and back through Denchworth. The full route can be found here: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/4723225. Thanks to Sorrel for organising and leading the ride. Chris
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Sat May 9th 2009

Off Road 1*	1*

Leader: Sorrel Williams	Start Time: 1:00 pm	Start Location: OMH
Description: Our first of the off road season, starting with a complete beginner session which is suitable for children and adults. Fancy a bit of the rough stuff? Come and join us on tracks and trails in Wantage, Hanney and Denchworth. Don't worry, there are no uphills to worry about, getting off and walking is always an option. Tea (or ice-cream!) stop at the end.
Riders: Alex Walters Chris Walters David Townsend Lorna Swanton Olly Swadling Sorrel Williams Steve Swanton Sue Walters Susan Holdroyd Riders = 9 Report: Thank goodness the wind had dropped by the time Saturday came around. We headed from Grove down towards Charlton Village and then took the bridleway up to Crabhill and over into Grove. A fantastic bit of track and singletrack with plenty of dried up puddles to negotiate our way round at the end of the path. A bit of road cycling then took us back to the Denchworth Road in Grove where we took the track that goes up the side of the Cemetry and on into West Hanney. We followed the route round to Denchworth and then back onto the road again for the final kilometre home for tea and ice-cream at the new cafe in the Square. All in all a lovely potter through the villages and fields and more importantly, flat and dry! Our route can be found here: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/5115264
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Sun May 10th 2009

Classic Oxfordshire - 3*	3*

Leader: Chris Walters	Start Time: 8:00 am	Start Location: Harwell Science & Innovation Campus, OX11 0RA
Description: Our local charity ride, supporting Against Breast Cancer. 60km, 100km or family ride through the Vale on a signposted course with loads of other riders. A small Wantage group are forming a peloton to ride the 100km route together - please let Chris know if you want to be a part of it. The ride details and booking forms are at http://www.bike-events.com/Ride.aspx?id=195. Meet at the start just before 08:00, aiming to start riding by 08:10.
Riders: Angela Sanders Chris Walters Dean Douglas Olly Swadling Sorrel Williams Steve Sanders Riders = 6 Report: A great day for riding - sunshine, no wind, a great route and a plan to beat last year's time! The six of us set out, with a couple of Sorrel's friends (Rob and John) who were aiming for 3 hours to complete the ride, so they didn't stay with us for long. After the first hill down past Chilton and down to the Hagbournes, we kept up a good 20mph pace pretty much all the way to the Hanneys. Instead of hitching a ride on a fast group, like we did last year, this year we were the group to be with, picking up a few individuals who stayed with us for most of the way. Angela and Steve dropped off the back with Olly, who then caught us up later on. The next split of the group happened after Fawler Hill, marking the start of the undulating part of the route, with Dean and Olly shooting off over the rolling roads. At Wantage, Sorrel and myself took the call (as legs were pretty tired by this point) to use the Sustrans option on the route (we passed John who'd "blown" by that point - maybe next year for the three hours?) - Dean and Olly took the Hendreds route from Ginge, and we beat them back by a couple of minutes, with Steve and Angela coming in around 20 minutes afterwards, having had a few stops. Welcome rolls, ice-creams and even the odd beer helped to replenish the carbs at the end of the ride, which together with a pleasant chill-out in the sun brought the ride to a fitting conclusion. Chris W
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Tue May 12th 2009

10-mile Club (*)

Leader: Sorrel Williams	Start Time: 6:30 pm	Start Location: OMH
Description: A flat ride tonight into the Vale to Goosey via Denchworth. We'll cycle around Goosey green which is usually a sea of wild flowers before cutting in June.
Riders: Sorrel Williams Susan Holdroyd Riders = 2 Report: Susan and I enjoyed a very pleasant potter along to Denchworth and Goosey and back via Asti Stud. Plenty of time for nattering and chattering and we didn't get blown about too much either. We didn't stop too long in Goosey to find the wild flowers as it was a bit nippy.
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Tue May 12th 2009

Tuesday Evening Rides

Leader: Edith Hipwell	Start Time: 6:30 pm	Start Location: OMH
Description: We will aim to have two rides leaders for 2* and 3* options.
Riders: Andrew Robertson Brian Hipwell Bryan Charleston Chris Walters Colin Appleton David Fox Dean Douglas Des Higgs Edith Hipwell Jo Bindloss-Gibb John Stamp Lucy Williams Michael Tayler Peter Busby Philip Thornton-Evison Richard Preece Steve Joyce Riders = 17 Report: The 3* ride went out via Ginge, the Hendreds, Steventon, and great dash across Cow Common, and back via the Hanneys. Most enjoyable, and thanks to Peter for leading the ride "off the cuff". The ride details can be seen here: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/5273335.
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Sat May 16th 2009

Bike Maintenance Training

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 by Friday 12:00 to book - if there are not enough people we will cancel the session. 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: Alex Walters Chris Walters Frank Schroer John Tranter Liz Buckle Neil Mowforth Susan Holdroyd Yu Yang Riders = 8 Report: We covered quite a few topics (see below) and had a couple of real-life problems to sort out - Frank's rear derailleur need a new cable and setup, and Neil's bottom bracket was a-creaking. Thanks to John for helping out, and most importantly, thanks to Kevin for the use of the DotBike premises again! * Safety inspection M o rear wheel o seat o bottom bracket o cockpit o front wheel * What to carry with you on a ride o multitool o tubes o tyre levers o pump, spare links o Cable ties * Cleaning your bike o water o degreaser o water dispersant o polish/wax * General engineering o tidiness o H&S o workstand o threads (grease, threadlock) o tools o torque * Chain maintenance o wear o splitting o lubricating o joining * Wheels o removal of wheel (outside cogs) o tyres, tubes and punctures o cassette * Brake setup o cable o block / travel adjustment o ends * Gear setup o cable, lubing o alignment o indexing * Headsets o adjusting Aheadset o adjusting quill stem o stack height o bar / stem tightening * Chainsets o removal and replacement of cranks o removal of chainrings Useful websites: http://www.parktool.com/repair/ http://www.sheldonbrown.com/ http://techdocs.shimano.com/techdocs/index.jsp The equipment manufacturer’s website
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Sun May 17th 2009

Regular Wantage Ride	2*

Leader: Des Higgs	Start Time: 9:30 am	Start Location: WMP
Description: All day ride of 2/3** out towards Cricklade. 80-100km with a pub stop for lunch and tea in Longcot in the afternoon.
Riders: Barry Eastwood Derek Boutle Des Higgs Michael Tayler Steve Sanders Steven Rogers Tony Smith Riders = 7 Report: 7 riders set off from Wantage including Steve R's mate Nick. Steve Sa joined later for part of the ride.
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Tue May 19th 2009

10-mile Club (*)

Leader: Sorrel Williams	Start Time: 6:30 pm	Start Location: OMH
Description: A slightly longer ride this week to stretch our legs as the evenings lengthen, 13 miles to Stanford in the Vale via Charney Bassett, Gainfield and back via Park Lane. There will be a short stretch of about 1/2 mile along the A417.
Riders: Amelia Preece Richard Preece Sorrel Williams Susan Holdroyd Vanessa Simonite Riders = 5 Report: Hmmm, that was a slightly damp ride! 5 hardy perennials turned out to do the ride as described, by the time we got to Charney Bassett, we had turned into 3 as Millie and Richard, quite sensibly, decided they were going to turn back. The ride was actually quite enjoyable when the rain ceased and we turned out of the wind - roll on the better weather!
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Tue May 19th 2009

Tuesday Evening Rides / Fast and Furious

Leader: Edith Hipwell	Start Time: 6:30 pm	Start Location: OMH
Description: We will aim to have two rides leaders for 2* and 3* options. In addition, 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.
Riders: Alan Price Brian Hipwell Chris Walters Colin Appleton David Ryan Des Higgs Edith Hipwell Ginny Henderson Henk Altmann (deceased) Janet Charleston John Tranter Lucy Williams Michael Tayler Nick Dunton Richard Anstis Riders = 15 Report: Well, it was a grim evening - at least we started off in the dry! It was a good turnout across the groups though, so well done to everyone for effort! The Fast and Furious ride became a 3* along part of the F&F course - it was just too wet and windy to try hard and stay safe. We picked Alan up along the way by Denchworth, and lost him, and Ginny turned back before Hatford. AT least we got a decent push back from the wind from Uffington, and by the time we arrived back in Grove, the weather was looking much more appealing. Sorry to Vanessa for making her jump as we passed the 10 Mile Club in Denchworth, and sorry to John that he got his shiny gold bike wet - I will try and organise better weather next time!! Chris
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Sat May 23rd 2009

Regular Saturday Afternoon ride 2*	2*

Leader: Richard Divall	Start Time: 1:00 pm	Start Location: OMH
Description: Our newly titled 2* ride, covering 45-55km including a tea stop. Covering a fair amount of distance, the pace will be more relaxed with plenty of time for chatting on the way.
Riders: Brian Hipwell Chris Walters Edith Hipwell Mavis Rose Neil Mowforth Olly Swadling Richard Divall Stephen Quartermain Steve Boreham Steve Joyce Steve Swanton Riders = 11 Report: A lovely sunny day for riding and sitting outside in the pub garden at the Greyhound in Besselsleigh for our refreshment stop. A 32 mile anti-clockwise tour took us out via Steventon, Culham, Abingdon and Cothill, back via Appleton, Southmoor and Charney Bassett. Good to have Mavis out with us again. The ride route details are here: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/6035211.
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Tue May 26th 2009

10-mile Club (*)

Leader: Steve Swanton	Start Time: 6:30 pm	Start Location: OMH
Description: Assuming fair weather - a slightly hillier ride this evening with some easy off-road sections too. We will be heading to Childrey via Denchworth and the bridleway from West Challow. We'll return via the bridleway and track to East Challow and along the canal towpath. Two short stretches along the A417 with right turns.
Riders: Liz Buckle Lorna Swanton Steve Swanton Susan Holdroyd Tony Hetherington Riders = 5 Report: Although it was a bright, sunny evening, a very fresh north-westerly breeze made us work harder than usual on our way to Denchworth. That was the worst of it, fortunately. Thereafter were able to enjoy the beautiful evening and the glorious colours of late spring countryside. We followed the planned route to Childrey but then a change of plan for the return - due to heavy overnight rain we avoided the canal and came back via Goosey and Denchworth instead. We all enjoyed the downhill and runout on the B-road down to the A417. With the wind behind us from Goosey, it was definitely a good decision. We stopped briefly to admire the meadows on Goosey green and then sailed back to Grove in beautiful evening light. Another enjoyable ride. Steve S
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Tue May 26th 2009

Tuesday Evening Rides

Leader: Edith Hipwell	Start Time: 6:30 pm	Start Location: OMH
Description: We will aim to have two rides leaders for 2* and 3* options.
Riders: Alex Gaberscik Brian Hipwell Bryan Charleston Chris Walters Colin Appleton Dean Douglas Des Higgs Edith Hipwell Geoff Neill Ginny Henderson John Stamp Maurice Bawden Michael Tayler Peter Busby Philip Thornton-Evison Richard Anstis Sorrel Williams Riders = 17 Report: The 3* ride tonight went from Wantage along the spring line road below the Ridgeway and into the wind. After a brief respite for most (Dean and Bryan did a quick detour around White Horse Hill), we then dropped down into the Vale through Knighton and Uffington, to sail back via Goosey. Definitely a ride of two halves, the first part being very undulating and hard into the wind, and the way back being pan-flat with the wind to our backs. Special mention to Richard who rode the whole route on his MTB with a trailer as training for his forthcoming "5 countries and 500 miles in 5 days" challenge - chapeau!
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Wed May 27th 2009

NEW Mid Week ride	3*

Leader: Geoff Neill	Start Time: 10:30 am	Start Location: OMH
Description: All day 3* ride of about 80Kms to meet up with CTC OXON Midweek section for lunch at the Victoria Inn, Eastleach
Riders: Riders = 0 Report: No takers for this one! Was it the weather,well it was wet and windy, or maybe there's no interest in Wednesday rides? Answers please to geoff.neill@btinternet.com
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Sun May 31st 2009

Extra Ride - White Horses of Wiltshire 3* (was Moderate), on-road, 90km	3*

Leader: Chris Walters	Start Time: 9:00 am	Start Location: Hungerford Railway Station (car park)
Description: 90km hilly ride which will be run at a 3* pace (20-22km/h, 13-14mph) in the Hungerford / Pewsey / Marlborough area, similar to a recent ride in Cycling Plus - http://bikeroutetoaster.com/Course.aspx?course=24401. Lunch stop (location not planned, but will be decided on the day) along the way. Please contact Chris in advance if you plan to join the ride - it will not be run without support.
Riders: Bryan Charleston Chris Walters Ginny Henderson Janet Charleston Nick Dunton Thomas Charleston Riders = 6 Report: A fantastic day saw 6 of us setting off on the prescribed route, passing the windmill at Wilton, before tackling the "Fair Mile" (and I can tell you it's longer than a mile!) climb up to where Bryan suffered a puncture at Collingbourne Ducis, directly opposite a friends house, giving me 10 minutes respite to have a chat! Rubber fully inflated, we headed off towards Pewsey, passing the first white horse on Pewsey Hill. The second white horse wasn't far away at Alton Barnes, and it wasn't long before we got to Avebury for lunch at the National Trust cafe. After lunch there was a short warm-up before tackling Hackpen Hill (where the third and final white horse lives), which seemed to go fine, and then the undulating descent into Marlborough. From there we made our way along the Kennett valley, stopping only to let Bryan climb the 17% hill at Ramsbury. That out of the way, ice-cream at the Tutti Pole tea shop in Hungerford beckoned - a very tasty end to a lovely day's cycling. You can see the route and stats here: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/6338877.
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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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