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Past Rides

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Sat Sep 3rd 2011

Saturday afternoon ride from Grove	3*

Leader: Chris Walters	Start Time: 1:00 pm	Start Location: OMH
Description: A tough 75 km hilly ride at the end of the Summer season, heading up Chain Hill, and then Combe Gibbett via Boxford, into Hungerford for tea and back via Newtown, the Goodings and the A338. There are 5 decent hills on the route, meaning lots of up and down (700m) and not a lot of flat between.
Riders: Adrian West Chris Walters Derek Boutle Frank Schroer Iain Kent John Tranter Steven Rogers Riders = 7 Report: We set off as a group of 5, picking up Frank and Steve on the way through Wantage. It's a hard old slog going up Chain Hill before you've warmed up. We were treated to the descent and then re-ascent of Chain Hill by a peloton of supercars - a Ferrari 599 GTO and a Porsche RS GT3 - lots of noise coming from them on the ascent, and we did wonder what rich idiots were out playing with the new toys today... Descending down to Boxford was a nice break, Adrian leaving us at Wickham to look after his poorly knees. Another descent to Kintbury was followed with the slog up Combe Gibbet. I'd like to apologise here and now for laughing audibly when Derek's chain "did a Contador" at the bottom of the hill - inexcusable! The descent down to Hungerford was pleasant, and the courtyard at Azuza provided a perfect suntrap for our tea stop, which Adrian joined us at having been home and changed. He let us know that the Ferrari and Porsche were parked down the High Street and he'd seen Jeremy Clarkson wandering around... I guess that answered our earlier question perfectly! After tea a none-too-steep ascent of the traffic-free lanes around Poughly and a drop down the Goodings to East Garston gave a route choice home - we took the Seven Barrows and Vale option, which proved to be a good option, giving us a very pleasant warm-down with the wind on our backs for a change. A hard ride, and pretty long for a half-dayer too!
Distance: 83.00 km (51.57 mi)	Ride Details: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/111529518
Proposed Route: http://bikeroutetoaster.com/Course.aspx?course=291227"
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Tue Sep 6th 2011

Tuesday Evening 3* Ride	3*

Leader: Nick Dunton	Start Time: 6:30 pm	Start Location: OMH
Description: Good autumnal evening ride: strong westerly wind & rain showers. Out through Denchworth & Goosey to Kinston Lisle, up Blowingstone to Lambourne then returned through the Letcombes & Wantage with a strong tail-wind. 38km. Back in the gloom at 8.20 with lights needed for the last half hour. nick.dunton@tiscali.co.uk
Riders: Andy Cowan Jenny Williamson John Talbot John Tranter Nick Dunton Paul Jarvis Riders = 6 Report: Good autumnal evening ride: strong westerly wind & rain showers. Out through Denchworth & Goosey to Kinston Lisle, up Blowingstone to Lambourne then returned through the Letcombes & Wantage with a strong tail-wind. 38km. Back in the gloom at 8.20 with lights needed for the last half hour.
Distance: 37.50 km (23.30 mi)	Ride Details: http://ridewithgps.com/trips/383172
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Tue Sep 6th 2011

Tuesday Evening 2* Ride	2*

Leader: Edith Hipwell	Start Time: 6:30 pm	Start Location: OMH
Description: Enjoy an easy-paced ride around the local lanes. 25 - 40km. May be hills on some weeks
Riders: Brian Hipwell Edith Hipwell Steve Swanton Riders = 3 Report: A short, flat spin into the Valefor the last Tuesday evening ride of the season. It was hard work heading out into the wind towards the railway bridge and quite unpleasant into a squall on the road to Ast Stud. But as we turned northwards at Goosey, the wind was more on our back, the sun came out and ahead of us a rainbow. Much more enjoyable! We continued to Charney, turned right to Lyford and back to Denchworth before further rain in just under an hour. Steve S
Distance: 16.09 km (10.00 mi)
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Tue Sep 6th 2011

10 Mile Club 1*	1*

Leader: Steve Swanton	Start Time: 6:30 pm	Start Location: OMH
Description: For our last Tuesday evening ride of the season, we'll head to Charney Bassett by way of Denchworth and Asti stud. We'll aim to be back in Grove before dusk, but lights recommended. These rides are designed to be sociable and leisurely at a riding pace of about 10 miles per hour, suitable for newcomers to cycling, irregular cyclists and families and for those who just fancy a gentle ride . We'll stop to admire the scenery and anything that takes our eye, and no-one will be left behind. All are welcome although U-13s should be accompanied by a responsible adult .
Riders: Riders = 0 Report: Due to the windy conditions, no-one else turned up for the 1* ride this evening, so I joined with Edith and Brian for a 2*. A shame to end our longest and most successful 10-mile club season of the last 3 years without a ride, but please look out for the occasional 10-mile club ride at the weekend, starting on Saturday 17 September. Steve
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Tue Sep 6th 2011

Offroad ride	2*

Leader: Robin Tucker	Start Time: 6:30 pm	Start Location: OMH
Description: Knobbly tyres required. About 15 miles up to the Ridgeway and back down again. Please bring 'get you home lights' as we will return in fading light (but if you don't have them you can ride in the middle!)
Riders: David Yearley Luke Smith Mila Yearley Robin Tucker Riders = 4 Report: A distinctly autumnal feel to the last ride of the summer programme. Windy and threatening clouds, though I'm glad to say that we only had a few drips of rain. No drips on the ride though! We worked our way up to the Ridgeway via Charlton and Goddard's Brook. Then East, which was amazingly easy thanks to a strong tailwind. We left the Ridgeway down the Ginge singletrack descent, which was a great run down - I was close behind Luke when his back wheel slipped sideways on a root, but he held it well. The short drop to the 'Bridge of Doom' was very slippy, but we all survived (3 riding, 1 walking, no names!) By the time we got to the edge of Wantage it was seriously dark. I lent Luke my big light, trusting to my knowledge of the route to keep me upright with a smaller one. Finishing in the dark down Crab Hill and then splashing through some mud gave a real 'end of season' feel to the ride. Several people are keen to keep evening riding going into the Autumn, so we've now set up a series of rides. But you'll clearly need to bring or borrow a good light, and not mind a bit of mud!
Distance: 22.53 km (14.00 mi)
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Sat Sep 10th 2011

Round the Isle of Wight	3*

Leader: John Talbot	Start Time: 8:00 am	Start Location: Lymington Pier
Description: We will be following the Round the Island Cycle Route clockwise from Yarmouth Harbour. Distance is 105 km (65 miles). We will catch the 08:45 ferry from Lymington Pier. We will travel as day return foot passengers (£12.30, tickets bought before sailing), bikes are carried free of charge. The crossing takes 30 minutes. There is a pay and display car park at the ferry terminal (£5.90 for 8-16hrs). Bring enough change for the machines. You must arrive at least 30mins before the ferry to allow time for parking, buying tickets and boarding. We will car share as much as possible. We can have breakfast and refreshments on the ferry. Lunch stop will be at the CTC Affiliated Toll Gate Café near Bembridge. We'll aim to stop for afternoon tea/ice cream or we will take refreshments on the return ferry (probably the 17:15 or 17:55). The route is undulating with a couple of climbs but is very scenic. Last year we did the route anticlockwise. Please let me know beforehand if you are coming on the ride so I can tick you off at Lymington.
Riders: Adrian West Andy Cowan Andy Newell Chris Walters Claire Newell Jenny Williamson John Talbot Ken Pelton Paul Jarvis Riders = 9 Report: Our 2nd annual(?) trip to the Isle of Wight. Despite high winds forecast I decided we should try for a clockwise circuit of the island knowing that the SW corner is very exposed if the wind got bad. Nine of us arrived in plenty of time to catch the 8:45am ferry which was quiet despite the Bestival taking place on the island this weekend. The Sun came out as we approached Yarmouth and it was a sultry 20ºC when we arrived. The first section to Cowes is undulating but with the wind at our backs we made good time and had a nice break at the beach at Gurnard for ice cream. We didn't want to get to Bembridge too early for lunch! The route takes a rather bizarre choice of climbing up and over West Cowes avoiding the town centre entirely, seems utterly pointless, there must be a way of getting to the chain ferry without involving any hills! Unfortunately we timed our arrival in East Cowes with the unloading of a ferry from Southampton and this being the only main road of the route it was very busy. We took refuge in an entrance until the traffic eased. Then begins the rhythm breaking relentless up and down section through Wootton Bridge, the outskirts of Ryde to Bembridge. We had a good lunch break able to sit outside in the Sun next to the harbour. Andy N rather conveniently decided to have the only mechanical of the day just as we arrived. Suffering a puncture yards from the café! He could repair at leisure as Claire (welcome on her first ride with the club) ordered his lunch. Just as we set off from lunch it started raining. Waterproofs were donned as we assumed this was the forecast rain for the afternoon. However it only lasted about 10 minutes and we were hurriedly removing waterproofs and layers soon afterwards as we threatened to get cooked in the humid conditions. A missing sign saw us take a wrong turning down into Sandown. Although this added a few km to our total for the day, we got a chance to see the zoo and the beach! We picked up the signed route near the roman remains at Brading. The section towards Ventnor is possibly the toughest of the whole day. Constant up and down and a few started to flag a little. We kept together though and waited at turns. The long climb to Blackgang Chine is much more manageable as it's a constant gradient and is followed by a good descent even if interrupted by a roundabout! After this the route is pretty flat to Brook Bay where we had a comfort break and a look at the coast before tackling the last two hills of the day to Freshwater Bay. Again these are steady gradients so a good rhythm can be achieved. The threatened gales never materialised and although there was a gusty sidewind on the descent into Freshwater it wasn't too bad. We needed to push on to get back to Yarmouth for the 5.55pm ferry so we decided not to stop and took the last few km at a good speed, even on the gravelly ex-railway track section. The ferry was just unloading as we arrived, but with loading not sceheduled for another 15mins we had time for one last delicious ice cream at Minghella's. The leisurely crossing back to the mainland gave us time to relax and discuss the day's adventures over a coffee. Well done everyone, you've completed one of the classic British cycle rides! Very similar moving average speed as last year at 12.8mph (20.7kph) so good job and thanks for supporting the ride, great company and group riding
Distance: 111.19 km (69.09 mi)	Ride Details: http://ridewithgps.com/trips/386867
Ferry approaching with Isle of Wight in distance On the ferry in the sunshine Mid-morning ice cream stop in Gurnard Lunch at Bembridge harbour Andy N and Adrian at Brook Bay Andy C has 40 winks before boarding the ferry home Time for one more ice cream before heading home Our vehicle back to the mainland
Proposed Route: http://ridewithgps.com/routes/500570"
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Written by : Steve Swanton

Posted on : September 18, 2011 at 8:20 PM

Great video, of what looked like a wonderful ride. Hope to come next year.... Steve

Written by : Glen S

Posted on : September 22, 2011 at 9:11 PM

Wow!...That's ace John...A wonderful ride and a smashing video. The theme music works really well. I recognise those coastal roads from childhood holidays...:0

Leader: Ginny Henderson	Start Time: 6:30 pm	Start Location: Ginny's house, East Hanney
Description: Turbo training starts again 13 Sept in East Hanney 6.30 pm . Suitable for all abilities 123*(flexible program). Ginny 01235 867590
Riders: Amanda Seddon Andy Cowan Barry Gills Dean Douglas Ginny Henderson Jon Seddon Maurice Bawden Neil Warner Tessa Darley Tony Smith Riders = 10 Report: Well we had a cracking start to the season. 3 newbies who were very welcome Richard, Barry and Andy . Dean came back !!!!! Everyone did very well especially Neil who had to get the bikes of those who were unfamiliar with the dark art of turbo trainer /bike marriage,onto aforementioned trainers. actually now I think of it he did a fair bit of room prep too . Thanks Tessa for the comestibles
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Leader: Ginny Henderson	Start Time: 6:30 pm	Start Location: East Hanney
Description: 1 Hour, warm up, main set, cool down. Do as much or little as you like. Followed by optional core work, drinks , fruit and biscuits. This sociable session maintains or improves fitness. Some go very hard, some go easy, so you won't be left out if you're nunfit, don't want a whole session or are really good! 4 spare trainers. Phone for info.
Riders: Barry Gills Dean Douglas Ginny Henderson Jon Seddon Neil Warner Tessa Darley Riders = 6 Report: Another good session .Similar to last week.We missed Amanda though who has found a Spanish class to go to .... and Tony who was collecting prizes at Didcot Phoenix -well done !And 2 of the newcomers .And Paul who phoned after we had all gone outside so I didn't know he had phoned -sorry. Good head banging music this week .We had some discussion regarding the format of the cadence competition which we are having this year Thanks to Jon for goodies and for cycling over in the rain -Heroic .
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Leader: Ginny Henderson	Start Time: 6:30 pm	Start Location: East Hanney
Description: 1 Hour, warm up, main set, cool down. Do as much or little as you like. Followed by optional core work, drinks , fruit and biscuits. This sociable session maintains or improves fitness. Some go very hard, some go easy, so you won't be left out if you're nunfit, don't want a whole session or are really good! 4 spare trainers. Phone for info.
Riders: Barry Gills Dean Douglas Ginny Henderson Jon Seddon Maurice Bawden Paul Jarvis Tessa Darley Riders = 7 Report: Another good session though it was a warm evening so we all got a bit hot . Thanks Barry for comestibles . Welcome to Paul who did well on his first session on a turbo trainer. Neil and Tony were much misses both on holiday (but not together ).Roll on next week.
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