Cycling UK Wantage | Programme of Rides and Events

Past Rides

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Tue Jan 1st 2013

CANCELLED - Winter Social Evening

Leader: Chris Walters	Start Time: 8:30 pm	Start Location: The Fox, Denchworth
Description: The Fox is closed this evening, so there will be no social. The next one is February 5th.
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Tue Jan 1st 2013

Winter Evening Ride	2*

Leader: Chris Walters	Start Time: 7:00 pm	Start Location: OMH
Description: No social this evening - the Fox is closed. We will do a full-length ride instead. Quick but flat 2* ride in the Vale for 1.5 to 2 hours covering around 40km each week. We will not ride as fast as 3* pace, nor will we tackle hills. Tonight's ride is out via Steventon and Abingdon and returning via Fyfield. Good lights capable of lasting the full ride are essential, as is suitable clothing to deal with the cold. Please also consider riding with mudguards for the comfort of other riders, as roads are often damp on winter evenings.
Riders: Chris Walters Des Higgs Richard Preece Steve Burr Riders = 4 Weather: Report: New Year's Eve must have been a good one, as only 4 came on the ride, and we saw hardly any cars on our Vale circuit. "Just long enough" was the verdict at the end, as cold was setting in.
Distance: 41.60 km (25.85 mi)	Ride Details: http://ridewithgps.com/trips/1074660
Proposed Route: http://ridewithgps.com/users/25522/routes"
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Thu Jan 3rd 2013

Turbo Session

Leader: Amanda Seddon	Start Time: 6:30 pm	Start Location: OMH
Description: Turbo sessions are back! We are using the Dixon Suite in Old Mill Hall in Grove on Thursday evenings. The first block of 8 sessions begins on 8th Nov and ends on 3rd Jan. There will be no session on 15th Nov as the hall is unavailable. Please see the Turbo Sessions information page. There are some simple rules that we must abide by. Do not arrive at the sessions without reading these first.
Riders: Amanda Seddon David Yearley Des Higgs Maurice Bawden Richard Preece Riders = 5 Report:
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Sat Jan 5th 2013

Saturday afternoon ride from Grove	3*

Leader: Robin Tucker	Start Time: 1:00 pm	Start Location: OMH
Description: Because it's the last day of Christmas this will be a flat-ish ride and we can pick a speed and distance that we like. Plan A is to to go out to Burford for tea at Huffkins. We'll do a more circuitous route on the way out, picking up the former Oxford Cycleway and going to the west of Faringdon (some hills on that bit!) Then come back via Brize Norton, Bampton and Buckland. That's about 50 miles in total Will return after dusk, so please bring lights. Plan B if we're feeling more fragile is to turn round just south of Carterton and get tea in Bampton. That's about 40 miles. 3* ride: 60-70km (38 - 45 miles) ride, with a tea stop, riding pace of 20-22km/h (13-14mph). Likely to visit distant destinations. Not suitable for irregular riders. Climbing likely (but not much on this day's route).
Riders: Adam Dixon Andy Pixton Chris Walters David Smith David Talboys Frank Schroer Janet Charleston Mark Shepley Neville Steer Richard Abbot Richard Preece Richard Saunders Robin Tucker Simon Iremonger Ursula Hallam Riders = 15 Weather: Report: What a great start to the New Year! 15 of us were out on a cloudy but dry afternoon to work off the mince pies. In addition to the 12 listed, there where 3 people new to the group and trying things out: Adam Dickson, Neville Steer and Simon Iremonger. We went out through Denchworth, Goosey, Baulking, Fernham. Everyone seemed in good form and we set a decent pace, about 16mph on the flat bits. At Little Coxwell we crossed the A420, then up to B4019 where we split for a couple of miles to Coleshill to let the keenest stretch their legs. Turning right at Coleshill, we headed through a flat and landscape of partly flooded fields to the A417. A short section on this road and we could see how the Thames had burst its banks and flooded a wide area - fortunately nothing on the roads apart from a few puddles the width of the road and a few inches deep. Then it was Langford, Kencot, Shilton, across the A40 and down towards Swinbrook before turning left into Burford - 32 miles to here. A few peeled off before or at this point, but most of us had tea and cake at Huffkins which didn't disappoint. (Particularly as they ran out of small lardy cakes and had to give me a large one instead! Coming back, we took the shorter route with all the Bs: Brize Norton, Bampton, (Tadpole) Bridge, Buckland and (Charney) Bassett. Dusk turned in to dark and we arrived back about 5:25. This was certainly a strenuous ride, although mostly flat but by my reckoning we were all about 1750 calories lighter - nearly 9 mince pies worth!
Distance: 85.30 km (53.00 mi)
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Tue Jan 8th 2013

Tuesday Evening Off-road Ride	2*

Leader: Robin Tucker	Start Time: 6:30 pm	Start Location: OMH
Description: Off-road ride around local tracks, usually about 15 miles. Knobbly tyres and good lights required. We are keen to welcome new riders and have spare lights available to borrow if you let me know. Dark, cold and wet - we'll ride in any 2. But please let me know if you are coming so I can tell you if I decide to cancel due to really bad weather.
Riders: David Brown David Yearley Richard Anstis Richard Pethybridge Riders = 4 Weather: Report: A cold damp night, but we made the most of it! David Y had been swimming in the morning so was a bit tired - I think we drained the last of his energy! Past Lain's Barn and up to the Ridgeway. Then along to Scutchhamer's knob where we met half-a-dozen women mountain bikers out from the George & Dragon in Upton. As we swapped route, we discovered that we all had different names for the same trails! We went down the steep hill to the corner of Harwell Campus 'Barking Dogs' to them - thought the dogs were quiet this time. Then up to the Sustrans path and left along it, turning across the fields at Maypole Hill, and back past Lain's Barn.
Distance: 28.97 km (18.00 mi)
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Tue Jan 8th 2013

CANCELLED - Winter Evening Ride	2*

Leader: Chris Walters	Start Time: 7:00 pm	Start Location: OMH
Description: Yet again, the weather is forecast to be rain, so regretfully, tonight's ride is cancelled.
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Thu Jan 10th 2013

Turbo Session

Leader: Chris Walters	Start Time: 7:00 pm	Start Location: OMH
Description: We'll be doing the "Fight Club" Sufferfest tonight - described as "5 x 6:30 efforts with high intensity 'surprise' attacks.... best for improving ability to attack at threshold from a fast group." Whatever. Nobody will drop off the back... Please see the Turbo Sessions information page. There are some simple rules that we must abide by. Do not arrive at the sessions without reading these first.
Riders: Amanda Seddon Chris Walters Des Higgs Katherine Boyce Maurice Bawden Richard Preece Riders = 6 Report:
Proposed Route: http://www.thesufferfest.com/video-sufferfests/details-fight-club/"
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Tue Jan 15th 2013

Tuesday Evening Off-road Ride	2*

Leader: Robin Tucker	Start Time: 6:30 pm	Start Location: OMH
Description: Off-road ride around local tracks, usually about 15 miles. Knobbly tyres and good lights required. We are keen to welcome new riders and have spare lights available to borrow if you let me know. Dark, cold and wet - we'll ride in any 2. But please let me know if you are coming so I can tell you if I decide to cancel due to really bad weather.
Riders: David Yearley Richard Anstis Robin Tucker Riders = 3 Weather: Report: One number sums up last night's ride: -5C, the temperature we recorded going down the far side of the Ridgeway. In this temperature, David's riding into a big puddle that he stalled in and put his feet down takes on a whole new context. At least he had overshoes on. Later on one of his jockey wheels froze solid too - rescued with a little lubing. We all completed the trip with spray frozen on our shoes and a reduced number of gears from cables and mechs freezing up, but all agreed that it was a brilliant ride. A lot of the ground had hardened and the ice meant you could crunch across puddles before they could spray back much. Route: Out the top of Grove and past Lain's Barn then up Goddard's Brook. Down 'Ice Valley' and back up. Then West on Ridgeway to Baron Wantage, down Sheep Hill, down Goddard's Brook and the same way back.
Distance: 27.36 km (17.00 mi)
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Tue Jan 15th 2013

CANCELLED - Winter Evening Ride	2*

Leader: Chris Walters	Start Time: 7:00 pm	Start Location: OMH
Description: Due to the temperature forecast as below freezing and residual standing water on many of the Vale roads, tonight's ride is cancelled on safety grounds.
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Thu Jan 17th 2013

Turbo Session

Leader: Amanda Seddon	Start Time: 7:00 pm	Start Location: OMH
Description: Turbo sessions are back! We are using the Dixon Suite in Old Mill Hall in Grove on Thursday evenings. The second block of 8 sessions begins on 10th Jan and ends on 7th Mar. There will be no session on 24th Jan as the hall is unavailable. Please see the Turbo Sessions information page. There are some simple rules that we must abide by. Do not arrive at the sessions without reading these first.
Riders: Maurice Bawden Richard Preece Riders = 2 Report:
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Sat Jan 19th 2013

CANCELLED - Easy Saturday Afternoon Ride	1*

Leader: Sara Smith	Start Time: 1:00 pm	Start Location: OMH
Description: PLEASE NOTE - THIS RIDE IS CANCELLED DUE TO THE SNOW!! An easy 11 mile ride through Childrey and Wantage with a few hidden hills to keep us warm on a winter's day. We'll be stopping at Madison's for tea towards the end so you'll need cash and bike locks. Please be aware that this ride may be cancelled if there is snow on the ground. Watch the website on Friday night and Saturday morning for details on this.
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Sat Jan 19th 2013

CTC Wantage Club Dinner

Leader: John Tranter	Start Time: 7:30 pm	Start Location: The Woodman Inn, Fernham
Description: NB: UPDATE SATURDAY NOON - THE WOODMAN IS FULLY OPEN AND THE ROADS INTO FERNHAM ARE OK. THE DINNER IS ON! The Woodman is a charming 17th Century Inn, set in the peaceful hamlet of Fernham in the Vale of the White Horse. Menu: Starters: Leek, Potato & Thyme Soup with Truffle Oil. Confit of Duck Terrine with Plum Chutney & warm Brioche. Mediterranean style Stuffed Pepper topped with Mozzarella and a mixed Rocket Salad. Deep Fried Brie with a mixed salad and a Cranberry sauce. Main Course: Beef Bourguignon. Free Range Chicken Breast wrapped in Parma Ham topped with a Goats Cheese Fondue, Tomatoes & Swiss cheese. Salmon En-Croute in a Tarragon Beurre Blanc. Sun-blushed Tomato & Pesto Risotto with a Rocket & Parmesan Salad. Mains accompanied with mixed seasonal vegetables & potatoes. Desserts: Steamed Treacle Sponge with a Vanilla Custard. Dark Chocolate & Orange Mousse. Iced Raspberry & Cassis Parfait. Baileys White Chocolate Cheesecake. Tea or Coffee. £ 24.95 per person. To book places, please contact John Tranter (john@tranters.net or 07836 238350) with your menu choices by no later than Friday 11 January.
Riders: Andy Belcher Bethany Tranter Brian Hipwell Carin Tranter Chris Higgs David Bridge Des Higgs Edith Hipwell John Stamp John Tranter Kerry Tucker Neil Warner Robin Tucker Steve Burr Riders = 14 Report: Thanks to everyone for braving the snow and ice to get to Fernham (well, except for Des and Chris who were there anyway!). A very pleasant evening with good company and good food.
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Sun Jan 20th 2013

UPDATED - RIDE IS ON - Regular Wantage Ride	3*

Leader: John Talbot	Start Time: 9:30 am	Start Location: WMP
Description: 80-100km all-day touring ride, lunch and possibly tea stop en route, riding pace 18-22km/h (11-14mph). Not suitable for irregular riders. Climbing almost inevitable. I'm happy to give a ride a go tomorrow morning. A different route than previously advertised sticking mainly to B-roads and minor A-roads. See link below. We'll go along the B-road to Ashbury past White Horse Hill and drop down to Shrivenham and onto Highworth. Then A361 to Lechlade. We'll go via Faringdon to get to Clanfield and Bampton. We'll stop at Aston Pottery for lunch (NOTE they do not start serving lunch until 12:00 so we won't go too fast!). Back via Standlake, Kingston Bagpuize and Charney Bassett. Please be aware that the roads will be wet and could be icy, we'll modify the route according to conditions. We'll aim to finish early afternoon well before dark but please bring lights. Also please be considerate to your fellow riders and the Pottery by using mudguards. Wear clothing appropriate for the conditions. I would appreciate a text or email if you plan to come along so I can make contact if I have to cancel at short notice.
Riders: John Talbot Riders = 1 Weather: Report: Clearly I'm the only one mad enough to try and cycle in falling snow on ice Does a ride with one rider count as a club ride? It does now! And I get to use the snow symbol in the weather box I arrived at the Market Place in light snow a bit early so did a quick circuit around Wantage to keep warm to see if anyone else turned up. As no one did and I was all dressed for the occasion I decided to do a quick 30mins ride. Out towards Grove and back and then to Letcombe. The roads were OK, patchy snow and ice in places so I had to be careful. The road to Letcombe was fine until the church when it was covered in snow so I turned back and went up the hill to the B-road. With the snow falling, a biting wind and my Garmin telling me it was -1.4ºC I headed back to my car rather than going further away from Wantage. With the cold weather set to last for a while, club rides are going to rather thin on the ground...
Distance: 12.30 km (7.64 mi)	Ride Details: http://app.strava.com/activities/38090125
Proposed Route: http://ridewithgps.com/routes/2077348"
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1

Written by : Angela sanders

Posted on : January 20, 2013 at 2:07 PM

Well done for giving it a go and you are obviously not a fair weather cyclist. Smugly only 2 degrees in Torquay so got out for a ride. See Ctc Torbay

Tue Jan 22nd 2013

Tuesday Evening Off-road Ride	2*

Leader: Robin Tucker	Start Time: 6:30 pm	Start Location: OMH
Description: Off-road ride around local tracks, usually about 15 miles. Knobbly tyres and good lights required. We are keen to welcome new riders and have spare lights available to borrow if you let me know. Dark, cold and wet - we'll ride in any 2. But please let me know if you are coming so I can tell you if I decide to cancel due to really bad weather.
Riders: David Yearley Richard Anstis Riders = 2 Report: What an excellent ride! It was shorter than usual at only about 11.5 miles, but the effort expended was at least as much as a normal 15 to 20 miler. The snow on the ground and the snow falling from the sky made for heavy going, and ensured that maximum effort was needed. It also hid the normal tracks giving rise to much reactive riding - the bike would slip and slide without warning. We started from OMH, across Grove and along Crab Hill Lane to Charlton, Wantage. Crab Hill Lane has been avoided by us for a while due to the quantity of standing water and mud, and this was still clearly evident tonight. The route continued up Lark Hill to the point-to-point course, and then up to the Ridgeway. From there we went past Lord Wantage's monument, before reaching the top of The Grassy Hill. This was a fantastic descent, with fresh powder that many skiers would pay good money to carve down! From the point-to-point course down Goddard's Brook, and then back to Grove via Crab Hill Lane again. If you've never ridden off-road in the snow then it's something to be recommended. Let's hope the white stuff is still here next week. David Yearley
Distance: 18.51 km (11.50 mi)
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Tue Jan 22nd 2013

CANCELLED - Winter Evening Ride	2*

Leader: David Smith	Start Time: 7:00 pm	Start Location: OMH
Description: Due to the Met Office forecast of ice and snow for this evening, the evening ride is again cancelled.
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Sat Jan 26th 2013

Saturday afternoon ride from Grove	2*

Leader: David Smith	Start Time: 1:00 pm	Start Location: OMH
Description: At 45km (30 miles) the route is at the shorter end of the scale. Out through Denchworth, Lyford, Kingston Bagpuize to the tea stop at Aston Pottery. Back via Bampton with Buckland Hill the only real climb of the day to Charney Bassett and Grove. The pace will be 2*. Please bring lights suitable for the conditions and dress warmly. Please check the website on Friday evening in case the weather changes and we have to cancel another ride.
Riders: Andy Pixton David Bridge David Smith Katherine Boyce Louise Bowland Mark Shepley Mo Fillmore Richard Abbot Richard Preece Robin Tucker Steve Swanton Susan Holdroyd Ursula Hallam Riders = 13 Weather: Report: Really good to be out on a club ride again it feels like ages since we've been out! A very good turnout with a couple of new faces. The weather felt warmer than the forecast promised and the roads were mostly clear of snow and ice. The section along the A415 from Kingston Bagpuize to the turn for Aston was fairly quiet too. Rather than head along the B449 to Aston, Steve Swanton suggested an alternative route on quieter roads via Shifford coming out in Aston just before the Pottery. Steve left us for a while and went to scout out the road along Great Brook as this had been seriously flooded in the previous few weeks. Richard, Louise & Mo left us as we arrived at the Pottery as they all wanted to get back early. The rest of us had a good tea stop at Aston, the cross between an Eccles Cake and a mince pie is particularly recommended! Luckily Steve arrived at the Pottery in time for tea and a cake before we had to leave. Steve reported that the Great Brook road was passable with just a few large puddles no more than a few inches deep, so we decided to head that way rather than the planned route to Bampton as again this promised quieter roads. Buckland Hill was dispatched with ease and we were soon back in Grove about 16:30.
Distance: 45.90 km (28.52 mi)	Ride Details: http://ridewithgps.com/trips/1109921
Proposed Route: http://ridewithgps.com/routes/2080030"
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Tue Jan 29th 2013

Tuesday Evening Off-road Ride	2*

Leader: Robin Tucker	Start Time: 6:30 pm	Start Location: OMH
Description: Off-road ride around local tracks, usually about 15 miles. Knobbly tyres and good lights required. We are keen to welcome new riders and have spare lights available to borrow if you let me know. Dark, cold and wet - we'll ride in any 2. But please let me know if you are coming so I can tell you if I decide to cancel due to really bad weather.
Riders: David Yearley Richard Anstis Riders = 2 Report: To quote from the Winter road ride section, "High winds, heavy rain and much standing water leave no option but to cancel again tonight." Of course, there was no choice where road riding is concerned, but these three factors made for a really interesting ride off-road tonight. Last week's ride was hard work due to the depth of snow on the ground. This week's ride was hard work due to the wet, muddy conditions thanks to the melted snow. There was one section where the only option was to push. I even carried my bike up one short, steep climb! I think I prefer the snow, but hard work can be really rewarding too. The route took us from Old Mill Hall and along Grove Park Drive up and over the A417 and down into West Lockinge. From there the ascent to the Ridgeway was via Goddard's Brook. Once at the top we headed Eastwards with the strong wind mainly on our backs. The descent took us down the side of Diamond Jubilee Wood, veering off to the left down the single track about half way down. The it was past Ginge, upwards heading towards The Hendreds, but turning left down the Bridge of Doom over the Ginge Brook. The descent to the Bridge was dismal. This section had us both walking. The track is just too rutted and muddy. The ascent out of the Ginge Brook was not much better either. For the next mile or so I suffered from the worst chain suck I have ever had. Once on the road at Lockinge it was a fairly straightforward ride back to Grove via Grove Park Drive. If you like hard work, both physically and technically, then I cannot recommend this strongly enough! See you next week. David Yearley
Distance: 25.75 km (16.00 mi)
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Tue Jan 29th 2013

CANCELLED - Winter Evening Ride	2*

Leader: Chris Walters	Start Time: 7:00 pm	Start Location: OMH
Description: High winds, heavy rain and much standing water leave no option but to cancel again tonight.
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Thu Jan 31st 2013

Turbo Session

Leader: Chris Walters	Start Time: 7:00 pm	Start Location: OMH
Description: Turbo sessions are back! We are using the Dixon Suite in Old Mill Hall in Grove on Thursday evenings. The second block of 8 sessions begins on 10th Jan and ends on 7th Mar. There will be no session on 24th Jan as the hall is unavailable. Please see the Turbo Sessions information page. There are some simple rules that we must abide by. Do not arrive at the sessions without reading these first.
Riders: Amanda Seddon Chris Walters Des Higgs Katherine Boyce Maurice Bawden Richard Preece 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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