Cycling UK Wantage | Programme of Rides and Events

Past Rides

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Tue Mar 3rd 2015

Tuesday Evening Off-road Ride	2*

Leader: Robin Tucker	Start Time: 7:00 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: Thanks David for adding riders and distance. Tonight was dry above, but still a bit sticky underneath, so we were cautious with our route choice. We went to Wantage on the cycle path, then up Lark Hill. Across the B road to Manor Farm Hill and up that. Then past Baron Wantage and along the (not-too-bad) Ridgeway towards Betterton. Just before we got there was the major event on the ride. David's (tubeless) rear tyre punctured and he spent a while firing it out, eventually stretching one of Richard's 26 inch tube into place. As this happened, it was getting very cold in the wind. Then it was down the hill - fast and fun! Although David was taking it a bit easier with a stretched tube. From there, it was back on a normal route through Lockinge and Wantage.
Distance: 23.01 km (14.30 mi)
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Sat Mar 7th 2015

Saturday afternoon ride from Grove	3*

Leader: Chris Walters	Start Time: 1:00 pm	Start Location: OMH
Description: Monthly 60-70km (38-45 miles) afternoon ride, with a tea stop, riding pace of 20-24km/h (13-15mph). Likely to visit distant destinations. Not suitable for irregular riders. Climbing likely. Quite "hilly" - a good starter for the season, weather permitting. Setting out along Icknield Way past Bishopstone and down in Aldbourne for a coffee stop at Cafe Bella in Ramsbury. Return journey via Chilton Foliat and the A338 through Great Shefford. Bring lights just in case!
Riders: Alan Delaney Andy Newell Chris Walters Nick Portsmouth Richard Preece Richard Saunders Simon Payne Riders = 7 Weather: Report: The official riders from today might notice and extra name - Richard Preece was very thoughtful and not thinking much of his early-year conditioning, decided to set out an hour before the official ride. Very thoughtful, and I'm sure you'll be back up to speed Richard! Sadly Nick struggled with hills and wind (and it was damn windy!) and left the ride at Childrey to get his breath back and enjoy the sunshine in the Vale. The rest, well we ploughed on along the spring line before the harsh (into the wind) climb at Fox Hill and enjoyed the almost empty lanes into Aldbourne and beyond. On arrival at Cafe Bella in Ramsbury, there was a De Lorean (car from Back To The Future) parked outside, in all its' aluminium finery. A good cuppa later, the Ax Valley warmed us up until the climb up Stag Hill, and then the decent on the A338 into Great Shefford. Climbing up to the top of Manor Hill was somewhat easier than usual, with a rather, but belated, tailwind. Just Manor Hill to end the ride, and a couple of bouts of speed shimmy (perfect conditions - smooth road, mudguards, tailwind and 77km/h) made it all rather interesting....
Distance: 71.60 km (44.49 mi)	Ride Details: https://www.strava.com/activities/264644437
Proposed Route: http://ridewithgps.com/routes/7097160"
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Mon Mar 9th 2015

Ride Leaders' Open Evening

Leader:	Start Time: 7:00 pm	Start Location: Old Mill Hall - meeting room upstairs
Description: Dear Ride Leaders, Firstly a big “thank you” for your contributions last year! You will be aware of the surveys we’ve done in the close season, the feedback on our rides and ethos as a club has been really positive and we have some great suggestions for the future, which we’d like to share with you. We have also uploaded the skeleton of the 2015 Ride Calendar on the website. A few of the rides are taken, but by and large, the calendar is still up for debate. We can move the dates of special rides around to an extent, and add new ones where we have calendar gaps. We’d very much like to get your input and guidance on these so we’re holding an Open Evening to shape the calendar – we’d love to get you all together on Monday 9th March, from 7pm to 9pm, in Old Mill Hall. It will be relatively informal, and we have an outline agenda for the evening: * Showing you the results of the surveys – this should take less than 30 minutes and provide some inspiration, and pride in what we achieved together last year * Ratifying the 2015 Ride Calendar – we will be as interactive as possible, using IT to help re-shape the calendar, and help you to claim the rides you’re interested in. What would be really useful preparation is to have a browse around the 2015 rides that are already on the website, have a think about any you’d like to claim, and also about any ride ideas you have too. We will also agree the approach and timetable for bridging rides on some Tuesday evenings, so that we can aid riders who may wish to develop between the grades. * Question and Answer session – we’ll cover your questions on guidelines, calendar, whatever you want to ask (within reason!) Looking forward to seeing you on the 9th March, please RSVP so we know how many biscuits to bring along! Potential ride leaders are also welcome, but please check with Chris beforehand!
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Tue Mar 10th 2015

Tuesday Evening Off-road Ride	2*

Leader: Robin Tucker	Start Time: 7:00 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 Talboys David Yearley Richard Anstis Richard Pethybridge Robin Tucker Riders = 6 Weather: Report: It has been mostly dry for the last couple of weeks and the trails have really benefited. Perhaps as a result, a full 6 of us turned up for tonight's ride. Crab Hill was reckoned still off limits, so we took cycle path and road to Wantage, then up at Goddards Brook. Fancying a bit more climbing, we went down the other side of the Ridgeway and up again, turning left just before the top and blasting down the farm track. We then headed back west and climbed to Scutchamer's Knob. RichA was a bit slow and at the top we discovered his softening tyre. This was fixed in a few minutes, but we were surprised by the number of cars coming and going from this remote parking place in the middle of the night... West on the Ridgeway, down at Betterton and back on the roads & paths completed our mission with the bikes still remarkably clean.
Distance: 28.16 km (17.50 mi)
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Wed Mar 11th 2015

Turbo Session

Leader: Amanda Seddon	Start Time: 6:30 pm	Start Location: OMH
Description: Description: Turbo sessions are in the Dixon Suite in Old Mill Hall in Grove on Wednesday evenings. The second block of 10 sessions begins on 14 January and ends on 1 April. Nb. There will be no session on 21 January or 4 March 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.
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Sun Mar 15th 2015

Regular Wantage Ride	3*

Leader: Andy Pixton	Start Time: 9:30 am	Start Location: WMP
Description: Monthly 80-100km (50-65 miles) all-day touring ride, lunch and possibly tea stop en route, at a riding pace of 18-22km/h (11-14mph). Not suitable for irregular riders. Climbing almost inevitable. Heading out to the new Café Roubaix in Thatcham via Chain Hill, the Ilsleys, Compton, and Hermitage, the ride there will be quite hilly. The return via Streatley, the Mortons, Sutton Courtney, Drayton, Steventon, the Hanneys, and Grove will be much less so! Quite sure there'll be coffee in WMP at the end, but lunch venue yet to be decided.
Riders: Andy Pixton Chris Rolls Chris Walters David Talboys Karen Froud Katherine Boyce Lyn Taylor Nick Stokell Riders = 8 Weather: Report: On a grey chilly morning, in Wantage marketplace, it looked initially as though there were only going to be three of us on this ride. As departure time approached, three became seven, and Chris W join us just beyond the Ridgeway. The eagle-eyed amongst us had noticed my subconscious attempt to lure off-roaders onto the ride, by generating the route in cyling mode; naturally. There were three or four occaisions, in the first half of the ride, when my routing device tried to send us down a farm track or bridleway, so some improvisation was needed to keep us on the road. As we approached our first stop the lead part of the group obviously smelt the coffee and hared off on the wrong route. The rest of us took the mapped route, and together we completed a pincer movement on the Cafe Roubaix. Having fueled up, the lure of bling bikes was too much for some, as Chris, Karen, and Kath left us to continue without them. The less hilly section of our ride, to The Boat House Cafe in Streatley, was completed compactly by the remaining five. After another pleasant stop we set off for home, rounding Didcot and undercutting Abingdon. This was supposed to be the easy part of the ride, but the relentless grey, a more undulating A417 than remembered, and a brisker pace as we got closer to home, made the final section tougher than expected. Chris and Dave left us in Grove, and the remaining three went our seperate ways at the Camel Crossroads; only Andy returning to WMP, almost exactly six hours after leaving. Thanks to all. Great ride, great company.
Distance: 99.50 km (61.83 mi)	Ride Details: https://www.strava.com/activities/269298971
Proposed Route: http://ridewithgps.com/routes/7162559"
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Tue Mar 17th 2015

Tuesday Evening Off-road Ride	2*

Leader: Robin Tucker	Start Time: 7:00 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 Talboys David Yearley Richard Anstis Robin Tucker Riders = 5 Weather: Report: Dry again. We even gave Crab Hill a try - oddly the first bi before the canal was the worst. After that it was just about ok. We went up Lark Hill and left at the top, round the end of the gallops and up to the Ridgeway. Then along to Betterton and off the back of the Ridge down there. RA and I got to the bottom ad wondered where the others were. After a minute or two we retraced our steps (our pedallings?) and found them coming down. DY had come off in one of those funny little incidents involving a particular tiny imperfection in a bumpy track. He was fine, but maybe will have a bruise. So we continued east along the road and climbed up to Scutchamers Knob. There to discover that RA who had been lagging had a puncture. After a quick fix, we blasted down Harwell hill and worked out way round the campus in an interesting (and muddy) route that I haven't ridden for years. All good character forming stuff. DB didn't like it at all Then it was back via the Sustrans route. I discovered a slow puncture about Lockinge, but it was slow enough that with one pump and go as we entered Wantage, I was able to make it back to Grove. There have been a lot of hedges cut recently and I guess that a couple of punctures shouldn't be too much of a surprise.
Distance: 31.38 km (19.50 mi)
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Wed Mar 18th 2015

Turbo Session

Leader: Andy Pixton	Start Time: 6:30 pm	Start Location: OMH
Description: Turbo sessions are in the Dixon Suite in Old Mill Hall in Grove on Wednesday evenings. The second block of 10 sessions begins on 14 January and ends on 1 April. Nb. There will be no session on 21 January or 4 March 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: David Talboys Des Higgs Riders = 2 Report:
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Sat Mar 21st 2015

Easy Saturday afternoon ride from Grove	1*

Leader: Steve Boreham	Start Time: 2:00 pm	Start Location: OMH
Description: Monthly 16-32km (10-20 miles) family and social afternoon rides, usually with a tea stop, at a riding pace of 13-16km/h (8-10mph). Occasional short or gentle climbs. *Note 2pm start* This month, will head out via Denchworth, Charney Bassett, Gainfield, Pusey, to Hinton Waldrist, before curling South to Lamb & Flag at Southmoor for refreshments (likely to be liquid, so bring own food if required, although liquid to include tea/coffee). Then return via Southmoor, West Hanney and Denchworth. Approx 18 miles
Riders: Adrian West Brian Hipwell Carin Tranter Edith Hipwell Roger Postbeschild Steve Boreham Steve Swanton Riders = 7 Weather: Report: Good relaxed ride, following the new relaxed start time of 2pm (Summer is on the way? - bit of a nip still in the air - so may have to wait a bit longer). Not quite the same turn out as for the February ride, however a good little group of seven, including Roger, for his first ride (of many?) with the club. The temperature meant silly hats were the order to try and keep ears warm, but stayed dry and the sun came out as the afternoon progressed. High pressured decisions at the "tea" stop - ie coffee/tea or beer! On the way back, a good pace due to a nice long gentle downhill with the wind behind us, a welcome relief from earlier when it was in our faces a little. Thanks to all for a nice ride, including those "training" for longer rides on Sunday....
Distance: 33.80 km (21.00 mi)
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Sat Mar 21st 2015

Cotswold Ride	3*

Leader: Chris Walters	Start Time: 9:00 am	Start Location: Cerney Wick - Cotswold Outdoor store
Description: 90km ride into the Cotswolds from the Cerney Wick visitor centre / Cotswold Outdoor store. It's quite a lumpy ride, but never overly so. Lunch at Northleach, coffee at the end. If the weather is particularly inclement, we may make the decision as a group on the day to do a shorter route. Please confirm by Thursday 19th to Chris if you intend to come along - the ride will not go ahead without sufficient support.
Riders: Andy Butcher Andy Newell Chris Walters John Davies Louis Hall Nick Dunton Nick Stokell Nicole Pethybridge Phil Ward Richard Saunders Riders = 10 Weather: Report: With late drop-outs and even later additions to the group, it was a good job we hadn't booked anywhere for lunch! 10 riders set out on a cool morning. The wind provided a little drag on the way out, and those in the group that hung back consequently struggled. Lunch was taken in the Black Cat Cafe in Northleach rather than having an al fresco bakery lunch, and very nice it was too! As ever, the immediately-after-lunch short, sharp climb tested resolve... A few more stingers followed, and then the gently rolling route with the wind at our tails allowed for a little spirited section out of Kempsford, before the finish.
Distance: 92.60 km (57.54 mi)	Ride Details: https://www.strava.com/activities/271706136
Proposed Route: http://ridewithgps.com/routes/2842215"
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Sun Mar 22nd 2015

CTC Oxfordshire - Bicester Explorer Ride	2*

Leader: Steve Swanton	Start Time: 10:00 am	Start Location: Bicester Leisure Centre, OX26 2NR
Description: CTC Oxfordshire's first Explorer Ride of the year, jointly with Oxford City group exploring the quiet roads around Bicester. Option of 32 or 41 miles from Bicester at a steady 2* pace. Start at 10 am from Bicester Leisure centre or meet us at coffee at Bicester Avenue Garden Centre (9 miles, 11am), where we'll meet City group and then ride together to lunch at the Bull & Butcher at Ludgershall via Poundon, Marsh Gibbon and Grendon Underwood. We'll return to Bicester across Otmoor. There is plenty of free parking at both Bicester start points. For further information please follow the link below: More information Please let Steve know if you are planning to come to help gauge numbers for lunch.
Riders: Adrian West Ellen Lee Lou Rose Mavis Rose Richard Morris Robin Tucker Stephen Lee Steve Swanton Riders = 8 Weather: Report: There are occasional days this time of year that provide a welcome foretaste of the long sunny days of summer that (we all hope) lie ahead. Today was such a day, just a lovely sunny clear Spring day to be out the bike. 8 riders gathered at the start by Bicester Leisure Centre, 5 from Wantage and 3 (Mel, Jo and Neil) from Bicester Millenium CC, with whom CTC Oxfordshire is working to put on a programme of accessible social cycle rides from Bicester this year. It was a sunny and fresh morning as we set off westwards out of town towards Bucknell... Full report and some pictures to come. Thanks to Adrian for route details below.
Distance: 69.20 km (43.00 mi)	Ride Details: https://www.strava.com/activities/272389403
Proposed Route: http://ridewithgps.com/routes/7169651"
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Tue Mar 24th 2015

Tuesday Evening Off-road Ride	2*

Leader: David Yearley	Start Time: 7:00 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 Riders = 1 Report: I was the only one riding tonight so I opted for a short ride around Grove.
Distance: 16.09 km (10.00 mi)
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Wed Mar 25th 2015

Turbo Session

Leader: Katherine Boyce	Start Time: 6:30 pm	Start Location: OMH
Description: Turbo sessions are in the Dixon Suite in Old Mill Hall in Grove on Wednesday evenings. The second block of 10 sessions begins on 14 January and ends on 1 April. Nb. There will be no session on 21 January or 4 March 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: David Talboys Des Higgs Katherine Boyce Nick Portsmouth Riders = 4 Report:
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Sat Mar 28th 2015

Saturday afternoon ride from Grove	2*

Leader: Glen Savegar	Start Time: 1:00 pm	Start Location: OMH
Description: Monthly 45-55km (30-40 miles) afternoon ride, with a tea stop, at a riding pace of 18-20km/h (11-13mph). Not likely to be very hilly. Might be a struggle for new or irregular riders in winter months. UPDATE, Friday 2200 hrs- A change to original planned route due to roadworks/ road closures and resulting busy roads east of Wantage. A shorter distance ride in view of the not great weather forecast. OMH, Denchworth, Goosey, Baulking, Uffington (optional loop to Woolstone), Kingston Lisle, Westcot, Sparsholt, Childrey, Letcombes, Wantage, OMH, with a choice of a tea stop near to end of ride at Letcombe Regis or Wantage. Approx 35 kms (22 miles)
Riders: Adrian West Andy Pixton Barry Gills Glen Savegar Jane John Nick Portsmouth Nicky Raban Susie Turnbull Yvonne Bird Riders = 9 Weather: Report: With the forecast wind and rain on the agenda, it wasn't looking too promising on paper, but 9 of us headed off regardless and made pretty good progress staying mostly dry, although the buffeting wind made for a bit of a concentrated effort to Uffington. A short loop around the springline village of Woolstone and then back to Uffington and the "Forget me not" tearoom, open each Saturday in the village hall from 9.30 am to 4.30 pm, and a real find, offering everything from bacon baps, fresh baked bread, and the mandatory tea and cakes. After a very pleasant and relaxing teastop it was back in the saddle with Fawler Hill to tackle and the sun now shining. Once clear of Kingston Lisle we were gradually rewarded for our efforts, with the tail wind starting to work in our favour. One more blustery push out of Childrey and an easy few kms zig zagging the Letcombes, saw us arrive back to OMH for a little before 5.00pm. A warm welcome to Yvonne and Nicky on their first ride out with Wantage. Thanks everyone! Glen S
Distance: 38.30 km (23.80 mi)	Ride Details: https://www.strava.com/activities/275388280
Tea and Cake 1940s Style. Fawler Hill Conquered !
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Tue Mar 31st 2015

Tuesday Evening Off-road Ride	2*

Leader: Robin Tucker	Start Time: 7:00 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 Talboys David Yearley John Davies Richard Anstis Riders = 4 Report:
Distance: 28.97 km (18.00 mi)
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Tue Mar 31st 2015

Social Evening

Leader: John Tranter	Start Time: 8:00 pm	Start Location: The Fox, Denchworth
Description: Come and join us for a pint and a natter - all welcome.
Riders: Carin Tranter John Tranter Richard Preece Riders = 3 Report: Going for quality, rather than quantity this evening!!
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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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