Cycling UK Wantage | Programme of Rides and Events

Past Rides

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Sat Mar 3rd 2018

RIDE CANCELLED - 3* Saturday Half Day Ride	3*

Leader: Louis Hall	Start Time: 9:30 am	Start Location: OMH
Description: RIDE CANCELLED - With a YELLOW ice warning through to 09:00 and plenty of slippery stuff around, cancellation is the only sensible decision. The ride out to Ramsbury will be rescheduled for more clement conditions. - Half day ride (60-70km / 38-45 miles), with a tea stop, riding pace of 20-24km/h (13-15mph). Not suitable for irregular riders. Cafe Bella and back. Out to Ramsbury via Lambourn. Back via Great Shefford. Flat for the first 10k, then ups and downs
Proposed Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/26933314"
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Tue Mar 6th 2018

Tuesday Evening Off Road Ride	2*

Leader: David Yearley	Start Time: 7:00 pm	Start Location: Wantage Market Place
Description: Off-road ride around local tracks, usually about 15 - 20 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 two. 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 Riders = 2 Report:
Distance: 20.60 km (12.80 mi)
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Wed Mar 7th 2018

Turbo Training

Leader: Jane John	Start Time: 7:00 pm	Start Location: OMH
Description: Description: Indoor turbo session of approximately 1 hour's duration, will comprise of a warm up, a workout focusing on different elements of training and a warm down. Different leaders plan and deliver each session, accompanied by a soundtrack. Amount of exercise is determined individually so sessions are suitable for riders of all levels. Turbo set up time from 6.30. If you have not attended a session before, please read the following document listed in 'Proposed Route' below and contact the ride leader if you have any questions.
Riders: David Talboys Des Higgs Jane John Karen Townsin Karl Blake Yvonne Bird Riders = 6 Report: Aerobic Intervals This session will take approx. 1 hour and requires a solid warm-up and cool down. Throughout session choose a big enough gear to push but one you can keep on top of and pedal smoothly. During the recovery sections, change into a lower gear and spin your legs out. As this report has been added after the event, please let me know if I have missed your name off the rider list!
This is what we did!
Proposed Route: http://www.cyclingukwantage.org.uk/blog.php?p=751"
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Sat Mar 10th 2018

2* Saturday Half Day Ride	2*

Leader: David Bridge	Start Time: 9:30 am	Start Location: OMH
Description: Half day ride (45-55km / 30-40 miles), 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. Out to Denchworth and Baulking. Up to Faringdon then along to Langford. Then to Bampton hopefully for a pub or cafe stop. Return via Buckland Hull and Charney Basset. NOTE START TIME IS 09:30hrs
Riders: David Bridge David Talboys Roger Postbeschild Steve Swanton Susie Turnbull Zoe Young Riders = 6 Report: The six of us left Grove for a quiet ride in the Vale of White Horse and Thames Valley. Thankfully the weather held, despite the previous day's forecast, it being a bit dull and the roads being quite wet. Met up with one of the local hunts near Langford who thankfully they were a mostly friendly bunch. We stopped at the Bampton village cafe for a break just as another cycle group were leaving. Came back to Grove via the usual route by about 1 to meet up with Des.
Distance: 57.94 km (36.00 mi)	Ride Details: https://ridewithgps.com/trips/21247241
Proposed Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/26913270"
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1

Written by : Susie Turnbull

Posted on : March 10, 2018 at 3:39 PM

Great ride. And good company!

Mon Mar 12th 2018

RIDE CANCELLED - Committee Meeting

Leader: John Tranter	Start Time: 7:30 pm	Start Location: OMH
Description: RIDE CANCELLED - Meeting cancelled. - (actually nice to cancel an event without the weather being involved - we managed to squeeze in a quick Committee meeting on the evening of the Ride Leaders' Meeting, so decided to give ourselves an evening off for this one)
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Tue Mar 13th 2018

Tuesday Evening Off Road Ride	2*

Leader: David Yearley	Start Time: 7:00 pm	Start Location: Wantage Market Place
Description: Off-road ride around local tracks, usually about 15 - 20 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 two. 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 Riders = 2 Report:
Distance: 34.76 km (21.60 mi)
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Wed Mar 14th 2018

Turbo Training

Leader: Jon Townsin	Start Time: 7:00 pm	Start Location: OMH
Description: Description: Indoor turbo session of approximately 1 hour's duration, will comprise of a warm up, a workout focusing on different elements of training and a warm down. Different leaders plan and deliver each session, accompanied by a soundtrack. Amount of exercise is determined individually so sessions are suitable for riders of all levels. Turbo set up time from 6.30. If you have not attended a session before, please read the following document listed in 'Proposed Route' below and contact the ride leader if you have any questions.
Riders: David Talboys Des Higgs John Hibberd Jon Townsin Karl Blake Riders = 5 Report: A velodrome inspired game of catch up that gave each rider the opportunity of sprinting for 1 minute in every 5 to â€˜catch up the break away. Only able to field 1 team this week and it was tiring enough (!) but look forward to adding in a bit of competition with 2 teams in the future!
Proposed Route: http://www.cyclingukwantage.org.uk/blog.php?p=751"
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Sat Mar 17th 2018

RIDE CANCELLED - Easy Saturday Afternoon Ride	1*

Leader: Steve Boreham	Start Time: 1:00 pm	Start Location: OMH
Description: UPDATE SATURDAY 9AM: RIDE CANCELLED - Sadly, due to snow and freezing temperatures, and possible windy conditions, have had to CANCEL the ride. Family and social afternoon ride (16-32km / 10-20 miles), usually with a tea stop, at a riding pace of 13-16km/h (8-10mph). Occasional short or gentle climbs. Note 1pm start, to allow plenty of time to reach tea stop This week, out via Denchworth (gateway to all rides!) then on to West Challow, Childrey, then up over the one hill of the day to Letcombe Bassett, the back via Letcombe Regis to Wantage for optional tea stop, to sate ourselves before returning to Grove. About 15 miles (I think!)
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Sun Mar 18th 2018

Regular Wantage Ride - CANCELLED	2*

Leader: Steve Swanton	Start Time: 9:30 am	Start Location: WMP
Description: All-day touring ride (80-100km / 50-65 miles), 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. Update 8:30pm 17/03: Regrettably due to the wintry weather Sunday's Ride is CANCELLED. On this occasion an all-day touring ride at the higher end of 2-star pace. With a Yellow weather warning for snow (!) and cold winds from the East, conditions aren't looking ideal for Sunday. So, Plan A is to head out eastwards across the Vale passing through Wallingford with a pub lunch in Dorchester, before, hopefully, being blown home in the afternoon. This is a fairly flat route with lots of options to shorten if conditions dictate. Please keep an eye on the website for updates.
Proposed Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/27023163"
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Tue Mar 20th 2018

Tuesday Evening Off Road Ride	2*

Leader: David Yearley	Start Time: 7:00 pm	Start Location: Wantage Market Place
Description: Off-road ride around local tracks, usually about 15 - 20 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 two. 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 Robin Tucker Riders = 2 Report:
Distance: 16.09 km (10.00 mi)
Snow drifts on the Ridgeway
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Wed Mar 21st 2018

Turbo Training

Leader: Katherine Boyce	Start Time: 7:00 pm	Start Location: OMH
Description: Description: Indoor turbo session of approximately 1 hour's duration, will comprise of a warm up, a workout focusing on different elements of training and a warm down. Different leaders plan and deliver each session, accompanied by a soundtrack. Amount of exercise is determined individually so sessions are suitable for riders of all levels. Turbo set up time from 6.30. If you have not attended a session before, please read the following document listed in 'Proposed Route' below and contact the ride leader if you have any questions.
Riders: Amanda Seddon David Talboys Des Higgs Jane John John Hibberd Jon Townsin Karen Townsin Karl Blake Katherine Boyce Yvonne Bird Riders = 10 Report: Enjoyable end to another great season. Thanks Karen for all your hard work.
Turbo session
Proposed Route: http://www.cyclingukwantage.org.uk/blog.php?p=751"
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Sat Mar 24th 2018

Saturday Half Day Ride	2*

Leader: Des Higgs	Start Time: 1:00 pm	Start Location: OMH
Description: Half day ride (45-55km / 30-40 miles), 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. We'll go out via Denchworth and Shellingford on our way to Great Coxwell and Coleshill. Then back to Grove via Longcot, Fernham and Baulking.
Riders: Andy Cowan Des Higgs Nigel Hughes Steve Boreham Steve Swanton Riders = 5 Weather: Report: A good steady ride with jolly good company. Steve Swanton left the ride at S.I.T.V so as to save his legs for the following day. So four riders proceeded to the excellent cafÃ© stop at Coleshill. We had no mechanicals or punctures so a very stress free ride for the Leader. Once again thank-you one and all and I hope I didnâ€™t bore you too much with my local knowledge.
Distance: 54.00 km (33.55 mi)
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Sun Mar 25th 2018

The Witney Nifty Fifty	3*

Leader: Steve Swanton	Start Time: 9:30 am	Start Location: Witney Buttercross, OX28 6AF
Description: Update Sat 10:30am: with growing numbers now, planning to take lunch at Wyatt's Farm Tea room (Sunday roasts but also range of jacket spuds, paninis, etc) nr Great Rollright. 50 miles into the Cotswolds on the first day of BST (British Sycling Time (sic)) This is the first of Cycling UK Oxfordshire's Couch to 200 miles series, to build up to the Oxfordshire Boundary Ride in July. Starting from Witney, a 50-mile loop through the Oxfordshire Cotswolds with lunch nr Great Rollright. The ride will be taken at a steady pace of about 12-13mph, at the lower end of 3*. Starting point will be the Buttercross in the centre of Witney. For those travelling in by car, there is free parking in the Leys, overlooking the playing fields off Station Lane. See map here. From there it is a short ride past St. Marys Church along Church Green to the Medieval Buttercross. Please let Steve know if you are planning to come to help with lunch arrangements.
Riders: Jan McCabe Karl Blake Nigel Hughes Robin Tucker Steve Swanton Zoe Young Riders = 6 Weather: Report: What a difference a week makes! A lovely Spring Sunday to start British Summertime and perfect conditions to be out the bike. 9 riders set off from the Buttercross on this the first ride in the Oxfordshire Couch to 200 miles series: six of us from Wantage plus Kevin Arnold from Witney and David Townsend from the Oxfordshire Midweek group. Peter Miles from Witney, recovering from illness, joined us as far as Stonesfield. We were quickly out of town and enjoying the countryside of West Oxfordshire. We had several swooping descents and short climbs as we crossed the valleys of the Evenlode and the Glyme before starting the more gentle climb up the Cotswold escarpment en route to Sanford St. Martin. Here we had a short refreshment break before tackling the lumpier, rolling terrain of the ironstone country of northern Oxfordshire. At Barford St. Michael we turned westwards to follow the river Swere upstream towards Hook Norton. Lovely countryside and, as Kevin pointed out, a great time of year to enjoy the views before all the trees come into leaf. With relatively few winter miles under my belt, my legs were starting to smart on the climb up to Great Rollright, but very soon we reached the top of the escarpment and the welcome sight of WyattÃƒÂ¢Ã¯Â¿Å“Ã¯Â¿Å“s garden centre. The cafÃƒï¿œÃ‚Â© was busy and we did have a little wait for lunch, but portions were good and it was nice to have a rest. From lunch we continued westwards along the top of the escarpment, passing the Rollright Stones and enjoying the great views northwards into Warwickshire. After a few miles we finally turned south and started the lovely long descent into the Evenlode valley at Kingham, where we briefly crossed into Gloucestershire. Correcting a GPS routing error that would have taken us along a muddly track into Bruern (woops), we climbed up to Idbury to join the lovely quiet lane through Fyfield and Upper Milton that contours along the valley side. Eventually, we had to turn uphill. The final big climb took us out of the valley into the quiet lanes through Fordwells and Field Assarts before the long descent into Crawley by the Windrush. Just one final, short pull and we were soon back in Witney. To finish off, Kevin showed us the back route to Witan Way, which was new to me too. This was a tough 50 with over 800m of climbing, which everyone coped with well. A satisfying ride to complete and a great start to the Oxfordshire Couch to 200 miles series. Thank you to Robin and Jan who kept me to the route by GPS and to all for your company on a thoroughly enjoyable ride.
Distance: 82.88 km (51.50 mi)
Proposed Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/26906448"
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1

Written by : Jan

Posted on : March 25, 2018 at 7:33 PM

Great ride Stve, thanks

Tue Mar 27th 2018

Tuesday Evening Off Road Ride	2*

Leader: David Yearley	Start Time: 7:00 pm	Start Location: Wantage Market Place
Description: Off-road ride around local tracks, usually about 15 - 20 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 two. 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 Steve Legate Riders = 3 Report:
Distance: 22.53 km (14.00 mi)
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Sat Mar 31st 2018

3* Fifth Saturday Special	4*

Leader: Jenny Gower	Start Time: 9:30 am	Start Location: Shrivenham
Description: All-day touring ride (80-100km / 50-65 miles), 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. SAT 1200 UNFORTUNATELY NICK HAS GONE DOWN WITH A COLD, BUT JENNY GOWER - 07795 123298 - HAS KINDLY AGREED TO STEP IN AND LEAD THIS RIDE (PLEASE GIVE HER A HAND!). THANKS JENNY. Anti-clockwise Tour de Swindon - a scenic ride through Wiltshire at 3* touring pace. Expected return to Shrivenham around 1630. Meeting place is the free public car park at Shrivenham on the left off the Highworth Road. Entrance is on Martens Road (SU 2363 8886). Can anyone planning to join the ride please text me by the end of Thursday. Reversing last year's route out to Malmesbury and back gives us a flat morning and a few hills towards the end. After an early coffee stop at the Gateway Centre, S Cerney, we will follow the quiet lanes Southwards to Malmesbury for lunch (Garden Centre or Summer Cafe TBD). A leisurely post-lunch ride Eastwards takes us to the foot of the Corallian escarpment, from where we climb up past Clyffe Pypard and descend into Wroughton. There is a potential tea break at Chiseldon but it's not far from there back to the start point.
Riders: Hugo Pile Jenny Gower Terry Penn Riders = 3 Weather: Report: A select few riders participated in this ride - which may have had something to do with the cold conditions and the amount of water that was about. We decided not to stop for coffee Cotswold Outdoors and push on to lunch. On the way to lunch we encountered 2 floods, through which it was possible to cycle, but at a slow speed and mindful of hidden potholes. Lunch was a welcome break and provided strength for the afternoon which was significantly hillier than the morning. The biggest challenge was the hill out of Clyffe Pypard. We arrived back in Shirvenham at about 3:30 having fortunately not suffered any punctures or mechanicals. Well done to those that braved the conditions and the hills
Distance: 104.10 km (64.68 mi)
Proposed Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/27005094"
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1

Written by : Nick Stokell

Posted on : April 1, 2018 at 4:49 PM

Well done; good effort considering the conditions!

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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