Cycling UK Wantage | Programme of Rides and Events

Past Rides

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Sat Dec 2nd 2023

3* Saturday Half Day Ride - White Horse special	3*

Leader: John Tranter	Start Time: 10:00 am	Start Location: OMH
Description: NB: START TIME PUSHED BACK TO MAKE IT SLIGHTLY LESS CHILLY Please pre-book for this ride by contacting the ride leader. Half day ride (60-70km / 38-45 miles), with a tea stop, riding pace of 20-24km/h (13-15mph). To mark the first day of the White Horse Cycle Challenge, it seems fairly obvious where we need to go - conquering the great climb of Uffington White Horse Hill! We will take the direct route out to the Hill via Denchworth and Goosey, then head for Ashbury and Shrivenham for cafe options before a (hopefully) tailwind home across the Vale. Bring a mince pie to celebrate on the summit! 33 miles / 53km
Riders: Jo Little John Tranter Riders = 2 Weather: Report: Goodness me, that was a cold one! Starting in freezing fog wasn't ideal, and it was hardly surprisingly that the number of people mad enough to join me was severely limited (but thanks, Jo!) It was a cautious and freezing ride through the Vale as ice deposits formed on the front of the bikes, and we set off up the Hill also with caution, walking around the lethally iced up cattle grid. But then it got interesting - just as we passed Dragon Hill, the sun fought its way through and suddenly there was a glorious blue sky above us. Meanwhile the Vale below was completely obscured by clouds. An amazing and rare sight which made the whole thing worthwhile! We descended carefully and decided to head home the same way we had come, avoiding as many wet/icy patches on the roads as possible. In the end, a surprisingly fun ride and a great way to kick off the White Horse Cycle Challenge!
Distance: 37.01 km (23.00 mi)	Ride Details: https://ridewithgps.com/trips/140579796
Freezing fog meets glorious sunshine on White Horse Hill Freezing fog meets glorious sunshine on White Horse Hill Freezing fog meets glorious sunshine on White Horse Hill Freezing fog meets glorious sunshine on White Horse Hill Freezing fog meets glorious sunshine on White Horse Hill Freezing fog meets glorious sunshine on White Horse Hill Freezing fog meets glorious sunshine on White Horse Hill
Proposed Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/45009223"
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Sun Dec 3rd 2023

RIDE CANCELLED - Sunday Shortie	2*

Leader: Stephanie Haddrell	Start Time: 10:00 am	Start Location: OMH
Description: RIDE CANCELLED - Ride cancelled due to rain - A gentle flat shortie for a Sunday morning coffee at the cantorist Please pre-book for this ride by contacting the ride leader. A 2 Hour ride (24-40km / 15-25 miles), riding pace of 20-24km/h (13-15mph). Not suitable for irregular riders. Climbing likely.
Proposed Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/45070901"
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Tue Dec 5th 2023

Off Road Tuesday Evening Ride	3*

Leader: Robin Tucker	Start Time: 6:30 am	Start Location: WMP
Description: Please pre-book for this ride by contacting the ride leader. Off-road ride around local tracks, usually about 15 miles. Knobbly tyres required and good lights when it gets dark (‘get you home’ lights in Spring/Autumn). We are keen to welcome new riders and can make recommendations or have spare lights 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 we decide to cancel due to really bad weather.
Riders: David Brown David Yearley Robin Tucker Riders = 3 Report: A return to form tonight, by actually having a ride! And while not raining, it was properly wet ground, very sloppy in places, we had a minor mechanical, and finished at a pub. The ride was quite minor: up Goddards Brook, down Ice Valley, straight back up and down to Betterton, and back via Ardington. The mechanical was a bolt falling off of one of DB's shoe cleats, leaving him stuck to a pedal. Almost comical. He extracted his foot and we spent a while getting his boot off the pedal. Cleverly he had a spare bolt in his toolkit - a wise addition for us all. At the end, it was in to the Nelson for a pint.
Distance: 19.31 km (12.00 mi)
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Tue Dec 5th 2023

Virtual Turbo

Leader: Jane John	Start Time: 7:00 pm	Start Location: Online
Description: A virtual turbo workout of up to an hour including warm up, workout and warm down. You will need your own turbo set up, a computer/laptop/mobile device and Zoom version 5 installed on your device. If you have not attended a turbo session this season, you will need to contact the ride leader for joining instructions.
Riders: Barry Stanton Jane John Joy Arthur Karen Townsin Katherine Boyce Yvonne Bird Riders = 6 Report: A small, but elite group! My usual workout with a Highway Code quiz for our brain challenge.
Distance: 0.00 km (0.00 mi)	Ride Details: N/A
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Thu Dec 7th 2023

RIDE CANCELLED - Daytime 2* Thursday Ride	2*

Leader: John Tranter	Start Time: 10:00 am	Start Location: OMH
Description: RIDE CANCELLED - Ride cancelled - mostly worried about standing water and floods hiding potholes. Please pre-book for this ride by contacting the ride leader. Sociable rides from 24km-40 km (15-25 miles) at a pace of 16-19km (10-12 miles) per hour. Please check website on the morning of the ride (particularly if you have forgotten to book) if the weather is poor as the ride may be cancelled. A classic loop out via Denchworth and the Hanneys, across Cow Common to Steventon, then Featherbed Lane to East Hendred before using the Icknield Way to the cafe stop - Grover Chef at Ardington. Home via Wantage. 20 miles / 32km
Proposed Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/45111858"
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Sat Dec 9th 2023

RIDE CANCELLED - 2* Saturday Half Day Ride	2*

Leader: Stephanie Haddrell	Start Time: 10:00 am	Start Location: OMH
Description: RIDE CANCELLED - Due to rain and wind due for the rest of the morning Ride Cancelled. - A ride up the hill for those who cannot make the Sunday ride! Please pre-book for this ride by contacting the ride leader. 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.
Proposed Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/45118399"
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Sun Dec 10th 2023

THE MINCE PIE RIDES

Leader: John Tranter	Start Time: 9:00 am	Start Location: WMP
Description: Our annual festive ride, which again is in aid of Whizz-Kidz, the children's mobility charity (see http://www.whizz-kidz.org.uk/). Guests and other cycling clubs are very welcome to join us at White Horse Hill NT car park (grid ref SU 293866) from 11:00 to 12:00 for mince pies and mulled wine. All proceeds on the day will go to Whizz-Kidz. If you would like to cycle with us, guest riders are most welcome. There will be on-road rides at 1, 2 and 3* grades and an off-road ride to choose from, leaving Wantage Market Place between 9:30 and 10:00. Further details of the rides will appear under the individual ride entries closer to the date. This is a very popular event, so please arrive in good time for registration, at least 10 minutes before your chosen ride. Afterwards the rides will continue for an optional pub lunch at the Fox in Denchworth. Please contact Di Whidborne to book a place (diana.whidborne@cyclingukwantage.org.uk). There will also be a ride directly back to Wantage. Car parking: If driving in to join rides from Wantage, there is free car parking in the Portway car park (by the Beacon, the former Civic hall) on Sundays, OX12 9BU. See http://beaconwantage.co.uk/contact and scroll to bottom of page for map. If you are unable to cycle, we would still love to see you at White Horse Hill. If driving, please use the road directly up to the NT car park from the cross-roads above Woolstone rather than the narrow Dragon Hill road being used by those cycling. This will be our 21st Mince Pie Ride (with cancellations in 2017 and 2022 due to adverse weather and the pandemic in 2020). It was started by Abingdon Wheelers in 1990 and we took over the event in 2000 when the previous organisers Val and Jim Worsley moved away from the area. From about 40 riders joining us in the car park in 2000 we now regularly host around 150.
Riders: Carin Tranter John Tranter Mandy Wassell Steve Boreham Riders = 4 Report:
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Sun Dec 10th 2023

Off-road Mince Pie Ride	2*

Leader: Robin Tucker	Start Time: 9:30 am	Start Location: WMP
Description: Update 9/Dec: Despite the iffy forecast, the Mince Pie Rides are on! Please be aware that there is artisan market in Wantage on Sunday morning with road closures in town from 7am. The off-road ride will start as close to King Alfred's statue as possible, but please can all riders walk their bikes in and out of the pedestrianised zone. Our annual festive ride to White Horse hill in aid of Whizz-Kidz, the children's mobility charity. This is the off-road ride. It's about 9 miles up to and along The Ridgeway to White Horse Hill - splendid views and not a difficult route, apart from an inevitable climb up the The Ridgeway. After riding out to munch mince pies and quaff mulled wine, your leader will be heading on to The Fox for lunch, you can also choose to follow another rider by road back to Wantage or return off-road under your own steam (or arrange a pick-up). Drop me a text or email robin@cyclingukoxfordshire.org for info
Riders: Luc Binet Richard Ashford Robin Tucker Sally Bensoussis Riders = 4 Weather: Report: Four of us for the Off-road Mince Pie challenge. I picked Segsbury Hill for the climb as it had been raining many days beforehand and it's the least bad tarmac climb. It was still tough though! But we made it while the weather was still dry. From there it was all The Ridgeway, and with rain due, we headed west. The trail on the top was actually not too bad, and we got as far as Devil's Punchbowl before the cold rain came. Coats on, we continued, it's still amazing to some that humans on bicycles can just keep going through bad weather and on bad surfaces, but it really wasn't that bad after the big climb. We descended a slippery slope above Sparsholt and climbed a rutted climb the other side (a couple of small offs here). Then is was down a chalky slide again and a mile or so of flat before the final climb to White Horse Hill. About here the weather really turned on us, with a side wind and rain that felt like being sprayed with a jet washer. We got up the hill, took a quick group selfie at the trig point and headed for the mince pies and needfully warm mulled wine. (Mileage includes distance to The Fox, others went further back to Wantage/Grove)
Distance: 27.36 km (17.00 mi)
Mince Pie Offroad 2023 Ready to Go Mince Pie Offroad 2023 Ready to Go Mince Pie Offroad 2023 Climbing the rutty hill Mince Pie Offroad 2023 Success! Trig Point White Horse Hill
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Sun Dec 10th 2023

1* Mince Pie Ride	1*

Leader: Steve Swanton	Start Time: 10:00 am	Start Location: WMP
Description: Update 9/Dec: Despite the iffy forecast, the Mince Pie Rides are on! There will be an artisan market in Wantage on Sunday morning with road closures in town from 7am. The 2* ride will start as close to King Alfred's statue as possible, but please can all riders walk their bikes in and out of the pedestrianised zone. Our annual festive ride, which again is in aid of Whizz-Kidz, the children's mobility charity, and which forms the centrepiece of this year’s White Horse Cycle Challenge (2-24 Dec). Ride out with us to the NT car park at White Horse Hill, Uffington, for mince pies and mulled wine. This is a pre-bookable ride. To book your place, either text me or email me on steve.swanton@cyclingukwantage.org.uk. You will receive confirmation. Meeting from 9:50 for briefing for a 10:00 start, the 1* ride will be a sociable ride at a leisurely pace leaving after the other groups. ETA for White Horse Hill car park, 11:20am.
Riders: Alan Fisher Angie Fisher Anke Otto Patrick O'Leary Richard Kidd Steve Swanton Riders = 6 Weather: Report: It was still dry when five of us set off from the Market Place just after 10. But by the time we picked up Anke in East Challow it was raining lightly. We were soon noticing the stiff crosswinds as we took the track over to Childrey (with the very welcome new surface on what was the muddy pot-holed section ). Patrick dropped off at this point as he wasn’t fully equipped for the conditions, but the rest of us pressed on, making record speed for a 1* ride to the foot of White Horse Hill. By the time I had taken a few photographs at the bottom, the rest of the group were already disappearing from view! Anke, Angie and Alan all made it up the hill for the first time. Well done to all! And having suffered from a dodgy knee since the summer, I was delighted to be able to complete the climb again, following on behind. The worst of the climb was actually the last 20 yards to the small car park at the top where, coming out of the shelter of the hill, it was rather a shock to be buffeted by the strong cross wind and driving rain. Soon however, we were down in the shelter of the main car park to join the milling throng of cyclists. The warm mulled wine and a mince pie were much appreciated as was the camaraderie. It was good to catch up with various cycling friends of old. Richard returned directly to Wantage at this point, while the remaining four of us descended with care into the vale and continued through Uffington, Baulking and Goosey to the Fox in what was increasingly heavy rain. But it was a challenge shared. At last in the dry we shed as many wet layers as we decently could and gradually dried off. Joined by other riders and helpers from the hill, we enjoyed an excellent meal with interesting conversation before eventually we had to don damp cags to make our ways home. Particular thanks to Carin for the delicious mulled wine, all those who helped to make the event happen and John for co-ordinating it all. And thanks too, to the A-team for your excellent company throughout the day.
Distance: 32.99 km (20.50 mi)
1* riders on the hill, Mince Pie Ride 2023 Richard reaches the summit, Mince Pie Ride 2023 Steve makes it, Mince Pie Ride 2023 Milling throng around the serving tables, Mince Pie Ride 2023 Anke and John, Mince Pie Ride 2023 Mince pies and mulled wine were most welcome, MPR 2023 Milling throng around the serving tables, Mince Pie Ride 2023 Well done to the A-team! First ascents of the hill, MPR 2023 Challenge achieved, Mine Pie Ride 2023
Proposed Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/38136121"
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Sun Dec 10th 2023

2* Mince Pie Ride	2*

Leader: Gareth Smith	Start Time: 9:30 am	Start Location: WMP
Description: Update 9/Dec: Despite the iffy forecast, the Mince Pie Rides are on! There will be an artisan market in Wantage on Sunday morning with road closures in town from 7am. The 2* ride will start as close to King Alfred's statue as possible, but please can all riders walk their bikes in and out of the pedestrianised zone. Our annual festive ride, in aid of Whizz-Kidz, the children's mobility charity, and the centrepiece of this year’s White Horse Cycle Challenge. Ride out with us to the NT car park at White Horse Hill, Uffington, for mince pies and mulled wine. From Wantage Market Place a fairly direct route out to White Horse Hill including a small amount off-road between Challow and Childrey. (An off-road option is available). A distance of around around 8 miles but this does include the stiff climb up White Horse Hill. After partaking of the refreshments at White Horse Hill we will return on a slightly longer route via Goosey and Denchworth for those lunching there. The full route from Wantage back to Wantage is around 20 miles.
Riders: Des Higgs Gareth Smith John Salmon Julie Haynes Michael Johnson Roger Postbeschild Roger Turnbull Susie Turnbull Riders = 8 Report: Eight of us set off from Wantage Market Place taking the direct route to White Horse Hill via Challow, Childrey and Sparsholt. Unfortunately the rain arrived as forecast when we were around Sparsholt/Westcot and it continued to rain for the rest of the ride. The route was quite short for a 2* ride, but in the wet conditions that was no bad thing. In a first for me half of the riders present were on e-bikes, the climb of White Horse Hill presumably having something to do with that. Following the ascent via the usual route past Dragon Hill we were greeted by the team at the car park who had the mince pies and mulled wine ready. Thank you! That was most welcome. Our stop was kept fairly short owing to the weather. Three of the group made their own way home while the remainder of us returned via Woolstone and the flat route through Uffington, Goosey and Denchworth. The tailwind helping us along for a good part of the way. This was an enjoyable ride as despite the weather, knowing we were part of the mince pie ride tradition supporting Whizz-Kidz and the excellent company was great. As John Salmon summed it up: " A shared achievement by the group."
Distance: 32.35 km (20.10 mi)	Ride Details: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/45085661"
Proposed Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/45085661"
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Sun Dec 10th 2023

3* Mince Pie Ride	3*

Leader: Sharon Bedford	Start Time: 9:15 am	Start Location: Beacon Car Park
Description: Our annual festive ride, in aid of Whizz-Kidz, the children's mobility charity, and the culmination of this year’s White Horse Cycle Challenge. Ride out with us to the NT car park at White Horse Hill, Uffington, for mince pies and mulled wine. Re-posting last years route - which never happened because of the snow!! Please note 9.15am start to give us a little more time. Please also note late change to start. Now at Beacon due to there being a market in Wantage
Riders: Barry Stanton Jan McCabe Jo Little Joy Arthur Mike Fitton Paul Smith Peter Brodie Sharon Bedford Riders = 8 Report: Welcome to Mike Fitton on his first ride with the club. Great company, great route, great mince pies, and great mulled wine. Special thanks to the team who organised the refreshments. We set off in the dry but got pretty wet on the return journey. Somewhat of a strong headwind at times, (that is my excuse for a slow time up the hill anyway).
Distance: 46.00 km (28.58 mi)
Proposed Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/41521528"
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Sun Dec 10th 2023

Mince Pie Rides Lunch at The Fox

Leader: Diana Whidborne	Start Time: 1:00 pm	Start Location: Denchworth
Description: Pub lunch after the Mince Pie Rides. Please book with Di as detailed in recent newsletters.
Riders: Alan Fisher Angie Fisher Anke Otto Carin Tranter David Bridge Jan McCabe John Tranter Kerry Tucker Lorna Swanton Mandy Wassell Nick Portsmouth Patrick O'Leary Robin Tucker Sally Bensoussis Steve Boreham Steve Swanton Riders = 16 Report: Many thanks to Di, who organised the lunch brilliantly even though she couldn't in the end be there. It was as always a warm welcome from The Fox and a lovely Christmas lunch. Lots of chat, lots of banter and a thoroughly good time had by all!
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Tue Dec 12th 2023

RIDE CANCELLED - Off Road Tuesday Evening Ride	3*

Leader: Robin Tucker	Start Time: 6:30 pm	Start Location: WMP
Description: RIDE CANCELLED - Cancelled due to incoming rain - Please pre-book for this ride by contacting the ride leader. Off-road ride around local tracks, usually about 15 miles. Knobbly tyres required and good lights when it gets dark (‘get you home’ lights in Spring/Autumn). We are keen to welcome new riders and can make recommendations or have spare lights 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 we decide to cancel due to really bad weather.
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Thu Dec 14th 2023

Daytime 1* Thursday Ride	1*

Leader: John Tranter	Start Time: 10:00 am	Start Location: OMH
Description: Please pre-book for this ride by contacting the ride leader. Easy sociable rides from 16km-24km (10-15 miles) at a pace of 13-16km (8-10 miles) per hour usually with a cafe stop. Please check website on the morning of the ride (particularly if you have forgotten to book) if the weather is poor as the ride may be cancelled or the start time changed. A nice easy route via Wantage out on the Icknield Way to Lockinge for tales of mysterious disappearing country houses (and appearing rhinos). Then back over the new bridge to Ardingon to join the 2* gang at the Grover Chef cafe. Home via Lains Barn. 12 miles / 19km
Riders: Angie Fisher John Tranter Patrick O'Leary Susan Holdroyd Riders = 4 Weather: Report: Drizzly to start with, but it brightened up as we went along and we even saw a glimpse of some sunshine! Just great to be out - a fair amount of surface water, and a bit of flooding near Ginge, but we got through it all unscathed, even conquering the bridge-of-slightly-less-doom across Ginge Brook. Really great refreshments at the Grocer Chef and we were just leaving as the 2* gang arrived. We did a tour of the Kingsgrove development on the way back, which involved an unwise choice of route along Crab Hill Lane, resulting in some slipping and sliding and a minor crash-ette. Thanks to all for great company and a fun morning.
Distance: 19.31 km (12.00 mi)
1* Thursday group at Lockinge
Proposed Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/43270574"
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Thu Dec 14th 2023

Daytime 2* Thursday Ride	2*

Leader: Des Higgs	Start Time: 10:00 am	Start Location: OMH
Description: Please pre-book for this ride by contacting the ride leader. Sociable rides from 24km-40 km (15-25 miles) at a pace of 16-19km (10-12 miles) per hour. Please check website on the morning of the ride (particularly if you have forgotten to book) if the weather is poor as the ride may be cancelled. Another attempt at last week's aborted ride to The Grocer Chef
Riders: Barry Stanton Des Higgs Roger Postbeschild Riders = 3 Report: The three amigos set off from Grove on a rather dismal day - misty with drizzle, but later on the sun tried to break through. Not so much traffic so we made good progress to the cafe where the 1* riders were just leaving - we took their seats. It was good to be out in the fresh air on a ride with good company and no problems. Thanks to all for your company.
Distance: 32.00 km (19.88 mi)
Proposed Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/45111858"
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Sat Dec 16th 2023

1* Saturday Half Day Ride	1*

Leader: Steve Swanton	Start Time: 1:00 pm	Start Location: OMH
Description: An afternoon ride around the vale finishing with a tea stop in Wantage. Lights recommended and will likely be required if riding home after tea. Monthly 16-32km (10-20 miles) family and social rides, usually with a tea stop, at a riding pace of 12-16km/h (8-10mph). Occasional short or gentle climbs. To help gauge numbers, please let me know if you are planning to come.
Riders: Lorna Swanton Steve Boreham Steve Swanton Riders = 3 Weather: Report: A select group of 3 for our last weekend 1* ride of the year. Although the forecast was dry, there was a very damp feel in the air and slightly stiffer cool breeze than expected, but it was good to be out and it didn't actually rain. We rode out to Lyford and there decided to take the longer route to Charney Bassett via Winter and Sheephouse Lanes. Lorna left us after Charney Bassett to return to Grove, while Steve and I continued on to Goosey. From there we briefly joined the A417 to Challow Station before heading up the shallow hill to Childrey. I was keen to show Steve the newly resurfaced section of bridleway across to East Challow. I was surprised to find that additional layers of pitch and fine stone chippings had been put down since we came this way on the MPR last weekend. The chippings were still a bit loose but this is still a massive improvement on what was there before. Now all they need to do is the rest of it as the older metalled sections are deteriorating fast. From Challow we enjoyed the descent of the Portway and turned into Ham Road to return to Grove and a tea stop chez nous. Thanks Steve for your company on a relaxing ride.
Distance: 29.93 km (18.60 mi)	Ride Details: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/45174643
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Sun Dec 17th 2023

Regular Wantage Ride	3*

Leader: Jo Little	Start Time: 9:30 am	Start Location: OMH
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. Please pre-book for this ride by contacting the ride leader. 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. A familiar route out to Fyfield and Cumnor before heading to Aston pottery for the cafe stop (29 miles) then heading home up Littleworth hill and then back to Grove. A shortish ride (47 miles) and hardly any climbing should mean we get back at a reasonable time as I know everyone is very busy at this time of year.
Riders: Barry Stanton Jo Little John Tranter LeeAnn Norris Paul Smith Sharon Bedford Riders = 6 Weather: Report: A dry and reasonably warm (for the time of year) day gave us pleasant cycling conditions, though the headwind was tough at times. The roads were quiet and any drivers we met were considerate of cyclists and a few unfamiliar or infrequently used roads made this regular route a bit different. As it was the longest ride we'd all done for a while, we were very glad of the stop at Aston pottery. A great group to cycle with and thank you to Barry for taking the headwind for me.
Distance: 77.25 km (48.00 mi)
Proposed Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/45156291"
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Sun Dec 17th 2023

Sunday Shortie	2*

Leader: Stephanie Haddrell	Start Time: 10:00 am	Start Location: OMH
Description: A gentle flat ride out to the cantorist for coffee. Please pre-book for this ride by contacting the ride leader. A 2 Hour ride (24-40km / 15-25 miles), riding pace of 20-24km/h (13-15mph). Not suitable for irregular riders. Climbing likely.
Riders: David Jackson Des Higgs Roger Postbeschild Roger Turnbull Stephanie Haddrell Susie Turnbull Riders = 6 Report: Great to be out with good company on a dry day! We had a head wind for the outward journey to the Cantorist which was hard work but no incidents and the coffee and cake was worth it, and the return journey a breeze! In view of road closure at Mellors we redirected and took the route back to the A417 from Childrey and rejoined the planned route at circuit road. A lovely morning culminating in a coffee at Costa!
Proposed Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/45070901"
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Tue Dec 19th 2023

RIDE CANCELLED - Off Road Tuesday Evening Ride	3*

Leader: Robin Tucker	Start Time: 6:30 pm	Start Location: WMP
Description: RIDE CANCELLED - The trails are a bit mushy after days of rain. We have decided they are best left alone. - Please pre-book for this ride by contacting the ride leader. Off-road ride around local tracks, usually about 15 miles. Knobbly tyres required and good lights when it gets dark (‘get you home’ lights in Spring/Autumn). We are keen to welcome new riders and can make recommendations or have spare lights 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 we decide to cancel due to really bad weather.
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Tue Dec 19th 2023

Virtual Turbo

Leader: Karen Townsin	Start Time: 7:00 pm	Start Location: Online
Description: A virtual turbo workout of up to an hour including warm up, workout and warm down. You will need your own turbo set up, a computer/laptop/mobile device and Zoom version 5 installed on your device. If you have not attended a turbo session this season, you will need to contact the ride leader for joining instructions.
Riders: Barry Stanton Jan McCabe Joy Arthur Karen Townsin Katherine Boyce Nicole Pethybridge Riders = 6 Report: Lots of regulars with other commitments tonight, so we could easily have called off, but Jan got us going and we were all feeling glad we'd made the effort by the end. A Christmas food and drink quiz lulled me into a sense of confidence, which was quickly shattered by a much harder Christmas Number 1s . Thanks all for a great season so far. Have a wonderful Christmas and New year and see you in 2024 .
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Thu Dec 21st 2023

Daytime 2* Thursday Ride	2*

Leader: Roger Postbeschild	Start Time: 10:00 am	Start Location: OMH
Description: Please pre-book for this ride by contacting the ride leader. Sociable rides from 24km-40 km (15-25 miles) at a pace of 16-19km (10-12 miles) per hour. Please check website on the morning of the ride (particularly if you have forgotten to book) if the weather is poor as the ride may be cancelled. In view of a strong westerly wind forecast for Thursday, I have gone for a route to Munch at Southmoor to avoid what would have been a hard section out to Fernham to get to Faringdon.
Riders: David Jackson Des Higgs Roger Postbeschild Stephanie Haddrell Riders = 4 Weather: Report: A blustery day but the chosen route proved to be quite rideable, with judicious use of Des out front on his e-bike! Coffee was enjoyed in a very busy Munch at Southmoor, followed by more coffee in Grove! Avoiding the proposed ride to Faringdon via Farnham proved to be a good shout. The wind would have made that very difficult.
Distance: 31.00 km (19.26 mi)	Ride Details: https://ridewithgps.com/trips/141591002
Proposed Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/44484524"
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Sat Dec 23rd 2023

2* Saturday Half Day Ride	2*

Leader: Roger Postbeschild	Start Time: 9:30 am	Start Location: OMH
Description: Please pre-book for this ride by contacting the ride leader. 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. Pre Christmas jollity - an anticlockwise route to Aston Pottery for refreshments. A more or less north/south route in view of the westerly winds. Should be back in time for lunch.
Riders: Anke Otto Barry Stanton David Jackson Roger Postbeschild Riders = 4 Weather: Report: Another blustery day - pretty much all we seem to get at the moment! A straightforward anticlockwise circuit with coffee at Aston Pottery. The hoped-for wind assistance on the return leg duly arrived as we turned left in Bampton. We were joined by Anke, normally a one star rider. Her e-assistance proved well up to the job (even at an average 21.5kph) and she waited for the rest of us at the top of Buckland Hill! Confidence hopefully boosted, we should see her on more two star rides in the future.
Distance: 49.00 km (30.45 mi)
Proposed Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/45190475"
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Tue Dec 26th 2023

RIDE CANCELLED - Off Road Tuesday Evening Ride	3*

Leader: Robin Tucker	Start Time: 6:30 pm	Start Location: WMP
Description: RIDE CANCELLED - Cancelled to focus on leftover turkey. - Please pre-book for this ride by contacting the ride leader. Off-road ride around local tracks, usually about 15 miles. Knobbly tyres required and good lights when it gets dark (‘get you home’ lights in Spring/Autumn). We are keen to welcome new riders and can make recommendations or have spare lights 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 we decide to cancel due to really bad weather.
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Thu Dec 28th 2023

Daytime 2* Thursday Ride	2*

Leader: Roger Postbeschild	Start Time: 10:00 am	Start Location: OMH
Description: Please pre-book for this ride by contacting the ride leader. Sociable rides from 24km-40 km (15-25 miles) at a pace of 16-19km (10-12 miles) per hour. Please check website on the morning of the ride (particularly if you have forgotten to book) if the weather is poor as the ride may be cancelled. Brisk south westerly winds forecast so avoiding that as far as possible. Faringdon via Littleworth - I am advised that the Drive Thru is the nicer branch of Costa in town, so plan to try them out. Please note the route involves a short stretch of the A420 - hopefully not too busy due to the Xmas shutdown.
Riders: Barry Stanton David Jackson Roger Postbeschild Riders = 3 Weather: Report: A blustery day, again, and only 3 riders. The wind and the festive season appear to have negatively impacted rider numbers. Still, it was dry and we even saw some sunshine. Unfortunately, the A420 proved as busy as ever but we safely negotiated the brief stretch. There was an unexpected bonus on riding into Faringdon, the Faringdon Coffee House was open, so we stopped there! The return leg was mostly either cross-wind (interesting) or tail-wind (nice).
Distance: 42.00 km (26.10 mi)	Ride Details: https://ridewithgps.com/trips/142087038
Proposed Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/45230037"
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Sun Dec 31st 2023

New Years Eve Special	3*

Leader: Sharon Bedford	Start Time: 9:00 am	Start Location: Beacon Car Park
Description: Please pre-book for this ride by contacting the ride leader. At a riding pace of 18-22km/h (11-14mph). Not suitable for irregular riders. Half day ride over the Downs with a short detour to Hampstead Norreys Community Cafe. Please note 9am start so we can get to the cafe whilst it is still open. Should be back by lunchtime allowing those who are partying later plenty of time to get their glad rags on.
Riders: Barry Stanton Jo Little Joy Arthur Nicole Pethybridge Sharon Bedford Riders = 5 Report: As the Ride Leader had to do two detours just to get to the starting point - see 2* Report of floods in Letcombe - we set off with a little trepidation, not quite knowing what to expect from the ride. We decided to head broadly in the planned direction (up court hill and beyond) but we varied the route after that to stay clear of the back lanes where experience suggested there might be puddles / lots of gravel. [Somewhat of a first for me as a ride leader abandoning the Garmin and just making it up as I went along]. This meant we didn't make it to the cafe - where Nicole had hoped to cycle to meet us. Unfortunately my text to tell her didn't send properly but luckily she had a nice ride and coffee anyway. [Thanks for being so understanding Nicole]. In the end we just did 36k but with nearly 500m of climbing (according to Joy's Strava) we felt justified in heading home for more Seasonal Eating. Thanks to everyone who headed out. Very enjoyable morning.
Distance: 36.00 km (22.37 mi)
Proposed Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/45179393"
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Sun Dec 31st 2023

Sunday Shortie	2*

Leader: Stephanie Haddrell	Start Time: 10:00 am	Start Location: OMH
Description: 21m shortie out via Laines Barn to Ardington back via Wantage Letcombes and Childrey. Coffee at the end of the ride in Grove for those who would like. Please pre-book for this ride by contacting the ride leader. A 2 Hour ride (24-40km / 15-25 miles), riding pace of 20-24km/h (13-15mph). Not suitable for irregular riders. Climbing likely. Route to be confirmed
Riders: David Bridge David Jackson Des Higgs Roger Postbeschild Stephanie Haddrell Steve Swanton Riders = 6 Report: Last ride of 2023 proved to be an eventful outing. It was great to have a group of 6 attracted by the forecast of sun and cloud to work of the excesses of Christmas. We set out in fine weather towardds Laines Barn and had a plan B in hand to avoid the flood which is often at the dip between Lockinge and Ardington- reversing the route and going through Lockinge to return to Wantage. All was well until we came down hill into Lockinge and faced a lot of water on the road heading toward the brook! Undeterred we continued and headed out to Letcombe where a friendly couple hailed us to advise of deep water, our leader was admiring the herd of deer on the field and a group decision was to have a look and let the leader test the depth. So Steph rode up the middle of the road to see if it was passable and all but one followed and succeeded in navigating. David Bridge sensibly turned back and found a rather drier route back to Wantage and joined us for coffee in Costa. The rest of the ride was eventful David Jackson stopping having to remove flood debris from his gears in Letcombe and further floods encountered in Denchworth where one rather inconsiderate driver decided it was a good idea to enter the flood coming towards us as we were riding through! Good job none of us came off Steve Swanton counted 11 floods and lets just say it was an adventure and lovely to be out in the fresh air, in spite of the weather forecast being rubbish and just wrong! Thanks all for the company and the ride.
Distance: 33.80 km (21.00 mi)
Proposed Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/45242254"
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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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