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Sat Aug 3rd 2024
| Oxfordshire Century (100-mile) Ride 2024 | 3* |
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Leader:Robin Tucker |
Start Time:8:00 am |
Start Location:Abingdon Market Place |
Description:This year's Oxfordshire Century (100-mile) ride is being held slightly later this year to coincide with the Oxfordshire Cycling UK centenary weekend, when we are marking 100 years of CTC/Cycling UK activities in Oxfordshire.Our centenary century will be in two parts - a 75-mile loop around Oxford starting from Abingdon with refreshment stops in Thame and Woodstock, returning to Abingdon for tea at Annie's before a final 27-mile southerly loop into the Vale of White Horse. Nothing too hilly and providing the option for a shorter 75-mile ride too. We plan to cater for up to 3 groups of a dozen riders. If you would like to join us please use the booking link here to register:https://forms.office.com/e/kt41kfiGbz Please arrive by 7:45am so that we can organise ourselves for a prompt start. If coming by car, there is ample parking at Rye Farm car park just off the A415 south of Abingdon bridge. If you've never done a century before (or even 75-miles), why not give it a try? |
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Report:A very special Century, because this one also marked 100 years of the CTC/Cycling UK in Oxfordshire. So Steve Swanton and I decided to plan a new route, a loop with Oxford in the middle and aim to have a 75-mile option, and and 25-mile additional loop to bring it up to 100 miles. The 3rd refreshment stop is always most difficult for a Century ride, and the discovery that the Riverside Café in Abingdon, recently refurbished (a) opened until 6pm; (b) served excellent cakes with plenty of room made an easy decision.Come the day, we had 24 riders on 23 cycles (Martin and Pauline on tandem), so that neatly made two main groups, that could split into two sixes on busier roads. A couple of people were annoyed not to be there: Roger on holiday, and Steve still recovering his fitness. Our first section headed out through Culham village, Appleford, the Moretons, through Wallingford, down into Ewelme to take a not too painful climb out, Cuxham, Tetsworth, Thame. My favourite part of this section was the ridge by Easington and Stoke Talmage, with great views across to the Chilterns ridge. We “enjoyed” a gravel section from Tetsworth to Thame, a bit like Stage 9 of this year’s Tour de France. The Black Goo Café proved epic in its portion sizes and range of glorious cakes. One rider took theirs to serve for lunch and tea as well. Our next section looped westward to Woodstock, passing Worminghall, Fencott, Islip, Enslow. Quite a lot was on the B4027, which isn’t my favourite, but there isn’t an alternative unless you go a lot further north. Also, it was against the wind, and you have the climb out of the valley after crossing the canal and river at Enslow – quite a tough one in traffic, but we all did it! Our group had one puncture on this section, but the rider had a new tube, so that was quickly sorted by the sort of committee that forms around such things on a group ride. (One person fixing it, everyone else telling them how to fix it!) At Woodstock, arriving in the second group, our original choice of café was looking a bit busy (due to not being far behind the first group), so we dispersed to another sandwich shop and a pub (or brought out cake from Thame and a sausage roll). The third stage was to cut through the edge of Blenheim Palace grounds, through Bladon and then across to Cassington and the restricted road to Eynsham. Then a fairly classic route of Stanton Harcourt, Bablock Hythe, over the Thames at Newbridge, up the hill, turn left to Fyfiled, through the tunnel and back through Tubney and Gozzards Ford to Abingdon for tea. The rain we were worried about had held off, and the sun was out. A few riders peeled off at this point – a couple only aiming to do 75 miles, others having ridden to the event, and were riding back, knowing that they would add up to 100 miles by the end. The Riverside Café proved very good (care required on the ramp). Then, our somewhat smaller group set off round the final 25 miles. This was an interesting mix familiar and unfamiliar territory – we started through Drayton, Steventon and East Hendred, but then turned into Harwell Campus and cycled between its odd mix of 1950s and 21st century buildings. Out of the campus, we crossed the A34 and up Hagbourne Hill on the road (not the gravel track this time) and rode through both Hagbournes, out to Aston Upthorpe before turning back through South and North Moreton, retracing our wheel-marks from the morning into Abingdon. The first group, led by James D finished at 7pm, the second, led by Robin T finished at 7:15pm. A great day out by all accounts, and at least two people completed their first full Century rides. | ||
Distance:162.00 km (100.66 mi) | ||
| Proposed Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/47752426" | ||
Comment on this ride | ||
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- 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.
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