Past Ride
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Sun Dec 14th 2025
| 1* Mince Pie Ride | 1* |
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Leader:Steve Swanton |
Start Time:10:00 am |
Start Location:WMP |
Description:Our annual festive ride in aid of Whizz-Kidz, the children's mobility charity. Ride out with us to the NT car park at White Horse Hill, Uffington, for mince pies and mulled wine.Please text me if you would like to join the 1* ride. You will receive confirmation. Guest riders are very welcome. 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. Pick ups along the route by prior arrangement. We will follow a relatively direct but undulating route through the springline villages before we turn up the big hill. Even if you can't make it all of the way up awheel, the views across the manger and the Vale are breathtaking and worth the push. We'll regroup at the top before taking the gentle descent down into the main NT car park to meet up with the other groups. ETA 11:20am. After the gathering we will descend to Woolstone and return across the Vale via Uffington, Baulking and Goosey. The ride will formally end at the Fox PH in Denchworth (see separate entry for lunch details) from where it is a 2-mile ride back to Grove and 4 to Wantage (20-mile round-trip). |
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Report:It was great to find the Market Place already milling with riders on arrival for the start of this year's MPRs. There was an array of very clean (soon to be very muddy) mountain bikes on show. A select group of just 4 of us on the 1*. We waited for the other groups to go before heading off on the most direct route to the hill. Good to see Peter and also Anthi, on her first mince pie ride at the third attempt.Coming into Wantage from Grove into the southerly headwind had been hard work and there was a strong cross wind along much of our route. But the sun was shining, the air clear and there were great views along the Downs and across the Vale from the track to Childrey. We stopped occasionally to regroup along the way. Newbury RC and then the 2* group led by Anke passed us in Westcot and we saw several riders from Freewheeling apparently coming back from the hill by Britchcombe Farm. We must have been one of the last groups to reach the hill (around 11:15) and we were overtaken by riders from Didcot Phoenix beyond the cattle grid. We each ascended into the wind at our own pace, with a mix of walking and cycling. The gustiest point proved to be the the final lip before the small car park at the top of the climb. And with a strong cross-wind over the top, it wasn't a place to linger. We continued on to the shelter of the main car park to join the throng; riders from Oxford City, Farcycles and the 2* group were among those already there. Later, riders from Charlbury rode in before two groups of very muddy off-roaders! The delicious mulled wine and a mince pie were much appreciated as we caught up with friends. Thanks especially to Roger and to Steve and Mandy for serving duties. It was nearly 12 when the four of us eventually set off on the return leg. There was now some warmth in the sun and with the wind more on our backs we had a easy ride back through Woolstone, Uffington and Baulking. A short stretch southwards on the A417 before Goosey reminded us of the strength of the wind, but we were soon at the Fox in Denchworth, where we went our separate ways. A great morning's ride with good company. | ||
Distance:26.39 km (16.40 mi) | ||
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| Proposed Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/38136121"" | ||
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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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