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Offroad ride | 2* |
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Leader:Chris Walters |
Start Time:2:00 pm |
Start Location:Lambourn crossroads - SU326789 |
Description:Circuit from Lambourn heading up to the Ridgeway and Uffington Hill Fort, and back via Upper Lambourn. Mountain bikes (or very sturdy touring bikes with fat tyres) essential.Start point here . 30km ride with a stop at the Malt Shovel pub in Upper Lambourn at the end - option to shorten by 4km after the stop. Car parking (free) available at SU325788, behind the library. Forecast looks great - ride definitely on! |
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Riders:Adrian WestAndy Cowan Bob Wyatt David Smith Jenny Williamson Louis Hall Paul Jarvis Robert Shaw Robin Tucker Ursula Hallam Riders = 10 Report:At 11 in the morning, Robin got a call from Chris - he'd crashed on a pre-ride ride, had bad gravel rash and was off to hospital. Not a great way to start the day! I agreed to lead the ride.It was a scorchingly hot day already when we gathered at the crossroads in Lambourn. And the first part of the route was uphill towards Sheepdrove, so we got even hotter. We worked our way up to the Ridgeway at Gramps Hill with frequent stops to cool down, then headed West. Just before Uffington Hill Fort we passed several cars and vans on the Ridgeway, in some kind of illegal (vehicles not allowed on that part of Ridgeway) outdoor gathering. And a puncture delay. We made it to the Malt Shovel pub at about 1640 - somewhat later than planned, but at least the beer was cool. We really needed the hydration by then - reckoning the temperature was about 28C. We also got a couple of messages from Chris saying he was still hurting, but had got treatment - before detailing the state of his bike down to the handlebar tape! Despite the heat, Adrian talked us into the optional extra climb up 7 Barrows and down again. That was all well, except the group got split while chatting about Adrian's astronomy website (www.meteorwatch.org) and not noticing that the two at the rear had followed the obvious sign down the wrong track. I backtracked and chased them down, though they had already figured out a route back to the main group. Then it was back down the road to Lambourn, and home. I suspect a few more cold drinks were had! | ||
Distance:31.19 km (19.38 mi) | Ride Details:http://connect.garmin.com/activity/95033209 | |
Proposed Route: http://bikeroutetoaster.com/Course.aspx?course=263002" | ||
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