We send details of upcoming rides in a weekly email newsletter. If you would like to be added to our mailing list please contact [javascript protected email address].
Regular Wantage Ride | 3* |
---|
Leader:David Smith |
Start Time:9:30 am |
Start Location:WMP |
Description:80-100km all-day touring ride, lunch and possibly tea stop en route, riding pace 18-22km/h (11-14mph). Not suitable for irregular riders. Climbing almost inevitable.This months all-day adventure will take us to Barbury Castle, renowned iron-age hill fort on the Ridgeway with splendid views of... Swindon... and, on a clear day, back to Uffington Castle. A hilly'ish morning out of Wantage via Hackpen Hill, Lambourn and Aldbourne culminating in the climb up to Barbury Castle itself. An easier afternoon back via Chiseldon, Shrivenham and Uffington. Pub lunch options either side of Chiseldon or we can go to the cafe at the Three Trees Farm Shop. Afternoon tea/coffee/cake back in Wantage. Circa 85km - draft route below - may get tweaked. Bring lights in case of gloomy weather or unexpected delay. |
||
Riders:Andy PixtonDavid Smith Derek Boutle Des Higgs Katherine Boyce Louis Hall Ursula Hallam Riders = 7 Weather:![]() ![]() Report:Despite the weather not looking particularly enticing, a few other hardy souls ventured to Wantage marketplace wrapped up warm and raring to go. A moment of astonishment (or was it fear?![]() ![]() And so it was that 7 of us rode out through the mist and drizzle. The Letcombes and Hackpen Hill quickly dispatched, we were soon ‘enjoying’ the descent to Lambourn. It wasn’t really raining and there was no wind to speak of but the mist on our lenses and the wet tarmac prevented us from breaking any speed records! The ride towards Barbury followed a similar pattern – some steady climbing followed by some steady’ish descending - until we reached the Old Ridgeway. Des and Derek, professing to have climbed Barbury more times than they have had hot dinners, opted to go onto the café for a long lunch. The rest of us stormed the castle…the single-track road was surprisingly busy with cars given that there would be no view from the top but after we stopped to let a skittish horse go by, most drivers gave way to let us get up in one big push to the top. Another hill conquered! The warmth and grub at Three Trees farm shop café were welcome. By the time we emerged and got on our way following a puncture incident the cloud had lifted and the views of Swindon that we had not been rewarded with at the top of Barbury finally appeared. A peaceful ride back to Wantage punctuated only by the mild sting of Fawler Hill saw us in Costas around 3 for coffee, chocolate cakes and some ghostly knocking from haberdashers long departed. Definitely one of those days when you are reluctant to get out but glad you did! Thanks to everyone for turning out. | ||
Distance:86.90 km (54.00 mi) | Ride Details:http://ridewithgps.com/trips/2016921 | |
Proposed Route: http://ridewithgps.com/routes/3622671" | ||
Comment on this ride |
Thu Apr 3rd 2025 |
—Daytime 1* Thursday Ride
24km 5 riders |
—Daytime 2* Thursday Ride
|
Tue Apr 1st 2025 |
—Off Road Tuesday Evening Ride
18km 3 riders ![]() |
—Tuesday Evening 2* Ride
26km 10 riders ![]() |
—Tuesday Evening 3* Ride
32km 13 riders |
Sun Mar 30th 2025 |
—3* Sunday Shortie ++
86km 5 riders |
Sat Mar 29th 2025 |
—5th Saturday Special - away day from Lechlade
52km 9 riders ![]() |
Thu Mar 27th 2025 |
—Daytime 1* Thursday Ride
21km 8 riders |
—Daytime 2* Thursday Ride
54km 13 riders |
Tue Mar 25th 2025 |
—Virtual Turbo
|
Sun Mar 23rd 2025 |
—3* Sunday Shortie
47km 4 riders |
Sat Mar 22nd 2025 |
—2* Saturday Half Day Ride to Lechlade
68km 9 riders |
Thu Mar 20th 2025 |
—RIDE CANCELLED - Daytime 1* Thursday Ride
|
—Daytime 2* Thursday Ride
18 riders |
Tue Mar 18th 2025 |
—Virtual Turbo
7 riders ![]() |
Sun Mar 16th 2025 |
—Regular Wantage Ride
97km 6 riders |
Sat Mar 15th 2025 |
—1* Saturday Half Day Ride to Steventon
33km 5 riders |
Thu Mar 13th 2025 |
—Daytime 1* Thursday Ride
21km 5 riders ![]() |
—Daytime 2* Thursday Ride
50km 6 riders |
Tue Mar 11th 2025 |
—Virtual Turbo
5 riders |
Sun Mar 9th 2025 |
—3* Sunday Shortie. Seven Barrows
37km 4 riders ![]() |
Sat Mar 8th 2025 |
—2* Saturday Half Day Ride
55km 5 riders |
Thu Mar 6th 2025 |
—Daytime 1* Thursday Ride
19km 8 riders |
—Daytime 2* Thursday Ride
40km 11 riders |
Tue Mar 4th 2025 |
—Virtual Turbo
7 riders |
*