Cycling UK Logo
  • Home
  • Rides
  • Statistics
  • Route Sheets
  • Blog
  • Shop
  • Cafes
  • Resources
  • Contact
  • Log in

Past Ride

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].

Sat Apr 30th 2016
Oxford Special all day ride 3*
Leader:
John Tranter
Start Time:
9:30 am
Start Location:
OMH
Description:
NOTE: slight change of start time (so you can have a bit longer in bed...)

PLEASE NOTE: to try to assess catering, could anyone planning to join this ride contact me to confirm? I don't need a 100% commitment, just wanting to get a feel for it.

NB: start at Old Mill Hall, Grove.

A re-run of a classic all day Oxford ride, this is a fairly gentle ride, only really designated 3* by the total distance (around 90km / 57 miles).

We will go out via Hanney, Steventon & Sutton Courtenay to Long Wittenham, then cross the Thames at Clifton Hampden and go through the Baldons to Garsington and Wheatley. Then a super cunning cut through to Shotover and Headington, past the house with a shark in the roof, down Headington Hill, right into the heart of Oxford for some classic sightseeing moments (I am a College Bursar - I can give you the inside stories). Then we head north for a great lunch stop at the Plough pub in Wolvercote, before some lovely scenery around Port Meadow to Botley and Cumnor, followed by a gentle run home via Fyfield and Charney Bassett.

Easy riding pace of 18-22km/h (11-14mph).
Riders:
Adrian West
Alan Gale
Brian Hipwell
Carol Bidgood
Chris Walters
Des Higgs
John Tranter
Jon Townsin
Karen Townsin
Lyn Taylor
Matthew Bray
Mike Bailey
Mila Yearley
Nicole Pethybridge
Olivia Pile
Richard Kidd
Roger Postbeschild
Riders = 17

Weather:
sunny intervals
Report:
Wow - that was a big group! I guess it was a rare day without hailstorms. So 17 of us set off on a lovely sunny morning.

There was good group discipline and the ride stayed together well. All went according to plan, the Wheatley-Shotover link track was fairly dry and the swoop down into Oxford was as exhilarating as ever. We couldn't resist a photo opportunity with the Headington shark. Oxford was swarming with students and tourists so fighting our way through the crowds was mildly challenging. We had a quick look at St Cross College's new building, tried not to look at the 60's horror architecture of University HQ in Wellington Square and were pretty impressed by the new Blavatnik School of Government building in Jericho. We were unimpressed by the scrappy bike path north on the Woodstock Road, but very impressed by the welcome and the food and drink at the Plough in Wolvercote. A bit slow on getting the food orders out, but worth the wait. A slight crisis when Richard discovered his lock was broken and he couldn't release it was solved with the help of the landlord's chisel - that's good service! The second half was uneventful and we successfully avoided a few apocalyptic looking cloud formations.

Thanks to all for a great ride!
Distance:
93.34 km (58.00 mi)
Ride Details:
https://ridewithgps.com/trips/8740752
Photo opportunity with the Headington shark.
Photo opportunity with the Headington shark.
How many club members does it take to open a lock? Hmm...
How many club members does it take to open a lock? Hmm...
If in doubt, ask the landlord for a chisel and hammer...
If in doubt, ask the landlord for a chisel and hammer...
Proposed Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/8165493"
Comment on this ride

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
Ride Calendar
« Oct 2026 »
MoTuWeThFrSaSu
1234
567891011
12131415161718
19202122232425
262728293031
Recent Rides
Sun Oct 18th 2026
—Half Day Ride
69km 8 riders

Sat Oct 17th 2026
—1* Saturday Half-day Awayday Ride from Uffington
27km 9 riders
—Off Road Saturday Autumn Ride Cancelled
—4* Saturday Shortie

Thu Oct 15th 2026
—Daytime 1* Thursday Ride, Harwell Campus
25km 3 riders
—Daytime 2* Thursday Ride
8 riders Ride has photos

Tue Oct 13th 2026
—Tuesday Evening 4* Ride
—Virtual Turbo
8 riders

Sun Oct 11th 2026
—3* Sunday Shortie

Sat Oct 10th 2026
—2* Saturday Half Day Ride - Abingdon
61km 9 riders Ride has photos

Thu Oct 8th 2026
—Daytime 1* Thursday Ride - Stanford loop
27km 3 riders
—Daytime 2* Thursday Ride - Aston
52km 11 riders
—Daytime 3* Winter Fitness Ride
45km 6 riders

Tue Oct 6th 2026
—Tuesday Evening 4* Ride
—Virtual Turbo
7 riders

Sun Oct 4th 2026
—Off Road Sunday Ride
—3* Awayday Ride
85km 5 riders

Sat Oct 3rd 2026
—RIDE CANCELLED - 4* Saturday Shortie

Thu Oct 1st 2026
—Daytime 1* Thursday Ride - Bagpuize and Southmoor
27km 6 riders Ride has photos
—Daytime 2* Thursday Ride
58km 12 riders Ride has photos
—Daytime 3* Winter Fitness Ride
54km 3 riders

Tue Sep 29th 2026
—Tuesday Evening 4* Ride
—Virtual Turbo
5 riders

Sat Sep 26th 2026
—2* Saturday Half Day Ride to Clanfield
47km 3 riders

Thu Sep 24th 2026
—Daytime 1* Thursday Ride
27km 4 riders

Ride has photos Ride has photos
Ride has comments Ride has comments

Ride Archive

*

© Cycling UK Wantage 2026, PHP v7.4.33

Our Facebook Group Blog RSS Feed

Valid XHTML 1.0 Strict