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
« Jul 2025 »
MoTuWeThFrSaSu
123456
78910111213
14151617181920
21222324252627
28293031
Recent Rides
Tue Jul 1st 2025
—Tuesday Evening 1* Ride
22km 4 riders
—Tuesday Evening 2* Ride
—Tuesday Evening 3* Ride

Sun Jun 29th 2025
—Summer Off Road Ride - Cancelled - No Takers!
—Oxfordshire Tri-Vets and Annual Century Ride
161km 8 riders

Thu Jun 26th 2025
—Daytime 1* Thursday Ride
16km 2 riders
—Daytime 2* Thursday Ride
56km 8 riders

Tue Jun 24th 2025
—Tuesday Evening 1* Ride & Pub Night
24km 7 riders
—Tuesday Evening 2* Pub Ride
37km 5 riders
—Tuesday Evening 3* Pub Ride
38km 11 riders

Sun Jun 22nd 2025
—RIDE CANCELLED - Summer Solstice Ride

Sat Jun 21st 2025
—1* Saturday Half Day Ride Special!
26km 7 riders

Thu Jun 19th 2025
—Daytime 1* Thursday Ride
3 riders Ride has comments
—Daytime 2* Thursday Ride
43km 11 riders

Tue Jun 17th 2025
—Tuesday Evening 1* Ride
21km 5 riders
—Tuesday Evening 2* Ride
35km 5 riders Ride has photos
—Tuesday Evening 3* Ride
48km 11 riders Ride has photos

Sun Jun 15th 2025
—RIDE CANCELLED - Off Road Sunday Ride
—3* Brunch Ride
77km 3 riders

Sat Jun 14th 2025
—2* Saturday Half Day Ride to Ashbury
54km 5 riders

Thu Jun 12th 2025
—Daytime 1* Thursday Ride
28km 6 riders
—Daytime 2* Thursday Ride
57km 8 riders

Tue Jun 10th 2025
—Tuesday Evening 1* Ride
18km 5 riders
—Tuesday Evening 2* Ride
39km 2 riders
—Tuesday Evening 3* Ride
50km 7 riders

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

Ride Archive

*

© Cycling UK Wantage 2025, PHP v7.4.29

Our Facebook Group Blog RSS Feed

Valid XHTML 1.0 Strict