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].
Saturday Afternoon Ride from Grove | 3* |
---|
Leader:Phil Ward |
Start Time:1:00 pm |
Start Location:OMH |
Description:Monthly 60-70km (38-45 miles) afternoon ride, with a tea stop, riding pace of 20-24km/h (13-15mph). Likely to visit distant destinations. Not suitable for irregular riders. Climbing likely. Minor route edit made on Friday 4pm to remove a couple of km of potentially busy B4494.A vertically challenging, breathtaking, in more ways than one but manageable picturesque loop Southwards. We start out heading up Chain Hill (the hardest section of the ride) and will re-group at the very top, in the turn-in to Lockinge Kiln Farm. Dropping after Farnborough, down Copperage Road to pass the Harrow & its improbably sloped cricket pitch at West Ilsley, a right then takes us up the pretty and recently mended Catmore Road leading to the climb of Sheep Leaze Lane towards Peasemore before pushing South again to Chieveley. The Winterbourne / Bagnor Road is a particular favourite single carriageway lane, running alongside a bubbling stream boasting watercress for a stretch. An impromptu scenic pause can be taken near the Watermill Theatre/The Blackbird pub if required - bring whatever nibbles and drink e.g. cereal bars/bananas etc for refuelling. Turning for home at Speen on the Lambourn Road we will head up to Boxford and then turning gradually Northwest, rising steadily (some might say incessantly!) over a series of rolling climbs via Chaddleworth (Tower Hill) to attain the Saddleback Tea stop after approx. 54km. Refuelled, the plunge down the three drops of Chain Hill is just reward for our efforts. Naturally, those wishing to push-on or take a more leisurely tea stop are of course free to DIY from there - just let me know on the day please? |
||
Riders:Allen StaceyAndy Newell Chris Walters Hugh Falkner Jason Jones John Tranter Jon Townsin Joy Arthur Karen Townsin Lyn Taylor Nick Stokell Pam Stokell Peter Brodie Phil Ward Richard Saunders Riders = 15 Weather:![]() Report:14 riders assembled at OMH, we had a relaxed start to proceedings as Pam was dispatched on a mission to nip home and pick up her glasses & meet us at the foot of Chain Hill.We made our way to the top of Chain in various groups and reassembled, complete with Pam & glasses, having taken a minor detour to wait at Court Hill ![]() A fly-munching descent of Copperage Road was enjoyed and we were treated to cricket in progress at West Ilsley. Here, we encountered a minor obstacle in that fresh chippings had just been laid all along the Catmore Road which made the climb arduous and the descent down right unnerving. Good skills enabled us all to emerge unscathed & without punctures ready to tackle the next climb, that of Sheep Leaze Road leading on to a further, but thankfully shorter, stretch of fresh chippings. Beautiful lanes and pretty villages followed in quick succession until we entered the Winterbourn Valley and revelled in the gentle downhill gradient whisking us towards the Southerly turn at Bagnor. A brief roadside halt for sustenance marked the start of the return leg, passing along the Lambourn Valley to Boxford where we met and were joined by Chris Walters, returning from visiting Phil Stubbings (sadly still suffering the after affects of his Mallorca mishap - get well soon Phil ![]() Four split off near the top of Chain Hill and headed on down, leaving the rest of us to take a relaxed tea stop at Saddleback Farm before rounding off with a final ascent to Farnborough, Chris departed Southwards and the rest of us flew down Chain Hill to end off a marvellous afternoon. Thanks all for your company and good cheer over some testing terrain and obstacles ! | ||
Distance:65.70 km (40.82 mi) | Ride Details:https://ridewithgps.com/trips/9300643 | |
Proposed Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/13154811" | ||
Comment on this ride |
1
Written by : Karen Townsin Posted on : June 4, 2016 at 8:33 PM |
Great ride Phil and very well led. |
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 |
*