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].

Sun Oct 16th 2016
Regular Wantage Ride 3*
Leader:
Andy Pixton
Start Time:
9:30 am
Start Location:
Faringdon market place
Description:

Monthly 80-100km (50-65 miles) all-day touring ride, lunch and possibly tea stop en route, at a riding pace of 18-22km/h (11-14mph). Not suitable for irregular riders. Climbing almost inevitable.

****** NOTE CHANGE OF STARTING PLACE. IT IS NOW FARINGDON MARKET PLACE. FREE PARKING AVAILABLE AT Southampton Street (SN7 7AZ) and Gloucester Street (SN7 7HY) ********


A pretty flat ride of around 100km, out to Thames Head and back, from Faringdon market place.

The plan is to have brunch at the café at Cotswold Outdoor, near Cerney Wick. There will be plenty of opportunities for a refreshment stop after this, if needed.
Riders:
Andy Pixton
John Tranter
Katherine Boyce
Nick Stokell
Richard Pethybridge
Riders = 5
Report:
The weather forecast was grim. The rain and standing water between Wantage and Faringdon suggested we would be cancelling today's ride. It was, after all, the third anniversary of The Wet One.

Thereafter, things just got better. Cessation of the rain, a rim of blue sky, and the arrival of three more riders. After agreeing to reassess things at our brunch stop, the five of us set off.

We arrived in good time at Cotswold Outdoor cafe, with the weather looking ever more promising, and topped up our pre-ride breakfasts. The clouds were grey for the last time as we left the cafe, leaving us to enjoy the big skies and flat roads.

We stopped by the first section of the Thames Path, and walked our bikes the kilometre or so, to Thames Head. The actual source resembled a small stoney hearth, marked by an engraved monolith. After a few photos, we cycled back to the road, and on.

The return was very pleasant, a couple of small hills, skirting the new developments north of Swindon, and up to Highworth for afternoon tea. The sunlight illuminated the Ridgeway beautifully, as we returned to home territory, touched Uffington, then turned north back to Faringdon.

We only experienced one light rain shower during the entire ride, and oddly, it occurred with the sun shining warmly.

Being a small ride, of experienced ride leaders, this was a very easygoing excursion. Thanks to all those who came along for making it so.
Distance:
99.45 km (61.80 mi)
 
departing from Thames Head
departing from Thames Head
Proposed Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/17120536"
Comment on this ride

1

Written by : John Tranter

Posted on : October 17, 2016 at 3:24 PM

Thanks, Andy. It was a great ride, well led and really interesting new territory.

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
Thu Jul 17th 2025
—Daytime 1* Thursday Ride
27km 5 riders
—Daytime 2* Thursday Ride
45km 10 riders

Tue Jul 15th 2025
—RIDE CANCELLED - Tuesday Evening 1* Ride
—Tuesday Evening 2* Ride - CANCELLED due to rain
—Tuesday Evening 3* Ride
36km 6 riders Ride has photos

Sun Jul 13th 2025
—RIDE CANCELLED - Off Road Sunday Ride
—Brunch Ride
77km 7 riders

Sat Jul 12th 2025
—2* Saturday Half Day Ride
29km 3 riders Ride has photos

Thu Jul 10th 2025
—Daytime 1* Thursday Ride
26km 9 riders Ride has photos
—Daytime 2* Thursday Ride
40km 9 riders

Tue Jul 8th 2025
—Tuesday Evening 1* Ride
24km 3 riders
—Tuesday Evening 2* Ride
32km 8 riders
—Tuesday Evening 3* Ride
43km 9 riders

Sun Jul 6th 2025
—The Betjeman Ride
32km 13 riders

Sat Jul 5th 2025
—3* Saturday Half Day Ride - Ox Shed Cafe.
74km 8 riders Ride has photos

Thu Jul 3rd 2025
—Daytime 1* Thursday Ride
29km 6 riders Ride has photos
—Daytime 2* Thursday Ride
37km 8 riders

Tue Jul 1st 2025
—Tuesday Evening 1* Ride
22km 4 riders
—Tuesday Evening 2* Ride - combined with 1* this evening
—Tuesday Evening 3* Ride
48km 7 riders

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

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