Past Ride
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Sat Jul 29th 2017
| Skirting the Plain | 3* |
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Leader:Ursula Hallam |
Start Time:9:30 am |
Start Location:Newbury - see below for details and directions |
Description:A 5th Saturday Special taking us west from the outskirts of Newbury and around the edges of Salisbury Plain.Starting with an early warm-up climb and a super downhill, we'll ride through Hampshire's tranquil leafy lanes to the wide-open tank-sized roads of Wiltshire and the Salisbury Plain. Our return route follows the Hampshire Avon north and traverses Plain territory again to reach Collingbourne Ducis. After tea, a final leg through the villages of Shalbourne and Ham. Brunch/lunch at 43km in Tidworth. Afternoon tea at Crofton's steaming beam engines. Meet at The Chase National Trust Car Park (free), off Station Road, Woolton Hill. From the A34: Follow this route or directions below: Driving south past Newbury on the A34, leave at the A343 junction signed 'Highclere, Wash Common'. Turn left at the roundabout signed 'Newbury, Wash Common'. Then 2nd left, signed 'Enborne Row, East Woodhay, Ball Hall' and also for The Furze Bush Inn and The Yew Tree Garden Centre. On crossing under the A34, take the first left into Station Road. The car park is a short way down on the left-hand side. |
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Riders:David SmithHugh Falkner John Tranter Jon Townsin Karen Townsin Louis Hall Nick Dunton Nick Stokell Ursula Hallam Riders = 9 Weather:   Report:A threesome of sporting trios met at the Chase carpark for short, regular and extended versions of a ride with three halves.After a classic up and down beginning and the very gentle climb to Vernham Dean, trio 1 peeled off leaving our six-some to chase down breakfast & chips in some summer, but not soaking, rain. Suitably fortified and weather abating, we ranged along the plain to the sound of gunfire towards our mystery sight. A tour of Gaza, Baghdad, Auckland and Wellington ensued. But a surprise awaited - even for the ride leader - a gnarly single-track through the woods was errr...oops, unexpected  Must have been the Google mountain-bike that came this way  After a minor tumble, a good nettling of the ankles, and a bird-less reconnaissance of the surrounding area, mission aborted! Apteryx bulfordis is an elusive creature - maybe it has flown the hillside? Hopefully a few  were had and all was forgiven on the smooth tarmac of the 'cracking' Haxton to Everleigh road - just plain riding at its best! Unfortunately, a few km before Crofton, the earlier minor tumble manifested itself in a puncture but David gallantly let us all ride on while he fixed it. As Crofton was in full-steam, we had only just sat down to tea and colourful cake when he arrived (slightly out-of-breath?). The final leg took us through a delightful thatchery of Wiltshire villages. Not without drama, the earlier minor tumble caused a couple of spokes to give way on an incline somewhere between Ham and Inkpen and we made our way with care back home. More of that summer rain returned but we'd already enjoyed a 3* day out. Thanks to everyone for a great ride. Kudos to the trio who rode over from Wantage and back  | ||
Distance:108.00 km (67.11 mi) | ||
| Proposed Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/23449187" | ||
Comment on this ride | ||
1
Written by : Louis Posted on : July 30, 2017 at 6:05 PM |
Great ride Ursula - look foreward to a rather less incident strewn event next year |
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- 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.
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