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 Jun 17th 2018
| Solstice Ride | 3* |
|---|
Leader:Katherine Boyce |
Start Time:4:00 am |
Start Location:Wantage Market Place |
Description:So as promised here's this years solstice ride. This years ride is slightly longer (130km) but slightly less hilly (1100metres) and in particular the ending is less tough .We'll start by wending our way up to the Ridgeway via Chainhill to watch the sunrise before heading off to Great Shefford via Brightwalton and then on to Ashbury, Fox Hill and Chisledon. Here we'll use the 24 hour garage for a first breakfast stop - coffee and pastries! Then on to Avebury and Devises before returning via Hungerford (second breakfast at Tutti Pole) and then returning to Wantage via Lambourn and the Letcombes. This is a tough ride but well worth the effort - some exceptional views and because we are going so early we get to take roads not usually suitable for group rides. Please make sure you have lights and snacks. It would be great if you could let me know you are coming, so if necessary I can let the Tutti Pole know we are coming. |
||
Riders:Andy CowanEddie Little Hugo Pile Jerry Bird Jo Little Katherine Boyce Sharon Bedford Yvonne Bird Riders = 8 Weather:   Report:8 of us were up before the larks and gathered in the Market Place, where only one group of revellers were still waiting for a taxi. As we crested the first of the hills and were in open country for the first time, all the clouds were tinged with pink in the pre-dawn. With so much cloud we skipped the Ridgeway viewing as we expected no sunrise spectacle. Our loss, as we approached Great Shefford we paused to admire what we could of the rapidly disappearing sunrise. As we crossed and recrossed the Ridgeway on a number of occasions we all tried to ignore the moisture in the air, the strong headwind and the dark clouds over Wiltshire.By our first breakfast we had raced with deer (they gave up first  ), admired a barn owl, not run over a fox, watched numerous hares haring away and seen a buzzard starting its first flight of the day. The facilities at the 24 hour garage were not as good as previously but we all welcomed the coffee as we gradually warmed up. Onward to Avebury, passing the white horse on the other Hackpen Hill and eventually remembering to pause in Avebury to admire the central stones.Once we had climbed out of Avebury and dropped into the Vale of Pewsey, we stopped to see another white horse behind us - this one in need of TLC. After negotiating Pewsey, it seemed no time at all before we were in Crofton and back on familiar territory. The Tuti Pole in Hungerford, were quiet - well it was only 9.30 - and produced hearty breakfasts for us all. Jerry and Eddie had mechanicals in the final stretch but it did not stop them from completing the ride. A fantastic mornings riding. Despite my lack of speed on the hills, everyone was very patient and good natured. Whilst the rest of us went home to put our feet up, Andy carried on for another 90kms  | ||
Distance:130.40 km (81.03 mi) | Ride Details:https://www.strava.com/activities/1645218198 | |
| Proposed Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/27589484" | ||
Comment on this ride | ||
- Ride Filter
- 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
- Recent Rides
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 ridersSun Mar 30th 2025 —3* Sunday Shortie ++
86km 5 ridersSat 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 ridersTue Mar 25th 2025 —Virtual Turbo
Sun Mar 23rd 2025 —3* Sunday Shortie
47km 4 ridersSat Mar 22nd 2025 —2* Saturday Half Day Ride to Lechlade
68km 9 ridersThu Mar 20th 2025 —RIDE CANCELLED - Daytime 1* Thursday Ride
—Daytime 2* Thursday Ride
18 ridersTue Mar 18th 2025 —Virtual Turbo
7 riders
Sun Mar 16th 2025 —Regular Wantage Ride
97km 6 ridersSat Mar 15th 2025 —1* Saturday Half Day Ride to Steventon
33km 5 ridersThu Mar 13th 2025 —Daytime 1* Thursday Ride
21km 5 riders
—Daytime 2* Thursday Ride
50km 6 ridersTue Mar 11th 2025 —Virtual Turbo
5 ridersSun Mar 9th 2025 —3* Sunday Shortie. Seven Barrows
37km 4 riders
Sat Mar 8th 2025 —2* Saturday Half Day Ride
55km 5 ridersThu Mar 6th 2025 —Daytime 1* Thursday Ride
19km 8 riders—Daytime 2* Thursday Ride
40km 11 ridersTue Mar 4th 2025 —Virtual Turbo
7 riders-
Ride has photos
-
Ride has
comments
-
Ride Archive
*
© Cycling UK Wantage 2025, PHP v7.4.29
