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 Sep 22nd 2018
| FranceTrip | 3* |
|---|
Leader:Richard Pethybridge |
Start Time:6:00 am |
Start Location:St Malo, France |
Description:First day in France. We arrive early (having lost an hour on the boat) but will quickly make time across flat ground after leaving St Malo. We will take coffee in Cherrueix, followed by lunch in Ducey (a new restaurant this year). After lunch the climbing starts, along a mix of roads and old railway lines. We should arrive in Vire around 1700, with plenty of time for a rest, a spruce up, and a beer before dinner. |
||
Riders:David BridgeEddie Little Jan McCabe Jo Little John Tranter Jon Townsin Karen Townsin Neil Bridge Richard Pethybridge Riders = 9 Weather:   Report:Only 9 riders for this trip, after Nicole sadly had to pull out at the last minute due to illness.We emerged from the ferry nice and quickly to be met with a rain shower. This had been predicted, but was nonetheless a little disappointing. John Tranter kindly decided to fit waterproof covers to his panniers, which caused the rain to stop and hold off for a decent period. The route out of St Malo proved to be a little challenging due to a couple of '"DÃￜï¿œÃￜ©viations" caused by roadworks and a closed lock bridge. But we were soon on our way along the Baie de la Seine coast road, aided by a brisk westerly wind. With perfect timing (Luck or judgement? Your call...) we arrived at our regular cafÃￜï¿œÃￜ© stop in Cherrueix just as Monsieur le Patron was opening up. A very efficient delivery of coffee, and an equally efficient provision of patisserie from the shop next door fortified us in preparation for the next stage past Mont St Michel. Following the "Voies Verte" through fields we crossed the river Cousenon to head north towards the Mont. En route Richard suffered the first (and thankfully only) puncture of the weekend. Leaving the Mont in our rear view mirror (well, Karen's anyway) we headed towards a potential lunch stop. Booking had proven impossible, with every restaurant apparently closed. In the end we dipped in (naval slang for "got lucky"  )with a most accommodating boulangerie in Pontorson and with the rain holding off (we'd had showers all morning) we ate on picnic benches by the river.More Voies Verte followed, before we ground our way up the first big climb to Reffuveille. The wind was now much more southerly, and the rain becoming heavier. A long road section to Juvigny-le-Tertre was a rollercoaster, with strong side winds almost causing the peloton to break into echelon formation. Luckily we dropped back onto the Voie Verte for the run up towards Vire, although by now the rain was getting more torrential. The final run down into Vire was completed in heavy rain with roads awash - a shame because it's a glorious quiet downhill road with great sight lines. The most kamikaze of us still made almost 60kmh on it though... After a last tricky drag up into the town centre, accompanied by the slightly bizarre piped music that plays on Vire's streets, the somewhat bedraggled group arrived at the hotel, tired, wet, but thoroughly chuffed with ourselves. Not long after, and fortified by hot showers and Grimbergen, we enjoyed another excellent post-ride meal at our favourite Vire restaurant, Le Robbery. | ||
Distance:125.05 km (77.70 mi) | Ride Details:https://www.strava.com/activities/1862254906 | |
         | ||
| Proposed Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/28182893" | ||
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
