Past Ride

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Sat Jun 29th 2019
3* Fifth Saturday Special 3*
Leader:
Katherine Boyce
Start Time:
7:30 am
Start Location:
WMP
Description:
********DUE TO THE PREDICTED HEAT WE WILL START THIS RIDE AT 7.30am********

All-day touring ride (80-100km / 50-65 miles), 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.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS STARTS IN WANTAGE MARKET PLACE. There is a paid for carpark at the Beacon or alternatively there is free parking on Ormond Road (with cut throughs into town) or Wantage Recreation Park on Manor Road.

This extra ride was introduced to me by Sharon, it is a delightful jaunt to the south of Hungerford and Chute Causeway, a stunning Roman Road with the most glorious views. We'll have an early coffee break in Hungerford and a late lunch at Croft Beam Engine caf�ￜ�©. This is 107km with over 1200m of climbing. The views are a fabulous return for the climbing :)

If you are thinking about doing touring but are not sure if it is for you, consider combining this with the Oxfordshire CTC 100 mile ride that is the day after this one (you need to register for that one though!)
Riders:
Chris Bailey
Eddie Little
Hugo Pile
Jo Little
Katherine Boyce
Louis Hall
Nick Stokell
Riders = 7

Weather:
sunnywindy (fine)hothothothot
Report:
7 hardy folk set off to ride the heatwave. Climbing Chain Hill before 8am, made for a kinder ascent, with fewer motorists, although the tractor wasn't confident enough to overtake us, luckily some random traffic lights ensured he didn't follow us all the way to the Ridgeway!

Crossing the M4, we then had an interesting encounter with a large group of Banjo club cyclists. Some of them met a fast car on a narrow road on a steep downhill, luckily we had enough warning to stop on sixpences and the very grassy bank prevented injury to the Banjo rider that somersaulted over their handlebars in an attempt to avoid the by then stationary driver. Even I was shocked by my language :$ Luckily the outcome was a dropped chain, how no one sustained an injury I have no idea! The way the driver persuaded himself he'd done nothing wrong was interesting.

Think we were all glad for the Hungerford coffee stop, in a nice shady courtyard. Water bottles filled we were off into the wilds of the Berkshire, Hampshire, Wiltshire hills. The views were as outstanding as I remembered, with occasional pauses for photos of poppy fields, windmills and lovely views.

Despite Crofton Beam Engine only having been open for an hour, it was heaving. The temperature was certainly beginning to rise and we were all really glad to have started early. Some were already starting to suffer. With no shade outside we elected to stay in the cafe for lunch. The service started slow but got quicker as more experienced staff were drafted in to the front. The speed of the sandwiches was unbelievable!

The last 30 or so kilometres were hot. We dropped the speed to ensure everyone was accommodated and had frequent pauses to allow all to rehydrate. Down Spring Hill on a dry road was no problem for anyone and then there was the frequently shaded roads back to Membury and Lambourn. Never before had I realised just how unshaded the road from Lambourn to Hackpen was. We parted ways at the Ridgeway, all feeling satisfied with what we had done.

I'd like to say a really big thank you to everyone for their patience and fortitude. I felt that this was our club at it's best and illustrated why we choose to cycle as club riders.
Distance:
104.00 km (64.62 mi)
Ride Details:
https://www.strava.com/activities/2493002955
Comment on this ride

1

Written by : Nick Stokell

Posted on : June 30, 2019 at 9:34 PM

Lovely ride, thank you Kath!

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.
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