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 Sep 8th 2019
D-Day 75 Tour Day 2 3*
Leader:
Richard Pethybridge
Start Time:
9:00 am
Start Location:
Bayeux, France
Description:
After breakfast we will depart eastwards from Bayeux, once again enjoying the Normandy 'Bocage' countryside. We will visit the Hillman Bunker site near Colleville-Montgomery (guess who they renamed their village in honour of...) before crossing the Caen Canal at Pegasus Bridge. After a brief stop at the Ranville CWGC cemetery we will loop around via the Merville Battery site back to Pegasus Bridge and then the final run along the canal to Ouistreham.

Total distance is 41 miles and 1300ft of climbing, once again 10 miles and about 500ft less climbing than previous years. This will allow a more leisurely start. I have yet to decide exactly where we will take lunch, so the route may change slightly depending on opportunities. The ferry departs at 1630 so we will aim to be at the terminal in plenty of time at about 1500.
Report:
After an excellent breakfast and a not-too-early 0830 start we headed east from Bayeux for some 25 miles through some amazing countryside to our first stop at the 'Hillman' defensive position above Colleville-Montgomery. Atop a commanding hill this was the site of a heroic assault by the Suffolk Regiment. A quick replan of the route allowed us a gravel-track-free ride to Pegasus Bridge and coffee at the famous Café Gondrée, the first building to be liberated on D-Day.
Next stop was the Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery at Ranville, again a contrast with the other two and a deeply moving experience to see the graves of so many young men who had sacrificed their lives for the cause of freedom.
A slog up a hill followed by a delightful descent took us to the Merville Battery, site of a famous but not entirely successful parachute assault by the British 6th Airborne Brigade, and then lunch at another beachfront café in Merville itself. Not the quickest service, the food when it arrived was great and the Norman cider imbibed while waiting was even better. Sadly the wait meant we missed out on the museum at Pegasus Bridge (something for next year perhaps...) but a nice flat ride took us back to the ferry and our homebound trip.
Distance:
73.06 km (45.40 mi)
Ride Details:
https://www.strava.com/activities/2692164580
Bayeux Catherdal with cyclists
Bayeux Catherdal with cyclists
More lovely Norman roads
More lovely Norman roads
At the Café Gondrée
At the Café Gondrée
Ranville Cemetery
Ranville Cemetery
Along the Orne Canal
Along the Orne Canal
Waiting for the ferry
Waiting for the ferry
Passing Pegasus Bridge
Passing Pegasus Bridge
Comment on this ride

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
« Nov 2019 »
MoTuWeThFrSaSu
123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
252627282930
Recent Rides
Sun Nov 10th 2019
—2* Sunday Half Day Ride CHANGED!
53km 8 riders
Thu Nov 7th 2019
—Daytime 1* Thursday Ride
31km 10 riders
Wed Nov 6th 2019
—Turbo Training
11 riders
Tue Nov 5th 2019
—Off Road Tuesday Evening Ride
Sun Nov 3rd 2019
—3* Saturday Half Day Ride DATE/TIME CHANGED TO SUNDAY 3/11/19/
58km 15 riders Ride has photos
Thu Oct 31st 2019
—Daytime 1* Thursday Ride
23km 14 riders Ride has photos
Wed Oct 30th 2019
—Turbo Training
Tue Oct 29th 2019
—Off Road Winter Tuesday Evening Ride
Sat Oct 26th 2019
—RIDE CANCELLED - 2* Saturday Half Day Ride
Thu Oct 24th 2019
—Daytime 1* Thursday Ride
32km 6 riders
Wed Oct 23rd 2019
—Turbo Training
Tue Oct 22nd 2019
—Off Road Winter Tuesday Evening Ride
25km 4 riders
Mon Oct 21st 2019
—Annual General Meeting
31 riders
Sun Oct 20th 2019
—3* All day ride
85km 9 riders
Sat Oct 19th 2019
—1* Saturday Half Day Ride
31km 6 riders
Thu Oct 17th 2019
—Daytime 1* Thursday Ride
32km 17 riders
Wed Oct 16th 2019
—Turbo Training
10 riders
Tue Oct 15th 2019
—Off Road Winter Tuesday Evening Ride
Sat Oct 12th 2019
—2* Saturday Half Day Ride
25km 1 riders
Thu Oct 10th 2019
—Daytime 1* Thursday Ride
10 riders
Tue Oct 8th 2019
—Off Road Winter Tuesday Evening Ride
Sat Oct 5th 2019
—3* Saturday Half Day Ride
71km 4 riders
Thu Oct 3rd 2019
—Daytime 1* Thursday Ride
35km 10 riders Ride has photos Ride has comments
Tue Oct 1st 2019
—Off Road Winter Tuesday Evening Ride
Sun Sep 29th 2019
—Tea and cakes in Uffington
35km 9 riders Ride has photos
Ride has photos Ride has photos
Ride has comments Ride has comments
Ride Archive

*