Past Ride
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Sun Dec 10th 2023
| Off-road Mince Pie Ride | 2* |
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Leader:Robin Tucker |
Start Time:9:30 am |
Start Location:WMP |
Description:Update 9/Dec: Despite the iffy forecast, the Mince Pie Rides are on! Please be aware that there is artisan market in Wantage on Sunday morning with road closures in town from 7am. The off-road ride will start as close to King Alfred's statue as possible, but please can all riders walk their bikes in and out of the pedestrianised zone.Our annual festive ride to White Horse hill in aid of Whizz-Kidz, the children's mobility charity. This is the off-road ride. It's about 9 miles up to and along The Ridgeway to White Horse Hill - splendid views and not a difficult route, apart from an inevitable climb up the The Ridgeway. After riding out to munch mince pies and quaff mulled wine, your leader will be heading on to The Fox for lunch, you can also choose to follow another rider by road back to Wantage or return off-road under your own steam (or arrange a pick-up). Drop me a text or email robin@cyclingukoxfordshire.org for info |
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Report:Four of us for the Off-road Mince Pie challenge. I picked Segsbury Hill for the climb as it had been raining many days beforehand and it's the least bad tarmac climb. It was still tough though! But we made it while the weather was still dry.From there it was all The Ridgeway, and with rain due, we headed west. The trail on the top was actually not too bad, and we got as far as Devil's Punchbowl before the cold rain came. Coats on, we continued, it's still amazing to some that humans on bicycles can just keep going through bad weather and on bad surfaces, but it really wasn't that bad after the big climb. We descended a slippery slope above Sparsholt and climbed a rutted climb the other side (a couple of small offs here). Then is was down a chalky slide again and a mile or so of flat before the final climb to White Horse Hill. About here the weather really turned on us, with a side wind and rain that felt like being sprayed with a jet washer. We got up the hill, took a quick group selfie at the trig point and headed for the mince pies and needfully warm mulled wine. (Mileage includes distance to The Fox, others went further back to Wantage/Grove) | ||
Distance:27.36 km (17.00 mi) | ||
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- 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.
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