Cycling UK Wantage | Programme of Rides and Events

Past Ride

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Sun Apr 20th 2025

Regular Wantage Ride	3*

Leader: Jan McCabe	Start Time: 10:00 am	Start Location: Wantage - Beacon Carpark
Description: Monthly 80-100km (50-65 miles) all-day touring ride, 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 pre-book for this ride by contacting the ride leader. Monthly 80-100km (50-65 miles) all-day touring ride, lunch and possibly tea stop en route, at a riding pace of 18-22km/h (11-14mph). Not suitable for irregular riders. 73km (45miles) to Abingdon for lunch/coffee going via the Letcombes and Boars Hill, so it isn't too flat. It is Easter Sunday, but Proof Social cafe (@43km) is open and there are offer options in Abindgon if Proof too busy
Riders: Andy Pixton Clare Hazell James Bosley Jan McCabe Jo Little Joy Arthur Katherine Boyce Louise Bowers Roger Postbeschild Sharon Bedford Riders = 10 Weather: Report: We were lucky with the weather, as whilst a little cool most of the time we had blue sky and sun. The ride to lunch was mainly flat, except for undulating through the Letcombes and a climb of Boar's Hill. I had picked the route up Boar's Hill simply by looking at the map, turns out this wasn't the way up we normally take..... concensus seemed to be the normal route was probably better...... the hill I took them up wasn't as tough as people feared, but the road was steep and very narrow, whilst we only met a couple of cars, the road was a bit narrow for cars and slow bikes, so the normal option probably better. As we descended, we had glorious views over to Oxford, and then not far to our lunch stop at Proof Social, by which point we had done well over half the distance and all the climbing. Proof Social was busy, but the queue moved quite quickly and the pastries and coffee excellent, so worth waiting for. Being such a popular venue, meant there were no seats left inside or out, but no one seemed to mind sitting on the ground outside! We decided the cycle path from Proof into Abingdon might be very busy with people out for strolls with kids and dogs on a sunny Easter Sunday, so we stuck to the roads as per plan (I would certainly recommend the cycle path, but maybe not with a large group). From Abingdon we took the excellent Peep-O-Day lane cycle path, a new option for some of the group, then the road into Drayton and home via Steventon, Hanneys and Denchworth. Thanks to all for great company
Distance: 73.70 km (45.80 mi)
Proof Social Picnicing outside Proof
Proposed Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/50402821"
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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