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Tuesday 1* Evening Ride - abandoned | 1* |
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Leader:Steve Boreham |
Start Time:6:30 pm |
Start Location:OMH |
Description:Our leisurely and sociable 10-mile club rides are designed specifically with adult newcomers to cycling and youngsters in mind, or those who just want some relaxed and sociable exercise. We cover a distance of about 10 miles at a gentle pace of 8-10 mph, following quiet country lanes and the occasional easy off-road track. We stop regularly to catch our breath, to take in the views and anything that takes our interest along the way.This time, we head out via Denchworth and Charney Bassett. On to Gainfield and up to Pusey, before a cheeky little cut through via the estate, using bridleway, back towards Charney Bassett, then via Lyford, and Denchworth. Total of around 14 miles Optional stop at The Fox in Denchworth at the end of the ride. |
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Riders:Riders = 0Weather:Report:There were no takers for the One Star tonight. Weather was fairly inclement with cold temperatures and drizzle with the threat of heavier rain, so this was understandable.Ride leader therefore joined the Two Star, and pleased to say the torrential rain held off, so nice to get a ride in. Here's to better weather next week! | ||
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Tuesday Off Road Evening Ride | 2* |
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Leader:Robin Tucker |
Start Time:6:30 pm |
Start Location:OMH |
Description:Off-road ride around local tracks, usually about 15 miles. Knobbly tyres and good lights required. We are keen to welcome new riders and have spare lights available to borrow if you let me know. Dark, cold and wet - we'll ride in any two. But please let me know if you are coming so I can tell you if I decide to cancel due to really bad weather.Optional stop at The Fox in Denchworth at the end of the ride. |
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Riders:Ian FraserRobin Tucker Riders = 2 Weather:Report:It was a damp start for new rider Ian. When I say new, he's been riding for a fair few years but this was his first time out with us. Or, should I say me, because we were the only two out.Fortunately the rain stayed at a very gentle drizzle for the ride and we managed a full circuit up to the Ridgeway and back. We went out via Crab Hill, Goddards Brook and Bitham Woods. The rain had made some of the roots slippery but we stayed upright. Then cruised East on the Ridgeway with a good tailwind. For the descent we picked the classic Ginge drop, including the twisty side sections. It didn't disappoint! Then on the road past Betterton, through the woods to Ardington and back into Wantage returning on a more slippery version of Crab Hill. | ||
Distance:24.14 km (15.00 mi) | ||
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Written by : Ian Fraser Posted on : June 28, 2017 at 2:26 PM |
Really enjoyed my first ride with Wantage CTC, Thanks Robin. A little damp and drizzly, wet grass slapping against my legs, feet soaking wet and long wet grass hiding the berms.... Great fun! Excellent descent through the woods. |
Tuesday 2* Evening Ride | 2* |
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Leader:Susie Turnbull |
Start Time:6:30 pm |
Start Location:OMH |
Description:Weekly 1.5 hour rides at a riding pace of 18-20km/h (11-13mph). Not likely to be very hilly.Susie's first ride leading adventure! Optional stop at The Fox in Denchworth at the end of the ride. Heading north to Charney Bassett, then to Fyfield, turning left to Longworth etc and back through Stanford in the Vale. Very flat. 20 miles to the Fox and another 2 back to Grove. |
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Riders:Des HiggsJohn Tranter Karl Blake Robert Treadgold (deceased) Roger Turnbull Steve Boreham Susie Turnbull Riders = 7 Weather:Report:What a difference a few days can make. From boiling hot to wet and mild. I was relieved to see a few had turned up for my first time as a leader but also quite pleased to have such a select little band of men! Thanks to Roger for supporting me especially as he hadn't been on his bike for about 4 months. Also thanks to John T for his guidance and telling me to slow down! We had a flat, uneventful ride and managed several potentially tricky road crossings with ease. The rain was definitely setting in as we returned through Denchworth and NO ONE wanted to stop at the pub!thanks to all of you for turning up on a miserable evening and making my experience of being a leader so easy | ||
Distance:37.01 km (23.00 mi) | Ride Details:https://ridewithgps.com/trips/15631529 | |
Proposed Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/22185109" | ||
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Tuesday 3* Evening Ride | 3* |
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Leader:Jon Townsin |
Start Time:6:30 pm |
Start Location:OMH |
Description:Weekly 1.5 - 2 hours at a riding pace of 20-24km/h (13-15mph). May be hilly.Optional stop at The Fox in Denchworth at the end of the ride. ***If the forecasted rain arrives I'll run a shortened version of this ride to lessen the drenching ! Don't forget your lights !!!*** This week sees the welcome and overdue return to the loop over Hackpen Hill, down into Lambourn and gently back up again to the drop into Ashbury. From there we'll wind our way over the vale via Compton Beachamp, Uffington and Goosey to Denchworth. As it is pub night, for some the ride will finish here and for others it will be a short stretch back to Grove. At 50km this will be one of the seasons longer Tuesday evening rides, so prepare for a pace at the top end of 3* (24kph). NB if you are cycling after the fox don't forget your lights! |
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Riders:Andy PixtonDavid Smith David Talboys Jan McCabe John Groves Jon Townsin Jordan Slater Joy Arthur Karen Townsin Kirsten Smith Mike Cooke Sharon Bedford Ursula Hallam Riders = 13 Weather:Report:13 souls braved the inclement weather on a shortened loop down to Seven Barrows and back over Blowingstone Hill. Jan was persuaded to join the 3* by an attentive Andy who had clearly listened to the amended route briefing (thanks Andy, it always encouraging to know someone is listening to the briefing!) and Sharon joined us en route out of Wantage. Jordan made short work of his first 3* and clearly had plenty of spare energy for more.5 of the initial band of 13 stopped off at The Fox (aka The Mary Celeste) to find no other riders had made it back. Katherine had come straight from work for dinner and it was good to see Andy Cowan out again, clearly making progress. Finally, after we'd told the staff not to expect any further riders (2* where were you?) the 4* group arrived, 4 minutes late, having completed 59km (all due to an exploding bottle cage, we're led to believe It's only the soggy rides that make the sun that bit nicer - well done to all. | ||
Distance:37.50 km (23.30 mi) | ||
Proposed Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/22317775" | ||
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Tuesday 4* Evening Ride | 4* |
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Leader:Phil Ward |
Start Time:6:30 pm |
Start Location:OMH |
Description:Weekly, a 2+ hours ride at a riding pace of 25-29km/h (16-18mph). Confirmation, it IS a HILLY route & with good weather breathtakingly beautiful. Poor weather will provoke adjustment to a shorter option.Optional stop at The Fox in Denchworth at the end of the ride (lock? £, lights.....) 'Once more unto the breach' & making full use of the extended evening light we head "Over the hills and far away" (Gary Moore 1987 from the Wild Frontier aka Wiltshire, LP) It's a direct line for the county boundary tonight, taking us up and over into a maze of beguiling lanes linking Lambourn, Aldbourne & Bishopstone: 60km with a largesse of climbing (conforming as just about "acceptable" to my rule of thumb: 100m/10km) keeping the option of missing out "Dragon Reverse" if we're feeling cooked prior to ending at the Fox, Denchworth for a well deserved pint . As before, aiming to keeping rolling once over each crest, with an easing of pace for regroupment rather than stop. An efficient group ride ethic should bring us to the quenching sooner (I'm keeping 8:45pm at The Fox as a notional target - that's 27kph all the way round for the hardofmaths. Add 5 mins or so if we launch up the Dragon, 'crying God for Harry, England, and Saint George!' ). 60km / 660m Twiddly gears advised, drinks & a nibble too |
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Riders:Carrie KembletonFrank Schroer Jason Jones Phil Ward Richard Anstis Riders = 5 Weather:Report:A recipe for a fabulous ride. Publish your route early, then take three 4* riders and leave OMH promptly. Moisten slightly and warm, within 5km the group will swell to a famous five. Jason “Geo. Formby†Jones was spotted “a leanin’ on a lamppost at the corner of the street, In case a certain little peloton came by†whereas Frank “Runaground†Schroer was in good “Chase you down†form and latched on somewhere on the outskirts of Wantage.A quick check on reaching Lambourn a little after 7pm that we were all having fun returned a consensus to crack on rather than curtail our foray into some of Wiltshire’s finest lanes with grass centre lines, gravelled corners and twisty tree-covered descents. Aldbourne was soon ticked off and we began the drag up towards Foxhill in perfect conditions for some steady conversational pedalling with a light cooling drizzle proving refreshing. Negotiating the rollers around Bishopstone where the tar had previously melted through to create shiny and challenging corners was interesting, however the rattle-clatter-thud of the now habitual “4* throwing of the bottle†brought us abruptly to a halt. Carrie was however not suffering a sense of humour failure, merely a disintegrating bottle cage, the parts of which Richard efficiently reassembled. It was at this point that I happened to notice a substantial D-lock shackled around Carrie’s bike headtube. No, not content with happily pedalling up all the hills chattering to all and sundry, she had even brought along a substantial deadweight to make the exercise worthy – chapeau indeed! I mused at the likely XY carnage should the capable triumvirate of Ruth, Sian and Carrie ever happen to coalesce on a Tuesday evening. We elected to slip along the base of the White Horse rather than labour up the slippery incline into the thick cloud now enshrouding the hill. Strong pulls along the Baulking Road from our Ironman Richard, Frank and Jason brought us almost back on schedule to reach the Fox where a welcome beer and bike-friendly cheer brought the ride to a close. Thanks all for a really satisfying ride – as ever, rain so often merely adds character to a ride whereas wind changes the dynamics. 58.7km; 570m elevation; 26.8kph | ||
Distance:58.70 km (36.47 mi) | Ride Details:https://ridewithgps.com/trips/15642599 | |
Proposed Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/20246029" | ||
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