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Past Ride

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Tue Jul 21st 2009

Tuesday Evening Ride / Fast and Furious

Leader: Edith Hipwell	Start Time: 6:30 pm	Start Location: OMH
Description: We will aim to have two rides leaders for 2* and 3* options.
Riders: Angela Sanders Edith Hipwell Frank Schroer Maurice Bawden Michael Tayler Sorrel Williams Steve Boreham Steve Swanton Susan Holdroyd Riders = 9 Report: Given the damp conditions, it was perhaps not surprising that only 9 riders were up for a ride this evening. Nevertheless it was good to get out and for the 2* group turned into a bit of an adventure... They probably won't ask me back to lead a 2* ride again.... Given the unsettled conditions, we decided to keep the ride simple and fairly close to Grove. So we headed out to Charney Bassett, made a circuit of the village and continued on to Lyford. The weather was ok and everyone was doing fine, so we continued on to West Hanney. Here we made the decision to add a few miles by cycling on to East Hanney and back. Before the crossroads with the A338 we turned north and continued through a very picturesque part of the village to the mill at the north end. Surprisingly perhaps this was even new to Edith! Here the road turns into a track, which I know from previous off-road rides can get sticky. I hadn't intended to continue. However, there was a definite vibe to give it a go, so we agreed to proceed cautiously and see how it went. Fine for the first few hundred yards, but gradually the top surface became stickier and slippier. I suddenly realised that my tyres and mudguards were caking up with mud and reaching a large muddy depression called a halt. Edith had already caked up and had to stop at the back of the group. Woops! (Michael and Susan had fared better without mudguards). I ventured on on foot to see whether it was worth pushing on to the end of the track, but the surface remained sticky and the distance was too far, so about we turned and pushed or rode back to the mill. Fortunately everyone took it in very good humour. After some rapid degunging, we eventually got back on the road and headed back to West Hanney and home. We passed Maurice heading home on the way back to Denchworth. Here Steve B realised that the road was feeling a bit bumpy - due to two rather flat tyres. A quick inflate helped as far as the railway bridge but by then it was clear that it was mend or walk, so Steve decided to walk while the rest of us carried on got back to Grove. With my apologies to all for the necessary bike cleaning, we headed our several ways after what had been a surprisingly fun evening. Steve S
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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