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Past Ride

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Sun Dec 14th 2025

2* Mince Pie Ride	2*

Leader: Anke Otto	Start Time: 10:00 am	Start Location: WMP
Description: Our annual festive ride in aid of Whizz-Kidz, the children's mobility charity. Ride out with us to the NT car park at White Horse Hill, Uffington, for mince pies and mulled wine. Out to White Horse Hill via the Letcombes, with a short warm-up climb of Holborn Hill before continuing along the springline . After our mince pies, we'll return to Grove and Wantage through the vale. A round trip of 22 miles taken at steady 2* pace (apart from the hills). Please let Anke know by text if you plan to join the ride.
Riders: Anke Otto Calum Clark David Jackson John Tranter Nick Portsmouth Pauline Clark Roger Turnbull Susie Turnbull Tony Stevens Riders = 9 Weather: Report: We all met at Wantage Market and the place had a great buzz with many cyclists preparing to set off on the various rides. My 2* group initially had seven riders with the majority on ebikes for a change. Tony Stevens joined us for the first time having moved to Wantage only three months ago. We headed off via Locks Lane and Ickleton Road to the Letcombes and hit a strong side wind as we emerged onto the road along the open fields. The wind felt stronger as we cycled up Holborn Hill, but David J still managed to overtake me on his shiny new ebike. Overall it was a pleasant day - dry and mild. On our way towards Childrey, Pauline and Callum joined us. They had stopped in Wantage to help an older lady who had fallen off her bike - unrelated to our event. Once the lady was taken care of, they took a shortcut via Ickleton Road to catch up with us. The group now complete, we went on and saw the 1* ride sneaking ahead at Childrey. We all went along the springline and caught up with them at Westcot. We joined the main road after Westcot and finally turned off onto Dragon Hill road, where the wind tried to blow us off the road until we reached shelter further up. Everyone managed to make their way up White Horse Hill. Nick even pulled a couple of vehicles all the way to the top (at least that is his excuse for being last) until we stopped for a well deserved mince pie and excellent mulled drink at the NT car park. (Thank you to Roger, Steve B and Mandy for looking after everyone.) There was a fantastic atmosphere here, sheltered from the wind with lots of chatting going on. The second leg of the ride went mostly downhill and along flatter roads through the Vale via Uffington to our lunch stop at the Fox in Denchworth. Roger T tried to take out a cyclist heading towards the hill at Woolstone but luckily failed. Thanks to John T for sweeping and all of the group for your company and making this a great day and easy ride to lead on my first official tour.
Distance: 30.26 km (18.80 mi)
David was first up - 2* Mince Pie Ride 2025 Tony and Pauline weren't far behind - 2* Mince Pie Ride 2025 ... and Callum too - 2* Mince Pie Ride 2025 Then John and James (from Oxford) came into view - 2* Mince Pie Ride 2025 Nick (giving a tow?) - 2* Mince Pie Ride 2025 A contented group in the car park - 2* Mince Pie Ride 2025
Proposed Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/53441162"
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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