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Past Ride

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Sun May 29th 2011

Offroad ride	3*

Leader: Robin Tucker	Start Time: 10:00 am	Start Location: WMP
Description: A big offroad ride - 35 to 40 miles (~60km) with plenty of ups and downs (if it is raining we can shorten it). Proper offroad bikes with knobbly tyres will be needed, and be sure to bring snacks, some lunch and plenty to drink. We won't rush of do anything crazy though, so as long as you enjoy a long ride, you'll have a great time! We'll climb out of Wantage onto the Ridgeway, going first West then South to Lambourn. Then we'll undulate our way East, taking in some favourite tracks, stopping for lunch at some point and eventually climbing back to the Ridgeway near the A34. Then down to Chilton and a mix of bridleways and quiet roads back to Wantage.
Riders: Robert Shaw Robin Tucker Riders = 2 Report: Maybe it was the weather (grey clouds and wind) maybe it was the Bank Holiday or maybe it was the distance, but only Rob came to accompany me on this one. That did make it easy to keep track of everyone though. On the way to Lambourn it was slightly against the wind, but not really a problem. Then we headed West and it was up and down, up and down, up and down. Good fun but tiring. We stopped for lunch and noted several very nice houses - the kind that are passed on rather than sold. Then my favourite part of the ride - two sections of slightly downhill singletrack, one mostly straight with a few obstacles and puddles to avoid and the other very twisty-turny (start at 458804 end at 48581. The trails were dry and last week's rain had removed the dust - so rolling was easy and grip plentiful. Climbed back to the Ridgeway for a second lunch: "after all, it isn't a race" we agreed. Then down again through Chilton, on to the Sustrans route and the straight on. Against the wind now, but it wasn't as bad as we feared, and though the clouds were still dark they hadn't delivered more than a few drops of rain. We got back to Wantage at 2:30, with tired legs and a certain amount of smugness for having called the weather's bluff to enjoy a great ride.
Distance: 61.16 km (38.00 mi)
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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