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Past Ride

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Sun May 12th 2013

New Forest Tour	2*

Leader: Chris Walters	Start Time: 9:00 am	Start Location: Cadnam - Sir John Barleycorn pub
Description: All-day Sunday ride through the New Forest. 80km at 2* pace. Taking in the delights of Beaulieu (possible coffee stop), Brockenhurst, the Bolderwood ornamental drive, we will lunch at the Red Shoot in at Linwood before heading back up a couple of steady climbs before meandering back to Cadnam. All 2* riders should be able to complete this ride, it's a good distance, but nothing too hard, and the final hour is quite and easy finish. We will ride to accommodate the slowest rider. Please let Chris know if you intend to come - the ride will not run without support.
Riders: Chris Walters David Talboys Jasmine Talbot John Talbot Michael Tayler Nicole Pethybridge Paul Watson Steve Burr Riders = 8 Weather: Report: The day started well enough - a bit of wind and the threat of a little rain in the early afternoon. An hour of threading our way down the quiet lanes to Beaulieu rewarded us with a delightful coffee stop, and some of the best Belgian buns seen this side of the Ardennes. After coffee, we encountered the first bits of headwind down into Brockenhurst and then over the Rheinfield Arboretum road, before the road kicked up on the first climb of the day up the Bolderwood Ornamental Drive (sounds quaint!). Sadly the ride leader (me) found out quite quickly that his chest infection had not gone away, and any kind of climbing was done at a snails pace and with very heavy breathing. At the top of what is normally a lovely climb, the leadership was handed over and a breathless former leader limped back downhill to Cadnam and an early bath. Substitute ride leader John takes up the story.... We were a few km from lunch when Chris left us but those were exposed and into the wind. We were ready for food at the Inn and we arrived before the rush but had to sit outside which was chilly. All the tables inside were reserved yet no one was sitting at them when we left! Food arrived quickly and was consumed pretty quickly too! It was great to have the wind at our backs for the return leg although we had a few climbs to negotiate. It also started raining, nothing too heavy but we needed to don waterproofs. I encouraged Jasmine up the hills, she was ready to walk on the last steep one but she pedalled them all! She led us across the heathland on the B3078 from Godshill and kept us at a nice pace. The usually fun descent through Bramshaw Wood was taken more gingerly with wet and greasy roads and Steve discovered that brakes don't work as well in the wet and nearly had a pile up with Nicole at the bottom! The final stretch was very pleasant and we were soon back at the cars at 3.30pm, pretty close to expected arrival. It was never my intention to lead! I had half planned to cut back to the car from the lunchstop with Jasmine as I was unsure how she would do for pace and climbing. But needs must and she did really well to do the full distance and we thank everyone for their patience waiting for us on the hills and the windy sections Congratulations to Steve and Jasmine for breaking their distance records Get well soon Chris
Distance: 79.10 km (49.15 mi)	Ride Details: http://ridewithgps.com/trips/1314017
Proposed Route: http://ridewithgps.com/routes/2291236"
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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