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Past Ride

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Sun Jun 2nd 2013

Wallingford Cycle Ride	2*

Leader: Robin Tucker	Start Time: 1:30 pm	Start Location: Wallingford Market Place
Description: 24 miles East of Wallingford at a moderate pace. We'll head out to Ipsden and Stoke Row, stopping for breath at the Maharajah's Well. Then on to Nuffield, Cookley Green and Ewelme. We'll stop for tea at The Waterfront at Benson before riding the last few miles back. Wallingford is a great place for a bike ride, but has not recently had many rides for the local leisure cyclist. To put this right, CTC Oxfordshire has organised a series of 5 rides for the Wallingford cycling community over the spring and summer. These are based on the popular format of 25 to 40 miles on a Sunday afternoon with a stop for tea and cake. Even if you haven’t done much cycling recently, 25 miles can be surprisingly easy to cover with good company and a suitable refreshment half way. These rides will be at at sociable rather than sporty pace, about 11-13 mph on the road. Some hills are inevitable, but they will be kept to a few. The rides will be led by experienced leaders, and follow CTC guidelines to be safe and enjoyable for everyone. Non-CTC members are welcome, but we ask that you join the CTC if you intend to ride more than 5 times with us. The rides will start from Wallingford Market Place, just outside the Tourist Information Centre at 1:30pm on the first Sunday of each month. (The nearby Goldsmiths Lane car park is currently free on Sundays.) They will normally arrive back at 4:30 to 5pm. (Thanks to CTC Wantage for hosting this page while the CTC Oxfordshire website is being redeveloped.)
Riders: David Bridge Judith Agnew Phil Jeffery Robin Tucker Steve Swanton Riders = 5 Weather: Report: Summer arrived right on schedule for this 'second of a series' ride from Wallingford! We followed the 24 mile 'Chilterns' route in one of the leaflets produced by Sustainable Wallingford. By 1:30, 19 of us had assembled in Wallingford Market Place - a great mix of riders and bikes of all types, even a couple (Judith and Phil) on their tandem. After a briefing, we set off East - as ride leader I was slightly nervous about getting this number through 2 sets of traffic lights and across the bridge, but it was of course fine! We then angled right and went up the first hill of the day, Wicks Hill, and after a brief pause to admire the group, down the other side. Then down through Ipsden and left for the big climb of the day: Garsons Hill. Unfortunately the tandem dropped its chain forcing Judith and Phil to walk up, while everyone else who had made it admired the view. The road then flattened out, though we had to navigate a very rough surface into Stoke Row, where we took a breather by the Maharajah's Well. After a break, we looped down through Bassett Wood and back up through Ipsden Wood where the bluebells were still in good form - unusual for them to make it to June. We continued to Nuffield, and up to the B481. Here we spilt into groups of 6 to allow traffic to pass more easily, and regrouped at Cookley Green. Now we got the descent in reward for the earlier climbing - down past Swyncombe Church, long and (if you wanted) fast, though with some gravel and walkers to avoid on the way. Through Ewelme, past the watercress beds, Benson and arriving just after 4pm at our tea stop: the Waterfront at Benson. A few people headed off here, the rest of us enjoyed tea and cake in the sunshine by the river. Eventually, we decided it was time to get back, so we took the quiet road through Preston Crowmarsh and followed the cyclepath back in to Crowmarsh Gifford and back over the bridge into Wallingford. Lots of smiling faces at the end, so I hope we'll continue the good turn out (and good weather!) on future rides.
Distance: 38.62 km (24.00 mi)
Heading out of Wallingford 020613 Heading out of Wallingford 020613 The view from Garsons Hill, Wallingford ride 020613 Top of Garsons Hill and still smiling! 020613 Maharajah's Well - time for a breather. 020613 It goes down two Nelson's Columns you know. 020613 Tea at the Waterfront. Wallingford ride 020613
Proposed Route: http://ridewithgps.com/routes/2329410"
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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