Cycling UK Wantage | Programme of Rides and Events

Past Ride

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Tue May 13th 2014

Tuesday Evening Off-road Ride	2*

Leader: Richard Pethybridge	Start Time: 6:30 pm	Start Location: Control Tower Car Park, Greenham Common
Description: Off-road ride around local tracks, usually about 15 miles. Knobbly tyres and good lights required. We are keen to welcome new riders and have spare lights available to borrow if you let me know. Dark, cold and wet - we'll ride in any 2. But please let me know if you are coming so I can tell you if I decide to cancel due to really bad weather. This is a special away-day MTB ride around Greenham and Cookham Commons. The start is at the normal time of 1830, but will be at the Control Tower Car Park at Greenham Common (Grid Ref SU499652). The route is about 20 miles and should take 2 hours. Nothing too technical, but some decent single track and one very nice downhill blast.
Riders: David Brown David Smith David Yearley Richard Pethybridge Ursula Hallam Riders = 5 Weather: Report: Well, this turned out to to be rather more eventful than expected. Five riders met at the designated car park, only to find that it closed at 8pm which necessitated a brief transition to one that didn't. Once that was complete the group set off around the edge of Greenham Common, following some nice fast, twisty, muddy singletrack. Unfortunately this proved too technical for Ursula who decided, having struggled womanfully for the first couple of miles, to enjoy herself rather more on the less technical aspects of the Common - hopefully she had a much more enjoyable ride as a result. It is quite possible that David Brown wishes he had joined her, as not long afterwards he suffered a catastrophic gear hanger failure which also damaged his chain. Despite some on-trail maintenance and a transition to a temporary single speed set-up, the chain was just not tight enough and subsequently came off on virtually every bump. Bearing in mind that the incident happened about 1/3 of the way into a Strava section called "Peckmore Copse Best Rooty Bit" this was not ideal, and so after completing the section David too headed off. Judging by his subsequent Strava report the tracks around the edge of the Common proved somewhat less taxing on his new drivetrain and he did at least manage to get some miles in. The remaining three then managed to avoid any further mishaps and enjoyed a super ride around Greenham and Cookham Commons, before dropping down via the East Field Copse bridleway (where the cow parsley made the descent "interesting" to the K&A canal. A final climb back up to the Common from just west of Thatcham and a blast back down the main runway brought us back to the start.
Distance: 25.11 km (15.60 mi)	Ride Details: http://www.strava.com/activities/140779812
Proposed Route: http://ridewithgps.com/users/269496/routes"
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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