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Past Ride

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Mon Apr 21st 2014

Bank Holiday Bunny Hop	3*

Leader: Ursula Hallam	Start Time: 9:30 am	Start Location: Newbury
Description: Burn off the cream eggs with this special easter bank holiday ride. Starting just south of Newbury we will head south, hopping over Watership Down, through Ashley Warren and the handsome lanes of Hampshire to lunch at The Good Life at Headbourne Worthy. Returning via the beautiful Bourne valley and finishing with a climb up to Ashmansworth and a descent to East Woodhay. There are a couple of opportunities for refreshments towards the end of the ride if time/inclination permit. ~85km at the lower end of 3* pace. A couple of steepish hills near the beginning and end. Meet at The Chase National Trust Car Park (free), off Station Road, Woolton Hill. This can be reached by taking the A343 out of Newbury towards Andover. At Washwater turn right, signposted Enborne Row, The Furze Bush Inn and Yew Tree Garden Centre. On crossing the A34, take the first left into Station Road. The car park is a short way down on the left-hand side.
Riders: David Bridge David Smith David Talboys Hugo Pile John Tranter Rachel Bennett Ursula Hallam Riders = 7 Weather: Report: As the sun cleared the early morning mist, we set off southbound past the hidden gems of The Chase and Penwood towards the looming Watership Down. The climb to the top was quickly dispatched by Hugo with his super-high cadence and super-low gears while the rest of us trundled somewhere behind. The downhill to Ashley Warren was our reward where true to name we had to dodge a few scampering bunnies and a few pot holes. Luckily the last remaining standing water on the holey section was just below my pedals, justifying my decision yesterday to put away the overshoes for the summer. Continuing south in the now bright sunshine, we squeezed between Whitchurch and Overton at Laverstoke, on to the idyllic village of Stoke Charity and via some fabulously straight and quiet lanes to lunch outside at The Good Life. After lunch, the Roman road (i.e. A472) was also fabulously straight but the juddery tarmac made it feel like it was still sporting its original Roman cobbles! I was thankful see the back of it when we hopped over the A30 and back to the smoother lanes of the Bourne valley - a lovely idyllic stretch although the huge piles of sandbags indicating recently otherwise. A quick wine gum stop at Stoke gave us the energy to get up and down through Doiley Bottom where a few raindrops tried to spoil our day. And then we were on the final climb to Ashmansworth and a great descent to East Woodhay. Well deserved icecreams at the Yew Tree garden centre pretty much finished the day with only a couple of km left to get back to the start. Thanks to everyone who came for an enjoyable day out.
Distance: 88.00 km (54.68 mi)	Ride Details: http://ridewithgps.com/trips/2517099
Proposed Route: http://ridewithgps.com/routes/4347278"
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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