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Past Ride

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Sat May 14th 2016

Cotswold Special	3*

Leader: Nick Stokell	Start Time: 9:00 am	Start Location: Cotswold Gateway Visitor Centre, S Cerney GL7 5TL
Description: 80-100km (50-65 miles) all-day touring ride, lunch and tea stop en route, at a riding pace of 18-22km/h (11-14mph). Includes some steepish climbs and is not suitable for irregular riders. This is a figure of eight ride from Cotswold Water Park to Winchcombe and back, mostly on quiet country lanes, with some great views (weather permitting). There are some steep hills around Compton Abdale, Chedworth and out of Winchcombe (though nothing more difficult than Blowingstone Hill) so please be confident of your climbing abilities before joining this ride. This is one of those rides where RwGPS subtracts c 200 m as it reduces the number of data points! Meeting place is the Cotswold Water Park visitor centre at South Cerney with free parking, toilets and café. After working our way through Cirencester we have a flattish stretch Northwards to Chedworth, then the views arrive, but at the price of some sharp climbs and descents into and out of Compton Abdale. Easier terrain on the plateau leads into the descent down to the Hayles Farm Café for an earlyish lunch at 43 km (option of off-road section onto part of the Winchcombe Way depending on ground conditions, time and group wishes). The café is in a lovely location but it will be a stop of quite civilised length going by past experience of the speed of service! After lunch the going is gentle until the North end of Winchcombe where the road rises steeply towards Charlton Abbotts. Once this is conquered there are again fine Cotswold views to the East and a fast run down to Withington and one last big climb up to Chedworth, where we will stop for a tea break (big cakes!) at Denfurlong Farm Garden Centre (70 km). From there it’s a gentle 25 km canter down the lanes back to the start. Usual 3* touring pace (11-14 mph) with re-grouping at the top of hills. Please let me know (text on 07582483315, or email on nicknpbmd@aol.com) by end of Wednesday 11 May if you intend to ride so that I can give the lunch café some idea of numbers.
Riders: Chris Walters David Smith Hugh Falkner Jonty Ward Nick Stokell Pam Stokell Phil Ward Ursula Hallam Riders = 8 Weather: Report: A great day out! Eight of us successfully negotiated Cirencester then headed North along the White Way with a slightly chilly head wind, but plenty of sunshine. Hugh’s puncture was quickly fixed and we hit the hilly bits after Chedworth which everyone coped with well, including Phil with a lowest gear of 39 x 23 (estimated - please correct me!). The Cotswold landscape was at its best, with far reaching views in every direction. As we were ahead of schedule I proposed a detour through Hawling and Guiting Power to be followed by a beautiful though lumpy off-road section along the Diamond and Winchcombe Ways, which brought us out on the North-facing escarpment with fine views towards the Malverns. A glorious descent of Salter’s Hill, taking care to avoid the sheep, brought us to Hayles Farm at 1155, where we were soon joined by Ursula who had preferred to stick with the road. As I had warned that the food might take a while it did of course turn up remarkably quickly! The afternoon was pleasantly warm and after a short section of main road into Winchcombe we were back on country roads for the ascent back onto the plateau and the roller coaster ride South to Andoversford. The long climb through Withington Woods came as a bit of a shock to some of us but we soon arrived at Denfurlong Farm Café for cakes, ice cream and tea in the sun – it was quiet when we were there but apparently they had had an army of cyclists in the morning. Slightly reluctantly we re-mounted our bikes, but with the gradient and wind on our side the last leg through the Barnsley Estate and back to South Cerney (1607) was over in a flash. Thank you to everyone for making it such a lovely ride to lead. Well worth repeating in the future.
Distance: 100.00 km (62.14 mi)	Ride Details: http://ridewithgps.com/trips/8978786
Proposed Route: http://ridewithgps.com/routes/13468561"
Comment on this ride

Written by : Phil Ward

Posted on : May 16, 2016 at 6:04 AM

Best ride of the year to date Nick. I'd vote for a repeat running. Many thanks.

Ride Filter

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