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Past Ride

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Sat Dec 3rd 2016

Saturday Afternoon Ride from Grove	3*

Leader: John Tranter	Start Time: 1:00 pm	Start Location: OMH
Description: Monthly 60-70km (38-45 miles) afternoon ride, with a tea stop, riding pace of 20-24km/h (13-15mph). Likely to visit distant destinations. Not suitable for irregular riders. Climbing likely. A shorter ride for the shorter days, we'll head northeast to Abingdon and beyond. The big test of the day will be Bayworth Hill, up the side of Boars Hill, which will hopefully reward us with some good views of the dreaming spires (and cranes) of Oxford in the distance. We'll then take the nice back road descent of Boars Hill before cutting across to Besselsleigh and Eaton. Then the full run along the 'alternative A420' through Longworth and Hinton Waldrist to Pusey and down to Stanford in the Vale. Possible shop stop there, before heading home via Park Lane and Denchworth. 37 miles / 59km and just the one significant climb, so we will aim for a good pace around 14mph / 22kph.
Riders: Andy Pixton Barry Stanton Chris Walters Jane John Jenny Gower Jo Little John Groves John Tranter Jon Townsin Joy Arthur Karen Townsin Lyn Taylor Nick Dunton Nicole Pethybridge Susie Turnbull Terry Penn Riders = 16 Weather: Report: As so often recently, it was great (and a little surprising) to see so many people turning out on a cold winter day. Maybe the little bit of sunshine had something to do with it... This was a nice group which stayed together well when appropriate and which also coped well with splitting into smaller groups for the busier sections of road. Actually, there was an encouraging lack of stress with impatient motorists, so hopefully our cunning plans with the smaller groups had the desire effect. I deliberately set a fairly brisk pace to try to keep us all warm and we were soon through Abingdon and on the foothills of the great climb of Bayworth Hill. To be honest, it's actually not that tricky a hill, but it seems to provide a helpful sense of achievement to conquer it! The views over Oxford were good from the top of Boars Hill, although as always recently, there were as many cranes as dreaming spires on display. The descent was fun and we headed across the A420 through Besselsleigh. It was a bit puzzling why there was so much traffic on the tiny road from there to Eaton, but the answer was of course the allure of the Appleton Christmas Barn! As the sun began to set and the temperature plummeted, I decided to cut the ride a little short and head for Charney Bassett instead of Stanford. It is fair to say that there wasn't a lot of resistance to this suggestion... Thanks to all for a thoroughly enjoyable (if slightly chilly) ride.
Distance: 57.94 km (36.00 mi)	Ride Details: https://ridewithgps.com/trips/12134366
On top of the world! (well, at least Boars Hill...) On top of the world! (well, at least Boars Hill...)
Proposed Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/8296245"
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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