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Past Ride

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Sat Mar 4th 2017

3* Saturday Afternoon Ride	3*

Leader: Katherine Boyce	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. Always good to start early spring with a hilly ride . After skipping up Chain Hill (those that do will be waiting for me at the top!) we'll loop round to West Ilsley before wiggling over to Great Shefford. We'll check out the café in Lambourn before taking the steady climb back over the Ridgeway to finish in Grove before dark (all being well). This is a hilly ride and as a result is at the top end of the 3* range.
Riders: Jo Little John Groves John Tranter Karen Townsin Katherine Boyce Nick Dunton Richard Pethybridge Richard Saunders Riders = 8 Weather: Report: I have decided to christen this ride the rainbow ride, rather than the wet ride or the windy ride or the slightly eventful ride . The weather forecast was light winds with a slight chance of showers. Changing about 5pm. Beautiful morning, good weather forecast, what could be better for a Saturday afternoon club ride? 8 gathered, John T felt underdressed so scooted off for more clothes and Nick mentioned how blustery it was. And so to Chain Hill, we crested the first part and were straight in to the gentle wind. Not. It was brutal (not I hasten to add as brutal as a Norfolk headwind). Most of us eventually regrouped at the top, Richard S very kindly went off to check the tail riders were ok, with the wind behind him he had a blast but couldn't find Jo who had decided it was not the weather for her. He made the decision to turn before the bottom so didn't do Chain Hill twice - quite! Beautiful views, blue skys, undulating busy road down to West Ilsley and then quite roads to just before Liley when John T discovered a puncture whilst we were all putting our raincoats on for a shower. We got to admire the first rainbow whilst John sorted his puncture out. We were over half way by now but a lot later than any of us had expected. It was then uneventful to Lambourn, where I missed the café! Nick and Richard both needed to get back so skipped the stop. The rest of us enjoyed the new cafe's rather splendid cakes and wondered at the inefficiency of the nice staff . As we left it started to rain again. Descending Hackpen hill, was painful from the force of the rain. But we had seen lots of rainbows and had an easy ride up from Lambourn with wind assistance! We were reminded of the force of the wind as we turned towards Letcombe Bassett as for a short time we were back to a headwind. It just got wetter. I was very glad I had got the okay from the group to leave the ride in Wantage rather than Grove, so John G and I said goodbye to the others as we all dripped our way back home. It felt slightly epic for a Saturday afternoon ride, but I think its fair to say that none of us regretted going out
Distance: 57.00 km (35.42 mi)	Ride Details: https://www.strava.com/activities/888908209
Waiting for Richard S to reclimb Chain Hill
Proposed Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/19196504"
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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