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Tue May 30th 2017

Tuesday 4* Evening Ride	4*

Leader: Phil Ward	Start Time: 6:30 pm	Start Location: OMH
Description: Weekly 1.5-2 hours ride at a riding pace of 25-29km/h (16-18mph). HILLY - GEAR, CLOTHE & FUEL accordingly for ~700m vertical please. This is a LONG/TOUGH ride - LIGHTS required, in case of mechanicals etc. Optional stop at The Fox in Denchworth at the end of the ride. Heading South of the M4 tonight & "down to the river (Pang) we'd ride" as Mr Springsteen sang. Weather permitting, tonight will see us head off up the 4 pitches of Chain Hill, regrouping as necessary at the very top (Lockinge Kiln Farm driveway). From there via the short sharp Ilsley climbs to Compton's formidable Applepie Hill. Relief follows in a fast & exciting descent, taking a careful right at The Four Points, dropping past the tropical jungles of Wyld Ct. Farm towards Hampstead Norreys. A sharp left here onto deliciously narrow gravelly lanes alongside the Pang for a good while (banana time ) until we break West to begin climbing again towards Hermitage and thence Chieveley. But, on recrossing the M4, Chieveley is denied by a quick right to Worlds' End (hat tip to REM) prior to reaching Stanmore. It's verdant leafy lanes to Lilley before picking up the B4494 and the plunge off Chain Hill, dropping like basses in to Wantage approaching sunset. The led ride will END at the base of Chain Hill at approx 9pm. For those with energy, time, funds and a raging thirst, Tales of the Big Chainring can be recounted over a Foxy beer in Denchworth - probably best decided on the night.
Riders: Harry Kenyon-Slaney Hugh Falkner Jason Jones Jerry Bird Louis Hall Nick Stokell Paul Jarvis Peter Cowan Phil Ward Richard Anstis Sian Mitchell Riders = 11 Weather: Report: Notwithstanding the decision by some to eschew the posted ride particulars (they are there for a reason, people !), the "big one" started out from OMH with an impressive 10 participants, only to be swollen further by the welcome addition of a jolly Jarv, found lurking atop Chain Hill Briefly refreshed, we then set about the tailwind assisted traverse Eastwards to Compton via the cheeky Ilsley pitches. Commuter traffic in the lanes was still evident as the challenging Applepie Hill was dispatched in good style leading on to Hampstead Norreys and the feature section of the ride : a delicious linkage of subtly-dropping lanes alongside the Pang. Half distance saw the far turn Westwards made just prior to Bucklebury (tempting as the ford might have been). We climbed steadily through the manicured woodlands and rattled into Hermitage. My "little surprise" of a short piece of Byway didn't seem to cause too much consternation among the troops (sorry, I should have flagged that was coming). Recrossing the M4 and then the A34 signalled the final long steady climb to regain Chain Hill was beginning and caused some splintering under what was becoming a glorious evening. The (now head)wind all but dropped out and the skies cleared to illuminate the Vale beautifully. Just five minutes after the predicted 9pm finish, we ended the ride at the base of Chain. Near enough 60km with 730m of climbing at 25.4kph. Many thanks all, a cracking stress-free evening in great company.
Distance: 59.90 km (37.22 mi)	Ride Details: https://ridewithgps.com/trips/14946591
Proposed Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/20103549"
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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