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Past Ride

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Sat Jun 10th 2017

Off Road Ride	2*

Leader: Robin Tucker	Start Time: 10:00 am	Start Location: WMP
Description: Off-road ride on the Ridgeway and the Downs. Lots of beautiful scenery, enough climbing and descending to make it interesting but no major technical challenges and we will take this at a moderate pace equivalent to a 2* road ride. Tea and cake stop at Court Hill after most of the ride (or you could make this your lunch) . The route attached is 23 miles, but I will ask on the day and we can choose shorter or longer versions.
Riders: David Brown Mervyn Phipps Phil Ward Ray Wright Richard Anstis Robin Tucker Riders = 6 Weather: Report: We met under King Alfred for this off-road ride around the Downs. Of course, wherever there are Downs (or downs) there will be ups. But that wouldn't stop the 6 of us! So we started out to the Lambourns and then climbing Gramps Hill . I assured everyone that this was the biggest climb of the day, although it was not the only one, or the trickiest. We then headed West on the Ridgeway into a stong headwind which was a big feature of the first half of the ride. We continued to the B4001 at the top of Hackpen Hill and then turned South to Sheepdrove Farm, then on to rougher rutted tracks to Eastbury Grange. Turning East we now gained a bit of tail wind, but had the most technical climb of the day - steep, rutted and stony. After that, we could see an amazingly bright red field, where poppies intermingled with oats. We continued an undulating path to Whatcombe, then turned North and worked our way to Court Hill Hostel for tea and cake. Or in Richard's case: tea, cake, fish fingers/chips/beans, fanta, squash and probably a few things I have forgotten. Refuelled, we went back to enjoy the 'jolly green giant' descent before returning to Wantage.
Distance: 37.01 km (23.00 mi)
Which way for the best trails? Off-road June 2017 Poppytastic trails - Off-road June 2017
Proposed Route: https://osmaps.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/route/1287112/Wantage-Offroad-23mi-Jun17"
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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