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Past Ride

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Sat Sep 28th 2002

A Bit of Rough

Leader: Steve Swanton	Start Time: 1:00 pm	Start Location: WMS
Description: Off-road ride. Helmet recommended & bring a drink.
Riders: Alan Jones (dec) Alvaro Rey Barry Baker Edith Hipwell Glen Paterson (deceased) Nick Stokell Steve Swanton Riders = 7 Report: Seven riders for the last event of the Section year, on a glorious September afternoon. We took a flat route eastwards through the Vale, longer than our usual off-road rides and with a high proportion of off-road, but the tracks were fast and at their easiest due to the bone dry conditions. The route was similar to that intended by Pat on the very first "A Bit of Rough" ride last August (at least as far as Chilton). However, on that occasion, sticky conditions made for some slow going through the Vale and we detoured some of the tracks on-road to save time. We started with a superb fast descent of Gypsy Lane to Grove and then out to West Hanney past Grove Wick Farm. After a mile stretch along the A338 we turned east towards Drayton on the bridleway through Landmead farm. The rough middle stretch of this track was much more easily negotiable than I remembered. Rejoining the concreted section beyond, Barry managed to double puncture on a one inch nail (having just returned from an extreme off-road holiday in the Colorado Rockies without a puncture!). Such is life! From Drayton we took, what were for me, some new tracks (which should be passable on a road bike) as far as Sutton Courtenay, where we joined NCN route 5 to Didcot. The Sustrans route circuits to the north of the power station on good quality tracks, then cuts through the eastern end of Milton Park and brings you out on the road down to Didcot station. There are several shared paths along this route that are not that obviously marked on the ground at their ends. One wouldn't say it was the most scenic part of our route (!) but it was interesting to visit. We passed through Didcot to join the railway path to Upton, descending at the Upton end via the new ramp (Note that this is reached from the track at GR514873, rather than through the recreation ground.), before stopping for a drink at the George and Dragon. The return route was via the byway to Chilton, across Harwell Field to join the Icknield way and then along the newly surface-improved section of the Icknield Way as far as the bridleway down into East Hendred. We crossed to West Hendred and then, for added variety (!) carried our bikes over the kissing gate and stile by West Hendred church to follow the footpath (track) to Ardington. Cycling into the late afternoon sun along this track was just glorious. We were back in Wantage before 5:30 after a thoroughly enjoyable ride. Steve S.
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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