Cycling UK Wantage | Programme of Rides and Events

Past Ride

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Sun Oct 20th 2002

Regular Wantage Ride

Leader: Laurent Chambard	Start Time: 10:00 am	Start Location: WMS
Description:
Riders: Eve Thornton (decd) Giles Biddle Ginny Henderson Kevin Fairs Laurent Chambard Mavis Rose Pat Hurt Richard Divall Steve Swanton Riders = 9 Report: It must have been the soaking I got on the apple ride, as half way up chain hill I just decided it was too wet and windy, and returned home with 6km on the clock - shortest ever. Hope the rest had a great day - Kev The above is just a proof that one should never organise a ride which passes just down the road from an other rider's bedroom! In that particular case, tentation proved definitely to be too strong. You missed something Kev! The eight remaining braves climbed Chain Hill at gentle pace, and half way up the hill the wind was already calming down and rain had stopped. Ginny and Giles left us in Peasemore due to early afternoon other commitments, so with 33% losses after one hour riding the hardcore just kept going. Pat, on his first serious Section ride out with his brand new Trice Monster recumbent, caused quite a few scares to other riders who were wondering what this dog was doing just nearby them as they could feel occasionally the presence of an unidentified animal. Mind you, Pat is perfectly safe on this machine; it is low enough for that he is in no risk of being run over, there will always remain more than enough of room for him between tarmac and oil sump! This being Wantage, the pace remained good through the forested lanes between Hermitage and Bucklebury as everyone dreamed of a good lunch. Which was enjoyed at the Bull Inn in Stanford Dingley, and left all of us a bit dozy. Good reason then for starting after lunch, and with capes on, by a bit of vertical exploration followed by more forested lanes and an eventual descent back to Bucklebury. There, Pat seriously disappointed everyone by definitely refusing to cross the ford; a good one however, as he usually likes them: wide, deep, with plenty of stream in the middle. He must have forgotten his schnorkel... We hence made a little detour, and went gently up to Hampstead Norreys. As we turned left at the roundabout - towards the vertical direction -, some rider could be heard muttering 'Typical Audaxer. The longest and most hilly route'. Which was a bit over the top really, because all riders managed to stay well together, despite numerous attempts by Eve (obviously still on her momentum from Cherbourg!) and Mavis to shake-up the pack and break-away for the polka dot jersey. We were all a bit wet as we entered Wantage, so generously indulged into tea and cakes at the Museum. Mind you, some things do never change! Learning of the day: a recumbent trike is maybe not the most perfect machine on a lumpy, wet, winter ride including generous potholes and a good ford. Particularly the day after 209 km of steep hills across the Cotswolds. Well done Pat! Err, when do you celebrate these 100 distance points?
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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