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Past Ride

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Sun Aug 19th 2018

Regular Wantage Ride - OXFORD SPECIAL	3*

Leader: John Tranter	Start Time: 9:30 am	Start Location: OMH
Description: All-day touring ride (80-100km / 50-65 miles), lunch and possibly tea stop en route, at a riding pace of 18-22km/h (11-14mph). Not suitable for irregular riders. Climbing almost inevitable. This is one of a series of Oxford special rides this year, taking advantage of my very best cunning knowledge of the secret routes in and out of this complicated but beautiful city. This is an all day ride at a steady touring pace, designated 3* because of the distance but otherwise with a 2* flavour. NB: NOTE CHANGE OF START LOCATION TO OLD MILL HALL We head east via Hanney and Steventon to cross the Thames at Clifton Hampden, then a lovely section via the Baldons and Garsington gets us to the south edge of Oxford at Horspath. We skirt the Mini factory before a particularly satisfying bike track route pops us out on the Cowley Road and we head over Magdalen Bridge up the High and into the heart of the city. I will let you into some Bursar/tour guide insider secrets as we pass my own St Cross College and head north through Jericho to a lunch stop at The Plough in Wolvercote. We will then enjoy a spectacular loop around Port Meadow and a super cunning transit of the A34/A420 junction before conquering Cumnor Hill and heading home via Appleton. Unmissable! This is a long route, but we will have a number of short cut options in the last 10 miles or so and we can adjust to suit.
Riders: Des Higgs Jan McCabe Jenny Gower John Tranter Karl Blake Sharon Bedford Terry Penn Riders = 7 Weather: Report: Cooler weather and a stiff south-westerly breeze failed to put off this robust group. All went pretty much according to plan - highlights included getting incredibly lucky with roadworks: both the Cow Common road from Hanney to Steventon and the A4074 from the Golden Balls roundabout to Nuneham Courtenay were closed for resurfacing, but open for us! In both cases we sailed along normally busy and unpleasant roads completely unbothered by motorised traffic - all a bit of a Ride London vibe... Anyway, Oxford was fun as well as we checked out a few tourist highlights as well as some lesser known gems like Wellington Square and the Blavatnik building. Lunch at the Plough at Wolvercote was a little slow, but good and the final stretch had a nagging headwind but everyone coped well with the challenge. Thanks to all for a fun day out!
Distance: 88.51 km (55.00 mi)	Ride Details: https://ridewithgps.com/trips/26837088
A4074 closure results in cyclist going slightly crazy with joy! Selfie with the tourists at Hertford College's bridge of sighs.
Proposed Route: https://ridewithgps.com/trips/17045348"
Comment on this ride

Written by : Jan

Posted on : August 19, 2018 at 8:14 PM

Great ride, thanks John

Ride Filter

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