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Past Ride

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Sun Mar 17th 2019

Regular Wantage Ride	3*

Leader: Katherine Boyce	Start Time: 9:30 am	Start Location: Wantage Market Place
Description: Monthly 80-100km (50-65 miles) all-day touring ride, 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. With the extra light of March, comes the opportunity to stretch our legs. This month we're off to South Cerney for lunch. Although the ride is a tad over 100km it is flat - only 550 metres of climbing. We'll take advantage of the early Sunday morning roads and head down the A417 to Baulking, over to Shrivenham and then bypass Highworth and down to Castle Eaton. After an early lunch at South Cerney Visitor Centre, we tackle the flat lands above Lechlade, turning towards home at Alvescot and a tea stop at Bampton Garden Centre. Energised for the last hill to Buckland, we'll then skip over the A420 and the standard route back to Grove then Wantage.
Riders: Barry Stanton David Smith Des Higgs Eddie Little James Bosley Jo Little John Tranter Karl Blake Katherine Boyce LeeAnn Norris Nicole Pethybridge Paul Bentley Richard Pethybridge Ursula Hallam Riders = 14 Weather: Report: I had decided to ignore Saturdays wet and very windy gale and believe in the weather forecast and it did not let me down . Whilst it was windy going out to South Cerney, we had barely a hail stone or hint of rain, a lovely day. I had been concerned that no one would turn up and I'd be on my own, so it was lovely to see a crowd waiting by King Alfred. Not long after crossing the A420, we were into lesser cycled territory, through the lovely villages of Sevenhampton and Stanton Fitzwarren - definitely ones to visit again. Castle Eaton was soon reached and Des informed us that the village pub was the first on the Thames. Lunch at The Information Centre at South Cerney was swift and efficient, especially considering how busy it was. And then the swifter return, the delightful tail wind helping us along. Bampton garden centre was busy and not as efficient as lunch and then before we knew it people were peeling off to return home and we were in the market square. All happy with a day spent in good company on an interesting route. Some rides are more memorable than others and this one had 3 altercations with motorists and many more very patient, polite and thoughtful motorists. Who knows why Sunday motorists on relatively quiet roads would be so out-of-sorts! Thanks to David for acting as Sweep and Eddie for riding from back to front when we got strung out and communication was needed
Distance: 104.00 km (64.62 mi)	Ride Details: https://www.strava.com/activities/2220930445
Post-lunch at the Cotswold Water Park
Proposed Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/29463218"
Comment on this ride

Written by : Ursula

Posted on : March 17, 2019 at 6:20 PM

Awesome leading into the wind all the way west Katherine! Thanks! ðŸ’šðŸš´â€â™€ï¸ðŸš´â€â™‚ï¸

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