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Past Ride

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Sat Sep 26th 2020

3* Saturday Half Day Ride - Oxford Special	3*

Leader: John Tranter	Start Time: 9:30 am	Start Location: OMH
Description: Half day ride (60-70km / 38-45 miles), with a tea stop, riding pace of 20-24km/h (13-15mph). Likely to visit distant destinations. Not suitable for irregular riders. Climbing likely. This is a pre-bookable ride. To book a place, text your name to the ride leader no earlier than 9:00am on the Sunday before the ride. You will receive confirmation or be advised that the ride is fully booked. A reserve list will be maintained. Time to brush off the dust on an old classic ride into the very heart of Oxford and out again. I've been a College Bursar now for six years, so I've picked up a few tricks and secrets (plus juicy gossip) and these will be shared as we go. We head out to Southmoor and then the old road parallel to the A420 all the way to Cumnor. Then there is some very cunning routing across tracks and underpasses to get to the Thames, after which we pop out by Westgate and head into town. Sadly, Covid prevents me offering St Cross College as a tea stop, but we will find a local cafe and improvise. We then head out of town along the river towpath and the newly resurfaced NCN5 past Kennington. We then head through lovely Sunningwell to Dry Sandford and the unexpected Tubney tunnel under the A420 to Fyfield and home. About 40 miles and I plan to be back by 1-1.30. NB: please bring a face mask for the cafe stop.
Riders: Gerry Jones James Bosley John Tranter Nick Portsmouth Yvonne Bird Riders = 5 Weather: Report: It was really nice to be able to do an Oxford Special ride - it's been a long time since the last one! There was quite a blustery wind though and this definitely made it a tougher ride than expected. All went well as we had a tailwind (on average) over to Cumnor. We then enjoyed the usual views of 'dreaming cranes' from the top of Botley before the lovely run along the river and over the intriguing Gasworks Bridge. We did a quick circuit up to Wellington Square, back to Broad Street and then down to the river again to go along the towpath to our coffee stop at the Isis Farmhouse. A bit fiddly and techie to use their website ordering process, but we got there in the end. We then bashed on along the nice new NCN5 path up to Kennington and over to Sunningwell and Dry Sandford. The distance was beginning to take its toll on some tired legs, so we split into two groups for the final section to help with the timings. Thanks to all for your company!
Distance: 64.37 km (40.00 mi)	Ride Details: https://ridewithgps.com/trips/56762086
enjoying the view from Botley over the dreaming cranes of Oxfrod on the Gasworks Bridge in Oxford
Proposed Route: https://ridewithgps.com/trips/6388385"
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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