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Past Ride

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Sun Dec 16th 2007

Burn the pies before you've eaten them!

Leader: Neil Warner	Start Time: 9:30 am	Start Location: WMP
Description: Bit of a longer ride to give you an excuse for Yuletide excesses. A promt depart will ease things. LIGHTS REQUIRED!!!!!!! Out to Kidlington around Otmoor back through Oxford and Boars Hill. Lunch in Kidlington or Islip. Still checking venues, local knowledge appreciated. Route at http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=1495917
Riders: Bryan Charleston Neil Warner Richard Divall Riders = 3 Report: Well I truly hope you enjoyed your shopping/Sunday papers/lounging by the fire. Oh boy did you miss a beautiful day to ride. Yes it started cold. Richard,Bryan and myself arrived swathed in fleece, silks and windproofs and set off through the inevitable Grove Denchworth start. Richard was suffering from early on, a combination of a touch of "man flu" and not getting out enough took the edge from his legs. We span through the ice on the Hanney road, or rather some berk in a soft roader spattered us with it from the far side of the road, through to Cumnor where Richard succummed to late season fatigue. Bidding us farewell he chose to have a shorter ride at his own pace to start getting his legs back. Bryan and I span on across the Thames valley in the now bright sunshine. Through Cassington and Yarnton to Kidlington. As it was still pre noon we carried on to Islip and pulled up in the car park of the Red Lion bang on twelve 'o'clock. Unlocking as we arrived we soon remembered we had toes and settled into lunch. I think on a Sunday they normally focus on roast dinners, we caught them with their normal lunch menus up and ordered steak and kiney pie a pint for me and a pot of tea for Bryan. The lunch menu was turned over so no-one else could catch them on the hop and 2 fab pies fresh veg and decent chips appeared. Steak and kidney pie, normally you feel lucky if you have a slice of kidney? Not in Islip, steak, kidney in equal proportions plus gravy beneath a flaky crust top. Marvellous, top nosh on a cold day. An hour later suitably refuelled we were off into the pastures new of Otmoor. The cold windless day with huge winter skies showed off the flat wetlands, but for the trees you could have been on the Fens. Cresting the first real hill of the day we headed through Horton cum Studley back towards the city and over the ridges to Headington. Bryan had slowed a little with unexpected stomach cramps but gamely road through them and by the time we passed Sainsburys on the ring road was feeling better. By this time we had changed the route as the two of us were happy to use the cycle paths alongside the southErn and eastern bypass. As Bryan resides in Harwell he suggested we swung south on the Thames path and picked up the Sustrans route to Abingdon. What a top path, a few hundred yards of vaguely muddy towpath and then a packed gravel path alongside the railway to the southern edge of Kennington. The late afternoon quiet was broken by a steam locomotive steaming north always a sight for small boys of all ages. We wound through to Abingdon and then south through Drayton, Steventon and on toward Harwell. The sun was now a large orange ball on the pale western horizon and we reckoned that Bryan would just make it home before he needed lights. Parting at Q gardens Bryan headed home and I cracked on down Featherbed lane and along the 417 to Wantage. Fortunately I managed to avoid the temptation of a coffee in Arburys and got home as the sun slipped below the downs. A cold day but plenty of winter sunshine, no rain and stranger still, no wind. I heartily recommend a spin around Otmoor even if you do a car assisted start. The Red Lion was a great find, we ate in the bar but the other room was set out as a dining room. Two Steak & Kidney pies, a pint of bitter and a decent size pot of tea
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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