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Sun Jul 23rd 2023

Cycling UK Wantage 30th Anniversary 2* Ride	2*

Leader: Steve Swanton	Start Time: 12:45 pm	Start Location: OMH
Description: Cycling UK Wantage marks its 30th Anniversary with a special day of rides, at various levels, all culminating in a celebratory tea and cake stop at Uffington village hall. Both current and past members (and friends) of the club are very welcome to join us. If you are planning to come, please can we ask you to complete a quick registration here: registration link, so that we have a reasonable feel for the numbers on the ride and for catering at Uffington. This will be the 2* ride, cycling around the Vale before joining other club members and friends for the Anniversary Tea at Uffington at 3pm. Our route will take us along the spring line - passing through those villages below the Ridgeway where water seeps out from the chalk rock to form our local streams that feed into the River Ock. The good news is that we follow the base of the ridge and carefully avoid going up it! We will go out on the track from East Challow to Childrey, along to Sparsholt and Westcot, then past the base of White Horse Hill to Ashbury and on to Bishopstone. This marks the western end of the Vale and the watershed between the rivers Ock and Cole. We will drop down to the picturesque village of Bourton and continue to Shrivenham. From there we head back through the Vale to Uffington, arriving at the Village Hall at 3pm just in time for the special tea and cake stop. After the celebrations, we will take the direct route back to Grove via Baulking, Goosey and Denchworth. About 31 miles in total, at a gentle speed of around 12mph.
Riders: Andrew Rimmer Barry Stanton Brian Hipwell Chris Bailey David Jackson Jane John Jenny Gower John Tranter Joy Arthur LeeAnn Norris Mike Bailey Nick Dunton Nicole Pethybridge Roger Postbeschild Roger Turnbull Steve Swanton Susie Turnbull Terry Penn Terry Ryland Riders = 19 Weather: Report: After a beautiful sunny morning, ominous clouds rolled in around 12 bringing a heavy shower. It was still raining lightly as I rode into the car park by OMH but the rain then petered out and the sun appeared briefly as we gathered for the start of our 30th Anniversary 2* ride. So it was cagoules off for the photo call. A great turn-out of 16 riders at the start with 3 to pick up along the way, meant that we split into 3 groups, Roger taking the first as a faster group, me in the middle and John the 3rd. After the recent rains, a slight change of route was made, avoiding any mud on the track from Challow to Childrey by taking the road option via the B-road instead (with a bonus ascent and descent 😉). As showers came and passed over the first few miles, we made several stops to don and then remove rainwear, before eventually we emerged into warming sunshine, blue skies and what became a lovely summer’s afternoon. The spring-line road is always fun to ride with its twists and turns, ups-and-downs and panoramic views: across the Vale, up to the Downs and of course to White Horse Hill. We stopped briefly below the Manger to take in the White Horse, an emblem of our club. Battling a headwind, we were behind schedule by the time we reached Ashbury. A quick consultation confirmed that all were up for completing the full route. Upping the pace, we were soon at Bishopstone and turning downhill into the vale, through pretty Bourton and then right into Shrivenham. As last we had the wind behind us! We made good speed along the B-road to Longcot, and then on to Uffington, catching up with some of the 1*group as we approached the hall, just before 3pm, bang on time. Roger’s group were already tucking into the wonderful spread that awaited us and John’s soon followed (all 3 groups having completed the full route). We were soon tucking in and catching up with other riders. Thanks to Roger and John for leading the other two groups and thanks to all for your company on a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon to celebrate our 30th Anniversary.
Distance: 50.86 km (31.60 mi)	Ride Details: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/43614982
2* riders at Old Mill Hall, 30th Anniversary Rides 23-Jul-23
Proposed Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/43614982"
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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