Cycling UK Wantage | Programme of Rides and Events

Past Ride

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Sat Oct 21st 2023

1* Saturday Half Day Ride	1*

Leader: Steve Swanton	Start Time: 1:00 pm	Start Location: OMH
Description: Update 21/10 - The ride is on! While there is still a chance of rain it's looking ok. We may encounter some puddles, but we are avoiding flooding in the vale. Monthly 16-32km (10-20 miles) family and social rides, usually with a tea stop, at a riding pace of 12-16km/h (8-10mph). Occasional short or gentle climbs. Plan A is to head eastwards along NCN Route 44 to the Harwell Campus for a tea stop at Chilton Garden Centre. It's a chance to explore the cycleways and tracks around the campus and catch some autumn colour. We can pick up in Charlton en route. Please let me know if you would like to join us.
Riders: Anke Otto Lorna Swanton Rebecca Lindgren Roger Postbeschild Steve Boreham Steve Swanton Susan Holdroyd Riders = 7 Weather: Report: After all the rain brought by the fringes of Storm Babet during the week, we were lucky enough to enjoy an almost rain-free ride. A warm welcome to Rebecca on her first ride with us. 5 of us set off from Grove, picking up Susan and Anke in Charlton, before skirting the edges of Kingsgrove en route to Lockinge. There were some big puddles here and there, fairly wide and long on the climb to Betterton, but generally the surfaces of the tracks were damp but not muddy. The only change from the planned route was at Ginge, where we avoided the muddy section up to the Farm track and took the Icknield Greenway instead. We looped through the Harwell site, pausing by the big hole in the ground that used to be the “tank farm”, then in the new Quad (where the refurbished café is due to reopen soon) and to view from afar Hangar 10, the site of the UK’s first large-scale nuclear reactor (BEP0). We continued on cyclepaths through to the Chilton Field Estate and our refreshment stop at the garden centre cafe. A good break with quick service and most of us had large slices of tasty cakes. From the garden centre, we took a cunning underpass beneath the A34 to reach and cycle through Chilton Village. We then picked up a Byway that took us back under the A34 and onto the track across Harwell Field. This stony track was relatively hard-going with a nagging north-westerly in our faces. However, we soon rejoined the NCN route 544 to return to the Harwell site and retraced our steps along the Icknield Greenway to the Ginge-West Hendred road. We then continued straight on over the Bridge of Lesser Doom to cross the Ginge brook back to Ardington. Roger had already left us by this point to get back early and Susan continued straight on at Christopher's Wood into Wantage while the rest of us turned up the hill to climb up and over Lains Barn to return to Grove. And just as we got back the sun came out! Thanks everyone for your company on an enjoyable and easy-to lead ride.
Distance: 31.87 km (19.80 mi)	Ride Details: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/44803575
Proposed Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/44780932"
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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