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Past Ride

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Sat Aug 30th 2008

Beginners Off-Road

Leader: Sorrel Williams	Start Time: 2:00 pm	Start Location: OMH
Description: Always fancied cycling off-road but never given it a go? This ride will be a short 'potter' along the bridleways and tracks of Denchworth, The Hanneys and Grove to give you a taste of off-road cycling.
Riders: Alex Walters Brian Hipwell Chris Lea Chris Walters David Bridge Dean Douglas Edith Hipwell Ginny Henderson Henry Ackrill Neil Warner Sorrel Williams Riders = 11 Report: What fantastic weather to enjoy a bit of off road adventuring! The mud and puddles that were on the route on Wednesday had dried up to sufficient standard so that they could be cycled through but still provide enough evidence of some off piste action. We left Grove and headed towards Charlton village, turning left just after the school and Church. At the end of the housing estate is a great piece of bridleway single track that goes up and over Crab Hill and brings you out on the A338 in Grove. Everyone managed really well with the singletrack and negotiated the mud and puddles to personal preference (those that wanted to get muddy did, and those that didn't...didn't!) We then cycled through Grove towards Denchworth and turned up the Byway just before the cemetery (known locally as the 'sewage path' for reasons that come apparent when the wind is in the wrong direction). Although the route was flat, there are some obstacles to be negotiated in the way of bricks, rocks and mud. Not your average smooth track, but still exciting. At the end of the path we turned left and followed the very rocky track to the back of West Hanney and then through to Denchworth, popping out onto the road just before the bridge. The tarmac then took us back through to Grove. Instead of a tea stop, someone mentioned ice-creams, so we congregated in Millbrook Square tucking into ice-creams from the supermarket - beats tea and cake on a hot day, hands down. For a beginners ride, everyone did very well, including Alex and Henry who are less than a quarter of the age of the ride leader! All in all, a fantastic 90 minutes in the sunshine, on our bikes and primarily traffic free.
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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