Cycling UK Wantage | Programme of Rides and Events

Past Ride

We send details of upcoming rides in a weekly email newsletter. If you would like to be added to our mailing list please contact [javascript protected email address].

Sun Dec 10th 2023

2* Mince Pie Ride	2*

Leader: Gareth Smith	Start Time: 9:30 am	Start Location: WMP
Description: Update 9/Dec: Despite the iffy forecast, the Mince Pie Rides are on! There will be an artisan market in Wantage on Sunday morning with road closures in town from 7am. The 2* ride will start as close to King Alfred's statue as possible, but please can all riders walk their bikes in and out of the pedestrianised zone. Our annual festive ride, in aid of Whizz-Kidz, the children's mobility charity, and the centrepiece of this year’s White Horse Cycle Challenge. Ride out with us to the NT car park at White Horse Hill, Uffington, for mince pies and mulled wine. From Wantage Market Place a fairly direct route out to White Horse Hill including a small amount off-road between Challow and Childrey. (An off-road option is available). A distance of around around 8 miles but this does include the stiff climb up White Horse Hill. After partaking of the refreshments at White Horse Hill we will return on a slightly longer route via Goosey and Denchworth for those lunching there. The full route from Wantage back to Wantage is around 20 miles.
Riders: Des Higgs Gareth Smith John Salmon Julie Haynes Michael Johnson Roger Postbeschild Roger Turnbull Susie Turnbull Riders = 8 Report: Eight of us set off from Wantage Market Place taking the direct route to White Horse Hill via Challow, Childrey and Sparsholt. Unfortunately the rain arrived as forecast when we were around Sparsholt/Westcot and it continued to rain for the rest of the ride. The route was quite short for a 2* ride, but in the wet conditions that was no bad thing. In a first for me half of the riders present were on e-bikes, the climb of White Horse Hill presumably having something to do with that. Following the ascent via the usual route past Dragon Hill we were greeted by the team at the car park who had the mince pies and mulled wine ready. Thank you! That was most welcome. Our stop was kept fairly short owing to the weather. Three of the group made their own way home while the remainder of us returned via Woolstone and the flat route through Uffington, Goosey and Denchworth. The tailwind helping us along for a good part of the way. This was an enjoyable ride as despite the weather, knowing we were part of the mince pie ride tradition supporting Whizz-Kidz and the excellent company was great. As John Salmon summed it up: " A shared achievement by the group."
Distance: 32.35 km (20.10 mi)	Ride Details: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/45085661"
Proposed Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/45085661"
Comment on this ride

Ride Filter

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