Wallingford Market Place

An opportunity to ride 100 miles taking in some less familiar territory in West Berkshire and North Hampshire (and we’ll just touch Wiltshire too). Riders are very welcome to join us for some or all of the ride by prior arrangement and to make up their own personal century if they wish. We’ll maintain a steady pace of 12-13mph. The main stops with approximate timings are:

Start: Wallingford Market Place 8am (prompt please)
Coffee: Hilliers Garden centre, Hermitage (28 miles) 10:30-11:15
Lunch: Yew Tree Cafe (garden centre) Ball Hill (51 miles) 13:15-14:15 
Tea: Chez Swanton, Grove (78 miles) 16:30-17:15
End: Wallingford (100 miles) 19:15-19:30

The ride will start from the Market Place opposite the Tourist Information office.  The nearby Goldsmiths Lane car park is free on Sundays – see map for location.

The plan is to follow a clockwise route through the Chilterns, dropping down to the Thames at Pangbourne (we’ll walk across the temporary bridge from Whitchurch) and following the Pang Valley up to Hermitage. We’ll ride around Thatcham, down to Kingsclere and cycle west along the foot of Watership Down and the North Downs to Highclere and Ball Hill. After lunch we’ll continue westwards to Hungerford and Chilton Foliat before returning to Oxfordshire by way of  Lambourn. From Grove, the last stretch is across the Vale via East Hendred, Sutton Courtenay and the Moretons. Be prepared for a long and demanding day in the saddle and something approaching 1300m of ups and downs. GPS route details available via link below. 

 If you haven’t already, please let Steve know if you are planning to come (or if you have changed your mind!).   

Ride report

What a fantastic day for a ride and a great day it was.  Some 27 riders took part in some or all of the ride with 20 completing the whole route – congratulations to those completing their first Century. Full report and pictures to come.