An excellently varied ride, that takes you on a tour along the Thames Valley, through the goring Gap and up into the south Chilterns! The route takes you from intricate lanes and steep, wooded Thames-side climbs, to the broad, open sweeps below the Oxfordshire Ridgeway. Variously fast & flowing with some calf burning climbs, but always inspiringly scenic, this is a rewarding ride in every sense.
The course rolls out easily for the first few miles from the event start, through wooded lanes that take you down almost to the river at Whitchurch, where a sharp right delivers you onto your first trip into the red for the day, straight up the formidable Whitchurch Hill. From here it's west, crossing the Thames at picturesque Goring and turning south at Streatley. For the next 30 or so miles, you'll be exploring West Berkshire's rolling Quiet Lane network, roads designated as such for their beauty and tranquility. Then there's a hike back up to the ridge and a wake up call in the form of the searing descent of Streatley hill!
The route turns north from here, crossing back across the Thames below Wallingford and pointing towards the choppier terrain of the south Chilterns, more familiar to Woodcote veterans. A stiff climb of Garsons Hill false summits before the last drag to the courses high point at Cookley Green, before a drop into the Oxfordshire plain gives you a chance for a breather. What goes down though, must come back up, and Britwell Hill is a test equal to Whitchurch; higher, and at the sharp end of the course too!
This brings you to the final act. Enjoy the excellent descent from Stonor, but remember that this course started high. The final miles are stubborn, kicking you up sharply twice and undulating constantly to stretch you all the way to the finish.
The route choices come in three flavours as usual; short and mid total 86 & 103km respectively, with the full course weighing in at 136km with 1,827m of height gain. It's to be a spectacular day out on the bike!
One Stop in Evesham ram raided on Christmas Day by thieves https://www.worcesternews.co.uk/news/24821392.one-stop-evesham-ram-raide...
Bullseye!
Shurely "we have to build more housing! But developers won't build 'affordable housing'. And where can we find land anyway (lots of nimbys)?"...
Its an Garmin'less Garmin for a lot less Garmin money.
Totally agree, it is confusing, do they mean it was three times as many as before or was it up by three times as many so actually 4 times as many?
I've noticed previously that it can take a couple of hours for the post to show up in the forum posts section, but if it's not appearing at all,...
Unable to trust it... My solution to this problem began a few years ago- just get another one when they're cheap and light enough
The CUK members' own stories about their travels in the mag make me wonder whether road.cc could built up a bank of readers' favourite routes? It...
There is no way on that terrain the wheels would clog up.
No. But do you think Trump is? 🤡💩🤣