Breeze to Riseley Tea Rooms via Grazeley - 25 miles

With Sue and Jill both off on more holidays 😉, I offered a second ride this week. Today's THURSDAY route was officially from FBC, but Janet and Karen joined me from Wooshhill and we picked up Louise W at the bottom of Blagrove Lane, on our way to the start.  Other riders today were Sue C, Nikki C, and newly trained Breeze leader Julie from Maidenhead.   I added Julie just yesterday, so that she could assist and put her new skills in to practice.  (Not officially on the Lets Ride site yet).  

However, she doesn't have a device for the route, so the idea of her leading, didn't quite work.  But it was helpful at times to have her lead the second group when we split into 2 groups on the occasional section of main road. So , thanks for that Julie. 

Route link screenshot at end.

I met Nikki C for the first time at our fund raising social last Friday, so it was nice to have a chance to chat to her today.  She knows me as "Anne who does hills". 😅, and told me she doesn't like hills.... but she is a runner, so probably fitter than me. No proper hills today to worry about anyway. Infact a few runners out today, who are friends. It seems a Breeze breakaway group of runners meet regularly, which is great.  Louise W said she has "cross pollinated" a few Breeze and Running friends.  (not a group I will ever be joining. 😂)

Just as we were about to leave FBC, Chris Ross, an Ex-Breeze leader who took me on many a ride a few years back, was going into FBC for an activity.  Very nice to see her after a very long time.

The first 5 miles of  today's route used cyclepaths as we crossed to Arborfield, over Observer Way bridge, but straight over at the top today. (Not left to Swallowfield Road).  We cut through Greensward Lane, and from Church Lane into the university farm track. 

On the path leading to the university farm.

Julie, Karen, Louise W
Sue C, Nikki C, Janet at the back. 

This looks more than Autumn than high summer!

We rode along the gravelly path crossing the River Loddon, to emerge on Cutbush Lane. An excellent recently laid path so that it can now be used year round to cut through to stay off the A327, to connect to Shinfield.

A few more cyclepaths and traffic lights, got us safely to Brookers Hill. I dont often come down this hill, but its a nice change from sticking to the cyclepaths through Shinfield.  We did this is 2 groups, enjoying the big fast downhill, before turning right to use a couple more cyclepaths around the back of the new developement near Three Mile Cross. It's a great path, with Bullrushes etc included. 

Safely over the A33 using more traffic lights, we were soon insight of the Wind Turbine of Green Park, before we joined Kybes Lane. (One of my favourites. )

the pretty house and Willow Tree on Kybes Lane
Nr Grazeley

I was telling the ladies about the mysterious white van that appeared in my group photo yesterday (at Lockdown Lodge), and just for fun Julie took this photo at this same spot on Kybes Lane.... with a white car behind us in the shot. 😂



We passed the AWE site on Riders Lane, and soon into New Road, a little climb passing the back entrance to Wokefield Park.  From Mortimer, a climb over the railbridge, and in 2 groups we rode to Beech Hill, but dropping down Park Lane. Our favourite climb now on Welsh Drive, to join Bull Lane to go under the A33 to reach Riseley. Well done everyone on the climb. Its just a weee bit too long, I know. 

photo by Julie. Quite a few ladies had never been here before
and were charmed with the set up. 

A very warm welcome from the ladies at the Tearooms as usual. Infact they even made Sue her very own plate of gluten free scones. Literally, made the mix and cooked them for her. It took about 10 mins, but not a problem.

Lemon cake and coffee cake on offer today
as well as Victoria Sponge.

And I opted for this delicious almond bun. 

A lovely chatty tea break, before we headed down Part Lane, to head for Farley Hill. (Part Lane with loads of chalk marks on pot holes, so assume a road closure coming soon.)

Two groups, to ride along Church Road, Swallowfield, Janet with the route, along with Julie and one other in the front group.  As my group approached the bottom on our Farley Hill turnoff, I thought it strange that the front group were no longer in site. 😖😖😖

I decided they had taken the first left instead of the second left, so turned my group around to follow them into Church Lane. As we turned, Louise knocked off her chain guard and had to stop to take it off. Her chain also now off, but a lever still swinging which wasnt safe.  By the time all this happened , the first group had realised their error and doubled back.  I told them to head on up Farley Hill and we would meet at the top.  We needed to use  a tool to sort out Louise's bike, but were soon back on the road. 

A straight forward ride back now to FBC on the Hogwood Lane tracks to Nine Mile Ride. 

Nice to see Sue back out riding (on her new bike), and also some ladies I've not ridden with so regularly, and hope you all enjoyed today's route.