Out with hubby today on my new road bike. Soooo much easier to keep up with him than on my hybrid. A 900ft climb overall, so I did feel it. Loving my new bike.
We parked at Stoke Row, quickly took a left turn, then a right, and headed over to Ipsden.
Bit of haze this morning, but signs of autumnal colour beginning to show. Being Sunday, lots of cyclist out today.
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Ipsden |
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| Ipsden |
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| Ipsden to Crowmarsh Gifford |
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| Crossing the bridge at Wallingford |
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| Thames at Wallingford |
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| Sign of autumn colours |
So, I have a hybrid bike, and out today for my first long ride on my new very clean, shiny road bike, so I can't believe we then took a muddy track alongside the Thames from Wallinford to Benson! A bit slippery in the middle section so had to take it slowly.
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| Thames side path at Wallingford |
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| Crossing the weir at Benson |
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| Views from the weir at Benson |
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| This pretty house always has lovely reflections |
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Tea stop at the Riverside Cafe. Amersham cycling club arrived
before us and were tucking into a full English breakfast. |
Approaching Ewelme, we had only clocked up 10 miles, so I foolishly suggested that we need to add a few more miles..... infact we added a further 8 on our loop to Brightwell Baldwin and Cuxham! Never been there before, so nice to see some more pretty Chiltern Villages.
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| Brightwell Baldwin Church |
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| Cottage in Cuxham. |
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Cuxham Church. Just opposite, in a barn, they were filming yet another
Midsommer Murders. |
Then the loop took us back to Ewelme. Passed the duck pond.
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| Ewelme pond |
From here there is no option but UP! Feeling fairly knackered now, and a big climb of 500ft to Swyncombe.
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Stopped to peel off a layer, before the big climb to Swyncombe. Lovely colours in the hedge, looking
back towards Ewelme from Church Lane. |
So, I didn't make it in one, but only walked a few yards then got back on. The road levels out a bit at Swyncombe where the Ridge Way crosses the road. Great views from here.
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| Look back down towards Ewelme from The Ridgeway. |
A good test for my new bike, which was a dream on the flat, downhills and more gentle inclines. Still hard work on the big climb! Need to get more fit, but 29 miles is a good workout.
