My first official ride today as Breeze Champion, and Cathy joined as my Assistant. We had done a recce on this ride last week, so conditions were as expected.... messy! BUT a beautiful blue sky kind of day, even if a bit chilly.
I just got my new Garmin and think I need to change a setting somewhere so that the average speed does not including stops. It reads at 6.5 mph average today, which doesn't seem right. It wasn't a fast ride due to road conditions, but even so. We worked hard! (update from my other cycle computer AVG was 10.5.. that's better!)
Route
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The Red Breeze champ uniform. Its first airing.
Got a few mud splashes today!
Thanks to Jackie for the photo. |
Jackie, Linda B, Linda, Daphne and Cathy met me at Cantley at 9am, as we re organised and travelled to Peppard in two vehicles.
Everyone enjoyed the first few miles of gradual climbing over to Woodcote, before the big downhill towards Goring. Then the start of the uphill section, and this first photo is where we started to peel off a layer after climbing up to Ipsden.
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| Road block |
Eventually we had to tackle the hill up to the Blue Tin. WELL DONE TO JACKIE who was the only rider who stayed on her bike. Linda B got the second farthest. It's about 300 feet climb, but comes all at once so a bit of a challenge. We did 1100 feet today overall, but most parts were more gradual.
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| Jackie just ahead on the right, still peddling, with Linda now off pushing (like the rest of us). |
We were rewarded with a tea stop at the top of this climb at The Blue Tin where Jackie and I indulged in the Bakewell sponge. It was enormous! We shared ours with the others.
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| Jackie with her well earned slice of cake |
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| Linda, Cathy, Jackie, Linda B, Daphne and me. |
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| Great place to stop in the sunshine |
Bit further and after pulling over for 2 more horses, a chance for a Breeze Champ photo with Cathy
Just after this Linda had a problem with her new bike. A strange noise that she thought was her gearing. A bit further on and riding alongside her, I spotted the problem. The little light on the back attached to her bag was rubbing on the wheel! ha ha! Problem solved. Phew.
Coming into Stoke Row, most had never seen the Maharajah's Well, so a quick stop there too.
And finally a right turn into Busgrove Lane, a nice downhill past the piggies, and then left at the cross roads on Wyfold Lane, where we had turned opposite towards Hook End near the start of our ride.
Thank you ladies for joining me. I think now they are no longer scared of the Chilterns!
