A ride today with Daphne and Linda B. Linda had not been on her bike since our last ride on December 13th, and late last night found that her front tyre was punctured. So today, back on her old bike. (A job for Andy later 😉).
Although it's Monday, January 3rd, it's still a holiday, since NY Day was on Saturday. This meant that the "finding a cafe open on a Monday" problem, was worse than usual. I confirmed that The Coffee Shop at SOL was open, so that was our destination. I had a route in mind, and at the 11th hour Daphne found a ride that she had done with Juliette a while ago, which would take us through SOL. I only had time for a very quick glance at her route, and saw that certainly the first half was similar, but had a couple of suggestions in mind to avoid main roads. (Daphne admits that she doesn't ever plot a route, just relies on those which she has already ridden. But with maps and a little knowledge of the areas, sometimes these can be improved, especially to avoid main roads. So, I hope my notes today Daphne will help with your knowledge 😜)
We set off initially along Nine Mile Ride to cut through Hogwood Industrial Park to Sheerlands Road. I had a feeling this route was still closed part way through, but we continued ahead until we literally came to a barrier. A little bit of backtracking to wiggle our way through the new housing development near Bowhunt, and soon we were back on track. We climbed Bunces Shaw, Farley Hill, then to Swallowfield, and into The Street.
I knew we were aiming to go over the "green bridge" on Kingbridge Lane, so when Daphne's route suggested straight on to the end of The Street, which joins Basingstoke Road, I suggested a better approach is to turn left into Trowes Lane and then Carlton Lane. (This avoids riding on the main road at the end of The Street, and we dogleg over instead.)
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| Kingbridge Lane. A gloomy day. |
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| The distinctive Green Bridge. And then the only way is up. |
At the top of the hill, where Lambs Lane joins Beech Hill Road, I have always gone left, to cross over the A33. So I was a bit surprised when Daphne said we go straight over at the little XRoads, into White Horse Lane. I didn't think it went anywhere. We soon turned left into Yew Tree Lane, and sure enough were back on the Beech Hill Road, just before the bridge over the A33. Nice little detour though, so good to learn a new lane or two.
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| We then took the first right into Cross Lane, Beech Hill. |
At the end of Cross Lane, and over the railway line, Daphne's route had gone left on the main road all the way into Mortimer. My suggestion was instead to cut through Wokefield Park, through the golf course and passing the BMW academy. Literally, no traffic. Once through the tiny gap at the end of the property, a left turn onto Mortimer Lane, emerging just opposite the church, and now back on Daphne's route again.
We headed in the direction of Silchester, but turned left before the final climb, into Clappers Farm Road, to cross the ford. There was a family with wellies playing in the ford. The path alongside was filthy today, and we had to take care not to slide in the mud. A couple of lady cyclist arrived just behind us, and one decided to ride through. She wasn't very fast, and I was convinced she was going to grind to a halt... .but she made it. Wet feet, but not too deep.
At the end of Clappers Farm Road, a left turn into Oliver's Lane, the one that takes you over the railway on the outskirts of Bramley. The one where everyone always says "I know where I am now".
At the next X-roads Daphne's route took us straight over. It's a nice lane, (still Oliver's Lane), and joins into Folly Lane, which I have used before, but, unless she had a cunning plan, I knew that we would have to join the main Bramley to SOL Road, which is quite busy, and a couple of inclines and bends, so not ideal with traffic desperate to pass. (A quieter route is to have gone left a the XRoads, Stratfield Saye Road, and then next right into Mill Lane to bring us into SOL that way, just a couple of hundred yards short of the cafe).
The cafe was busy today, queuing out the door, and unfortunately a group of 12 cyclists ahead of us. So, we got a bit chilled waiting for so long. Daphne's route next had gone out via the A33 roundabout to turn right to Hartley Wespal. I really do not like to ride on the A33, so persuaded her to use the more cycle friendly cut through, on the old Reading Road, which allows you to be on a footpath all the way to the Hartley Wespall turn off.
A bit of discussion about where to go next, but I knew her route took us past Hartley Wespall Church, which is a left turn. (Looking at Daphne's route now that I am home, I noticed that she and Juliette had doubled back here on their ride, which is why her Garmin was confused.)
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| Passing Hartley Wespall church |
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| A slight uphill after the church. |
A little farther on this road, called Turgis Green Lane, we faced a dustbin truck reversing towards us, with absolutely NO room for us to pass. I wasn't convinced he knew we were there, so quickly turned around to retreat to the corner!
Right now, into Bottle Lane, passing the end of the road to Daneshill School. Bottle Lane continues right at the grass triangle, leading to Mattingley. But we stayed left, onto the lane with no name that I have ever found, and which emerges at the junction of the B3349 Reading Road, opposite the New Inn.
Another bit of confusion as Daphne wanted to go right here, but Laundry Lane, where we were heading was visible to our left. (checking her original ride, she had gone wrong and doubled back, which is why her Garmin was sending her right.)
Laundry Lane, which we were climbing up, was like a river! Water coming downhill on much of the surface. At the top of Laundry Lane, we abandoned Daphne's ride, since it would take us a good distance on the Bramshill Road, and also through Bramshill forest path, which would have been a right mess! We all agreed to go a different way back.
So we turned left to Heckfield and then right to ride on another lane with no name, but which passes the Wellesley Water Meadows. A lovely lane, and all very gradually downhill around the edges of Wellington Country Park, eventually crossing the Devil's Highway, to join School Road, and into Part Lane, Swallowfield.
Rather than climb Farley Hill again, we stuck to the Swallowfield Road, all the way to Arborfield.
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| Jacket getting packed away, as we head up Swallowfield Road towards Arborfield. |
Now our usual way back to Finchampstead, via School Road Arborfield , and then pick up the Greenway to FBC.
33.9 miles for Linda, 36.5 for Daphne and 39.9 for me @ 11.4mph..... Daphne steaming ahead setting the pace.😄. Well done ladies, especially to Linda who had not been out for 3 weeks.