Plan A. Today's Breeze Ride was to be a 40 mile ride starting at Emmer Green, to ride to visit a private garden in Chalgrove. But with wet weather forecast, I spoke to the garden owner yesterday morning, who was fine about us cancelling our visit. We will definitely go in the spring, and hopefully have a few more champs free to take a larger group. It looks like a beautiful garden.
Plan B. Meet at Cantley and ride to Sonning Common to the Herb Centre. Apart from one cancellation, everyone else wanted to ride, if the weather was ok, and Rose soon filled the free space. Depending on whether you trust the BBC or the Met office it was still a difficult call, but at least the temperature today had risen to a balmy 11degrees, after a couple of very cold mornings. Storm Babet was on it's way, with a very wet and windy afternoon from 2pm. We were off..... quick!
I have led 133 Breeze rides now, and I have come to the decision to share the route, so that anyone who has a GPX device can lead, knowing where to turn. This gives me a chance to finish a conversation with someone in the middle or back of the group. 😉
4 riders had managed to download the route. Since we were 8 in total today, the group split into 2 quite often. Amy was first to "volunteer" to lead as we left Cantley heading through Hurst lanes. Great job Amy. Then Louise took over as we approached the Duck Pond, to climb up through Broad Hinton. (Although Amy was enjoying being up front, and was reluctant to give it up.😂)
Just for a change, we dropped down to Twyford Xroads today, turning left at the lights, through Charvil, to cross the A4. We stopped to regroup at Sonning Mill, at which point our average speed was 12.3mph (or some had 12.8) This is what happens when a ebike leads the group.😅
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| Regrouping at The Mill at Sonning, waiting for the traffic all to go once the lights changed. 12.3 mph average at this stage. |
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| A brief stop on Emmer Green Road at this pretty cottage, as we waiting for the ebikes to catch us up.😂 |
We often climb UP to Binfield Heath from Harpsen or Sonning Common, but today we enjoyed the long downhill on Sonning Common Road. Of course we had to climb up again, but it's not so steep as doing it in reverse. We then took a left into the potholed Blackmore Lane, to drop down to the B481 Peppard Road.
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| Blackmore Lane, Crowsley. Its still dry! |
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| Views from Blackmore Lane, Crowsley. |
The Herb Centre is not far to the left on the B481, but to avoid riding uphill on the B481, we turned right to approach from around the back of Sonning Common. First left is Grove Road, but its pretty steep, so I always opt for 2nd left into Wood Lane. It was good to hear a shout from someone who recognised where we were! "There is a Butchers shop around the corner." And sure enough, there is. Well done. Think it was Rose? There was also a ROAD CLOSED SIGN! But we ignore those. 😊
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| It's that time of year. |
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| But its too early for this! |
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| Table decorations. |
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| Cheese scone. It was I am told, delicious. |
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| A fellow cyclist joined this group. He had ridden to Henley and was on his way home. 😉 |
The rain was a bit more serious as had our drinks, and quite noisy on the roof of the cafe. So , we knew were going to get wet on the way home.
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| With clear instructions to "look miserable for the photo", some ladies as usual ignored the instructions. (One lady was already in trouble today😂) Me, Louise, Kim, Amanda T, Gill, Rose, Amy, Linda. |
Rose by this time, had about 6 layers on, and doing her Telly tubby impression. It wasn't cold!
Gill volunteered to lead the group much of the way back to the Emmer Green Road junction, where we once more split into two groups since it's quite a narrow, winding lane. Amy jumped at the chance to lead the front group again, as we headed downhill from Dunsden and through Sonning. Crossing the A4 this time from Pound Lane, we stopped at the traffic lights next to the Golf course, and where Rose suddenly realised that 6 layers might be too many. 😉
Returning through Woodley, a slight hesitation by the leader as we did not follow the "normal" route, ie via Tipplings Lane. Today we went left instead, then onto Waingels Road, and finally Beggarshill Road. (good to keep them on their toes!)
Someone asked about the origins of the road name? Found this on the web, so it must be true.
One theory is that the origins of the name 'Beggar's Hill' followed the construction of this road; as traffic slowed down to climb, beggars would make their move alongside.
We left Gill on Sandford Lane, and then ignored the planned route, aiming to get back via the quickest way. It was raining off and on, so we had done well not to be get drenched.
A BIG THANKYOU to all my assistants today. That worked well, so I will share the routes ahead of our rides in future to give me a break from leading. Thank you all for your company. Half term next week, so no ride from me, but Sue has one already planned. See you soon.
PS. I thought I felt a bit tired today. According to my Garmin I climbed 27,575 feet!!! 😩
