At last all the icy roads have defrosted! The temperature this morning was 9 degrees as I set out. But we did have our 9th named storm of the season last night, "Jocelyn", so was expecting a few large puddles today in the usual spots, but hopefully no floods.
My ride started at Cantley, where Sue P's ride was also starting, so a few minutes to chat to the others, and a team photo, before we went our separate ways. (Sue headed to Shinfield).
Route (photo of route at end)
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| 2 groups both starting out from Cantley this morning. Louise, Kim, Linda, Amanda T and Jeanette with me today. |
I was kind to the ladies, and rather than climb over the Cantley motorways to get to Hurst, we used the cyclepaths alongside Toutley Road, to get us to Winnersh. But it was hard work! We were peddling straight into a head wind, and all felt knackered by the time we got to Woodward Close! The gap between us was getting wider and wider. 😅 And that was the easy part of the ride. 😉
We passed the bottom of Sandford Lane, and took the next right into Dunt Lane, (which confused some of them), just to enjoy the quiet lanes before we looped around to join Church Lane to Hurst. The pub was looking very pretty in the sunlight this morning, and a good chance for a nose blow. (I am very congested still, as are a few others).
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| Castle Inn, Hurst. I am going to lunch here next week. |
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| And Hurst Church, opposite. |
We crossed through Hurst on our usual lanes, and then a short section on the main road, for our right turn to climb Broadhinton. Trying to vary our route a little, we dropped into Twyford to the XRoads, then left (in two groups of 3 ) all the way to cross the A4. Not too far short of the A4, a group of 12 club cyclist passed us, and also headed straight over heading to Sonning. Traffic that passed our small groups without any trouble, then had to sit behind this ridiculously large group of cyclists. So selfish that they ride in such large groups.
We continued in two groups through Sonning, then over at the roundabout to Playhatch. I was so congested that I needed to stop again, but waved the others on to start their climb up the hill to Dunsden.
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| Starting the climb to Dunsden. |
We were heading to Binfield Heath, which is less than 2 miles away, but that would have been quite a short ride. So we turned left to pass the Loddon Brewery, for our loop to Sonning Common. A bit of flooding at the Brewery as usual, but not covering the whole road.
Jeanette and Kim led the next few miles, as we crossed at the Bird in Hand pub with our gradual climb to Sonning Common. But what goes up must come down.... eventually.
We dropped into Sonning Common to cross the Peppard Road into Widmore Lane. This climbs to pass a pond, at about 4% gradient, but spikes at the top. If you need to stop at the junction, tricky to get going again. So I asked Linda (on her ebike,) to get ahead and out at the top, to have a clear sight line of any approaching traffic in the hope that she could shout "clear" as we all approached the junction. That worked. 😇 Thanks Linda.
We are "up" again, but about a mile later, turned left to drop down the steep Devil's Hill, passing the BBC Monitoring station at Crowsley Park, and continued into the Harpsden Valley.
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| Harpsden Valley, after dropping down Devil's Hill (Kim out of site well ahead!) |
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| The left hand side of the steep Harpsden Valley, bathed in sunshine. |
We were on the lookout for a right hand turn into Perseverance Hill. I've only approached it from the other direction, when you almost double back on yourself, so approaching from this direction was easy.
Kim had stopped for us all to catch up, as we approached Perseverance Hill. The steepest section is immediate, so you get through yours gears pretty quickly! And eventually it lessens, but still a climb all the way to join the top road next to a thatched cottage at Mays Green. We all made it on our own time. Well done team!
Not far now to our coffee stop, on a pretty messy road of several large puddles. At this point, Kim announced that she forgot that she had a small chain wheel, and had come up the hill in her large chain. Respect! 😂😂😂
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| Bottle and Glass Binfield Heath. The new teepee is open at the weekends. I was there on Sunday and it was packed with dog walkers. |
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| Kim and I shared a delicious pistacho cream filled cake. A combination of pastry and muffin. 😋 |
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| Lovely light streaming in through the window. |
Lunchtime diners were arriving whilst we were there. It's excellent food here btw. I have been several times for dinner.
All downhill now to Playhatch. I was riding with Kim, who said that she thinks she had been up this hill before. lol.... yes 2 hours ago! Hilarious. Back to Sonning and this time we headed towards Woodley, returning passing Waingels College. As we turned right into Beggars Hill Road, a quick stop to clear my nose.... again. I checked that everyone knew where they were? Yep, and yet a hundred yards further on two riders started to turn left in to Landsend Road heading to the ford, instead of straight on. haha. They shall remain nameless.
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| Views from Beggars Hill Road, Woodey. No horses in the field today. |
Just after this, a big flood on Beggars Hill Road, which I've not seen before, so maybe a burst pipe? Finally down Sandford Lane and back via a couple of Hurst Lanes to Dinton flyover. Amanda and Linda continued back to Cantley on the cyclepaths, whilst the rest of us headed to Simons Lane to Woosehill.
A lovely morning to be out, without the need for thermals of all descriptions. Roll on spring! Thanks to all for your good company as ever, and no punctures.
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| Todays route, a couple of figures of 8. |