WLCG Riseley to Englefield - 29 miles

With a sunny forecast, I offered to transport 4 of us to Riseley this morning, where Gill met us for a ride to Englefield. It was a glorious morning from the word go.  

My Orro bike is in for repair after yesterdays ride (sticking brake pads), so I had to use my ebike today. Did a feel guilty? As Billy Connolly would say "Not a jot!"  This is my 5th ride in 6 days.  I'm helping a little to get Jeanette trained up for her epic Scotland trip, by going out with her on some hillier rides, but at this rate I will be going with her. 😂

Route link screenshot at end. 

We climbed away from Riseley on Bull Lane, using the underpass, and since we have not turned RIGHT here for months, due to floods and generally messy conditions, I suggested we try it today. With Gill leading, I should have known we would carry on regardless, rather than turn back. 😅 Sure enough, within 50 yards a flood, which we went through. The tyres on my ebike are a bit smoother than my gravel bike, plus I am a wimp, so I picked my way downhill a little more cautiously than the others. My Garmin didn't seem quite right, so at the first junction, we stopped for me to reset it.

Hearing a noise of what could have been a Quad bike behind us, I turned around to see not one but 5 Motocross motorbikes coming close behind us. We waved them passed of course and never saw them again.

Climbing Park Lane at the edge of Beech Hill, we joined the main road into Stratfield Mortimer, and over the rail bridge into the village.  I stopped for this photo of the church. 

St Marys Church, Stratfield Mortimer, just before the railbridge.

A left turn, then opposite the church into the right turn of Mortimer Lane.   I explained to the ladies that we joined the opposite end of this lane a few weeks ago after we emerged from Wokefield Park. Previously we turned right to climb Nightingale Lane, whereas today, it was a sharp left turn. 

But shortly before our sharp left turn, Jeanette's chain came off. It seemed to be stuck, and we thought maybe game over. (Which would have been for everyone, since we mostly travelled together). But with 3 pairs of hands, we got it sorted, and after that it appeared to be fine. 

A climb to the top of the first part of Nightingale Lane
(at the house with the barking dog)

The dog didn't bark much today. 

Downhill and up again follows and of course this lane is often wet and messy.  A couple of weeks ago we turned left at the end of this lane, heading into Mortimer Common, but today a right turn and a steep drop downhill crossing Lockram Brook, with a thankfully not too steep climb up the other side to the area called Wokefield Common Nature Reserve. 

Jeanette heading up through Wokefield Common. The others ahead. 

The common is full of ferns, which soon we be fresh and green. 

Next, we carried straight over, to a residential area through Burfield Common, with a dip down and climb up to our right turn at a X Roads. (which we return to later.) This is Sulhampstead Abbots, where we passed the pretty white timber church tower, which I have photographed many times before. 

A drop down steeply on Folly Lane, to join Jacques Lane and a climb to pass the entrance to the Police College. 

Jeanette passing me again as I stop for a photo at the Police College

Grounds of the Police College. A shame we cant ride through here!

Once downhill it's all very flat around Sheffield Bottom as we approach Theale. We cut through the quiet lanes of North Street Hamlet and soon arrive in Englefield.

Nice and sunny, but a chilly wind, so we sat indoors today. 

Englefield Tearooms

They have personally commissioned wallpaper
depicting the estate. (We would see the deer shortly!)

A tight crop to see the stag looking straight at me. 

The others coming to see the deer.

We retraced our route back over Theale Railbridge, also crossing the Kennet and Avon Canal.

The Willow trees have come into bud in the last week. 

A turn soon in to Bottom Lane, all very flat and where there was some serious field flooding on our right. 

Views from Bottom Lane. 

Inevitably, we need to start our climb back up to Sulhamstead, and we did so on the quiet  Kingston Lane. A few more undulations, and we spotted the white tower of Sulhampstead Church a little further over to our left. 

At the X roads, this time a right turn into Shortheath Lane, which is quiet, but then joins the busier long and wide straight roads which all look the same around here! We rode on Island Farm Road, which runs parallel to Camp Road. 

I wanted our route to return and drop down Drury Lane, Mortimer Common, which we used a few weeks ago, and everyone enjoyed, so a couple more turns and we were there. 

Views as we joined Drury Lane. 

More views from Drury Lane, looking towards Silchester. 

On our last ride, we turned left at the bottom, onto Pitfield Lane, going all the way to Stratfield Mortimer. This was to avoid a flood on Part Lane, but today, I thought it would be ok. So we turned RIGHT onto Pitfield Lane, and almost immediatley went through a flood . 😂 Not a serious one. There is a farm on this road, so its a bit messy, but a lovley lane, which had we continued, goes all the way to Silchester  joining Clapper Farm Road. 

We turned left eventually into Park Lane, to get us back over the railway line. Everyone knows this lane by now.... I think! 

I was keen to avoid one more regular flooding area, around Strafield Saye, so we kept left once more, where at a T junction, we joined the road back to Beech Hill. (btw John reports that following his ride today, the Stratfield Saye big flood in now ok... until it rains again tomorrow!)

Gill, Jeanette and  Lynne headed off first on the main road to Beech Hill and I suggested to Martina that we leave a decent gap before following. The gap seemed to get bigger and bigger, as Martina was flagging. (She hasnt been out much recently, so that was not a surprise, but she seemed very slow. ) I blamed the headwind too. As we got close to Beech Hill, she realised she had a puncture! 😓😔😕😖

We hadn't far to go, and the others had gone ahead no doubt waiting at the next turn, so I suggested Martina continue to walk the short distance to Beech Hill and I would dash off (using my power) to catch up with the others. Then I would come back to collect her with the van asap. 

As I announced the problem to the others, Jeanette and Lynne were gutted that they hadn't also stayed with Martina... .thereby missing their favourite climb up Welsh Drive back to Risley. 😂

Just before our turn into Chequers Lane.

ah, so that's why its called Chequers Lane.

Chequers Lane, changes it s name to Welsh Drive as we cross the little bridge at Barge Lane. With a headwind getting worse, that climb today was not pleasant, and I felt a tiny bit guilty using my power once more to climb the hill. But my bike is heavy!

Loaded up, we returned to collect Martina, who was sitting on a wall sunning herself. 

Well done everyone. A ride of ups and downs, and the worst was almost over quite a few times today. Some of said you weren't sure where we were today, so this screen shot might help.

 I'm  sure the hills in Scotland won't be this big, so Jeanette will be flying up them.