Breeze Cantley to Crazies Hill via Rose Lane - 28 miles

My ride today was due to go to Swyncombe Church to enjoy the snowdrops. This was the ride I postponed from last week due to weather, and also I had been unwell.   Yesterday, the forecast for today was "feels like -1" and a good chance of rain. So, not the best time to ride to Swyncombe.  Rather than cancel, I offered my riders that we would do a mystery tour from Cantley and stay local.   2 decided it was too cold for them, but the others were all happy to get out.  Rose joined me, along with Louise, Kim, Gill and Kate. I had not met Kate before, since she is normally not free on Wednesdays. Nice to have you join us.

As I was about to set off this morning, I noticed my front tyre was flat, even though I had checked it in the last couple of days, so it must be a very slow puncture.   I had no time to fix it, so took my ebike instead. 

Route link screenshot at end. 

With the promise of rain now delayed until mid afternoon, we set off with a chilly easterly wind, gusting at times, and to get us warmed up, we headed over Carter's Hill..... along with loads of cars!   The M4 was shut for the second day following an accident yesterday, and cars were being diverted between our two local junctions. It was chaos, with a constant steam of traffic.  The next part of our route was to join Howe Lane, but I changed that as we approached, hoping to avoid the worst of the traffic, and headed into Shurlock Row instead.

Shurlock Row. Not exactly Wordsworth inspiring. 😂

To Butchers Lane next, which unfortunaltey was also a constant stream of traffic, due to roadworks on the A4. Were relieved to finally leave the traffic behind as we joined the concrete path of the Knowl Hill circuit towards Littlewick Green. As we rounded the corner to the open field area, we all screamed as  the wind almost blew us off our bikes! Louise said she thought something was wrong with her steering. 

Rather than cut through Littlewick Green, as we often do, we continued as far as Westacott Way, taking us out to the A4, where after about 100yards, we turned left into the quiet Burtchetts Green Lane.  I don't use this very often, so a nice change. The group waited for Kim and I then I spotted a nice patch of snowdrops, opposite Little Stubbings House. 

Catkin time too on Burchetts Green Road

Another climb now to warm us up, on Honey Lane towards the Dew Drop Inn. Gill was all for going through the woods, but she was overruled as we headed down the steep hill to join Henley Road to soon climb up again on Rose Lane.   (Woods are great in drier conditions).

We split into two groups on the main road section, and waited by everyone clear of the corner. No sign of Kim initially, since her chain had come off.   But she was soon ready to go again. At the same time, Gill checked her front tyre to see how freely it was spinning.  It barely moved!   I told her about 3 rides ago, that she needs new brake pads. We have the same bike, and I knew the tell tale signs long before now. 😉 Her pistons were stuck on, so for the rest of the ride she was having to work a bit harder. 

Rose Lane, to take us up to Crazies Hill. 
Pretty muddy near the top end today. 

Top end of Rose Lane with a beautiful daffodil display. 

Our destination this morning was The Horns Pub, Crazies Hill. It's recently reopened as a community pub after extensive refurbishment. I had been for a meal and noticed that they serve drinks from 11am. But sadly not cakes until noon. We survived.  Loads of space too behind a gate in a garden area to keep the bikes out of site. 

Kate, Kim,me, Louise, Rose and Gill
sitting by the fire. Lovely space.

This caused a bit of  a giggle.
The "Does", and the Does nots? lol. 
ahh....  But the other door said Stags. 
Does and Does spelt the same.😂

As often is the way, it felt colder once we set off again, heading to Dark Lane Wargrave, and to Mumberry Hill, which is closed to traffic. Brilliant! Across the A4 to New Road Ruscombe next and a brief stop at the crocus display at the church. 

Ruscombe church

Finally, downhill past Stanlake Vineyard and through Hurst Lanes back to Cantley, leaving Gill enroute. 

So nice to be out at last. I apologised for being on my ebike, but only used power on a handful of hills so I still got a workout. 

After lunch, I fixed the puncture on my gravel bike. ( it felt light as a feather compared to my ebike).  Found nothing, and fitted a new tube. Fitting the wheel back onto my bike, I listened to a rush of air coming out of the new tube. Agggh.   Repeat. Fine second time around. How annoying, but at least I was at home fixing it, rather than a freezing cold roadside.