The sort of day that makes October a favourite month for rides. Cool to start but clear blue skies, can see for miles, a second cosy light layer, but by mid ride, wearing finger-less gloves.
I was joined by Rose, Kim, Louise and Linda C that I have not met before, but had noticed that she rides with Debs from Hartley Wintey some Saturdays. Linda had messages me yesterday to check if the route was all on road, since she has a road bike. (Diane was due to join us too, but following her flu jab yesterday, felt a bit under the weather. I had mine last week and have had a few days feeling not quite right, and exhausted. I was a bit better today thankfully.)
Route link screenshot at end.
We met at Riseley, where Linda arrived on her bike. Turns out she lives just around the corner! 😄
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| Dropping down Barge Lane, we cold see for miles over the top of the hedges. |
Heading next to Beech Hill, we used Park Lane, then a right turn to pass the Elm Tree pub, where I stopped to photograph the trees on the green.
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| I caught up a few minutes later at Beech Hill church. Linda, Louise, Rose, Kim. |
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| Looking gorgeous in todays soft light. |
Around the back of the church next, to connect from Cross Lane to Goodboys Lane, to Grazeley Green. (We ignored the entrance to Wokefield Park where we often cut through. Today's route was a loop to Burghfield Common, with a few climbs, which eventually would bring us back to the other side of Wokefield Park, which would have been flat. Mentioning no names, it might have been questioned later, once I pointed this out.😂😂😂 )
A short section on Goring Lane, then a gentle rise on James Lane, before a cheeky 10% climb passing the entrance gates of Guide Dog for the Blind HQ, on Reading Road into Burghfield Common. I did spot a name of "Hermit's Hill". Google search reveals that the HQ was once a house called "Hillfields, Hermits Hill, built early 1800s.
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| Stopping to take in the views as join Lockram Lane. I suggest the others go ahead, since I knew I wanted to stop for at least one more photo. |
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| Lockram Lane, where I had taken a photo in the spring, when I first came this way, in the opposite direction.  |
Same spot in April 2026
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| We now need to climb up to that tree line, to the back of Wokefield Park. |
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| Another view from Lockram Lane. |
Back on familiar ground we climbed "Barking Dog Hill", where the 2 Black Labs did not disappoint as we passed them. 😅. With Rose leading us through Mortimer, and down Turks Lane, she shot ahead, and captured us as caught up at the farm joining Pitfield Lane.
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| photo by Rose, as we caught her up at the bottom of Turk's Lane. |
Down across Clappers Farm Ford, where we all rode through the couple of inches of water, then right turn to climb up to Silchester on Bramley Road.
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| Beautiful sunshine at the Cricket Pavillion, but still wearing jackets. |
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| colourful bunch today. Kim, Linda, Rose, Anne and Louise. |
It's 3 weeks since I had planned this ride (cancelled twice), and I had forgotten which way we were heading back. lol. So when Garmin directed us back the way we just came up to Silchester, it was great to almost free wheel for a while back down towards Clappers Farm Road, but that's where we then went straight on. This time heading to Fair Oak Green 5 way junction, to ride on Mill Lane and the empty Great Dover Street, to Stratfield Saye.
Finally, back up via Barge Lane, and where I realised that my gears were not changing once I had climbed the hill. My legs were spinning and I was going nowhere!😖 I had recently had a new derailleur, and could not understand why this happen. By the time I reached the top, Linda, Louise and Kim had disappeared, whilst Rose waiting for "the leader".
It suddenly came to mind that my Garmin, which normally advises that my electronic gearing battery is getting low, had not given me that information. So my battery had unexpectedly died on me. I do carry a spare, but I just freewheeled back most the way, and limped home last. ( I need to pair my Garmin with my new derailleur to prevent this happening again. Love technology!!)
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| Rose was highly amused that the "leader" was last to the finish line. I was going as fast as I could. |
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| Made it! Linda had gone, so I didn't get to say goodbye. |
Thanks all for your company on this beautiful Autumnal Day. Glad you enjoyed the route, with some great downhills!
