We are rebuilding our mailing list from scratch. Please subscribe or resubscribe via this website if you would like to receive our emails. Otherwise continue to check our website regularly for changes to rides or new ones popping up.
Past Rides and Events
Rides and Events List Navigation
-
Sun 24 September, 2023Sunday ride to Long Crendon and Bicester
0 photos
Out to the Base Café in Long Crendon and then going mostly north along country lanes until we get to Bicester. Lunch will be had Bicester Garden Centre. Let’s hope the Christmas decorations are not for sale yet!
-
Mon 18 September, 2023Return rides Lymington to Oxford
0 photos
Return route, Lymington to Oxford, camping near Pewsey, same campsite as the outward journey.
-
Sun 17 September, 2023Coffee ride to Abingdon
1 photo
We decided to ride the route in reverse, which worked well and meant that coffee was towards the end rather too close to the start. Our thanks to Barbara for some tricky route planning and to John for an alternative few kilometres into Abingdon.
-
Sun 17 September, 2023Sunday ride to Arreton, Isle of Wight
3 photos
A brave few not put off by the terrible forecast gathered at Lymington for the ferry. The rain started not long after setting off from Yarmouth and got heavier……and heavier…and heavier with accompanying thunder and lightning. Not far from St Helen’s our tandem riders had an unrepairable mechanical and had to return to Yarmouth on about 3 gears. The remaining riders arrived at the busy pub for a late and very welcome lunch and were further rewarded by a tailwind and dry weather (even the odd glimmer of sunshine!), all feeling extraordinarily resilient and satisfied at the finish!
-
Fri 15 September, 2023Rides to Lymington: Friday 15th and Saturday 16th September
0 photos
A journey to Lymington for anyone joining Jon’s Isle of Wight ride on Sept 17th. Book on THIS ride plus directly with the campsites. You will still need to book separately onto Jon’s IOW ride on 17th Sept. Camp mid point east of Pewsey on the way : https://brucearms.co.uk/ Also does B&B, Food – Friday 5 – 8pm, breakfast 9.00 Sat (too late for us). Various B&Bs nearby in Pewsey. Camping in Lymington: http://www.hurstviewleisure.co.uk/ Also does cabins/caravans/cottage. It is 5km from the ferry terminal.
-
Sun 10 September, 2023Away-day ride with picnic lunch at Calleva (Silchester)
0 photos
An away-day ride through Bucks & Berks with picnic lunch stop at the ancient Iron Age/Roman settlement of Calleva. Start: Wheel Orchard car park. All day parking in marked bays only.
-
Sun 10 September, 2023Coffee ride to Waterperry
2 photos
A half-day ride for those not going on the away-day. Because of the hot weather and the possibility of thunderstorms, we decided to switch to a shorter ride to Waterperry.
-
Sun 3 September, 2023Sunday ride to Nuffield and Chinnor
3 photos
After a slightly misty start to the day, the skies soon cleared rewarding us with a lovely, not too hot day for the ride. A longer than usual stretch to coffee saw us arrive at The Maker Space Café in Nuffield, after a fairly strenuous climb up into the Chilterns, and for the brave few, a short-cut across the Golf Course to the café, without any riders or bikes being struck by golf balls. From Nuffield, a pleasant ride through Christmas Common and over the M40 for a rapid decent of Kingston Hill towards Chinnor for a delightful lunch at the Cob Cottage Café, before heading home via the Phoenix Trail through Thame and Wheatley.
-
Sun 27 August, 2023Sunday ride to Witney and Aston
3 photos
We set off from Broad St on time, despite riders from the south having a police diversion as St Aldates was closed for crime scene forensics. It was a bit cooler than of late, with quite a bit of cloud. We stayed dry despite a forecast risk of a shower near lunch. Coffee was in Witney, having gone via Sutton and the Cogges Road, mostly with a fair headwind. After skirting the north of Carterton, we went through Shilton. I was anticipating Andy P would be waiting for us (we went past his house), but we met him a mile or so later. He was going in the opposite direction, having missed us in Witney, and then making his way to lunch, and retracing the route. The road into Bampton was wet from a recent shower, so the ride running 15 minutes or so late probably saved us from getting wet. On his earlier exploits looking for us, Andy had had a heavy shower on this road. The system at Aston worked, and they had reserved 2 tables for us. The afternoon saw us heading to Buckland via Chimney Meadows (not flooded, unlike my previous ride led along this road), and then to Garford and Marcham before going over Boars Hill back to Oxford.
-
Sun 20 August, 2023Sunday ride to Lower Heyford and Launton
3 photos
Eighteen riders collected at Broad Street on an overcast but warm morning. Heading north up the Cherwell Valley, our group slightly overwhelmed the tiny kitchen at Kizzie’s, although every drink and slice of cake eventually found its rightful owner in the dappled shade of the canalside garden. While Richard led a quartet home, the rest of us circled around Bicester for a pretty good lunch at the Bull at Launton, where we more or less had the garden to ourselves in the sunshine. Everyone respected Niall’s request to keep the outcome of the Women’s World Cup final a secret, and we headed home into a relentless wind, splitting off into two groups from Islip.
-
Sun 13 August, 2023Sunday ride to Benson and Cuxham
2 photos
Fourteen of us in Broad Street gathered to ride to Benson on what was forecast to be a mostly sunny day. Coffee was slow at Benson as there was only one coffee machine working and the rain started. Some of us went indoors while others braved it out under a small shelter in the garden. Robert decided to cancel his lunch bookings that point!
Ten of us carried on towards lunch with Jackie cutting off to home after Cookley Green. Traffic was light and we had a lovely ride up into the Chilterns and across Christmas Common before a fast ride down into Watlington. A swift lunch was had in the Half Moon at Cuxham which was surprisingly quiet and we then headed home. Rain threatened but never happened. -
Sun 6 August, 2023Sunday ride to Aston and Lechlade
3 photos
After setting out from Broad Street under an overcast sky to navigate the tunnel challenge at the station, we took the long way round to Aston for tea and their delicious cakes and scones, with remarkable little interference from traffic, even along the nightmare that is Farmoor Road! As eight bikes and nine riders set off towards Gloucestershire, the skies cleared and we were treated to summer – a lovely and flat morning ride to the Riverside Inn for lunch, where we were entertained watching various water-based spectator sports on the river. The afternoon was also most enjoyable despite two rather steep climbs and an equal quantity if very brief rain showers, with a short stop for further spectator entertainment provided by the ride leader in attempting some bicycle maintenance. A great day out!
-
Sun 30 July, 2023Sunday ride to Waterperry and Wheatley
2 photos
The ride to lunch at the services near Thame was in nice, warm but slightly windy weather and there were several clothing changes on the way. We stopped for a quick lunch at the services but the weather had kicked in by then and the wind was a strong headwind meaning the rain was stinging our faces. Maybe it was just as well that our planned ride starting from Bicester Village train station had been changed to this after the trains were cancelled as it meant we were home early in the afternoon and out of the rain sooner.
-
Sun 30 July, 2023Morning ride to Millets Farm
1 photo
Millets Farm was not as busy as usual, probably because of the forecast for rain in the afternoon. Adrian led us from Millets via the back route to Garford when we decided to cut short the route by 10k due to rain on the horizon. The only climb of any significance was up Old Boars Hill which we took at a comfortable pace before racing down Hinksey Hill and onto the Abingdon Road.
-
Sun 30 July, 2023CANCELLED: Away day ride to Evenley and Wardington
0 photos
We did this last year and it turned out to be very successful after a cancelled train made us all worried at the start. We start from Bicester Village train station. You can catch the train, ride to the start or drive and park in Bicester Village or Bicester Avenue car parks. Bicester Avenue closes at 4.30. Bicester Park and Ride has free parking up to 24hr (almost 3km ride from the rail station). We will start once the train due in at 9:29am arrives and everyone is ready. There are trains from Oxford Parkway station leaving at 8:48am or…
-
Sun 23 July, 2023Sunday ride to tackle the Brill Spokes
2 photos
Overnight and early morning rain cleared to give us a sunny if windy ride to Waterperry for coffee and the ups annd downs of Brill Hill. A good turnout meant that once again we were able to make a significant contribution – this year to the amazing work of EMpowered People charity – currently c £200 and rising. Thanks to everyone for their generosity and contribution to a lovely ride.
-
Sun 16 July, 2023Sunday ride to Lower Heyford and Hook Norton
2 photos
It was a relief that the wind had dropped since the previous day when the ride would have had to be cancelled; winds gusting at 45 mph are not to be ridden in. Eighteen riders gathered in Broad Street before setting off to Kizzi Bistro. Unfortunately we rather overwhelmed them, and they were not that enthusiastic about serving the large number of us. After a rather prolonged stop due to the slowness of the service, 15 of us set off north toward our lunch stop in Hook Norton. Unfortunately we lost 2 riders in Barford St John and Jon A kindly waited for them to catch up after giving directions. The rest of us headed off to ensure the pub wasn’t waiting too long for us. The pub welcomed us and we all had a good lunch before setting home and getting caught in a torrential downpour 5 minutes after leaving. All then went smoothly until we reached the roadworks at PearTree where the layout and road surface for cyclists is abysmal and was compounded by several of the barriers having blown over in the high winds of the previous day. We will avoid that section for the foreseeable future.
-
Sun 9 July, 2023Coffee ride to Frilford
3 photos
The consensus was that the “Mighty Bayworth” was after all perhaps not so mighty – but then we took our time. By then, the drizzle had stopped leaving lovely weather for the rest of the ride. Harris Lane down to Southmoor proved less bumpy than feared and the potentially difficult right turn into Millets presented no awkward moments. Although the men were outnumbered by the women, cricket nevertheless dominated the chat at coffee. The return to Sunningwell via Pen Lane was new to the riders and, again, less bumpy than feared. Thanks to Alistair for sweeping duties, keeping us all together.
-
Sun 2 July, 2023Sunday morning ride to Benson
3 photos
Welcoming Karen and Colley along with Richard on his slightly overdue return from the antipodes, just six of us set off from Broad Street on a cloudy/sunny day, not really knowing whether we were warm or cold, following Phil P’s one-stop route towards Benson. We were soon joined by Christine in Horspath for a fairly uneventful ride to a leisurely coffee stop at the Waterfront Cafe. Most of us made it back to the Oxford area after having lost a couple of riders a little early due to the demands of cricket on the telly or some such similarly weak excuses.
-
Sat 1 July, 2023Rebellion Way 1st-5th July
0 photos
Rebellion Way Ride The Rebellion way ride is the latest Cycling UK long distance trail. The Oxford group are organising a tour at the beginning of July 2023. Numbers on the ride will be limited to around 10 people. Please email Phil Poole (phil@oxfordcycling.uk ) to express your interest. The route is a mixed road and off-road trail, so it is essential that you are riding on a gravel compatible bike. This is an absolute rule for this ride and no exceptions will apply. If in doubt consult a ride leader about whether your bike complies. The leaders will provide a…
-
Sun 25 June, 2023Sunday ride to Stanford in the Vale and Uffington
3 photos
The weather was wonderful for our ride up to the top of Dragon Hill. It was hot but a headwind was unusually welcomed and made it much more bearable. Being so sunny, the views were great. We had coffee at the cafe in Stanford in the Vale and most of us stocked up on picnic items at the Co-op next door which we took up to the top of the hill for a picnic which we had at a bench on the edge of the car park in the shade. James and Matthew had 99s from an ice cream van parked in the car park. Then a very helpful tailwind saved our legs all the way home. It was a proper summer’s ride with no need for extra layers to be carried and most of us stopped at the Botley centre on the way back for an ice cream to help with our final legs home.
-
Sun 18 June, 2023Away day ride to Brightwalton and Hungerford
2 photos
Just 6 of us planned to do the ride as many of the regulars were away. As a ride leader my mistake was to quote the postcode given for the car park. As this is incorrect and directs you to an area in South Ginge, Iraj went to the wrong location. We agreed to meet him at coffee. Barbara and Jackie got lost on the way from Didcot Station and also agreed to meet us at coffee. They had a difficult journey involving a rutted ridgeway path not suitable for road bikes. Eventually we all met up, had coffee and cake and then enjoyed a lovely ride across the Downs to Hungerford. The roads were surprisingly quiet and forecast thunderstorms and heavy rains failed to make an appearance. After a brief, though basic lunch we set off back to the car park along more quiet lanes with the main hazard being gravel swept onto the roads from the recent rains. There are fewer potholes in Berkshire. Four of us returned to Oxford by car and the other two negotiated a better route to Didcot station.
-
Sun 11 June, 2023Sunday ride to Benson and Turville Heath
0 photos
Out into the Chilterns on a similar route to the one James led a few weeks ago. This time stopping for lunch at The Barn in Turville Heath.
-
Sun 4 June, 2023Sunday ride to Aston and Eastleach
3 photos
A warm sunny day was forecast, the slightly cool breeze soon became less cool. The breeze remained, and we had a tail wind to lunch. After our now customary walk under the railway at the station, we went via Fyfield where we picked up Phil P, and on to coffee, the roads were not too busy. Andy P joined us just before coffee on his new bike (another Pearson of course). From coffee it was quiet lanes through some pretty Cotswold villages to lunch in Eastleach. Originally we had been booked in to be inside, but shaded out door tables awaited us for lunch. Food wasn’t the cheapest, but it was very good. Somewhere between ordering and arriving, some confusion arose between mussels and oysters, but eventually the correct shells arrived. The morning breeze felt more like a wind as we rode into it all the way home. We stopped in Shilton by the ford, where Andy took a photo of us outside his house. Turns out his new bike colour matches the garage door perfectly. A route via Carterton, Yelford and Eynsham got us to the A40 which we followed to Oxford.