Ride report

Freezing (again) overnight and this ride, at 55 miles, the longest of the winter. Perhaps there would be a poor turnout, I said to Peter as we raced down the Abingdon Road at 20+ mph. Peter was right; I was wrong: there were 11 riders waiting for us in Broad Street, wondering where their leader was. Five went on to lunch, including a new rider, Heather, who joined us for the day. The ride to Aldworth includes beautiful countryside and lovely lanes. Whether you think Streatley Hill is lovely will depend on your fitness. Peter and Heather seemed to have no problem, but I had to push hard on the few sections approaching 20 per cent. The road sign says 16 per cent, but that’s only an average. It’s one of The Guardian’s Top 10 Cycle Climbs (http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/2012/jul/13/top-10-uk-cycle-climbs). The Bell Inn is tiny – don’t rely on it if you are expecting large numbers to lunch, not if you want to sit inside. We were lucky.