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Sunday ride to Benson and Checkendon

Sunday, 3 April 2022 - 9:30am

A trip to the Chilterns to enjoy the early stages of spring. Not overly hilly except for the climb up into the Chilterns.

The map is an embedded link from Ride with GPS. You can zoom in to see the route in as much detail as you like. For example, you can zoom in (using the + sign) to see exactly where the start is. If you’d like to see the distances, go to the Ride with GPS website by clicking on “View Full Version” (top left of map).

Ride report

After some mild weather, it was back to cold weather on Sunday, but with a lot of sunshine. We left Oxford via Cowley Rd and Watlington Rd, to go via the villages to coffee at Benson, where we met Martin and Pauline with their tandem. After coffee there was a query on the route, I had chosen a closed up section of old main road which last time we used it was getting a bit overgrown (there was an easy road alternative if needed). I asked John as he is fairly local, he said probably worth avoiding but instead took us via some bridleways past a golf course and North Stoke, so avoiding a longish stretch of A and B roads. Nearing the end of the bridleway Julian got his front wheel tram lined, and took a slow speed tumble. Barbara took the opportunity of the resulting stop to top her slowly leaking rear tyre up. As often the case, my pump was called for, and, a bonus for Barbara, Adriano was feeling cold, so offered to pump her tyre up to warm himself up. An offer repeated later in the day. After Littlestoke we had a gentle rise up to the Chilterns. After a pleasant ride through some woods we came to lunch at the Black Horse at Checkendon. The usual rolls and fries were had. We were joined by Lana and Quentin at lunch. After lunch Julian’s elbow was painful, so end up up phoning home for a lift (with a later diagnosis of a broken arm).

We continued via Ipsden and Ewelme where we saw the remains of the thatched roof fire that closed our route a few weeks earlier. A route via Chalgrove and Cuddesdon got us back to Oxford.

Ride leaders

Role Name

Full ride leader

Leader back from coffee

(No leader)

Ride venues and times

Venue Time Notes

Start

Broad Street, Oxford 9:30am

Please arrive 10 minutes before the start time (especially if you are new, so that we can say hello and sign you up).


Coffee

Waterfront cafe, Benson 10:40am

For about half an hour.


Lunch

The Black Horse, Checkendon 12:45pm

For about an hour.


Finish

Oxford area 4:00pm
All of the times (apart from the start time) are approximate only, as weather or punctures may affect them.

Ride options and attendance

Ride option Distance Pace Attendees

Full ride

82km 20kph

Half day ride

Ride to coffee and back again.

40km 20kph

The pace listed above is the average pace we do, so in general when cycling along the flat we will go a bit faster than the average pace. Please be aware of this if you are wondering whether you will be able to keep up on the ride.

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