Ride report

Unusually for this summer, we had a cloudy and warm but very humid morning, previous ride leaders having used up all the sun. We made our way via Abingdon and the Sustrans route to Sutton Courtney to Root1 for coffee, where we met Christine. Service at Root 1 was extremely slow (there was already a queue when we arrived, and they knew we were coming).

After coffee we continued past bleached parched fields with dark green trees as a back drop – more like cycling in France than the Chilterns. A short distance a lonely hole in the road wanted another hole for company, so gave one to Martin and Pauline on the back of their tandem, conveniently near a grassy traffic island where we could gossip while Martin did the puncture honours. The Black Horse was doing its usual brisk Sunday trade when we arrived, and we had a pleasant lunch in the garden. After lunch the sun appeared as we made our way back to Oxford, shedding various riders along the way as they turned off home.