Ride report

The ride was due to start at 9.30, but we all turned up before 9.00 in Radcliffe Square to see Iraj off on his cycle ride to Tehran in aid of the charity Mind. There were about 35 – 40 people there, including Dave G, Steph C, Sophia, Lana U, Quentin M, Stephen Tuohy and Jon A who didn’t join our ride. Also there was Adrian Rosser who rode with Iraj through Thame and as far as lunch in Great Missenden. Iraj managed 120km to Greenwich on his first day.

After Iraj set off, we divided into 2 groups for the run to coffee via Abingdon and Sutton Courtney. The weather was warm enough but dry. There was a short delay in getting to coffee after blood was drawn due to over hanging brambles on the cycle track.

After coffee we continued as 1 group, tsking is some lovely summer Chilterns scenery. From Checkendon we did a loop south through the beech woods before arriving at the Black Horse. Times have moved a little at this pub, which now has chips on the menu and chip and pin/contactless payments as well. Otherwise all the things that make the pub as lovely as it is remain in place, including the compulsory vintage motor bike turning up. 1950 apparently, a nameless member of our group seems to have a specialist knowledge of number plates!

After lunch we continued along the top of the Chilterns before the long descent down to Ewelme. After that it was the mildly hilly run via Cuddesdon and Garsington to east Oxford.