Chiltern Meanders

  22mile bike ride, mainly on road. Nasty steep climb on a busy road out of Henley to Remenham Hill, but otherwise a lovely ride. Stopped at Velolife cafe for elevenses.  Link to map

 20 mile, on road cycle ride, with lunch at the Blue Tin Produce Coffee Bar. map of route

Took advantage of a free day for a longer (40 mile) bike ride. Followed National Cycle Route 5 from Reading to the outskirts of Oxford (Redbridge park & ride car park). From Reading up, up, up to Stoke Row and Checkendon then first stop at Blue Tin Produce Coffee Bar. Down to Wallingford (convenient public toilets!). A road closed meant a bit of a diversion onto a main road then there was a climb up to Wittenham Clumps where I walked up a very impressive hill fort to eat my lunch. There must be views all around for 10 miles plus. Down again and a nice traffic free Sustrans route into Didcot.  Parts of the route through Didcot were quite grotty though - past the sewage works and through industrial estates. Another time I would do a short stretch of the A4130 to bypass it. Nice and flat from Didcot to Abingdon although pretty windy. I stopped in Abingdon to buy a coffee and doughnut. Unfortunately after having them I left my phone on the bench. Although I realised within a minute...

Fabulous views on this 20 mile ride in the sunshine from Caversham bridge, through Goring Heath, Goring and Whitchurch. Bluebells in full bloom too. There are a couple of cafes in Goring but as they were busy I bought a picnic to eat by the river Map of route Rode 25/04/2021   Perfect spot for a picnic I think it's OK to walk up a hill when steps are provided. (Not that I don't walk up other hills)

I had a gorgeous sunny day for this  19 mile cycle ride. Mainly on road with a couple of sections of bridleway. Another bacon roll - this time at the café in Mill Meadows. Map of route Rode 17/04/2021

17 mile cycle ride. Lots of off road - some of it pretty steep & rough, although I rode all but one short hill. I came home straight down the main road, which I probably wouldn't do again as it was busier than I expected.  My first significant bit of off-roading this year - been waiting for a dry spell for the mud to dry out. Really enjoyed it despite drizzly weather Map of route Rode 10/042021

18  mile cycle,  Start at Caversham Bridge Mainly on road. A short section of steep and bumpy bridleway. Hilly section in the middle. The strip lynchets are terraces cut into the hillside -  a feature of ancient field systems and can be seen from the bottom of the bridleway. Map of route Rode 02/04/2021 Strip Lynchets View right across the Thames Valley into Wiltshire Frog warning sign - seems to have been hand modified from a bend in the road sign

  20 mile cycle,  Start at Caversham Bridge Mainly on road. A couple off short off-road sections which were fine on my hybrid bike. Midway stop at Stoke Row Stores for a sausage baguette and coffee  Map of route Rode 20/03/2021