Stephen Pridgeo
Wedding anniversary. In search of something interesting to do to mark the occasion, and to celebrate
our new found fitness, Sharon and I decided to take the train to Oxford, spend the night there,
cycle back to Henley, then get the train home. About 27 miles according to the CTC book, and, since
S had easily done 25 miles, we should have no probs.
Loaded the cheap panniers onto the Dawes Horizon, Sharon had a shopping basket on the front of
her ladies "mountain" bike, and we got the train to Oxford. Bikes and trains don't mix. A nice
guard suggested we get the fast train from Slough, setting off slightly later, getting there
slightly later, but avoiding the need to constantly manouver cycles away from the door every 5
mins. Good advice.
Oxford - pretty. We were obviously Londoners because we were the only people wearing helmets out of
the 1000+ people on bikes we saw all
w/end. Cheap hotel (well, quite expensive if you ask me), then exploring. "Early night" we agreed.
At midnight we wobbled into our room, very drunk, very tired, very full.
Hangovers meant we didn't set out early, and the Sun was high as we stopped at Magdalen (?) bridge
for the photos. Then out of Oxford on the B480. Hot. Very hot. Stopped off at the first pub we came
to in Chalford, which didn't open till 12.00 !!! What is the world coming to? When we were moving
the heat wasn't too bad, but when we stopped I rapidy began to overheat, so sat in the shade and
made Sharon do all the fetching and carrying while we re-applied sunblock, and forced down snacks.
Off through Chalford and we found some really nice pubs, which were open, but it was too late.
We were making for Berrick Salome, just for the name. Looked lovely, but we didn't stop. The really
strange thing was how empty the roads were, and how considerate the drivers were. Cycling there was
really pleasant. We had to consult the map a few times to get to Ewelme, which raised frustrations
and tempers, but we eventually got to the Sheperd's Hut pub, which I thought was in Ewelme, but I
found out later was in completely the wrong place.
Nice pub, recommended. A long lunch followed, and it was very hard to get back on the bike. Sharon's
bum was aching now - the result of an overly soft saddle, all she wanted was an armchair strapped to
her seatpost. Then we found the road to Ewelme, went through there, saw the classic cars out on a
run, and started up the climb to the top of the Ridgeway. This should have been easy, certainly
there were no chevrons on the map, but it was hellish. In retrospect I should have just said that
we'd walk it, but Sharon was determined to cycle it.
You know what it's like when you hit a wall going up a hill - especially when it's the first one
you've ever had to do, and you are in the middle of nowhere, and it's shorter to go on than turn
back, and it all gets a bit frightening...
While we were having all these sensations, sat on the bank, having a crafty smoke, we were able to
watch a variety of cyclists shoot past us, then immediately get into trouble as the road steepened
dramatically 20yrds further on. Much amused sniggers from us as gears clicked frantically and they
tried to reclaim some forward progress, but we knew that our time would come.
To cut a long story short, I rode, Sharon pushed (eventally) and I think I was called every name
under the sun, and then some. The hedgerows kept all cooling breeze off us, and made the road
humid, heavy and sauna-ish. When she reached the top I gave her a big hug, and she just stared at
me. It was a bit touch and go whether we'd actually have another wedding aniversary next year. To
make up for this two wild fawns crossed the road in front of us a little further on. You wouldn't
see that in a car.
From there to Russell's Water (mind the apostrophe), across some sort of common, and down,
steeply, to Stonor. Glad to report that the Horizon was solid all the way, and the brakes work
even when loaded.
Then just a long drag into Henley, with no shady resting places, and slightly impatient traffic, but
still better than London. Best part of the ride - seeing the sign saying "Henley - 2 miles". Got to
the station at 5, just in time for a train to Twyford, and thence back home on the very packed and
busy train to London. Given our exhaused state we didn't care about the tutting, and people as we
again constantly manouvered bikes and panniers around to let people get on the carriage.
Back in Southall the traffic was a major shock, and I was getting very short-tempered, but we got
back safely, threw the bikes in the garage, ate pasta and drank dakuris (I don't need to spell them,
only make them) till we passed out well before 10.
Main learning point - factor 30 sunblock still needs to be applied every hour.
All in all a sucessful day, although we did bite off more than we could chew. About 30 miles door to
door. S has proved that you don't need a decent bike to do touring (35 lbs, bright green, knobbly
tyres, 15 speed, only 6 working) but I was very glad of the Horizon, Fizik saddle and Sora STi.
Cheap panniers from Argos did the job. Our load felt about 20 lbs in total, maybe a bit less. No
punctures, until we got to Southall.
I know that for many people 30 miles isn't a huge distance - and I was shocked at how long it took
us, but it was S's second big bike ride, and brings her mileage this year up to about 80. So a
major achievement on her part, and she's finally started talking to me again, so all's well that
end's well.
Cheers, SteveP
our new found fitness, Sharon and I decided to take the train to Oxford, spend the night there,
cycle back to Henley, then get the train home. About 27 miles according to the CTC book, and, since
S had easily done 25 miles, we should have no probs.
Loaded the cheap panniers onto the Dawes Horizon, Sharon had a shopping basket on the front of
her ladies "mountain" bike, and we got the train to Oxford. Bikes and trains don't mix. A nice
guard suggested we get the fast train from Slough, setting off slightly later, getting there
slightly later, but avoiding the need to constantly manouver cycles away from the door every 5
mins. Good advice.
Oxford - pretty. We were obviously Londoners because we were the only people wearing helmets out of
the 1000+ people on bikes we saw all
w/end. Cheap hotel (well, quite expensive if you ask me), then exploring. "Early night" we agreed.
At midnight we wobbled into our room, very drunk, very tired, very full.
Hangovers meant we didn't set out early, and the Sun was high as we stopped at Magdalen (?) bridge
for the photos. Then out of Oxford on the B480. Hot. Very hot. Stopped off at the first pub we came
to in Chalford, which didn't open till 12.00 !!! What is the world coming to? When we were moving
the heat wasn't too bad, but when we stopped I rapidy began to overheat, so sat in the shade and
made Sharon do all the fetching and carrying while we re-applied sunblock, and forced down snacks.
Off through Chalford and we found some really nice pubs, which were open, but it was too late.
We were making for Berrick Salome, just for the name. Looked lovely, but we didn't stop. The really
strange thing was how empty the roads were, and how considerate the drivers were. Cycling there was
really pleasant. We had to consult the map a few times to get to Ewelme, which raised frustrations
and tempers, but we eventually got to the Sheperd's Hut pub, which I thought was in Ewelme, but I
found out later was in completely the wrong place.
Nice pub, recommended. A long lunch followed, and it was very hard to get back on the bike. Sharon's
bum was aching now - the result of an overly soft saddle, all she wanted was an armchair strapped to
her seatpost. Then we found the road to Ewelme, went through there, saw the classic cars out on a
run, and started up the climb to the top of the Ridgeway. This should have been easy, certainly
there were no chevrons on the map, but it was hellish. In retrospect I should have just said that
we'd walk it, but Sharon was determined to cycle it.
You know what it's like when you hit a wall going up a hill - especially when it's the first one
you've ever had to do, and you are in the middle of nowhere, and it's shorter to go on than turn
back, and it all gets a bit frightening...
While we were having all these sensations, sat on the bank, having a crafty smoke, we were able to
watch a variety of cyclists shoot past us, then immediately get into trouble as the road steepened
dramatically 20yrds further on. Much amused sniggers from us as gears clicked frantically and they
tried to reclaim some forward progress, but we knew that our time would come.
To cut a long story short, I rode, Sharon pushed (eventally) and I think I was called every name
under the sun, and then some. The hedgerows kept all cooling breeze off us, and made the road
humid, heavy and sauna-ish. When she reached the top I gave her a big hug, and she just stared at
me. It was a bit touch and go whether we'd actually have another wedding aniversary next year. To
make up for this two wild fawns crossed the road in front of us a little further on. You wouldn't
see that in a car.
From there to Russell's Water (mind the apostrophe), across some sort of common, and down,
steeply, to Stonor. Glad to report that the Horizon was solid all the way, and the brakes work
even when loaded.
Then just a long drag into Henley, with no shady resting places, and slightly impatient traffic, but
still better than London. Best part of the ride - seeing the sign saying "Henley - 2 miles". Got to
the station at 5, just in time for a train to Twyford, and thence back home on the very packed and
busy train to London. Given our exhaused state we didn't care about the tutting, and people as we
again constantly manouvered bikes and panniers around to let people get on the carriage.
Back in Southall the traffic was a major shock, and I was getting very short-tempered, but we got
back safely, threw the bikes in the garage, ate pasta and drank dakuris (I don't need to spell them,
only make them) till we passed out well before 10.
Main learning point - factor 30 sunblock still needs to be applied every hour.
All in all a sucessful day, although we did bite off more than we could chew. About 30 miles door to
door. S has proved that you don't need a decent bike to do touring (35 lbs, bright green, knobbly
tyres, 15 speed, only 6 working) but I was very glad of the Horizon, Fizik saddle and Sora STi.
Cheap panniers from Argos did the job. Our load felt about 20 lbs in total, maybe a bit less. No
punctures, until we got to Southall.
I know that for many people 30 miles isn't a huge distance - and I was shocked at how long it took
us, but it was S's second big bike ride, and brings her mileage this year up to about 80. So a
major achievement on her part, and she's finally started talking to me again, so all's well that
end's well.
Cheers, SteveP
