SteamRide: 9th March '14 London Oxford Ruislip-Lido Didcot Quainton Chinnor 50km, 100km, 200km

[Ridehard]

FUN Audax event, that visits all the Steam Train venues in the South-East in a day ride

www.steamride.co.uk

Start from Ealing Broadway (LOL 100 & 200), Ruislip Lido(50, 100, 200), Quainton (200), Chinnor (200).
Didcot (100,200), Oxford (100,200)

100
Quainton Express 100km return - Start/End Ruislip Lido
1-way ride London-Oxford 100km- Start Ealing Broadway
1-way ride Oxford-London 100km
1-way ride London-Didcot 100km- Start Ealing Broadway
1-way ride Oxford-Didcot 100km

200
London-Oxford-London 200km - Start Ealing Broadway or Ruislip Lido
Oxford-London-Oxford- 200km
Quinaton-London-Quainton 200km
Didcot-London-Didcot 200km
Chinnor-London-Chinnor 200km

50
SingleTrack 50km - Start Ruislip Lido

Check out the website for additional rides.

 

[Ridehard]

Whisked outta London (or Oxford..) into the really stunningly beautiful country side (bring camera phone).. before you know it

The major landfall is, of course, Oxford but also crosses the Thames again at Wallingford, Abingdon and Clifton Hampden. After the Chilterns, fast quiet B-roads provide an opportunity for you to stretch your legs (and your lungs).

There are Severn controls en route for the PERM version of the :

Ealing Broadway: This is the London start control, outside the Tube and Railway Station for ease of access and to address the concern of a proper London start.

I have added a Peak route which allows riders to leave London and not encounter any traffic congestion no matter what time of day, by use of safe fast cycle-paths and local knowledge.

Ruislip Lido: This is the start control for the calendar event, close to West Ruislip tube and Railway Station for ease of access and with car parking, catering and leisure facilities. 'Beach' Start 8:00a,m for 200 & 8:30 for 100

There is a Lakeside Cafe by the beach www.ruisliplidocafe.co.ukand the ever popular Water's Edge pub restaurant www.crowncarveries.co.uk/thewatersedgeruislipRuislip Lido, which caters up to 9:30pm and closes at 11:00pm.

Quainton: After riding through beautiful Eythrope park. This is the mid-morning control. Drinks and snacks can be purchased in Upper St. or from the George and Dragon pub .Control is the Memorial Hall where the local WI is providing elevenzies..

Oxford: St Aldates covers central Oxford and is the lunch control and is a free choice. My recommendation is the Head of the River for drinks and snacks.

Didcot: There is a Spar shop in the Station and Tesco's Garage control adjacent and so refreshment is a free choice. My recommendation get a receipt for snack in Didcot and wait until Wallingford, for drinks and meal on the Thames or visit the Olde town centre there.

Chinnor: Recommendation for afternoon control is located in the sports bar at the Crown
pub www.thecrownchinnor.co.uk on the left in Station road. Meals are normally up to 4:30pm.

Ealing Broadway: This is the London end control, outside the Tube and Railway Station

The local Weatherspoons SirMichael Balcon just around the corner in the High St.

 

[srw]

That route passes within about 6 miles of all the places I've lived since 1974. It passes within about 2 miles of all the places I've lived since 1974 except between 1995 and 2000. It passes within 100 yards of all the places I've lived since 1974 except between 1991 and 2000 - the house I grew up in, the house I live in now and where I lived as an undergraduate. It's a history of most of my life.

The bits of the route I know are stonkingly good cycling on remarkably quiet roads within a very short ride of London.

Sadly I think the chances of me (or Mrs W) being fit enough for a 200km ride in early March are close to zero.

On the other hand, it's given me an idea for a nostalgia ride sometime in April.

 

[Ridehard]

Enjoy the PERM 200 anytime http://www.aukweb.net/perms/detail/TS01/
or split the ride into 2 PERM 100 rides http://www.aukweb.net/perms/detail/TS02/ with a stopover at Oxford.
Don't forget to post checkout Steamride on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/events/1385290828358300/