frank9755
Cyclist
- Location
- West London
The Dean is a 300km anti-clockwise loop from Oxford, through the Chilterns and Forest of Dean to dip into Wales by crossing the Wye at Chepstow, then return via the Severn Bridge and the Marlborough Downs.
For the last couple of years I’ve had a latent desire to cycle from London to Wales. I find long-distance rides, where I am always working my way towards some faraway but attainable objective and can feel the grain of the countryside changing by the hour, to be one of the best forms of psychological medicine available.
Things in my diary have presented me with several opportunities to do it this year, and I thought I would take the first one, which came courtesy of the Dean. I managed to skive off work at lunchtime on Friday and rode the 12 or so miles home, swapped bikes, packed a few things together and set off for Oxford. To begin with this was very familiar territory. Up to Harefield and into the Chilterns, passing through Great Missenden, Amersham, Princes Risborough and Thame and finally, just as it was getting dark, through Oxford itself. Just under 70 miles altogether. Not the best cycling as I had opted for some faster roads to make better time and Friday evening rush hour in South East England is a busy time - but so much more pleasant than driving out or even getting the train.
I overnighted at the Travelodge, ready for the start of the Dean at 6am yesterday (Saturday). I loitered in the car park with sixty or seventy others who were also on the ride. Chatted to Rimas and met his charming wife, who had kindly got up well before dawn to drive him out for the start.
Then we set off, in a large group, first onto the still quiet A-roads around Oxford, then quickly to country lanes. I stayed with the fast group at the front for 20 miles or so, even managing a couple of turns at the front, but fell off the pace as the climbs into the Cotswolds got steeper - partly me not having been on good form for a few weeks with a lingering cold, and partly just not being as quick as the faster guys.
Once past Stow-on-the-Wold, I was in virtually unknown (for me) cycling territory. There were some more ups and downs, but nothing too steep. Then flat country, a tailwind, and a couple of other riders to draft with, and the next 50km to Newent were done at a high speed.
After Newent the route soon entered the Forest of Dean. The road wound through the trees, the sun came out, the birds started to sing, there was no traffic - beautiful countryside. A dead wild boar piglet at the side of the road was an interesting variation from the standard roadkill fare.
Then a long descent down to the Wye and over the bridge to Chepstow and into Wales. An al-Tesco picnic in the car park with 20 other cyclists confirmed this was very much about enjoying the journey rather than the destination. For the other riders, this was the half-way point but for me it was very much a destination and achievement of an objective: I'd ridden to Wales - just over 160 miles and about 10 or so hours of riding. The other benefit I had was, whereas the others were only half-way round, I was almost two-thirds of my way!
I left the picnic, got a bit lost going out of Chepstow, but managed to find the Severn Bridge, which I crossed in re-descended mist and a chilly, gusting cross-wind, to return to England. I rode much of the next 50km on my own - a time for some reflection and processing of loose ends of thought. A few miles before the control at Malmesbury I was passed by three young riders, who I later learned were the Rapha PBP team, going at quite a pace. Feeling like a change of tempo, I jumped on the back and upped my speed by about 50% as they towed me into town. Pleasant chaps who are the best PR for Rapha I have encountered.
From Malmesbury the route headed south, to cross the Marlborough Downs - another new area for me and another highlight. There were three or four significant climbs with some great views from the top, followed by some long, high speed descents. And lots of white horses carved into the hillsides.
Then there was a long run back to Oxford, punctuated by a final service station control stop, with opportunity for more banter with other cyclists. By this point the sun was setting and my left arm was getting a bit painful making me change position frequently. But otherwise, everything was going very well. I was tired but nothing else was particularly sore, and my nutrition strategy - of eating lunch four times - meant that I always felt I had plenty of fuel.
I got to Oxford at 8:45, which meant I had beaten my target time of 15 hours by 15 minutes. It was my longest day-ride since last August and (I think) the furthest I've ever ridden in a two-day period. There was a train waiting in the station and I dived onto it, appreciating the warmth of the carriage and the comfort of a proper seat.
For the last couple of years I’ve had a latent desire to cycle from London to Wales. I find long-distance rides, where I am always working my way towards some faraway but attainable objective and can feel the grain of the countryside changing by the hour, to be one of the best forms of psychological medicine available.
Things in my diary have presented me with several opportunities to do it this year, and I thought I would take the first one, which came courtesy of the Dean. I managed to skive off work at lunchtime on Friday and rode the 12 or so miles home, swapped bikes, packed a few things together and set off for Oxford. To begin with this was very familiar territory. Up to Harefield and into the Chilterns, passing through Great Missenden, Amersham, Princes Risborough and Thame and finally, just as it was getting dark, through Oxford itself. Just under 70 miles altogether. Not the best cycling as I had opted for some faster roads to make better time and Friday evening rush hour in South East England is a busy time - but so much more pleasant than driving out or even getting the train.
I overnighted at the Travelodge, ready for the start of the Dean at 6am yesterday (Saturday). I loitered in the car park with sixty or seventy others who were also on the ride. Chatted to Rimas and met his charming wife, who had kindly got up well before dawn to drive him out for the start.
Then we set off, in a large group, first onto the still quiet A-roads around Oxford, then quickly to country lanes. I stayed with the fast group at the front for 20 miles or so, even managing a couple of turns at the front, but fell off the pace as the climbs into the Cotswolds got steeper - partly me not having been on good form for a few weeks with a lingering cold, and partly just not being as quick as the faster guys.
Once past Stow-on-the-Wold, I was in virtually unknown (for me) cycling territory. There were some more ups and downs, but nothing too steep. Then flat country, a tailwind, and a couple of other riders to draft with, and the next 50km to Newent were done at a high speed.
After Newent the route soon entered the Forest of Dean. The road wound through the trees, the sun came out, the birds started to sing, there was no traffic - beautiful countryside. A dead wild boar piglet at the side of the road was an interesting variation from the standard roadkill fare.
Then a long descent down to the Wye and over the bridge to Chepstow and into Wales. An al-Tesco picnic in the car park with 20 other cyclists confirmed this was very much about enjoying the journey rather than the destination. For the other riders, this was the half-way point but for me it was very much a destination and achievement of an objective: I'd ridden to Wales - just over 160 miles and about 10 or so hours of riding. The other benefit I had was, whereas the others were only half-way round, I was almost two-thirds of my way!
I left the picnic, got a bit lost going out of Chepstow, but managed to find the Severn Bridge, which I crossed in re-descended mist and a chilly, gusting cross-wind, to return to England. I rode much of the next 50km on my own - a time for some reflection and processing of loose ends of thought. A few miles before the control at Malmesbury I was passed by three young riders, who I later learned were the Rapha PBP team, going at quite a pace. Feeling like a change of tempo, I jumped on the back and upped my speed by about 50% as they towed me into town. Pleasant chaps who are the best PR for Rapha I have encountered.
From Malmesbury the route headed south, to cross the Marlborough Downs - another new area for me and another highlight. There were three or four significant climbs with some great views from the top, followed by some long, high speed descents. And lots of white horses carved into the hillsides.
Then there was a long run back to Oxford, punctuated by a final service station control stop, with opportunity for more banter with other cyclists. By this point the sun was setting and my left arm was getting a bit painful making me change position frequently. But otherwise, everything was going very well. I was tired but nothing else was particularly sore, and my nutrition strategy - of eating lunch four times - meant that I always felt I had plenty of fuel.
I got to Oxford at 8:45, which meant I had beaten my target time of 15 hours by 15 minutes. It was my longest day-ride since last August and (I think) the furthest I've ever ridden in a two-day period. There was a train waiting in the station and I dived onto it, appreciating the warmth of the carriage and the comfort of a proper seat.
