Upper Thames 5th November 2022

[tonyh]

It's here, on the left at the top of a small rise (or top of a big climb if you're in severe need of the shop):

http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?x=460492&y=219814&z=115&sv=460492,219814&st=4&ar=y&mapp=map.srf&searchp=ids.srf&dn=635&ax=460492&ay=219814&lm=0

[andyoxon]

It's here, on the left at the top of a small rise (or top of a big climb if you're in severe need of the shop):

http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?x=460492&y=219814&z=115&sv=460492,219814&st=4&ar=y&mapp=map.srf&searchp=ids.srf&dn=635&ax=460492&ay=219814&lm=0

That may be useful, thanks.  T'is a Spar...

[hillbilly]

I've entered.  Not done it for an age (since back in the days it ran from Sonning Common).  It was, at one time, one of my favourite 200s due to Phil and Mary's hosting, the refined nature of the route (albeit with some kerchunky lanes) and the finish which coincided with fireworks (you'd climb up a Quiet Lane to a ridge and see a panorama of ephemeral primary coloured supernovae burst like boiling water above pockets of sodium lit villages, or sumthing).

I am going to try and not enjoy a thoroughly enjoyable route  (in other words, I hope to tear around this at an uncomfortable pace to test how quickly I can do a "flat" 200)

See y'all at the start and hopefully neither the fireworks nor most of you at the end (nothing personal )

[andyoxon]

I've entered.  Not done it for an age (since back in the days it ran from Sonning Common).  It was, at one time, one of my favourite 200s due to Phil and Mary's hosting, the refined nature of the route (albeit with some kerchunky lanes) and the finish which coincided with fireworks (you'd climb up a Quiet Lane to a ridge and see a panorama of ephemeral primary coloured supernovae burst like boiling water above pockets of sodium lit villages, or sumthing).

I am going to try and not enjoy a thoroughly enjoyable route  (in other words, I hope to tear around this at an uncomfortable pace to test how quickly I can do a "flat" 200)

See y'all at the start and hopefully neither the fireworks nor most of you at the end (nothing personal )

Mark Twain & golf spring to mind...   

Wallingford fireworks probably start ~7pm+

[marcusjb]

Reckon I am in (subject to pushing a few buttons on PayPal etc.!)

This is actually the event I have ridden more than any other (done it the last 4 or 5 editions), so it must be good!

It is the real start of Autumn riding in my mind, the leaves are all going or gone, usually fairly chilly first thing etc.

Lovely ride and fabulous hosting. 

Terrible admission - I've never seen the fireworks!

[hillbilly]

T'is a Spar...

Oh, hello, is this Spar?


[img height=100 width=200]http://techmoran.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/king-leonidas-this-is-sparta-300-1920x10801.jpg[/img]

[Malmesbury Monk]

It's in my 'rides you're thinking about calendar', definitely tempted.

[Von Broad]

It's a tradition.
For me it symbolizes sharp Autumnal mornings and evenings, a few lumps here and there, headwinds out to Chippy, Soup at the finish, going home and hanging the boots up, culminating in five months disappearing under the duvet....until the weather changes.
Fair weather? Sorry, always was.
Hopefully I'll be there.

[phil d]

couldn't find a more recent thread so I'll recycle this one like PhilD does with his SAE's 

An excellent Big Field Autumn 200 ( you are rarely out of sight of other riders along the whole route)and one of the unofficial Brevets des Chilterns  with excellent catering all round and sublime leaves along the section after Chippy;

and a rare chance to see the Didcot chimney moving Eastwards at 20kph (well it seems to as it never gets any nearer) with a spectacular pyrotechnic backdrop for most of the dark section

Who's in?

Thanks for your kind words, Martin. And everyone else who has responded.  You might be out of luck re seeing the Didcot chimney.  Three of the cooling towers came down last year, and the other three are due to be demolished sometime in 2016.  But I read in the Oxford Guardian recently that something is coming down this Saturday, 26/9.  Not sure whether it's the turbine hall, the chimney or both (the article was not particularly clear, and I had imbibed rather a lot of happy-juice, it being my son's wedding the day I read it).

I have about 40 entries so far; about normal at this stage,so I anticipate 80- 100 riders.  Mary will be providing her normal excellent hot fare (the leeks are developing well in the garden, so the soup should be good).  If anyone has any queries / worries about the event, please email me or telephone (details on the AUK calendar page) as I'm not such a regular reader of these pages nowadays (retired, so less time available).

Note to Mr Weir - it might not have an awful lot of metres of ascent, but few who complete it call it "flat"!

Note to RedEyeJedi - I don't think there has been edition of this ride (and this is about #12) without a good number of first timers.

Note to AndyOxon (andTim Hall and Jochta) - the Spar is in Ambrosden.  As you say, right alongside the route just before Bicester.  There are plenty of refreshment opportunities in Bicester, including a Subway on the route and a rather big Sainsburys.

Note to MattC - Easterlies to assist the ride between Bicester and CN have not happened yet, to my recollection.  But the wind will probably have swung to Easterly by the time you get to Stanford i t Vale!  (I'm assuming you are going to enter)

I shall try to get Waterperry to do more bacon sannies this year.  They were worried about being left with stock (they don't usually sell bacon sannies) but quickly sold out last year.
P

[jochta]

The rear half of the generating hall is being blown down at 10am this Saturday. The rest of the hall will go in December. They haven't decided how to demolish the other three cooling towers yet but they won't go until 2016. The tall chimney is also tricky but is also scheduled to go in 2016.

[RichForrest]

Oh, I seem to have entered this again!!
Was my 1st 200 back in 2006 and the last calendar ride I did in 2011.
Not done a 200 since late Nov '11 so will see how this goes if I get there for the 07.30 start after a 23.30 finish at work on the Fri.

Rich

[mattc]

... if I get there for the 07.30 start after a 23.30 finish at work on the Fri.

Bags of time for an ECE!

[RichForrest]

Yes, but not done a 200 for 4yrs may be pushing trying for a 350 

[De Sisti]

I love this one, but the (slow) recovery from my recent torn achillies tendon means any long distance riding will have to wait.

[Von Broad]

Oh, I seem to have entered this again!!
Was my 1st 200 back in 2006 and the last calendar ride I did in 2011.
Not done a 200 since late Nov '11 so will see how this goes if I get there for the 07.30 start after a 23.30 finish at work on the Fri.

Hey, good to see you, welcome back Rich. Weather permitting I'll be there too, although not DarkSiding unfortunately [unless I can borrow one], as my frame is pretty borked [built in haste initially actually] after PBP.

[JamesBradbury]

Never done this one before, but just signed up! 

[Genosse Brymbo]

I'm afraid I can't make the ride due to family business, for the second year running.  It's a really good, well-organised event.  You all just have to make do without my company .

[NeilH]

The Upper Thames 2014 was my first ever 200 - excellent event, and I had a great time. Unfortunately I'm not going to make it this year, as I've got a hiking trip already planned which clashes.

[phil d]

88 entries so far.  Room for more.

Drove round the route today (unfortunately cannot ride at present; great pity as it was an excellent day) and all is as described on the routesheet.  I've emailed all entrants this afternoon, and updated the documents on www.thamesvalleyaudax.co.uk

[Whitedown Man]

Tempted, tempted, tempted ... but having to get to Paddington for 05:36 on a November Saturday is a bit eye-watering even by my early-bird standards. A forecast early next week of a classically cold but dry and bright autumnal day might work as a positive arm-twister though. (Yes, I know that makes me fair-weather  )

[Bobby]

I'm in, suspect I'll ECE again, seems rude not to 

[phil d]

I've had an entrant who cannot now make the event offer his London-Cholsey rail ticket, FOC.  If anyone wishes to take advantage of this, I'll pass on your address to the donor so he can post it.  Only one ticket, so obviously first come first served.  Email direct to me, please; entrants all have my email address, and it's on the AUK event calendar page. 

NOW TAKEN

[phil d]

I've just recovered from a catastrophic PC failure (involved getting a new machine and building it up).  I think I managed to deal with any entries during my PC down-time via my tablet (everything seems to reconcile OK), but if anyone has entered but not heard from me, please email me pronto on philipmdyson at btinternet dot com. 

I notice that while the Wallingford fireworks are happening this weekend, Didcot and Aston Tirrold (one of the last villages you ride through) are scheduled for next Saturday.  So those of you who like to pop up to Wallingford after the ride will be disappointed, but there should be good views as you pass around Didcot and over Cholsey Hill.

Let's hope for weather like this afternoon.....

[jochta]

Note that this will be the last edition of the Upper Thames with the remains of Didcot A to guide you home near the end. The whole site is due to be cleared by next September. Say a fond farewell (or good riddance) to the 650 ft (200 m) tall main chimney as it won't be there next time!

[Frank9755]

Forecast is looking mild, wet and windy....