2010-09-19 Sun - The Red Kite Ride

There are some cracking Pubs around there too.

I know, you're on my wavelength Tim ;-)

There are some cracking pubs around there too.

streatham?
you're having a laugh.

I can only assume you don't mean Streatham :)

This is my neck of the woods and I can vouch for the pubs.

Brakspear's is the local brewery

try and avoid pisshill (sp.) if you can
it's bloody steep just outside watlingford
AVOID

Date is good for me.

A little clip for you, from another Kes lover.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AIiQ-TXcuyQ&feature=related

I piece of chicken tikka, sir!

1.Pistanator
2.CYOA

1. dicki
   
2. Skully
   
3. damo
   
4. wools
   
5. EEI
   
6. Superperegrine
   
7. shootthebreeze
   
8. clintsmoker
   
9. Ark Minor
   
10. Joe Smiff
    

try and avoid pisshill (sp.) if you can
it's bloody steep just outside watlingford
AVOID

Shit dicki it's hardly Vontoux it a pretty steady 4-5% climb that ramps up to around 12% for half a kilometer at the end and besides if the route is in that area it's going to have to deal with a hill or 2.

Did someone say road bike??

did someone say LFGSS?
where's the derailleurs in that?

???

eh? eh?

pisshill? pfft.............

(don't quote me on that when i end up walking it)

nice one G. this is on the radar. just need to sort diary

I could be up for this but either way I suggest you ride up from Henley on Thames through Middle Assendon up Pishill* on the B480 passed Stonor Park which is a big country pile with loads of breeding pairs of Kites.
*I have not made these names up!

try and avoid pisshill (sp.) if you can
it's bloody steep just outside watlingford
AVOID
The route Furious Tiles (B480 through Stonor, Pishill, Watlington) suggested is nowhere near as steep as the way dicki took going up out of Watlington. Though you'll be going down the hill dicki walked up, as you head into Watlington. It's a good road, easy to go fast all the way into Watlington.

But - Heading into Watlington along the same road we did on the Oxford ride will take you past a row of houses. Nothing that remarkable about them. However, I've been that way a few times, normally in the evening, and every time there have been loads of kites circling the land just behind these houses. No Idea what's there, but they seem to like it!

I might have to join this one, need to check if I'm free.

The route Furious Tiles (B480 through Stonor, Pishill, Watlington) suggested is nowhere near as steep as the way dicki took going up out of Watlington. Though you'll be going down the hill dicki walked up, as you head into Watlington. It's a good road, easy to go fast all the way into Watlington.

But - Heading into Watlington along the same road we did on the Oxford ride will take you past a row of houses. Nothing that remarkable about them. However, I've been that way a few times, normally in the evening, and every time there have been loads of kites circling the land just behind these houses. No Idea what's there, but they seem to like it!

I might have to join this one, need to check if I'm free.

I think heading North into Watlington will be the best route from Henley kind of way up the B480. From Watlington we could go up to Lewknor then along the M40(country roads of course) to Stokenchurch. This whole area is full of Red Kites

Yep. You're just banned from The Football Stadium Ride*

*JOKE x

If it wasn't for cockney kopites, you'd have been lost in the deepest bandit country last time.

G, was in this territory today. saw an amazing spot for our feathered friends. shoots and i will tell you about it on the football ride next sunday. seriously good lanes round there too.

locals will know the road from turville to northend as a bit of a climb

I'm from Leamington Spa so get the train back there quite often, you see loads out of the train window as soon as you get to the Chilterns. Have also seen deer, loads of rabbits, other foxes etc.

Very tempted by this, might actually be reasonably fit by then. Did someone say distance?

I'm from Leamington Spa so get the train back there quite often, you see loads out of the train window as soon as you get to the Chilterns. Have also seen deer, loads of rabbits, other foxes etc.

Very tempted by this, might actually be reasonably fit by then. Did someone say distance?

Probably about 50miles there so about a century roundtrip

I think heading North into Watlington will be the best route from Henley kind of way up the B480. From Watlington we could go up to Lewknor then along the M40(country roads of course) to Stokenchurch. This whole area is full of Red Kites
Yeah, I don't think I've ever had a ride to/from work (I commute between Oxford and Reading) where I havent seen a red kite. So many of them about you really do struggle to miss them. Not many other birds of prey though, buzzards are pretty scarce, but you might spot a kestrel or two.

locals will know the road from turville to northend as a bit of a climb
Yes that's quite a long climb, feels like it's going to go on forever, but not too steep so it's managable.
You've got to get over that hill somehow to get to Watlington, the route Pisti suggested also has quite a long climb, not as hard as that one, but the road surface makes it a bit more tricky.

I am sure I heard someone say road bike...

You made it around IoW, you'll be fine!

(I haven't actually done any of those hills fixed)

none of those hills are hard?

Not sure if you're saying they are easy or, if my comment came across as if I was saying they are easy?