June 2021

Now that the groups are no longer restricted to six, we are offering a single ride on the first and third Saturdays. However, we will still be dividing into smaller groups as and when practicable. We will be able to meet up for refreshments, and you can swap groups for the return trip.

Things to know about this month’s rides:

Short & Steady ride will be on the first Saturday of the month.
Medium ride will be on the 3^rd Saturday of the month
Rides may now start from places other than Radcliffe Square.
We will need to collect your phone number in addition to an emergency contact. We will keep this information for 21 days after the ride, in case it is needed by track and trace service.
If you have a positive test for Covid within 14 days of attending a ride, you can give the NHS tracing service our general email address, info@isiscyclists.org.uk and we will provide them with the necessary contact details for ride participants.
We have written a Covid-19 risk assessment for our rides.

Saturday 5th June: Short & Steady Ride – “Vaccination Circular” to Sandford and the Kassam Stadium

This short town and country ride from Radcliffe Square is a refreshing 10-mile circuit taking a lovely long towpath section southbound on the NCR 5, plus some road and cycle paths through Low Traffic Neighbourhood areas of East Oxford.

The route was planned when cycling to include the Covid-19 vaccination at Kassam stadium, which is half-way along the route.

Start: Radcliffe Square, Oxford. Meet from 9:45 for a 10:00 departure.

Leader: Sarah Twine

Link to route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/35708843

Saturday 19th June: Medium Ride to Annie’s Tearoom at Thrupp

We will ride out to Thrupp via Marston, Woodeaton (moderate hill), Islip and the top end of Kidlington. The return route goes through residential streets to Gosford and the track through Water Eaton to the Banbury Road, finishing on the far side of the bridge over the ring road at Cutteslowe. The total distance is 17 miles, and the leader is Liz Matthews.

Start: The Up in Arms PH, Marston Rd (corner of Ferry Rd), Oxford. Meet from 9:45 for a 10:00 departure.

Leader: Liz Matthews

Link to route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/34888230 Note that the ride starts on the Marston Road, not in the city centre as shown on the map.

May 2021

Once again, we are running a reduced programme of rides on two weekends. For guidance on what to expect on the rides, and how to prepare for them, please visit Group Rides Under the Rule of Six.

For each ride, please meet from 9.45am for a prompt 10am departure in Radcliffe Square, Oxford (at the back of the University Church). Note: each ride comprises 6 cyclists maximum. However, if enough people from the ride leaders’ group turn up it may be possible to add a second group on some routes. The two groups will travel separately in order to comply with the regulations.

Update: For reasons of bad weather, the rides originally scheduled for 8th May have been postponed to 15th.

Saturday 15th May: Short Rides

Ellen Lee will lead a ride of 9.3 miles, ‘A short trip to Narnia (and back).’ There will be a short stop at the C.S. Lewis Reserve and, as bikes need to be left outside, you will need to bring a bike lock. We plan to stop for refreshments at The Up in Arms refreshment hatch (Marston Rd) on our return to Oxford.

Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/35846365

TBC: Leonor Barroca will lead a 12-mile ride entitled ‘A bit of countryside from north Oxford.’ Note that this route is shown starting in Summertown, but we will be starting from Radcliffe Square.

Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/32242365

Saturday 22nd May: Medium Rides

Jane Carlton Smith will lead a ride to Worton Kitchen Garden via Kidlington. A table for 6 has been booked, as it is likely to be busy. The length of the route is 16 miles and is flat. It minimises use of the A40 and avoids a section of canal towpath that is currently being upgraded. If you want to read a more detailed description, the route is adapted from ‘A multi-purpose “loopy” route’ on the ‘selected routes’ page of the website.

Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/35920058

Sarah Twine will take a group to Abbey Meadows in Abingdon. We will be able to visit St Ethelwold’s House, where there will be an art exhibition as part of ArtWeeks. Refreshments will be taken elsewhere in Abingdon. The length of the route is around 20 miles, a little longer than normal for a medium ride, but the route is almost entirely flat.

Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/35912711