ok here’s a thought, about 40+ miles cross country finishing at a pub for some class food.

The idea being that the ride starts at Barbary Castle and then follow the Ridgeway to Overton Hill, onwards following the White horse trail over the hills to here:

http://www.thesevenstars.co.uk/

where we could all eat some quality food (I should be able to broker us a good deal on the food/drink as my mate’s the Chef)

Swindon would be the closest station for the start (Paddington every 15mins) and the finish is near Pewsey which has a service that goes to Paddington (kinda regular)

Alternatively I could look into sorting out some kind of shuttle service to get us and our bikes back to the Swindon/ the cars after the big feed?

The ride should work out to be more downhill than up and the views, food, ale and company would most certainly be worth the effort!!

I suppose we could even arrange camping at the pub end if anyone fancied it?

so there’s the idea, I’m throwing it out to see if anyone’s interested? any takers?

oh, fat, lazy and unfit riders welcome!!

sounds like the kind of thing i’d be up for

and if folk become too knackered then there could be “chicken routes” along the roads to the pub which would be entirely downhill from Overton Hill!!!

is there a 10 mile bimble option ?

There is a slightly more ‘core addition to the route which could include some mini downhill in some woods if anyone was feeling particularly capable?

I’m thinking that this could be an early start, maybe even begin the ride at dawn?

Point to point rather than a big ‘ole circle?

a shorter version could be also run with a later start from Avebury?

but a fair amount of this ride is gravity assisted so it shouldn’t feel like half as far as it actually is?

no, I’m losing you…. breaking up……..dawn………posing pouch……………nightie !

yep, point to point, unless you want to ride back, which would then be mostly uphill 😀

ok, 10:30 start with a late lunch?

and a van ? 😉

what do you want with a van?

(there would be one at the pub after any collections from Swindon/Pewsey train stations)

I can see a giant flaw in your plan…

fitness? weather? do tell!

…what is the giant flaw?? no date??

In theory, yes, I’m interested……..depends on dates, of course

how about the middle of Feb or start of March? I’m thinking on a Saturday??

would be interested subject to me being off on the weekend you run it, I shall keep an eye on the thread 🙂

Early March sounds good, and the evenings are longer, too.

Sounds like a good idea to me (although slightly nervous I haven’t spotted nickc’s giant flaw… is it bad?)

I’d be up for that. Depending on date (look at me – like I have a busy social calendar!!).

I missed CG’s Swinley ride due to stonking hangover, so I’m determined to get along to another STW gathering.

Mid Feb please. Then I’d be a definite.

Got a Scotland trip early March and I have to spread these things out.

(See Rudeboy’s posting on that other thread!)