Our leisure ride programme is organised by Sheni Jiwa, Dylan Spencer, Steve James, Rob Wild and Jamie Brosch. We’re re-starting our Sunday rides from Easter Sunday, 4th April with a steady ride over to Lake 12 Cafe in the Cotswold Water Park. The following week on 11th April takes in a new route meandering around the lanes to the Angel Cafe in Sherston and then home via the picturesque Castle Combe village. On the 18th April we’ll head over to the Wild Carrot at Chavenage House. Finally, on the 25th April, we’ll be riding the new route of the 125km Audax over to Savernake Forest and Great Bedwyn. The route is now entirely on tarmac with 3 cafe stop options to keep you fuelled and a couple of testing climbs to add to your enjoyment. For those preferring something easier on the legs, there’s a shorter alternative out to Merkins Farm cafe, Bradford Leigh. All details are now up on the website with the on-line entry links which we would ask you to complete to help keep ourselves COVID-secure. We will be setting you off in groups of 6 as before, but can now go up to 8 to help the numbers work, which should add to the enjoyment.

All Sunday leisure rides will start from Chippenham Sports Club. Please remember to observe social distancing at the start and along the ride and follow the house rules at any cafes.

Looking ahead we very much hope to run the occasional longer challenge ride, including our traditional spring and summer Audax routes to Bibury and Sherborne, plus a few off-road gravel rides to give you a bit of variety on your gravel bikes or MTBs. If you have any favourite route requests you’d like to see in the calendar this year then do let us know.

We are looking to start the Saturday leisure rides again in the very near future, discussions are being had at the minute on how to best move forward with these.

All leisure rides are open to prospective club members wanting to try out a few club rides before joining. Please get in touch with leisureride@chippenhamwheelers.org if you are interested in joining us on a ride. You can be sure of a warm welcome.