Berkshire, Oxfordshire border.

[jefmcg]

I cycled with @vickster from Reading to Wallingford yesterday, and I think I have spent too long on London roads. I was gobsmacked. Every driver - every . single . one - hung back until it was safe to pass, and gave us metres of clearance. It was astounding. Even just outside reading, when we both wimped out up and hill and pedalled slowly to a stop, they didn't pass us until it was very safe.

@vickster ended up on a national limit A-road, and even though that was scary the driver still gave her plenty of space.

The biggest thank-you would go to Rides on Air cycle shop in Wallingford. I rang them to ask if they could stay open for a few minutes to sell me a gear cable, and then vickster rode ahead (which is how she ended up on the A-road) and got there about 10 minutes before they closed. They wouldn't sell the cable to her, but insisted on waiting for me to arrive and fit the cable, so the ended up there 35 minutes past their normal Sunday closing time as the cable had broken inside the brifter and it was a bitch to get out. All for only a very generous £10.

It's a wonderful, well stocked shop with a full cafe and friendly staff, if you are in the area. They were also selling Midsommer Cycle Club jerseys (as - apparently - seen on TV). Only downside is they close at 2pm on Sundays .... mostly

 

[Globalti]

Hooray for the LBS. You woudn't get this with Evans or Halfrauds.

 

[Deleted member 35268]

Hey @jefmcg, did you go through Henley, Stonor & Nettlebed or perhaps you went left a little via Checkendon and Ipsden. Anyways, these are the roads I ride on and despite there being a lot of potholes, it is pretty decent in terms of courteous drivers.I rarely come back on a Sunday having had a close call but I have had a few. I was out Sunday also, about 8am around Nettlebed, Peppard, Sonning Common etc.

 

[vickster]

We started in Reading a little after noon, having got train from London

Pain getting back as Waterloo trains from Reading all screwed up

 

[Fab Foodie]

I cycled with @vickster from Reading to Wallingford yesterday, and I think I have spent too long on London roads. I was gobsmacked. Every driver - every . single . one - hung back until it was safe to pass, and gave us metres of clearance. It was astounding. Even just outside reading, when we both wimped out up and hill and pedalled slowly to a stop, they didn't pass us until it was very safe.

@vickster ended up on a national limit A-road, and even though that was scary the driver still gave her plenty of space.

The biggest thank-you would go to Rides on Air cycle shop in Wallingford. I rang them to ask if they could stay open for a few minutes to sell me a gear cable, and then vickster rode ahead (which is how she ended up on the A-road) and got there about 10 minutes before they closed. They wouldn't sell the cable to her, but insisted on waiting for me to arrive and fit the cable, so the ended up there 35 minutes past their normal Sunday closing time as the cable had broken inside the brifter and it was a bitch to get out. All for only a very generous £10.

It's a wonderful, well stocked shop with a full cafe and friendly staff, if you are in the area. They were also selling Midsommer Cycle Club jerseys (as - apparently - seen on TV). Only downside is they close at 2pm on Sundays .... mostly

Was it Lee at Rides on air? They also own Behind Bars in Abingdon. A great bunch all of them, true enthusiasts and have been big supporters of our Spring cycle Festival since day 1.

We often ride out to Wallingford for a coffee and a chat ... Glad you had good service!

 

[vickster]

Was it Lee at Rides on air? They also own Behind Bars in Abingdon. A great bunch all of them, true enthusiasts and have been big supporters of our Spring cycle Festival since day 1.

We often ride out to Wallingford for a coffee and a chat ... Glad you had good service!

From his accent he was obviously local I think

 

[Fab Foodie]

From his accent he was obviously local I think

They're all local ... To me at least!

 

[Pale Rider]

My brother and his wife have bought three or four bikes from Rides on Air and rate the shop highly.

I was in there during a break in a ride earlier this year.

As has been said, spacious, well laid-out shop with a cafe.

Some of the accessories looked dear to me - even at shop prices - although they knocked a couple of quid off the sticker price of what I bought.

 

[mark st1]

Nice area indeed. If your local ever again try the Velolife bike cafe at Warren Row.

https://m.facebook.com/velolife.co.uk/?fref=ts

A most excellent place with amazing cakes.