Red Kite Ride 2021

Submitted by Robert OKeefe on 9 September 2021 - 7:48am

 

Ride report by Sarah Davies and Mark Reynolds – 8th September 2021

 

Sunday 5th September saw the largest-ever Maidenhead & District Cycling Club turnout for the annual Red Kite Ride. The event was organised by Marlow Riders in support of a number of charities, including Thames Valley Air Ambulance, Wycombe Homeless Connection and Marlow Sports Club and at least 32 riders from MDCC took part this year. The fact that so many turned out in their red, black and white club strip prompted a number of comments from other riders who were clearly impressed.

 

 

Cycling up Windmill Hill towards Ibstone

 

Most of our regular Orange Goup riders took the 50-mile route, and for some this was the longest and hardest ride they had done. All due kudos to them as the route included the two toughest climbs of the day - the first passing the Chitty Chitty Bang Bang windmill (Oxford Road) and then back over le Col du Swyncombe from Ewelme.  A mixed group of Red/Blue riders took the 80-mile route at around 18mph, while Quentin, Mikey and Oscar thundered round the 100-miler at over 20mph. Sarah also took on the 100-mile route but at a more restrained audax pace while SimonB, Steve and Jo took a little longer but did it by way of preparation for the London Revolution Ultra 155 miles on September 25th (see link below). 

 

The day dawned cool, grey and misty but by the end of the morning we were enjoying cloudless blue skies and what seemed like the return of summer including cold beer, BBQ burgers and even an open-air sports massage at the finish.  

 

A big shout-out is due to Marlow Riders for staging yet another successful event. The Red Kite routes are well thought out, and showcase the very best of what the Chilterns have to offer as well as the picture-postcard beauty of the ancient villages in the Thame valley at the foot of the hills.  The three feed stations were excellent and, while conspiracy theorists maintain that they are part of Marlow Riders’ cunning plan to sabotage the efforts of MDCC members by plying them with delicious home-made cakes and sausage rolls, they were very much appreciated at the time. An enjoyable day was had by all and, as far as we know, there weren’t even any punctures!

Oscar and Mikey demonstrate that a one-size-fits-all policy is unlikely to be viable for club kit!

                                                       

To anyone who cycled back to Maidenhead after the event via the Switchback climb…Chapeau!

 

                                                                       

 

Useful Links:

Rre-registration for the Red Kite Ride 2022 is now open at only £30: https://www.riderhq.com/events/p/dq698ltv/enter

 

SupSupport Simon, Steve and Jo on their Ultra London Revolution Ultra ride and raise money for the Alexander Devine hospice: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/simonbarrett17

 

 

Also on the same weekend…

 

  • The annual MDCC Hilly 30 time trial. Some of our members were riding and others kindly gave up their day to act as marshals. (Bear in mind that both Jon and Peter have suffered injury during the last year which makes their involvement even more impressive).  

 

  • The Maidenhead Half Marathon's 10th anniversary run. They had a temporary new course this year, and one of our members, Taran Panasar, was chosen to be the lead bike.