Sun 7 May 2017 47 miles ‘Steady’ to Ringstead

Milton is leading this ride and writes:

Date:      Sunday 7 May

Time:      9.30

Place:     Moulton Co-op

Distance; 47 Miles

Type;       Steady

Well, here we go again. I tried to set this up a few weeks ago, but an absolute deluge on the Sunday morning in question meant that nobody arrived for the start – much to my relief, it was not a day for being on a bike. I think it was because of the rain ……?

We go in an anti-clockwise direction which means that it is about 32 miles to the first and only stop, the payback being that it’s a bit of a breeze home after that. You might want to bring an energy bar or two to see you through to the break.

From Moulton to Sywell, Mears Ashby and Wilby and then we cross the river towards Wollaston. From there we head to Poddington, Wymington and Newton Bromsgrove and then out further east to Chelveston. We skirt Raunds, and  turn and cross the river again into Ringstead  and after another mile or so cake and coffee and, sometimes, bacon butties. I will phone ahead and ask them to keep some bacon for us as they stop serving breakfast food before we get there.  They obliged last time.

After coffee it’s an attractive section through the Addingtons to Irthlingborough and, from there,a bit of a schlep up to Finedon alongside the A6, (Oh, it’s only a mile or so – you’ll manage!). The beautiful single track road, (The Slips) takes us to The Harrowdens and from there it’s Mears Ashby, Sywell and back to Moulton.

47 miles in all, and I expect to be back in Moulton well before 3pm.

GPX file attached.

Ride report – Sunday 30th April

Milton went on this ride led by Tim and writes:

Eleven cyclists set off from the canoe centre last Sunday on a warmish breezy day for Tim’s 56 miler to Keysoe. Good to see new rider Mark on a fine traditional steel Thorn with Rohloff hub gears and a front hub dynamo – a true touring set up – and to welcome again Chris.

With the quite fierce breezes in our faces it was nearly a struggle to reach Scald End Farm just outside Thurleigh, but very worth while. We were welcomed at the cafe by exceptionally cheery and efficient service and a few full breakfasts were ordered to say nothing of the bacon butties. The addition of cake was too much after that, but most of us managed.

Homeward bound then with bulging stomachs, but with the wind behind us, saw the peloton split in a number of places. Front runners were deservedly punished for going through a junction ahead of the leader by taking a wrong turning at Felmersham and had to be called back. One was too far ahead to hear and, no matter that attempts were made to phone him, he was never seen or heard from again. We hope you made it home John C, but if not and you’re still out there pedalling like mad, I can recommend a fine B and B in Glasgow which, at the speed you were going, you should have reached by now!

We had eaten too much for there to be any excuse to stop at Castle Ashby, so we did, and the coffee and cake was as fine as ever.

Back to base and we realised that we’d all averaged something over 14mph which, for a ‘steady ride’ was not at all bad. Couldn’t have been done without the cake.

Lovely ride Tim, thank you. Good quiet roads and a certain amount of new territory covered..