SUNDAY 3rd JUNE – 85 MILES, STEADY RIDE FOLLOWING WOMENS’ TOUR ABRIDGED ROUTE

SUNDAY 3rd JUNE – 85 MILES, STEADY RIDE FOLLOWING WOMENS’ TOUR ABRIDGED ROUTE

Peter Bayles is leading this ride and writes:

Start time: 9.30 a.m.
Meeting point: Hunsbury Hill library, Overslade Close, East Hunsbury NN4 0RZ
Distance: 85 Miles
Refreshment stop: Canons Ashby and Wodford Halse.
Pace: Steady, average of 13 mph, 16 to 18 mph on the flat
Time Expected Back: Probably between 5.00 and 6.00 pm

The OVO Energy Womens Tour, billed as Britain’s most prestigious professional women’s cycle race, takes place in mid June.

Stage two is hosted in Northamptonshire on the 14th June. As in previous years, we will follow much of the route, but abridged and adapted (many thanks, Brian) to follow a figure of eight and loop back to our start.

We will set off from Overslade Close in East Hunsbury, near the Library, and ride South towards Wolverton and Deanshanger.

Turning West, we will ride through Silverstone and on to our first planned refreshment stop, Canons Ashby, at 38 miles.

We will then ride to Weedon Bec before turning West again to Daventry at 54 miles, where we will pass the OVO Womens Tour Finish point.

At 68 miles, we hit our second planned refreshment stop at Woodford Halse, and by this stage, we will certainly feel that we deserve it.

From Woodford Hasle, it’s a mere 17 miles back to our start at East Hunsbury.

We look forward to welcoming all riders that feel like a challenge, but please ensure that your bike is in good condition and that you bring plenty of water, snacks and a route map

For any further questions, please feel free to contact Peter Bayles on 07979850096

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Ride report – Saturday 26th May

Brian Tunbridge went on this ride and writes:

 

Seven riders turned up at BVW for the start of the ride to Welford and Mini-Meadows café. It was good to see Paul out for his second ride and Steve back after some time ‘social cycling’ . Apart from Philip, the ride leader, everybody opted for the slightly shorter moderate pace route so Philip called it a rest day and we rode together at a comfortable pace for all.

The weather was inclement but dry to start with but at Naseby we took a short scenic detour via Sibertoft just as a few spots of rain fell. However, little came of it and we were soon at the Mini-meadows café for coffee and cake. There is now a full tarmac drive to the centre which used to be a bit of a gamble re punctures as Octavio will remember from a previous trip and who was out with us today.

When we emerged from the café the sun came out and from then on it got warmer and warmer with the wind on our back most of the way home. A short detour to Winwick gave us a photo opportunity as well as a traffic free lane to West Haddon.

Whether it was due to the bank holiday or not , the roads were exceptionally quiet. The route took us along many single track lanes with very few potholes for a change and we enjoyed the abundant early summer flowers along the roadside.

Thanks to Philip for planning the route and to everybody for a very sociable ride.
Brian

 

Ride to Welford – Saturday 26th May

Philip Gray is leading this ride and writes:

Start time: 9.30 a.m.
Meeting point: Brampton Valley Way, Welford Crossing, NN6 8AA
Distance: 44 or 35 miles
Refreshment stop: Mini-Meadows Farm Café, Welford
Pace: Brisk or Moderate

This Saturday we offer two rides to Mini-Meadows Farm Café at Welford. The brisk route is 44 miles (shortcuts available), the moderate one 35 miles. After a few hills at the start, both routes have a pleasant flat section from Naseby to the coffee stop, and a few smaller climbs on the way home via West Haddon.

Hope to see you there.

Philip

We look forward to welcoming all riders, and especially any new riders who may wish to join the ride.  For any further questions, please feel free to contact Philip Gray on 07557 670 831.

Ride report – Sunday 20th May

Peter Bayles led the group and writes:

Six riders set off from East Hunsbury library on Sunday morning. As forecast, the weather was just about perfect for cycling – sunny and warm with an almost cloudless sky for the whole ride, and with only a very light breeze.

Geoff joined us from the outset, heavily laden with panniers containing the bare essentials for a 47 mile ride in the sunshine, such as tents, wellingtons, snow shoes etc. However it was his ability to make a pea sized drop of sun tan lotion cover all exposed parts that really impressed.

The route rode through some of the small, quiet, picturesque roads and villages to the West of Northampton and, combined with the wonderful weather, it didn’t disappoint. Miles of stunning Northamptonshire countryside helped us along and to the café at Wardington Garden Centre.

It was explained to me that the better club ride write ups of the past went into much more detail about the ride and what was consumed at the coffee stop, so here we go; Brian had coffee and the cheese scone, which we all drooled over, David had tea and ……..nah, sorry Milton, looks like I’ll have to disappoint you on this.

Geoff left us at the café, clearly bored with the Northampton group and eager to meet his more interesting friends from the Milton Keynes CTC who were stopping for coffee at Castle Ashby. Thanks for joining the ride Geoff, and we weren’t very upset. Not very.

So, more beautiful scenery on the return leg, punctuated by a few direction pranks played on Milton by Chris. Both jostling for lead position, Chris sent him up a farm track at one point just to gain a few metres of ground. Come on guys, grow up. And the ruse played on me when I tried to take the photograph wasn’t funny at all!

We arrived back at Northampton within the scheduled time and without any punctures or other incidents.

Thanks for all who joined and, especially, thanks to the organiser of the superb weather.

(Photograph attached and, no guys, you were not too fast for the camera to focus!)

 

Ride to Wardington – Sunday 20th May

Peter Bayles is leading this ride and writes:

Start time: 9.30 a.m.
Meeting point: Hunsbury Hill Library, Overslade Close, East Hunsbury NN4 0RZ
Distance: 47 mls
Refreshment stop: Barn Farm Café (Wardington Garden Centre)
Pace: Steady, 12 to 13mph
Time Expected Back: Around 2.30pm

 

Yet again, the weather looks set to be warm and sunny for us, piggy backing on the pre-arranged weather organised for the Royals’ wedding. So this promises to be a very pleasant ride through some very picturesque countryside, with the majority of the roads being small roads and byways.

The ride has been shortened from the original plan to 47 miles to avoid multiple road works that seemingly spring up without notice in this part of Northamptonshire.

We will start at Overslade close, near the Library at East Hunsury, and ride through Milton Malsor, Tiffield and Caldecote, crossing the A5 at Duncote.

From there we ride West through Greens Norton, Blakesley, Woodend and Weston, then along Banbury Lane to Thorpe Mandeville and on to Wardington for cake and coffee.

The return route necessitates that we join the A361 for a hundred metres or so, but then we are quickly back onto the small, quiet roads through Edgecote, West Farndon, Woodford Halse, Adstone and onto Banbury Lane again through Caswell and Foxley.

We cross the A5 again at Pattishall and follow Banbury Lane back into Northampton.

We should return home by 2.30pm, depending on our pace. Please remember to carry plenty of water and sun lotion, which is probably sensible.

We look forward to welcoming all riders, and especially any new riders who may wish to join the ride. For any further questions, please feel free to contact Peter Bayles.

Ride to Market Harborough – Saturday 12th May

James Holden is leading this ride and writes:

Start time: 9.30 a.m.
Meeting point: Moulton Co-op, Stocks Hill, Moulton, NN3 7TB
Distance: 38 mls
Refreshment stop: Waterloo Farm
Pace: Brisk

 

Saturday’s brisk ride comes in at around the 38 mile mark.

Starting from Moulton Co-op we’ll head out via Pitsford Causeway to Spratton and then on through Ravensthorpe, Coton, Guilsborough, Clipston and, finally, Great Oxendon where we’ll stop for coffee at Waterloo farm – located on the Harborough Road.

Our return journey heads up through Arthingworth to Harrington, Foxhall, Walgrave, etc., before arriving back in Moulton. I recced the route today and everything seemed in order. Moreover, there are plenty of shops/pubs to stop off at should anyone feel in need of extra refreshment or a breather.

In terms of terrain it’s as flat as a pancake – aside, err, that is, from three Queen of the Mountain sections at Spratton, Naseby and Harrington. To counter that, however, there are some lovely open sections where the pedalling is easy, the scenery beautiful and the miles will soon pass by.

Although it’s down as a brisk there won’t be any rush to get around so all are welcome. The current forecast is sunny and breezy, albeit slightly cooler than it’s been for the past few days, so the weather won’t be an excuse for not turning out… Hope to see you there.

James

Ride to Southam – Sunday 6th May

James Holden is leading this ride and writes:

Start time: 9.30 a.m.
Meeting point: TGI Friday at Sixfields
Distance: 60 mls
Refreshment stop: The Willoughby Café
Pace: Steady

If the forecast is anything to go by then this Sunday’s steady ride out to the Warwickshire market town of Southam promises to be under sunny(ish) skies.

We’ll start out from one of our lesser used meeting points – TGI Friday at Sixfields – and head up to Duston on a couple of cycle paths. We’ll then hit the road and take on a sixty mile loop that’s largely a mix of quiet roads and rural smells as it rolls on through Whilton, Welton, Braunston, Willoughby, Birdingbury, Bascote, Long Itchington and finally, Southam.

Our return leg will be through Marston Doles, Priors Marston, Farthingstone, Litchborough and Kislingbury. We’ll get back up to Sixfields via Banbury Lane and another cycle path or two.

We’ll have a coffee stop at around the 20 mile mark (The Willoughby Café) and then follow this up with a later one at somewhere around the 40-45 mile(ish) mark – destination still to be decided – lest anyone is showing signs of exhaustion.

The route itself is relatively gentle – nothing too hideous in the way of hills or vertical bits, and the pace will be gentle. See you Sun.