Ride to Harrold – Sunday 1st September

Peter Bayles is leading this ride and writes:

Start time:  9.30 a.m.

Meeting point:  Nene Whitewater Centre, Bedford Road, NN4 7AA

Distance:  40 mls

Refreshment stop:  The Buttery at Castle Ashby at 30 miles.

Pace:  Steady

Time Expected Back:  Around 1.00pm

Sunday’s ride is 40 miles at an average steady pace between 12 and 13 mph, riding to the East of Northampton to Harrold before turning back via our refreshment stop at Castle Ashby.  The hills are not too challenging, and as this ride has been largely stolen from one of Tim’s previous ones, it promises to be an enjoyable route.

We set off from the Canoe Centre, riding through Brackmills and on to Stoke Goldington via Quinton.  From there we pass through Olney and Lavendon to our furthest point at Harrold, then back to Castle Ashby for our refreshment stop at The Buttery.

From there it is a short 10 miles back to Northampton via Chadstone, Horton and Hackleton.  Past Chadstone, we have to go along the A428 for a short distance, which is quite busy, however there is a suitable path beside the road that we can safely use.

This is a short-ish ride for a Steady in summer and the weather looks to be favourable, so if there are any riders feeling particularly energetic, the outward leg can possibly be extended by around 6 miles (or more) at Harrold by adding a loop through Carlton, Felmersham and Odell.  Personally, I will be enjoying a wedding gathering on the Saturday before the ride, so I’ll stick to the route!

As usual we look forward to welcoming all riders, and especially any new riders who may wish to join us.

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

Route on RidewithGPS:

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/30941296

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Ride to Canons Ashby – Saturday 24th August

James Cairncross is leading this ride and writes:

 

Start time  9.30 a.m.

Meeting point:  Hunsbury Hill Library, Overslade Close, East Hunsbury, NN4 0RZ

Distance:  Brisk 41 mls, Moderate 36 mls

Refreshment Stop: Canons Ashby NT Cafe

Average Pace:   Brisk ~15mph, Moderate ~12mph

Time Expected Back:  Around 1.30pm

This Saturday’s ride takes us from East Hunsbury library over to the National Trust café at Canons Ashby.

Leaving the library we head towards Quinton where the Moderate riders take an early detour towards Courteenhall and into Blisworth, while the Brisks take a longer route through Salcey Forest, Hartwell and Stoke Bruerne. From Blisworth both groups head to Gayton and Eastcote before joining Banbury Lane at Dalscote. From here we cross the A5 and head straight to the café via Foxley and Adstone.

The café is very pleasant with an attractive courtyard if the weather is good, they also have a nice giftshop so make room in your jersey pockets for tea-towels, candles and expensive gardening implements. Once stocked up we head north to Little Preston, spot the signs to Everdon and avoid this by turning south again to Maidford. From here we straight-line it downhill to Bugbrooke and home into Northampton via Rothersthorpe.

This is a fairly easy going route with no major hills. The largest climb of the day comes early as we head to Quinton, and the steepest hill is split into two by the A5. The weather forecast looks good and as always new riders are welcome.

Cheers,

James

Ride report – Sunday 18th August

PhilJ led this ride and writes:

 

Quite a sad day for us this one as we were to be told on arriving at the White Lion in Radford Semele that it was closing for good at 11pm tonight. A quite revealing start to our refreshment stop. An extensive refurbishment had obviously not been able to change its fortunes. Futuristic clear dining globes had been installed in the beer garden of this historical 500-year-old pub suggesting a bright future lay ahead, but it was not to be. A new venue will have to be sought for this ride in future.

Half a dozen of us enjoyed the ride over on a changeable day with plenty of wind and fortunately a fair bit of sunshine too. A leisurely pace took us through Whilton Locks and over the gated roads to Welton. At Willoughby with plenty of time to spare before opening time at the White Lion, we enjoyed a quick cuppa in the open air at the Willoughby Café. Pete S kindly provided a round of teas and coffees for us whilst Darryl ventured over to the tropical fish shop on the other side of the road. Meanwhile Tim K, now at university, spotted some old school friends arriving for breakfast just as we were about to depart.

The route between Willoughby and Grandborough seemed like we were in a wind tunnel most of the time, but Tim K majestically sliced through it giving us all a bit less resistance to worry about. The lanes further on were perfectly smooth and invited fast speeds which the young pretenders duly did leaving three slightly ‘less young’ riders behind in their wake.

Long Itchington led to the long haul up Snowford Hill, complete with its own sign so you know it’s a proper hill. Once conquered just Offchurch stood between us and the White Lion.

The hospitality was excellent. Water was provided for us in the most elegant way. Coloured glass water bottles complete with six crystal glasses. The limited menu wasn’t ideal, but we all refuelled substantially enough and bid our farewells for the last time to the White Lion. Who knows if it will be rescued in the future?

A short sharp climb not far from the pub immediately got the hearts thumping and set the scene for the ride back which was to be tougher than the ride out. We headed towards Southam with the ever-present wind by our side and despite it, were able to cruise along on long stretches of smooth tarmac at decent speeds. It was difficult not to on such perfect roads.

The climb at Priors Marston lay ahead and we refuelled with snacks by the side of the road just a mile out. Darryl seemed to relish the challenge whilst others clearly didn’t. Pete B was struggling with cramp which must have made it incredibly difficult for him to climb to the top.

At the summit the cameras came out to capture the stunning vistas over Hill Farm. There isn’t a more perfect view of our countryside anywhere.

Towards Preston Capes the weak bridge road closure needed to be navigated before we remounted. Cameras came out again just to record the moment with much amusement as bikes and riders tried different options to overcome the barriers in the most efficient way!

A climb up to the transmitter site near Preston Capes was probably the last climb of the day. Through Litchborough a long easy downhill catapulted us along to Maidford then onwards to Bugbrooke and the final few miles home.

Superb riding from everyone today. Thanks for coming out.

 

Ride to Radford Semele – Sunday 18th August

PhilJ is leading this ride and writes:

All,

A real shame about Chris’s ride to Culworth which had to be cancelled yesterday. It would have been a great ride. Let’s hope next weekend is a little calmer than this wild weekend and we can get riding again.

Weather permitting, I am leading the ride as follows:

Start time:  9.30 a.m.
Meeting point:  TGI Friday’s, Sixfields, Northampton NN5 4EG
Distance:  Steady 60 miles
Refreshment Stop: White Lion pub in Radford Semele
Average Pace:   average speed 13mph
Time Expected Back:  Around 3..00pm

We’re heading towards Leamington Spa on next Sunday’s ride and the village of Radford Semele with its 16th century pub, The White Lion. https://www.whitelionradfordsemele.co.uk/  The village is named after a family from Saint-Pierre-de-Semilly in Normandy. They were lords of the manor in around 1120.

The White Lion has been extensively refurbished and has a lovely beer garden at the back where we can enjoy their great food and wonderful hospitality.

But before that there’s work to be done.

From Sixfields we’re heading out through Duston, Upper Harlestone and eventually over to Whilton Locks.
Norton’s gated road guides us to Welton, Braunston and on to Willoughby where we could have a quick cuppa at the greasy spoon if anyone fancies it.
The lovely lanes of Grandborough will take us towards Long Itchington and the long drag up Snowford Hill. Once over, only Offchurch remains before we reach our destination at Radford Semele.

Refuel here as best you can on the fine fayre that the White Lion serves as the journey home will require plenty of energy.

We’re following signs for Southam along quieter roads on the way back with a third category climb at Priors Marston shortly after. It does have a quintessentially English view over Hill Farm at the top so it’s well worth the effort. Sometime later there’s a road closure towards Preston Capes but we can easily skip around the barriers and over the weak bridge without any problems assuming the combined weight of the group doesn’t exceed a ton!
Safely over we’ll be heading for Litchborough and familiar roads back to Bugbrooke and the start of the ride at Sixfields.

It’s worth packing a snack or two and refilling your bottles at the White Lion before we head back. This is easily a sixty miler that won’t trouble the Guy Barber supremo’s but will be a challenging ride for the rest of us.

Brian T kindly provided a gpx file when we did the ride last year and I’ll probably be following pretty much the same route although I’ll do the ride this week myself just to be sure. I can dig it out for anyone who wants it and will send it to Pete Bayles for inclusion on our rides calendar.

Hope to see some of you there.

Thanks

PhilJ

Ride to Culworth – CANCELLED

This Saturdays ride to Culworth has been CANCELLED due to the adverse weather conditions.

 

Ride to Culworth – Saturday 10th August

Chris Duff is leading this ride and writes:

 

Start time:  9.30 a.m.
Meeting point:  Hunsbury Hill Library, Overslade Close, East Hunsbury, NN4 0RZ
Distance:  Brisk 45 mls, Moderate 40 mls
Refreshment Stop: Forge Coffee
Average Pace:   Brisk ~15mph, Moderate ~12mph
Time Expected Back:  Around 2.00pm

 

The main route for the moderate riders is Milton Malsor, Gayton, Dayton, Pattishall, Blakesley, Woodend, Weston and

Culworth.

For the brisk riders there is a slightly wider circuit after Blakesley that goes to Bradden, Wappenham and Helmdon then turns West along the B5425 for a bit before turning north for Culworth.

The café has great coffee and good storage for the bikes in the garden at the back.  The food is limited in range but should have good cake and some other snacks all local sourced with vegetarian options.

From Culworth the route back is Moreton Pinkney, Cannons Ashby, Adstone, Maidford, Farthingstone, Upper Stowe, Nether Heyford, Bugbrooke, Kislingbury, Hunsbury.

New riders would be very welcome.

For any further questions, please feel free to contact Chris Duff on 07770 976291

Brisk Route:  https://ridewithgps.com/routes/30637370

Moderate Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/30637348

Ride report – Sunday August 4th

PhilJ went on this ride and writes:

 

A great days riding was enjoyed by everyone on todays ride. No mechanicals, no punctures, just good solid riding around a great route devised by our webmaster Tim H.

Our destination, The Emmaus Centre is always a popular stop for cyclists with its lovely spacious café complete with seating indoors and out. It’s great that they provide bike racks for our benefit giving it that cycling friendly feel.

Emmaus Village Carlton is a homeless charity based in north Bedfordshire offering active support to formerly homeless people. It’s a drop off centre for your unwanted goods on one side of the street with the café located on the other.
Tim insisted this was a steady ride and led the riders out through the well ridden villages of Cogenhoe, Castle Ashby and Bozeat before we enjoyed his planned descent at Dungee Hill.
Despite seeing the three mile signs for Carlton at one point, Tim insisted we continue on a 12 mile loop to build up our appetites. Through, as it happens some very quaint villages like Felmersham and Pavenham. The road undulated most of the ride and by the time the signs appeared for the Emmaus Village we were ready for a break.

Fortunately the electrical problems that had occurred in the village on one of our previous rides to Emmaus didn’t repeat themselves and we were able to enjoy good food and drink without problems. The fayre is superb at this café and the recommendation of the sausage sandwich was hard to resist by several of the group. The service was second to none and despite the numbers nobody had to wait for any orders.

Geoff from our Kettering group arrived to join us and tested the bike parking facilities only to upend the rack his bike was leaning on. I’m sure it wasn’t the weight of Geoff’s bike that caused the issue but the weak foundations of the rack. Nonetheless it was amusing for everyone there!

The ride back from Carlton was equally as picturesque as the ride over with some negotiation required on the short stretches of busier road along the way. The group split here and there but Tim held the pace nicely for the accompanying pack. A second stop at Salcey Forest was considered but there were no takers and we were soon flying down Quinton road with the end in site.
Along the way hoards of cyclists were everywhere including TT riders speeding along Bedford road just as we set out. It’s good to see so many club and occasional cyclists out on the road.

An excellent route from Tim. If you missed it you missed out!

PhilJ