Ride to Ringstead, Sunday 3rd April

Milton is leading this ride and writes:

Start: Nene Whitewater Centre, Bedford Road, NN4 7AA
Time: 9.30am
Distance: 55 miles
Pace: Steady (c. 12/14 mph)
Café Stop: Woodford Mill Café, Ringstead
Estimated return: Between 2-3pm

Woodford Mill Cafe is on the Nene and an attractive spot, worthy of a decent ride. Although this is a 55 mile trip, it isn’t especially lumpy and should be within the range of most of the club’s riders!. I have popped in the climb up to Castle Ashby at the beginning just to warm us all up!

We set off through Little Houghton, Cogenhoe, Castle Ashby and Bozeat before heading down the (thankfully) re-surfaced Dungee Rd towards Hinwick, Poddington, and Newton Bromswold before we turn North to Chelveston,  Denford and our cafe. Quite a few of these roads are very quiet indeed and little known to many of us … so, something of a change!

Homewards, from the cafe, we continue North and then West through the Cranfords before heading South through Burton Latimer, edging past Finedon and reaching Great Harrowden after the lovely “The Slips”  road. Back in our part of the woods, it’s Mears Ashby, and Ecton village across the A45 , along Ecton Lane, and the usual scattering towards home. 

It’s 30 miles to the café, so it makes sense to carry some fuel for the journey.

The forecast, six days in advance, is for a cool day with ‘gentle breezes’ which sounds pretty OK to me.  As usual it is very helpful for our planning to book a place on Signup: Group rides

I look forward to your company.

RWGPS Link: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/38822708

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Ride report, Saturday 26th March

BrianT led this ride and writes:

Fourteen riders met at BVW on a beautifully sunny day with the temperature just into double figures. We split equally into brisk and moderate-pace groups, Philip G leading the brisks.
Traffic in Kingsthorpe had been very busy on the way but after Church Brampton we encountered very little traffic for the rest of the day as our route took us over the switchback of hills to follow; first through Holdenby then Creaton and on to Queen of the Mountains climb Haselbech hill.

Reaching Naseby shortly after this was the high point of the mod route and it felt like that. From Naseby we just edged into Leicestershire for a brief period beyond Sibbertoft before turning back to Welford. The moderate group split up by mutual agreement with Miriam ably navigating the mods on to the Thornby café.

Three others had decided to take the longer route given such great weather and a following wind. As with the Brisk on the longer route, the ride took the road from Welford on to South Kilworth and then to the river Avon alongside Stanford Hall. From the river the ride turned back into a headwind and it was then a long pull up to the highest point on the ride, Honey Hill (211m) the early easy gradient turning into a challenge into the strong headwind. It was no surprise to see the many Telecom aerials at the top of this hill. On Honey Hill the British Ordnance Survey’s first trig point was erected on 18 April 1936 only a short distance from Cold Ashby (reputedly the highest village in Northamptonshire).

However, from here it was the proverbial all downhill, or nearly all, to Thornby Hall and the Buddhist café. All the groups arrived within about 15 minutes of each other, including Viki by bike who joined at the café and also Geoff from Kettering. We commandeered a couple of tables on the terrace in the garden for coffee and generous helpings of cake served by the friendly staff.

With some reluctance after sitting in the warm sun, we all headed off together on the last 10 miles back to BVW although this was not without a few extra hills on the way back through Guilsborough, Ravensthorpe and East Haddon.
Although riding up the many hills was challenging enough, coming down the descents at speed was equally challenging at times when we went through tree-lined roads. The dappled light made it difficult to spot the many potholes. There seems to be a plethora of them on the rural roads. ( the potholes seemed to have multiplied recently.)
Whilst many of us were contemplating a nice rest in the back garden in the sun with a nice cup of tea at least one rider was planning on gardening. No names but Alex was planning to set up his robot grass cutter. Now that’s what I call gardening.

Riders peeled off at Church Brampton to find their shortest way home but the core reached BVW at 1:45 p.m. Great weather for a ride and a very sociable morning out thanks to all.
PS Honey Hill is 211 m above sea level compared with Naseby at 193m.

BrianT

Thornby Hall café stop

Thornby Hall café stop

Thornby Hall café stop.

Ride to South Kilworth, Saturday 26th March

BrianT is leading this ride and writes:

Start: Brampton Valley Way, Welford Crossing, NN6 8AA
Time: 9.30am
Distance: Brisk 41m to South Kilworth, Moderate 34m to Sibbertoft.
Pace: Brisk 14 mph plus, Moderate ~12 mph plus
Café Stop: Buddhist Centre, Thornby (30m or 23ml respectively)
Estimated return: Around 1.30pm

Both groups head out from BVW to Holdenby and then Teeton, Creaton, Cottesbrooke and up Haselbech Hill to Naseby, north to Sibbertoft and then Welford.
Here the routes split with the brisk group putting a few more miles in their legs via South Kilworth, past Stanford Hall estate and then back towards Cold Ashby and the café stop at Thornby Hall.

Meanwhile the moderates go from Welford direct to Cold Ashby and the Buddhist centre café.

If the weather is warm we can sit in the gardens for coffee and there is secure parking for bikes.

The route back to BVW is only 10 miles via Guilsborough, Ravensthorpe and East Haddon.
Expect a few challenging hills on this route but it is mostly on quiet country roads if a bit agricultural at times.

RWGPS routes > link below
Brisk
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/38679135

Moderate
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/38679080

As usual it is very helpful for our planning to book a place on Signup: Group rides

More details and information from Brian T on 01604 622073 or 07722 055149.

Hope to see you there.

Ride report, Sunday 20th March

Phil Letts led this ride and writes:

Seven of us assembled today at the Canoe Club looking forward to a ride in what promised to be ‘It seems like Spring’ type weather!’
And it indeed that’s how it turned out as we made our way along the cycle path through the new University buildings and onto the Grand Union canal path right through Gayton marina and only to pause just before Blisworth.

Why pause you may ask? Well, I paused and explained to the group this was where I inadvertently caused our good Mr Weller to fall into the canal on a bitterly cold January day, eight years ago when I was similarly leading a ride! They had been cutting the hedges alongside and we were being plagued by multiple punctures ( I had three ) and someone behind me shouted ‘Phil you have a thorn twig stuck in your back wheel!’

I jammed on the brakes but John who was riding close, ran into the back of me and toppled into the canal, but unclipped as he went in but disappeared from sight. Thinking he might need rescuing I was about to dive in when John stood up spitting out weed, water lilies and muck and with a moor-hen on his head (possibly!) – water barely reached his ankles!
However, he was soaked and freezing and between chattering teeth managed to splutter in true Weller fashion ‘that’s buggered me new £200 phone.’ Half of us has flats so John took himself off to ride fast reps up and down the nearest Gayton hill to keep slightly warmer while we fixed the punctures. Then we took him to the Navigation Inn, Stoke Bruerne for a warm up in front of a roaring fire. And again in true Weller fashion, John finished the ride with us all. My fault, sorry John. I did ask for a Blue Plaque a la London fame but it’s still on order.

No such excitement today except getting up the ramp alongside Blisworth tunnel was an effort. Mind you we did have two flats today.
Good to meet up with Vicki at Salcey forest café (pleased to see she’s making good progress after her fall) and also Antoinette who rode back with us after coffee.
Taking the gravelled bridleway through the forest to Piddington, slowing several times for the horses and riders, we were soon back on tarmac and speeding towards Great Houghton. From there it was onto the NR6 and Brackmills before folks started splitting off.

So a good ride, in excellent weather and a bit of a trip down the historic ‘Weller memory lane.’

Thanks for the company folks.

regards,
Phil L
ps. I I will settle soon with you John for that wrecked phone……

Off road ride, Sunday 20th March

PhilL is leading this ride and writes:

Start: Nene Whitewater Centre, Bedford Road, NN4 7AA
Time: 9.30am
Distance: 32 Miles
Pace: Average 12mph
Café Stop: Forest Café, Salcey Forest
Estimated return: Around 1.30pm

This mostly off road ride takes us along the canal side from CC through to Gayton marina where we take the left hand branch of the Grand Union through Blisworth to Stoke Bruerne. From there we hit tarmac and make our way to Ashton, Hartwell and Salcey for a coffee stop.

Then it’s back onto bridleway through to Piddington, Hackleton, the Houghtons and Billing. There’s a cycleway loop on the Ecton side of town if we still have the energy before heading back to CC via the regular cycle path.

This route definitely requires a Gravel bike or MTB as a fair bit is off road.

Here is the RideGPS route: Offroad Canal side for 20th March

Can sign up via Genius or I’m on 07867388592

regards,
Phil Letts

Ride to Wadenhoe, Saturday 12th March

John W is leading this ride:

Start: MCP – Co op in Moulton, Stocks Hill, Moulton, NN3 7TB
Time: 9.30am
Distance: 49 Miles
Pace: Steady – Around 13mph Average
Café Stop: The Old Barn, Wadenhoe
Estimated return: Around 2.00 pm

This Saturday’s ride is a Steady (changed from Brisk/Moderate originally advertised) from the Co-Op in Moulton to Wadenhoe near Olney.

The route out is via Holcot, Burton Latimer, Thrapston and on to the lovely village of Wadenhoe. Our cafe stop is at the Old Barn in Wadenhoe at 23 miles.

The return route will take us the same route back to Thrapston, but then through Woodford Irthlingborough, Wellingborough, Earls Barton and back to the start at Moulton.

The link to the route is below.

As usual it is very helpful for our planning to follow this link to book a place on Signup: Group rides

Link to route on Ridewithgps: 

Wadenhoe via Burton latimer

Cheers

John

Ride report, Saturday 26th February

PhilipG led this ride and writes:

After Storm Eunice prevented our last ride from taking place, it was good to see much better weather on Saturday 26th Feb attracting a good turnout of 14 riders. There was a moderate, steady westerly wind and pleasant sunshine.

The plan was to cycle clockwise round Kettering to Cranford St Andrew. The Brisk group (led by Philip) went through Harrington, and Desborough, where James disappeared. A search party returned empty handed and we were about to give up when James reappeared, his Garmin having recovered from a crash – thankfully, only the software variety.

Before long we were in Cranford, where the Moderate group, led by Brian, had beaten us to the cafe by barely a minute or two. Brian takes up the story :

There were eight riders in the second group on the road. After a cool start the sun came out and we were in sun with a tail wind for most of the way through Rushton and around the north of Kettering to Geddington. This felt definitely spring like as we bowled along at a good pace on quiet, relatively traffic free roads. There was a real buzz in the group about being out and about on a bike on such a pleasant morning. Once past the cross in Geddington we turned into the wind and after a few hills that followed we were glad to see the Old Forge Café arriving just ahead of the brisk group.

On the way back the roads were more congested but once through Burton Latimer and over the A509, normality returned although a combination of head wind and a steady rise from Little Harrowden to Sywell put some of us into the red zone.

Thanks to Philip for planning the route.

The Brisk group stayed together till Sywell, where half the riders turned off. Chris H, Gary and Philip went on and used the new lighted crossing of the A43 into Moulton, where we went our separate ways.

Thanks to all who turned out, and thanks to Brian for his help.

Philip

Ride to Eydon, Sunday 6th March

PeterB is leading this ride and writes:

Start time: 9.30am
Meeting point: Hunsbury Hill library, Overslade Close, East Hunsbury NN4 0RZ
Distance: 40 Miles
Cafe Stop: The Old Forge, Culworth at 20 miles
Pace: Steady – average 13mph
Estimated return: Around 2.00 pm

This Sunday’s ride is from East Hunsbury to Eydon.

We will ride out past Milton Malsor, Tiffield, Greens Norton, Wappenham and on to Culworth, our Cafe stop around the half way mark.

Originally the weather forecast appeared to show sun all day, and so I had Upper Stowe as our stop with dreams of basking in their courtyard. Of course, true to form, whilst still forecast dry, the sun is now missing and the temperature a bit more chilly, and so a nice log fire at The Old Forge beckons instead.

The return route will take us through Eydon, Preston Capes, Bugbrooke, Kislingbury and back to our start. The link to the route is below.

Better to make sure we still have masks – it may have changed, but the last time I was at the Forge, they still requested masks to be worn.

As usual we look forward to welcoming all riders, especially new riders, and it is very helpful for our planning to follow this link to book a place on Signup: Group rides

Link to route on RideWithGPS:

EH/Eydon/40mls

Cheers

Peter